ENOUGH OF SUN TZU, WARS CAN BE WON ONLY BY FIGHTING

September 14, 2020

When I was in the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Lt Col Shankar Roy Choudhry (later a General and our COAS) taught us “Principles of War”, twirling his moustaches. The first and foremost principle he taught: ‘Selection and Maintenance of Aim’. He also introduced the Clausewitzan postulate—“War is continuation of politics...

A landscape for defence exports

September 12, 2020

A bird’s eye view indicates conflict zones are in Africa, Middle East, West Asia, South Asia and the South China Sea. Major defence spenders will also be in this region. India is central to these zones. Recent Chinese aggression and assertion has driven up security stakes for nations. The In-...

NO ‘GO’ FOR CHINA IN THE LOGJAM

September 8, 2020

In my article Sino Indian Logjam: A Review, I had assessed that the Chinese situation is not as strong as it is being made out. They are in no position to undertake a major offensive anywhere. Their economy like others will struggle. They are not far ahead of the curve...

Disruption in military affairs

September 2, 2020

Three months back I was approached to speak at the Army War College, Mhow, during a doctrine and strategy seminar on multi-domain operations. During the seminar, many things happened. I co-related the topic with the current international military and strategic events. I realised that the actual scope was wider since...

Dealing with Dragon effectively

August 29, 2020

This article mirrors historical cracks which promise to be repeating themselves in future. It is not directed at any individual, appointment or political party. In 1971, India was a poor country with strong Armed Forces. It halved Pakistan, created Bangladesh and cocked a snook at the US. Seventh Fleet threatening...

Sino-Indian logjam: A review

August 25, 2020

The Sino-Indian standoff is log-jammed. All talks and parlays are leading nowhere. Progress is incremental. The long haul will be a test of Indian stamina. Meanwhile experts—national and international as also military and civilian—say that India is greatly disadvantaged. They cite the comprehensive national power of China. It is relatively...

Kashmir: A future reflection

August 22, 2020

It has been more than a year since the abrogation of Article 370. A lot has been said in this time. Commentaries commemorating the anniversary abound: some experts painted deterioration; some painted no change, while some expressed hope in the incremental change. Other major events have also occurred in the bygone...

CHINA FISHING IN TROUBLED PAK WATERS TO NEEDLE INDIA

August 18, 2020

Beggars can’t be choosers. However, they do have a choice of place for begging. Yesterday, Pakistan begged at the US, Saudi and Gulf street corners. Today it is the Chinese, Turkish, and Malaysian street corners. Pakistan can beg for everything, but no one can give it water. Pakistan is going...

Defence acquisition needs to be streamlined now

August 14, 2020

The Indian Army is making incremental, but confused, progress in upgrading its depreciated artillery profile that has languished gravely since the import of Bofors howitzers in the late 1980s as per Rahul Bedi in Hindu in 2014. In 2020, the same Hindu reports that the Defence Ministry will introduce import...

Needed, a tank for high altitude

August 11, 2020

The current SinoIndian standoff has highlighted the lack of a suitable tank for high altitudes. The tank is required not only for defending our territory but also for carrying out any offensive into China. Unless we pose a credible offensive threat to China, our territory will always be subject to...