Experts Speak
-
July 11, 2019
Throwing Out The Baby With The Bath Water
By Lt. General Vijay Oberoi (Retd)What is most galling is the surreptitious manner in which the news was made public and the hesitancy of Army Headquarters to openly state that they were the initiators of the move.
-
July 6, 2019
First Budget of Modi 2.0 - defence ignored
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented Budget 2019 of the new NDA government lead by Narendra Modiin parliament on June 5, 2019, with what she described as a 10-year vision.
-
July 6, 2019
20 years after Kargil Conflict
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)The 20th Kargil Vijay Diwas falls on July 26, 2019. Celebration to mark the 20th anniversary of Kargil victory are being spread over three days - July 25 to July 27 at Dras in J&K and at New Delhi.
-
July 6, 2019
Puncturing Disability
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)There is considerable debate over a Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) circular dated June 24, 2019 saying that tax exemption for disability pension will be "available only to armed forces personnel who have been invalidated from service on account of bodily disability attributable to or aggravated by such service and not to personnel who have been retired on superannuation or otherwise".
-
July 6, 2019
Pakistan's FATF Noose
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)The last Financial Action Task Force (FATF) plenary session was held in Orlando, US, on June 21. 2019. A stern statement at the end of its outcome document warned Pakistan that it could face a blacklisting in FATF's next session scheduled in coming October, if it did not follow a 27-point checklist on bringing stricter laws to curb the access of funds to terror groups inside the country, including IS, Al-Qaeda, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM).
-
July 6, 2019
Second JAI Trilateral at Osaka
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)During the first ever meeting of JAI (acronym for the Japan-America-India Trilateral coined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi using first alphabet...
-
June 15, 2019
100 Day Agenda of the new NDA government
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Concurrent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government assuming charge, the Niti Ayog has announced on May 29, 2019, that government will consider a slew of proposals over the next 100 days to complete unfinished goals of fine-tuning reforms like the bankruptcy code...
-
June 15, 2019
Modi's Maldives, Sri Lanka Visit
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Close on the heels of oath taking of Modi-led NDA government on May 30, 2019 attended by heads of BIMSTEC nations, re-elected Prime Minister Narendra Modi made his first overseas visit to Maldives and Sri Lanka on June 8-9...
-
June 15, 2019
The Education-Radicalisation Connect
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)The new NDA government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced it will roll out a plan for modernising madrassa education next month.
-
June 15, 2019
Maoists, Mining and Environment
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)As per news reports of June 11, 2019, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister has stopped all mining activities at Dantewada Iron Ore Deposit after tribal protest for days.
-
May 31, 2019
BIMSTEC Heads at Modi 2.0 Inaugural
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)In a deft move of immense significance, Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited heads of the Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) nations to the swearing-in ceremony of his new government on May 30, 2019.
-
May 31, 2019
Of Drones and Bombs
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Rapid advancements in technology is empowering militarires as well as terrorists. This includes armed drones and remote controlled bombs. In May 2019, Indonesian police raided a terrorist cell with ability to use Wi-Fi to detonate explosive devices.
-
May 31, 2019
New Eye in the Sky
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)On May 22 May 22, 2019, ISRO achieved another feather in its cap by successfully launching RISAT – 2B; microwave radar imaging earth observation satellite.
-
May 31, 2019
Army Scout Masters Competition 2019
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)India for the first time will be hosting 'Army Scout Masters Competition', which is part of 'International Army Games' steered by Russia annually since August 2015. Army Scout Masters Competition 2019 will be the fifth edition, which India will host in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.
-
May 31, 2019
Faulty Ammunition Kills
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Buried in pages of national dailies was recent news about the army raising an alarm over rising accidents with indigenous faulty ammunition.
-
May 31, 2019
Relocating Military Cantonments
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)It is not known whether the scholar who recently wrote the article 'How new military bases could seed new cities and create jobs' recently is on the payroll of Pakistan's ISI or of Beijing or he aims to cash on the greed of politicians to gobble land and make quick buck for themselves...
