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