Experts Speak
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May 5, 2022
De-conflicting Eastern Ladakh is Passé
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)We may continue military-to-military talks but any progress is unlikely unless China wants and we agree to shift our positions more west by couple of kilometres, calling them no-patrol-zones
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May 5, 2022
Of Lasers and UAVs
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)There are good developments but the need is of speed, given the technological developments globally, particularly in China
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May 5, 2022
India-UK Defence Relations
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated their commitment to boost the defence and security cooperation under the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and enhance engagements in support of a free, open and secure Indo-Pacific
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May 5, 2022
Drone Making in India
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)The government has announced easing of rules for registration and operation of drones in the country, as also the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme worth 120 crore to boost indigenous manufacturing of drones
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May 5, 2022
Toxin Hand of Friendship
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)There was speculation about a possible change in stand of the new Sharif-governed Pakistan towards India. However, the fact that he was chosen for the post of Prime Minister by Pakistan's Army Chief General Bajwa, should put an end to speculation what India-Pakistan relations will be under Sharif.
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April 16, 2022
Fourth Indo-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)The 2+2 Dialogue was broad based with in-person meetings between the respective Defence Ministers and Foreign Ministers of both countries, preceded by a virtual summit between PM Modi and President Biden
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April 16, 2022
Tour of Duty in Army
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Why would the youth like to join as a soldier under Tour of Duty (ToD) with uncertain future? Have we considered the dangers of youth well versed in the use of firearms let loose in the society? A much thorough analysis is needed for the ToD scheme to be enforced on the Armed Forces.
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April 16, 2022
Canada Mining Gold in Balochistan
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Nearly $10 billion shall be invested in Balochistan, including $1 billion that shall be invested in social upliftment projects such as roads, schools and hospitals. The Gold and Copper mining project shall make Balochistan the largest recipient of foreign direct investment in Pakistan.
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April 16, 2022
Border Laxity is Dangerous
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)The original deadline to complete the entire stretch of around 1,300 km roads to be constructed along the Indo-Nepal border was by 2016 at a cost of 3,900 crore. However, after a lapse of 12 years, only 29 per cent of the roads are completed.
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April 16, 2022
Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Serial Production Cleared
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)This helicopter is equipped with all-weather combat capability to support the ground forces and would be a potent platform to meet the operational requirements of Indian Air Force & Indian Army
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April 16, 2022
Made in India Advances
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Privatisation is the way for India's defence industry to grow as we have more than enough potential in the private sector
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April 6, 2022
Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Launches Spring Offensive
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)TTP's aim is to eventually overthrow the Pakistani government, take control, abrogate the Constitution and impose Sharia Law
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April 6, 2022
Military Satellites
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Currently, India has only two dedicated military satellites - the GSAT-7 (Rukmini) and GSAT-7A (Angry Bird) used by the Indian Navy and Air Force respectively. The GSAT-7B satellite would help the Indian Army enhance its surveillance in border areas.
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April 6, 2022
Boost to India-Maldives Relations
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Visit of External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is testimony to the importance that India attaches to its close and friendly relations with the Maldives
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April 6, 2022
ISIS Threat to India
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)A recent UN Report raises serious concerns over ISIS's continued attempts to revive itself in its core zone as well as expanding and strengthening its affiliates in several countries of Asia and Africa
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April 6, 2022
Airborne Exercises along Northern Borders
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Amid the heightened tensions with China, along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the Indian Army conducted airborne exercises to validate rapid response capabilities and seamless integration
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March 21, 2022
Ukraine Crisis Could Trigger Cascading Risks Globally
By Lt. General J.K. Sharma (Retd)The global spikes in energy and food prices resulting from these supply chain disruptions will see many countries struggle with rising food and energy insecurity as well as increased inequality
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March 16, 2022
Ukraine Conflict is America Contrived
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)There is no prospect of peace because the US does not want it. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is an American puppet playing proxy to the US, and has no compunctions about the destruction of his country.