-
May 20, 2019
Agenda for Next Defence Minister
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)India is to have a new government shortly. It is, therefore, prudent to list out what should be the agenda for the next Defence Minister.
-
May 20, 2019
Boosting Short-Service Commission?
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)According to news reports of May 9, 2019, the Armed Forces are close to finalising the package to make short-service commission (SSC) more attractive for eligible youth.
-
May 20, 2019
Technical Textiles for Armed Forces
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)According to news reports, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has adopted a policy that raises participation of indigenous firms in manufacturing 'technical textile' for Armed Forces.
-
May 6, 2019
Vital Ladakh road completed – but many questions remain
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Media reports that India has completed the 255-km Darbuk-Shayok-Daulat Beg Oldie (DSDBO) section of the road between Leh and Karakoram (KK) Pass. KK Pass is misnomer because DBO is eight km crow flight south of KK Pass which is considerable distance in that terrain.
-
May 6, 2019
Sri Lanka's Easter Sunday Terror
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)April 21 saw the bloodiest Easter Sunday in Sri Lanka. The multiple bombings that shook the island nation resulted in 359 killed and some 600 injured till the last count.
-
May 6, 2019
Generals in Politics – anything wrong?
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)The electronic and print media prominently covered induction of seven army Generals into the BJP on April 27 amidst the beaming Raksha Mantri (RM) Nirmala Sitharaman.
-
May 6, 2019
Voting by Soldiers
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)An incident on April 28, 2019 during voting at Jabalpur, in which army personnel and families from Army's Grenadiers Regimental Centre located at Jabalpur exercised their franchise, should shame the nation. It would make no difference to the politicians and their goons because the word 'shame' doesn't exist in their lexicon.
-
April 19, 2019
Masood Azhar, Jinping's Lebensraum and US-Pak Relations
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)After China stalled the UNSC for branding Masood Azhar for the fourth time on March 14, 2019, US, France and UK gave an ultimatum to China to lift her so called 'technical hold' on Masood Azhar's ban by April 23.
-
April 19, 2019
Convoy Move in J&K
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)On April 3, 2019, the J&K State Government issued a notification that civilian traffic will not be allowed on the Jammu-Baramulla national highway on Sundays and Wednesdays (reserved for move of security forces) till May 31, 2019...
-
April 19, 2019
Naxals Kill Another Politician
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)On April 9, 2019, BJP MLA Bheema Mandavi and the four security personnel were killed as Naxals targeted his convoy of three vehicles, including the MLA's bullet-proof one, in Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh.
-
April 19, 2019
Russia's International Army Games - 'ARMY 2019'
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Russia's Defence Ministry is making vigorous preparations for the International Army Games 'ARMY-2019' which are scheduled to be held from August 3 to August 17, 2019.
-
April 19, 2019
Operational Control of Assam Rifles
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Media reports of April 15, 2019, state that Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has conveyed to the Delhi High Court that it, along with the Ministry of Defence (MoD), will abide by any decision of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on the dual control over Assam Rifles.
-
April 19, 2019
Lateral Entry in Govt Service - and MoD Dumped
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)There was extensive media coverage when in June 2018 government announced it would seek lateral entry from the civil into the government services at joint secretary level.
-
April 8, 2019
Special Operations Division
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)On August 8, 2012, the Naresh Chandra Committee on national security submitted its report to the government, its recommendations including establishment of a Special Operations Command (SOC).
-
April 8, 2019
EMISAT launched - more Military Satellites in offing
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)On April 1, 2019, ISRO successfully launched India's electronic intelligence satellite EMISAT in another hallmark achievement, the PSLV-C45 also carrying 28 international customer satellites from four countries - Lithuania, Spain, Switzerland and the USA that were launched under commercial arrangements.
-
April 8, 2019
Women Defence Attachés
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)In what is being described as a brilliant move championed by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the Army, Navy and Air Force were asked to single out women officers who were appropriate for posting to Indian missions abroad as defence attaches.
