In an article 07 Jan 18 and subsequent tweets, Chidambaram, the former home and finance minister, wrote that the present strategy of a ‘hard stance’ adopted by the government in Kashmir will never lead to a political solution. His views were based on data indicating that terror strikes have not reduced, while the killing of terrorists and losses of security […]
The recent international debate over Trump announcing the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and the shifting of his embassy there, resounded in the UN. The UN security council voted 14:1 on the issue, with the US being compelled to use its veto for the first time in years. There was also a vote in the General Assembly, […]
Introduction President Donald Trump unveiled his National Security Strategy (NSS) last week. He announced his views on it, which is a departure from his predecessors. The Goldwater Nichols act mandates every US President to declare their NSS on a yearly basis. Most presidents issue one or two during their entire tenure (even if it spans two tenures of eight years). […]
The DRDO director general (BRAHMOS), Mr SK Mishra, while speaking during a session on ‘Role of DRDO in making India a world class defence hub’ justified high imports of military equipment. His reasoning was the existing security environment of the neighbourhood, wide weather variations in various parts of the country and our history of importing equipment. In his opinion, wide […]
As we celebrate Vijay Diwas, victory over Pakistan in 1971, it is time to retrospect. The 1971 war was a decisive victory. It concluded when Lt General AAK Niazi, then governor of East Pakistan, signed an unconditional surrender in Dacca on 16 Dec 1971 and Pakistani forces comprising of 93,000 soldiers, surrendered to the Indian army. Paintings of the surrender […]
A topic gaining prominence across the nation and being debated in multiple forums, mainly by political parties, is nationalism. It has been in the limelight since events criticizing the nation and supporting Afzal Guru began unfolding in JNU. Leading political parties have been blaming one another for changing the concept of nationalism on frivolous grounds, including religion. Despite orders from […]
Information on the armed forces flag day was for the first time well spread across the nation employing every medium, mainly social. While the event did have good coverage and possibly reasonable contributions flowed, however, the very concept and methodology of its conduct needs a revisit. It has followed a laid down schedule since 1949, with an increased emphasis this […]
Over the years, for multiple reasons, the defence ministry (MoD) has been viewed as a stumbling block in national security, rather than being the prime mover. It has been viewed as being anti- armed forces, rather than their supporters. Amongst all the ministries of the government, this has come in for maximum flak. The UPA regime refused to clear any […]
Since the announcement by the defence and railway ministers on the army being tasked to construct the Foot Over Bridges (FOB) at Elphinstone railway station in Mumbai and two other places, there has been a flurry of criticism for the government’s decision. The Elphinstone FOB, is being constructed where a recent stampede claimed over twenty-three lives and left scores injured. […]
War, ethnic cleansing and droughts create refugee movements, compelling hordes of suffering humans to move from their permanent residence seeking shelter, food and security to life. In reality, no one desires to leave his place of residence and become a refugee in an alien land, irrespective of present difficulties or benefits it may provide in the future. However, wars and […]