Growing defence industry The Excelsior 17 Nov 2022 A few recent announcements indicate the coming of age of domestic defence industries. Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited revealed receiving an order worth USD 150 million for supplying 155mm howitzers. It did not name the country which placed the order but confirmed it was in a non-conflict zone. The company had mentioned […]
Can India broker peace The Statesman 15 Nov 2022 Jaishankar’s recent visit to Russia was watched with keen interest. It was believed that India would officially offer to mediate between Moscow and Kiev, after all PM Modi has spoken to Putin five times and Zelensky thrice since the war began. It was Modi who had stated that ‘this is […]
Imran pushes Pakistan to the brink India vs disinformation 09 Nov 2022 Writing for The Dawn, known Pakistani commentator Zahid Hussain states, ‘The gun attack on Imran Khan has pushed the country deeper into anarchy. The would-be assassin may have been arrested but the motive behind the shooting remains shrouded in mystery.’ He adds, ‘Imran Khan’s confrontation with the […]
Confrontation to continue in Pakistan The Excelsior 09 Nov 2022 The assassination attempt on Imran Khan last week enhanced instability in the country. Imran had been stating, since the beginning of his current agitation, that he was expecting an attempt on his life. This announcement was not based on intelligence but reality. In Pakistan, anyone threatening status quo will […]
India finally gets moving The Statesman 08 Nov 2022 Threats never reduced nor attitudes of neighbours changed, nor did we learn from history. Indian defence planners shouted from rooftops of a two-front threat for decades, but their cries were ignored. As a nation we failed to modernize our forces to counter emerging threats, despite being aware that capability enhancement […]
Targeted killings result in fear The Excelsior 04 Oct 2022 A news report of last week stated that ten families of Kashmiri Pundits from Choudhary Gund in Shopian, who had remained in the region even at the height of terrorism in the 1990’s, migrated to Jammu post the targeted killing of Puran Krishan Bhat, on 15th Oct. Farooq Abdullah […]
Thoughtless actions often have strong reactions The Statesman 01 Nov 2022 In Apr 1989, the mysterious death of pro-reform Chinese Communist party leader, Hu Yaobang, led to protests by youth in Beijing’s Tiananmen square. On 04 Jun, PLA soldiers accompanied by tanks were sent to forcibly regain control. The takeover was brutal. Figures of protestor casualties vary from a […]
Message to India from the Chinese Congress The Excelsior 28 Oct 2022 The 20th Chinese Congress has concluded. Xi Jinping has gained an unprecedented third term, cementing his place as the most powerful leader in China since Mao Zedong. He will now seek to fulfil his pending agenda, largely projected in his address to the Congress. Xi’s almost 2-hour […]
Disqualification of Imran Khan is a strategic action Last week Imran Khan was disqualified by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) from being a member of parliament for ‘corrupt practices.’ He was charged for making ‘false statements and incorrect declaration’ in his details of assets and liabilities filed for 2020-21 with the commission. The ECP released the results of […]
Compulsions constrict India’s defence expo The Statesman 25 Oct 2022 The 12th edition of the Defence Expo, inaugurated by the PM, was held in Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad, last week. It was originally scheduled to be conducted in March but was postponed almost at the last moment due to unexplained ‘logistic problems.’ These arose post an online QUAD heads of state […]