-
April 8, 2019
The AFSPA Debate
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)The Congress Manifesto for Lok Sabha Elections 2019 asking for a review of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) has created a ruckus. The Congress manifesto made a specific proposal related to national security in J&K, with the party stating, "The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act and the Disturbed Areas Act in J&K will be reviewed.
-
March 27, 2019
Corporate-funded R&D could make India a global player in Defence production
By Lt. General Anil Kapoor, DGISExtension of Corporate Social Responsibility concept to Security needed to generate the funds and efforts for a tech leap in the Military
-
March 22, 2019
Takeaways from Balakot
By General Deepak Kapoor (Retd)The Indian Air Force (IAF) needs to be complimented for a well planned, coordinated and meticulously executed strike on a crucial Jaish terror hub at Balakot, located in Khyber Pakhtoonwa province of Pakistan.
-
March 18, 2019
China Protects Masood Azhar at UN
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)China has blocked for the fourth time in a row Masood Azhar from being branded terrorist at the UN. With this the euphoria built up in India of being poised for a massive diplomatic victory at the global stage has been reduced to a damp squib.
-
March 18, 2019
Pak Military Goes After Baloch Riches
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Concurrent to the genocide in Baluchistan, ignored by the world including India, the Pakistani military is going after the riches of the Baluchistan Province. It is a well thought out strategy with Chinese backing, aim being to get hold of the economic jugular while continuing to muscle through the restive region.
-
March 18, 2019
HR and Vigilance in Army
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Two surprises emerged in media recently with reports that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has approved the plan of 'Reorganization of the Army Headquarters'.
-
March 18, 2019
Restructuring Army Headquarters
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has approved the first batch of reforms in the Army which include relocation of 229 officers from the Army Headquarters and creation of a new post of Deputy Chief of Army Staff Strategy, or DCOAS (Strategy)...
-
March 18, 2019
Operation 'Sunrise' – Joint Indo-Myanmar Operation<
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Going by news reports of March 14-15, India has conducted a 'Third Surgical Strike' in Myanmar; Operation 'Sunrise' jointly with the Myanmar Army (Tatmadaw).
-
March 18, 2019
Terror Attack on New Zealand Mosques
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)The ghastly terror attacks on the two mosques of Al Noor and Linwood in New Zealand on March 15, 2019, during Friday prayers has shattered the peace of this country and proved that no place on earth is safe from the specter of terror.
-
March 6, 2019
Imran's Nobel Peace Prize - joke of the decade?
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)The resolution submitted in Pakistan's Parliament on March 2, 2019 to grant the Nobel Peace Prize to Prime Minister Imran Khan for having taken the decision of releasing Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman of Indian Air Force (IAF) in a bid to de-escalate tensions between India and Pakistan, could go down in history as the biggest joke of the decade.
-
March 6, 2019
Required - Regional Counter Terrorism (CT) 'Action' against Pakistan
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Post the truck bombing in Kabul on August 7, 2015, killing 15 and wounding 400, Afghan clerics had declared jihad against Pakistan, saying, "Afghan people are Muslims and Jihad is eligible against Pakistan's military intelligence – Inter Service Intelligence and Punjabi military...
-
March 6, 2019
BECA - and Indo-US Relations
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)News is in the air that India is likely to sign the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geo-spatial Cooperation (BECA) with the US.
-
March 6, 2019
Mama Mia - MIA AK-203
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)On March 3, 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the AK-203 rifle manufacturing unit in Amethi; Indo-Russia Rifles Limited plant at Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) Korwa in Amethi.
-
March 6, 2019
Kulbhushan Jadhav - in Psycho Pakistan
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)News coverage about the recent hearing of the case relating to Kulbhushan Jadhav in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) went off the radar in the Indian media because of the February 14 Pakistan-sponsored car bombing at Pulwama by Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Indian airstrikes on three JeM terrorist camps in Pakistan...
