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Jammu & Kashmir: A year after: Last year’s big moves broke self-perpetuating cycle, could potentially end intractable proxy war
- August 5, 2020
- Posted by: Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd)
- Categories: Domestic Issues, Military, Strategic Affairs
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On this day last year, much against the run of events in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K), the Centre took some major decisions to give a new course to the proxy hybrid war troubled state. It involved two basic changes: abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A of the Indian Constitution which gave J&K a special constitutional status, and its administrative downgrade from a single state to two separate Union Territories of Ladakh and J&K.
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USA a declining power – Part 1
- August 4, 2020
- Posted by: Lt Gen PR Kumar (Retd)
- Categories: Strategic Affairs, USA
General. Ironically, the 64 zillion dollar question answers itself (incidentally A zillion is a huge butnonspecific number), being a truism in today’s context that amongst many verticals, economic strength is the pivotalingredient of comprehensive national power (CNP). Especially after COVID 19, a large number of papers/articles/media discussions have emerged regarding the future status of USA.
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J&K – Less War, More Peace : An Assessment of the Year after the Decisions of 5 August 2019
- August 3, 2020
- Posted by: Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd)
- Categories: Military, Strategic Affairs
On 5 Aug 2019 India stunned the world, and perhaps itself, with decisions regarding the constitutional exclusivity attached to the erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K). These were related to abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A of the Indian Constitution and the administrative division of J&K.
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India’s QUADratic Equations
- August 3, 2020
- Posted by: Lt Gen PR Shankar (Retd)
- Categories: Military, Strategic Affairs
India has reinforced the LAC with 35000 troops. It is considering banning more Chinese apps. Chinese entities are being excluded from – telecom, railways, non-essentials, infrastructure and more. Our stance against the Chinese is hardening. The question is – should we continue to do it alone or as part of the QUAD? Needs a logical examination.
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Belling the cat of intellectual mediocrity
- July 31, 2020
- Posted by: Lt Gen PR Shankar (Retd)
- Categories: Military, Strategic Affairs
An article titled ’Military Mediocrity – Who Will Bell The Cat’ by Mr Mohan Guruswamy is doing the social media rounds.( published in the citizen.in). It paints the Indian Armed Forces leadership in poor light. Casting aspersions on the leadership of the Armed Forces, at present, sows doubt in the minds of common people. Is the safety, security and wellbeing of the nation in the right hands?
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Need Bravery not Bravado
- July 31, 2020
- Posted by: Brig Deepak Sinha (Retd)
- Categories: ASEAN & ARF, China, Europe, Foreign Affairs, Rest of the World, SAARC, Strategic Affairs, USA, West Asia
In the preface to his insightful work, Generalship: Its Disease and Cure, British military tactician Major-General JFC Fuller quotes an apocryphal tale told to him by a member of the French General Staff. “At the battle of Waterloo, Colonel Clement, an infantry commander, fought with bravery; but unfortunately, was shot through the head.
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QUAD 2.0 or TIANXIA
- July 29, 2020
- Posted by: Lt Gen PR Shankar (Retd)
- Categories: ASEAN & ARF, China, Foreign Affairs, Rest of the World, SAARC, Strategic Affairs, USA, West Asia
Gordon Chang says ‘Xi, thinks everyone should acknowledge not only Chinese hegemony but also China’s rule,… China’s ruler has both the right and responsibility to rule Tianxia, or all under Heaven’! Does the world want to be in this Chinese hell? If not, it needs the QUAD. It is a global imperative.
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The China-Iran link could be a Geopolitical Game-changer : The Stakes for India
- July 28, 2020
- Posted by: Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd)
- Categories: ASEAN & ARF, China, Foreign Affairs, Military, Strategic Affairs, West Asia
The Covid 19 pandemic has paralyzed the world and created geopolitical opportunities galore. In consequence pin pricks, pressure points and strategic messaging have all become the order of the day.
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Why Ladakh needs Tanks
- July 22, 2020
- Posted by: Maj Gen Birender Dhanoa (Retd)
- Categories: Military, Strategic Affairs
“First time since 1962 that tanks and mechanised elements urgently airlifted to Ladakh” reads a headline in The Tribune of 22 June 2020. “India’s (sic) shopping for lightweight mountain-friendly tanks post China tussles”, proclaims another eye-catching header in The Economic Times of 15 July 2020.
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Beijing’s Strategic Messaging shifts to West Asia
- July 21, 2020
- Posted by: Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd)
- Categories: ASEAN & ARF, China, Strategic Affairs, West Asia
All these years, many analysts wondered why China was so tentative about expanding business and strategic links with Iran in a bigger and more transparent way that would convey its clear disagreement with the US policy on Iran. The US re-imposed sanctions after it pulled out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018, but some short-term concessions were available to nations such as India and China that obtained much of their energy needs from Iran.
