LT GEN PR SHANKAR (Retd)

The Afghan fallout in Pakistan

August 25, 2021

An article by Abbas Nasir in Dawn states that ‘Pakistan was concerned of being ‘scapegoated’ and being isolated, for giving sanctuary to the Taliban leadership and fighters... There is no escaping that blame… Yes, Pakistan was duplicitous in as much as the Taliban were concerned…’. This is the closest one will get...

THE SUM OF PAKISTANI WISHES

August 20, 2021

They say ‘Be careful of what you wish for. It might come true’! Pakistan keeps boasting that it had defeated a superpower — USSR. Now it is loud mouthing that it is defeating another superpower — the US. Technically, the speed of Taliban advance and the rate of withdrawal from...

MILITARY LEADERSHIP IN INDIAN ARMY: NEED FOR MERIT

August 19, 2021

The collapse of the Afghan National Army (ANA), the hasty withdrawal of the US and the rapid gains of Taliban in Afghanistan have major lessons for military and political leadership. ANA lost it completely due to poor motivation and training. Its leadership was too political, corrupt, and unprofessional. Lesson: Nations...

THE SUPERPOWER NOT TO BE

August 17, 2021

Let me start by putting the cart before the horse. Rising China is already an economic superpower. It is flexing diplomatic, technological and military muscles to be the next all-around superpower as analyses about a declining USA abound. However, China itself is declining. A couple of years back when people...

AFGHANISTAN AT CROSSROADS, AND THE ROAD AHEAD FOR TALIBAN

August 2, 2021

Everyone expects Taliban, supported by Pakistan, which is backed by China to sweep into power in Afghanistan. That is the dark visage floating up. As the US forces are leaving the country , the current momentum and tempo of the Taliban offensive suggests an inevitability of their return. There is...

AFGHANISTAN: THE EVOLVING KALEIDOSCOPE FOR PAKISTAN AND THE WINDOW FOR INDIA

July 17, 2021

As the US forces are exiting Afghanistan ahead of their timetable, the Taliban offensive has gained tempo in the northeast and south of the country. It is inexorably bringing the country closer to the expected chaos and an impending civil war. Taliban has claimed control of 85% of the country. Some reports...

SINO-INDIAN LOGJAM: AIM REVISITED

July 8, 2021

A recent call from Saurabh Kumar, our ex-ambassador who consistently gives us rare and valuable insights into Chinese thinking set me thinking. We spoke of many things including the situation in POK. I told him that I had written an article about it in Sep 2019 wherein I had highlighted...

‘COME SEPTEMBER’ IN AFGHANISTAN

July 7, 2021

On 1 June, some violent incidents occurred in Afghanistan (as marked on the map). Such violence routinely happens on any given day in the country. Give or take a few. Daily life in Afghanistan is hardly normal. Come September, the US troops will fly out of Afghanistan and leave it...

ARE WE AIMING WITHOUT ARMING?

July 5, 2021

India was a poor country in the decade before 1971. Two debilitating wars with China (1962) and Pakistan (1965), truant monsoons, high inflation, food shortages and imports dominated headlines. Five-year plans were suspended from 1966 to 1969 due to a lack of resources. Prime Ministers Nehru and Shastri died in...

THE SAGA OF THEATRISATION

July 2, 2021

A high-level committee of the Vice Chiefs of the three Services, the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff , and representatives of other Ministries are to undertake wider consultations to implement Theatrisation. It is well known that while the Army and Navy are fully onboard with the concept of Theatrisation, the IAF...

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