-
February 27, 2019
Indian Strikes Pakistani Terror Camps
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)In a befitting response to the dastardly car bombing by Pakistan-sponsored Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) at Pulwama on February 14, the IAF struck the predominantly JeM terrorist camps at Balakot, Muzaffrabad and Chakothi across the Line of Control (LoC)in the early hours of February 26.
-
February 21, 2019
Pulwama Terror Attack - Deadliest Ever in J&K
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)It is said if you surrender to terror, the future would be horrendous. Nothing can confirm it more than India's capitulation in 2008 during hijack of Indian Airlines flight IC-184 from Kathmandu to Delhi.
-
February 21, 2019
Bogey - that Pakistan will collapse economically
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)There is jubilation in a cross-section in India over Pakistan being in an economic mess. Even Prime Minister Modi said in a recent public rally that Pakistan is roaming around with its begging bowl but not getting help from the world, which drew applause from the crowd.
-
February 21, 2019
Assault Rifles
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Finally, there is some more news about assault rifles for the Indian Army, or shall we say part of the Army because when it comes to equipping soldiers at the cutting edge, where battle is being fought every day and night, we start counting pennies...
-
February 21, 2019
Visit of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS in short) arrived New Delhi on a two-day state visit on February 19, 2019. He earlier visited Pakistan and was scheduled to come to India directly from Pakistan. But he returned to Saudi Arabia and then flew to India. During his visit to Pakistan...
-
February 21, 2019
Litigation against Disabled Soldiers
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has decided to withdraw its appeals made before the Supreme Court against grant of disability benefits to soldiers by various courts and tribunals, according to media repots of February 20, 2019...
-
February 1, 2019
Defence Budget 2019-2020
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)The Interim Budget speech by the Interim Finance Minister (IFM) on February 1, 2019, covered defence budget allocation for the next fiscal year in precisely 34 words by saying, "Our Defence Budget will be crossing 3,00,000 crore for the first time in 2019-20.
-
February 1, 2019
Border Infrastructure – remains neglected
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)On January 13, 2019 media quoted the recently released Central Public Works Department (CPWD) Annual Report (2018-19) stating the government plans to construct 44 strategic roads along the border with China and over 2,100 km axial and lateral roads in Punjab and Rajasthan, abutting Pakistan.
-
February 1, 2019
Sniper War
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)On January 15, 2019, a cross-border sniper shot killed a Border Security Force (BSF) officer patrolling the border in Jammu's Kathua district. This was the fourth such attack in less than a week; this one being astride the international border (IB) made it a violation of international conventions.
-
February 1, 2019
Game of Disability Pensions
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)The Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (DESW), Ministry of Defence, vide its Notification No. 16(3),2017/D (Pen/Policy) dated January 29, 2019, signed by Manoj Sinha, Deputy Secretary to Government of India...
-
February 1, 2019
Microsat-R, Kalamsat launch – and more
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)ISRO's PSLV-C44, carrying India's Military Satellite Microsat-R and Students' Payload Kalamsat, lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharkota Range at 11.37 pm on January 24, 2019 after a 28-hour countdown.
-
February 1, 2019
Fortifying Andaman & Nicobar
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Media reports of January 27 state government has "virtually finalised" a 5,650 crore military infrastructure development plan for Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI) over a 10-year period.
-
January 21, 2019
India and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)
By General V.P. Malik (Retd)In April 2015, China and Pakistan signed an agreement to work on a $46 billion (currently valued at $62 billion) China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), generally viewed as the crown jewel of Chinese President Xi Jinping's Belt and Road Initiative.
-
January 16, 2019
Talking to Taliban – and more
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Speaking at the Raisina Dialogue at New Delhi on January 9, 2019, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat backed talks with the Taliban if they were ready for lasting peace in Afghanistan, saying, "There should be talks with Taliban so long as they don't come up with pre-conditions, so long as they are looking at lasting peace in Afghanistan and bring about stability in that country....
