Six years ago, was the 50th anniversary of the Indo-Pak Conflict 1965. Even as a second-generation officer and having served 40 years in the Indian Army, I thought I did not know enough about the strategic aspects of the war except the part involving operations in J&K; that essentially meant the Battle of Haji Pir.

The Army Chief, General Manoj Naravane in his Army Day press interaction confirmed that the Indian Army is prepared to remain deployed in additional strength in Ladakh due to the current standoff with China.

Many people are trying to make sense of the recently concluded elections to district development councils (DDCs) in Jammu & Kashmir, a practice that does not exist anywhere else in the country.

There was a time 25 years ago when many of the fortunate ones from the Indian Army who served with UN forces in Africa loved to break journey in Dubai to shop around a bit and fill up suitcases of goodies for their families.

Many do not agree with the ‘clash of civilisations’ theory of Samuel P Huntington but there can hardly be a doubt about the fact that there has been a churn within the Islamic world since 1979.

Indo-US relations have entered a crucial period of complexity with linkages and sub linkages of interests of the two nations. However, the convergence of interests far outweighs the differences.

India is stepping into the 50th year after its spectacular military campaign that led to Pakistan’s capitulation on 16 December 1971.