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March 16, 2022
Darker Clouds Over Pakistan
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)The resurgence of IS-K in Pakistan is bad news for Pakistan while the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and other outfits are targeting the Pakistani security establishment and their supporters
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March 16, 2022
15th India-China Talks in Ladakh
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)During the 15th round of talks, that lasted for around 13 hours, the Indian side pushed China for the resolution of remaining friction points in Ladakh but there was no breakthrough
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March 16, 2022
US Assistance During Aggression
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)The manner in which the US propped up Ukraine, forced Russia to invade it and is now only pumping arms and mercenaries into Ukraine has blown the aura of support that the US had built around it
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March 16, 2022
Atmanirbhar in Defence
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)“The biggest lesson is that we have to be ready to fight future wars with indigenous weapons and the steps towards Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence should be taken more urgently” —General Manoj Mukund Naravane, Chief of the Army Staff
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March 14, 2022
Foreign Fighters in Ukraine: A Doomsday Scenario
By Lt. General J.K. Sharma (Retd)Foreigners are not necessarily good for the very people they seek to defend. It has been amply proven that when foreign fighters deploy, violence against locals goes up.
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March 7, 2022
Sanctions against Russia has wider ramifications
By Lt. General J.K. Sharma (Retd)Although economic sanctions are widely used, their effectiveness is often debated. For now, Western governments are putting a higher priority on their support for Ukraine but soon they will need to weigh on how much pain they are prepared to inflict on their own people.
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February 28, 2022
Lasers in Defence
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Recent advances in ultra-high-power lasers and laser weapons systems have shown the enormous potential of laser technology to revolutionise 21st century warfare
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February 28, 2022
Chinese Missile Repair Base in Bangladesh
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)It is presumed that the maintenance and overhaul facility being set up will double up as a production assembly line of the FM-90 air defence missile system and its advanced variants in future
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February 28, 2022
Pakistani Duping FATF
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Pakistan is currently on the FATF 'Grey List' but needs to be placed on the 'Black List' having duped the FATF all these years; terrorism and terror financing continuing though front organisations and changing names of terror outfits.
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February 28, 2022
China Backstabs Nepal
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)In 2020, reports began emerging that China was encroaching into Nepal by removing boundary pillars and constructing buildings despite the Nepal-China border having been ratified since 1960 and boundary pillars constructed all along
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February 25, 2022
Indian Dilemma Over the Russia – Ukraine Crisis
By Lt. General Dushyant Singh (Retd)India has become closer to the US and the West in the recent past but it also enjoys traditionally a good relation with Russia
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February 25, 2022
Europe on the edge: Russia attacks Ukraine
By Air Marshal B.K. Pandey (Retd)On the international political front, Russia is facing condemnation from Western powers over its actions in Ukraine with the European Union vowing to hold Moscow accountable for the military operation
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February 12, 2022
Border Villages and National Security
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Under the Vibrant Village Programme (VVP), villages near the LAC in Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal are to be developed. How many and where will they come up, given the aggressive posture of PLA, empowered by China's New Border Law plus road connectivity?
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February 12, 2022
Smarticle Robots - and more
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Smarticle research has the potential to make robots capable of changing their shapes, modalities and functions
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February 12, 2022
Quantum Communications
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Quantum technology is evolving quickly and no doubt will have a significant impact not only on warfare but also in terms of national security. However, experts are still not certain what exactly this impact will be!
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February 12, 2022
Comforting from the Cold
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)The government could consider providing onboard heating and ventilation system in Cheetah and Chetak helicopters as well – same as being done for the Light Utility Helicopters (LUH)
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February 2, 2022
Defence Budget Allocation 2022-2023
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Defence Budget 2022-23 has been increased to 5.25 lakh crore for 2022-23 from the previous FY allocation of 4.78 lakh crore with a major push on ensuring self-reliance in manufacturing of military platforms
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February 2, 2022
China's Mechanical Yak and More
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)The People's Liberation Army (PLA) may use the Mechanical Yak to bring supplies of munitions and food to plateaus, mountains, deserts and forests where standard vehicles have difficulty crossing
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February 2, 2022
SPARSH – Bane of Vulnerable Segment?
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)SPARSH will create unending problems for the pensioners, widows and disabled veterans, and as such, should have been discussed with veterans before commencing its implementation
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February 2, 2022
Learning Ancient Indian Statecraft
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Our ancient texts have universal applicability and drawing the right lessons would help us not only in strengthening our cultural values but also in building credible national security architecture
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February 2, 2022
The Indigenous Rifle Saga
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)The foot soldier is generally forgotten in the race of big-ticket weapon systems