-
January 16, 2019
Visit of Bhutan's Prime Minister
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Prime Minister Lotay Tshering of Bhutan, accompanied by Tandi Dorji, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Loknath Sharma, Minister for Economic Affairs and senior officials from the Royal Government of Bhutan, visited India from December 27 to December 29, 2018 on invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
-
January 16, 2019
Chinooks and Apaches are Coming
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)The first batch of US-built heavy-lift Chinook helicopters and Apache attack helicopters will commence arriving India in March 2019, just ahead of the general elections. Both these will be game changers for the military's capability.
-
January 16, 2019
Space Diplomacy with Neighbours
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)While the launch of Chandrayan-2 scheduled on January 3 was postponed a second time for unexplained reasons, media headlines of January 4 announced India setting up five ground stations and over 500 terminals in neighbouring countries; one each in Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
-
January 16, 2019
Fortifying Andaman & Nicobar
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)News reports of January 6, 2019 reveal that Andaman & Nicobar Islands (ANI) will get a new airbase in the Indian Naval Air Station, INS 'Kohasa' near Diglipur (largest town of North Andaman Island with population of 744202 (2001 census) located 298 km north of Port Blair), which is slated to be inaugurated by the C-in-C ANC on January 24.
-
January 16, 2019
More military assistance to Afghanistan
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Dr. Hamdullah Mohib, National Security Adviser of Afghanistan, visited India on the invitation of his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval from 3 to 5 January 2019.
-
January 3, 2019
Revering Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Prime Minister Narendra Modi unfurled the Tricolour in Andaman's Netaji Memorial in Port Blair on December 30, 2018 to commemorate the first flag hoisting by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on December 30, 1943. On October 21, 1943, Bose had announced the formation of the country's first independent government which was called the Azad Hind government.
-
January 3, 2019
Beyond the Bogibeel Bridge
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)On 25 December 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 4.98 km-long Bogibeel Bridge, the longest rail-cum-road bridge on Brahmaputra River. Foundation stone for this bridge was laid 21 years earlier by the then Prime Minister in 1997 though work started only five years later in 2002.
-
January 3, 2019
After BMS and F-INSAS, dedicated OFC stalled
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)In 2018, the Army was forced to foreclose the Battlefield Management System (BMS) project due to budgetary constraints. BMS delayed mostly because of the governmental defence-industry was pursued for 13 years, and in which considerable amount of money was invested by the private industry in recent years.
-
January 3, 2019
Agni-IV and Agni-V – closer to fielding
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)On December 10, 2018, India successful tested Agni-V one more time, this being the seventh test since its development began past decade and third in 2018. The last test was conducted in June 2018.
-
January 3, 2019
GSAT-11 – boosts Bharat Net Project
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)India's heaviest communication satellite GSAT-11 was launched successfully on December 5, 2018 from the Spaceport in French Guiana along with South Korea's GEO-KOMPSAT-2A satellite, onboard Ariane VA 246 launch vehicle.
-
December 19, 2018
Visit of President Ibrahim Solih
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Maldives President Ibrahim Solih’s three-day state visit to India commencing December 17 was his first foreign visit after becoming President. He was accompanied by the first lady and a high-level delegation including Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Finance, National Planning and Infrastructure...
-
December 19, 2018
Drone Swarms Threat – much catching up required
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), which is a statutory body of Government of India, disclosed through a communication on November 9, 2018 that the Indian Air Force (IAF) had announced a Rs 100 crore Swarm Drone Competition.
-
December 19, 2018
ISRO Space Museums and Space Applications
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Speaking to the media on November 26, ISRO Chairman K. Sivan stated ISRO recently discussed a proposal with the Kerala government to set up a space museum in Thiruvananthapuram, to which the state government responded positively and even allotted land for the purpose.
-
December 19, 2018
Defence Minister’s US Visit
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made a maiden 5 day visit to the US that concluded on December 8, 2018. Her visit was concurrent to the ongoing 12 day Indo-US military exercise between the IAF and the USAF in Kalaikunda...
-
December 19, 2018
Border Infrastructure – decades behind
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)India will go ahead with construction of much required strategic roads and permanent integrated buildings along the Indo-China border in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim as part of a critical infrastructure project worth Rs 250 billion, read media reports of 19 November 2018.
-
December 19, 2018
Prahar, Pralay and Sant
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)On September 20, India successfully test-fired ‘Prahar’ short-range ballistic missile from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) from Chandipur, Odisha. Prahar is a solid fuel road-mobile short-range missile fitted with inertial navigation system.
-
November 29, 2018
Kartarpur Corridor – and the challenges ahead
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Vice President Venkiah Naidu laid the foundation stone for the Kartarpur Corridor on the Indian side on November 26 and Prime Minister Imran Khan on Pakistani side on November 28.
-
November 29, 2018
The Quad and the IONS
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)The third round of the quadrilateral security dialogue termed 'Quad', between India, US, Japan and Australia, was held on 15 November 2018 at Singapore on sidelines of the 13th East Asia Summit.
-
November 29, 2018
Stonewalling Defence-Industry Privatization
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)As per media reports, four lakh defence employees working in 41 ordnance factories, naval docks, army and air force workshops and other productions units are readying themselves for a three-day protest between 23 and 25 January 2019.
-
November 19, 2018
PM Narendra Modi visits Maldives
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Prime Minister Narendra Modi made his brief maiden visit to Maldives on November 17 to attend the swearing in Ceremony of new Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on invitation of the latter. 46 nations were represented at Solih's swearing in ceremony.
-
November 19, 2018
Pakistan – More Terror Uncapped
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Before the Pakistani military installed Imran Khan as the Prime Minister, reasons why he had earned the title of 'Taliban Khan' were well known; links with terrorist organisations, known terrorists supporting him in elections, him funding the Haqqani seminary known as 'Oxford of Global Jihad', and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) building a 15-acre complex on outskirts of Bahawalpur to train thousands of young children for Jihad.
-
November 19, 2018
Military Drones - private industry is Way Forward
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)As per news reports, a private Gurgaon-based company, 'Vortex UAS', has been working on providing military drones, including weaponised versions, for the Indian Army, the Navy and the National Security Guard (NSG).
-
November 19, 2018
New Artillery Guns Inducted
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)On 9 November 2018, the Defence Minister dedicated the M777 A2 Ultra Light Howitzers (ULH) and K9 Vajra-Tracked Self Propelled Guns and 6x6 Field Artillery Tractors to the service of the Nation during a dedication ceremony held at Devlali Field Firing Ranges.
-
November 19, 2018
ISI gives J&K terrorists Sniper Rifles
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Media report quoting IB source indicate J&K terrorists use sniper rifles being used by terrorists are stolen by Taliban from US-NATO forces in Afghanistan passed on to Pakistan's ISI, and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) has formed sniper teams whichmove in buddy pairs.
-
October 30, 2018
13th India-Japan Annual Summit
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Japan on 28-29 October 2018 for the 13th India-Japan Annual Summit for wide-ranging discussions on bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest under the framework of the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership.
-
October 30, 2018
Coming – Apache Attack Helicopters
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)In 1985 when Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi visited the US, he was accompanied by Army Chief General K. Sundarji. This was the time when planning was full swing for establishment of the Army Aviation Corps (AAC), which finally was founded two years later – in 1987.
-
October 30, 2018
Army of Integrated Battle Groups
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)The restructuring of Army was approved recently at the Army Commanders Conference (October 9-15) albeit media reports that two Army Commanders had their reservations.
-
October 30, 2018
Smart Border Fence
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)On 24 May 2018, took stock of the progress of construction of border fencing, roads and outposts along India's borders with neighbouring countries in a high-level meeting and directed all concerned officials to maintain constant vigil and security on the borders.
-
October 30, 2018
India-China Joint Project on Afghanistan
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)
The MEA brief issued on April 28, 2018, with respect to the Informal Summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on April 27-28 at Wuhan, China described among other issues, agreement for proper management of the bilateral relationship conducive for the development and prosperity of the region, creating conditions for the Asian Century.
-
October 17, 2018
Visit of Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary General
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who had visited India in July 2016 before he was elected Secretary General, made his maiden visit to India from October 1 to October 4.
-
October 17, 2018
Prahar and Pragati
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)On 20 September 2018, India successfully test-fired surface-to-surface short-range tactical ballistic missile ‘Prahar’ from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) off Odisha coast paving the way for its induction.
-
October 17, 2018
Don’t Take Maoists Lightly
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)On October 7, 2018, Home Minister Rajnath Singh stated that Naxalism will be eliminated in about three years. Addressing a function at a CRPF camp to mark 26th anniversary celebrations of the Rapid Action Force (RAF), he said, “The day is not far, may be in a time period of 1-2 or 3 years, that Left-wing extremism will be eliminated...”.
-
October 17, 2018
Maldives Turns A Leaf
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Maldives has turned a leaf with the surprise defeat of President Abdulla Yameen in the recent elections. Mohammad Solih, consensus candidate of the joint opposition has emerged winner.
-
October 17, 2018
Of Buffaloes in Pakistan and Cows in India
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)In a scam of sorts in Pakistan during September this year, the Imran Khan government sold off eight buffaloes belonging to former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, raising USD 19,000 in the process.
-
October 17, 2018
Surveillance of LoC-LAC
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Surveillance has been perpetual concern of troops manning our borders. If Pakistan has ever since been a hostile neighbour, China continues to indulge in intrusions. Ironically, the DRDO has not been able to provide any viable solution for surveillance, not even appropriate ground sensors.
-
October 6, 2018
S-400 Triumf for India
By Air Marshal B.K. Pandey (Retd)A major acquisition of defence equipment from Russia has delivered a clear message to the Trump administration on India’s perspective of strategic autonomy in matters of national security.
-
October 6, 2018
Visit of President Vladimir Putin - big boost to strategic ties
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India on 4-5 October to attend the 19th Indo-Russian Summit has provided a big boost to the bilateral strategic partnership. His visit came at a time of angst in Moscow in what it sees as India’s tilt towards the US while New Delhi views growing China-Russia-Pakistan alignment with concern.
-
October 6, 2018
Beyond National Register for Citizens
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)There has been much talk of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) for Assam relating to illegal immigrants, though many would like to paint it a communal issue.
-
October 6, 2018
Can Pak Arm Terrorists with Chemicals?
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)After security forces gunned down two terrorists in Bandipora are of J&K last month, the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) issued a statement on September 23 that chemical weapons were used to kill these terrorists.
-
October 6, 2018
New Tri-Service Divisions
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)In November 1988, Maldives President Abdul Gayoom sent an SOS to India having taken refuge in Maldives National Security Headquarters when a group of 80-200 Sri Lankan militants of People’s Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE)...
-
September 28, 2018
Celebrating Surgical Strikes or Hiding Dismal Aftermath?
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)What have surgical strikes achieved in the long term? Has terrorism stopped? Have the heads of terrorists groups gone underground in POK? Is there a reduction in recruitment? Has Pak Army stopped supporting terrorist infiltration?
-
September 19, 2018
Coming Up – 19th Indo-Russian Summit
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Russian President Vladimir Putin is to arrive in New Delhi for the 19th Indo-Russian summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 5. Modi had invited Putin for the 19th Annual Summit in India at the first informal Summit between the two leaders on May 21, 2018 at Sochi in the Russian Federation.
-
September 19, 2018
Chagos Islands – Victim of British Skullduggery
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)There was the time when the ‘sun did never set on the British Empire’. But that state was achieved through treachery, deceit and deception, with fair amount of immorality. Post Independence of India, British conspired invasion of J&K through Mountbatten, Lockhart and Douglas Gracey...
-
September 19, 2018
Chabahar – time to operationalize
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Concurrent to the Indo-US 2+2 Dialogue in Delhi on September 6, India was also hosting Iran’s Roads & Urban Development Minister Abbas Ahmad Akhoundi who held discussions with his Indian counterpart Nitin Gadkari, Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Shipping and Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation.
-
September 19, 2018
Nepal in Dragon’s Jaws
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)China has agreed to allow Nepal to use four seaports and three land ports for the third country trade. The seaports are Shenzen, Lianyungang, Zhanjiang and Tianjin, and the land ports are Lanzhou, Lhasa and Xigatse.
-
September 19, 2018
More Muscle for Artillery
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)The Indian Army requires some 3,000-4,000 artillery pieces over the next 15 years. Four type of guns and howitzers are presently under induction: one, M777 155mm ultra light howitzer (ULH), two, K9 Vajra Self-Propelled 155mm Tracked Howitzer...
-
September 7, 2018
Indo-US 2+2 Dialogue
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)The first ever Indo-US 2+2 Dialogue finally took place on September 6, 2018 after two postponements over past one year.
-
September 7, 2018
Visit of Chinese Defence Minister
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Commenting on multiple transgression by the across the Line of Actual Control (LAC) including a major one in Sikkim post the informal summit in Wuhan between Prime Minister Narendar Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, Claude Arpi, expert on Tibet and India-China relations wrote in his article titled 'The Curious Case of Demchok', "The 'spirit of Wuhan' had clearly been forgotten.
-
September 7, 2018
India-China Boundary Talks
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)India and China have so far held 20 rounds of Special Representative-level talks to resolve the dispute over the 3,488-km long Line of Actual Control (LAC).
-
September 7, 2018
ISRO's Manned Mission – and more
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)During his address from Red Fort on 15 August 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India would launch a manned mission in space in the year 2022 - the 75th Independence year.
-
September 7, 2018
Is Imran Khan another Musharraf
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Imran Khan is the second Pathan to be elevated to the top job in Pakistan after Yahya Khan. His radical background is well established known. His links with Taliban and his funding of the Haqqani seminary known as the 'Oxford of Global Jihad' is well documented, which earned him the title of "Taliban Khan".
-
September 7, 2018
Indo-Russian Defence Cooperation
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Speaking to Russian media in June 2018, the Indian Ambassador to Russia had said that India is continuing to negotiate with Russia for jointly developing a Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA).
-
August 16, 2018
Prime Minister's Independence Day Message
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Speaking from the ramparts of the Red Fort for his fifthtime Independence Day address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke mostly about the achievements of his government over the past four years including the various schemes launched by his administration, and future dreams.
-
August 16, 2018
Delhi's Missile Shield
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Delhi is to get a missile shield "soon", which the media says will be akin to that of Washington and Moscow. Going by past experience, the "soon" could be any number of months, even years.
-
August 16, 2018
Quading China
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)There is a viewpoint that the fast developing US-Japan-Vietnam-Australia-India consort, coupled with the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), would increase China's Malacca dilemma for its energy imports notwithstanding the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and alternate through Myanmar.
-
August 16, 2018
Indo-US Defence Technology Conundrum
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)There is jubilation in India over the US granting the Strategic Trade Authorisation-1 (STA-1) that will ease export controls for high technology product sales to the country.
-
August 16, 2018
Over 300 Army-men Knock on SC Door
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)In an unprecedented move over 300 serving Army-men, in personal capacity, moved a writ petition to the Supreme Court on 14 August 2018 over their fundamental rights, asking whether a soldier's discretion can be put under legal scrutiny.
-
August 16, 2018
Advancements in Artillery
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Chinese media has reported development of new electromagnetic rockets for artillery units that would be more powerful than most conventional artillery and ideal for high altitude regions.
-
August 3, 2018
Modi's Rwanda, Uganda visit and BRICS summit
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)As part of his recent three-nation tour to Africa, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Rwanda, Uganda and then South Africa where he attended the BRICS summit.
-
August 3, 2018
India, Pakistan in SCO drill – Option in lighter vein
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Going by media reports India and Pakistan are to be part of anti-terror mega drill in Russia under aegis of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) next month; scheduled from August 22 to August 29.
