Experts Speak
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MoD — "bad" is putting it mildly
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Media recently ran a headline titled 'The ministry of defence is a bad organization with no accountability': Gen V P Malik', publishing an interview with the former Army Chief.
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Critical Skies — anyone bothered?
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Close on the warning last year by the BJP MP Maj Gen BC Khanduri led Parliamentary Committee for Defence that the situation of the equipping...
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Abe's Visit — special strategic partnership goes more special
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)The strategic significance of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to India comes not because it is in the following year as Prime Minister Modi's visit to Japan, but also since Japan is a vital anchor for India's...
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Heart of Asia — will Pakistan withdraw the knife?
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)The 'Heart of Asia' conference in Islamabad was the fifth in the series of ministerial level meetings that have been ongoing since 2011, in continuation of the 'Istanbul Process'.
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Indo-Russian Bonds — remain strong
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Russia later in the month to attend the annual India-Russia Summit. Indo-Russian strategic partnership goes much beyond mere sale-purchase of military hardware, remaining strong...
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Indo-Pak Dialogue — is Pakistani military on board?
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)The breakthrough in Indo-Pak relations in Islamabad recently is a welcome step close on the heels of the NSAs of the two countries in Bangkok. It may be recalled that Prime Minister Modi had invited all heads of SAARC nations, including PM Nawaz Sharif, for swearing in of his government last year.
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Lessons from 26/11 — what have we learned?
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Many would question what have we learned from the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attacks that created Mayhem and created national uproar in 2008?
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Airstrikes on ISIS
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)The world must acknowledge that ISIS may have 14th century ideology but it has access to technology and weaponry of the current century.
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Nishant Dumped Finally — when will we privatise?
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Yet another failed crash landing of DRDO's Nishant UAV shows the dismal state of the governmental defence-industrial complex.
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Terror Strikes Paris Again – worst ever
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)A state of emergency has been declared in France following multiple terror attacks on November 13. This was the second terror attack in Paris this year, previous one being the January attack at Charlie Hebdo.
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PM Modi’s UK Visit
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)With 1.4 million Indian origin Britons ready to welcome PM Modi and the need for PM David Cameron to woo them, the stage was already set for a successful UK visit by Modi. Before the visit, British media spoke of informed political calculations and the ruling Conservatives extended a hand of friendship...
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FDI in Defence – ease of business?
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)On November 10, the government announced a host of measures to ease business along with FDI reforms in 15 sectors including defence, stating that FDI bids worth up to 49% of equity will now progress through the so-called "automatic route".
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FDI in the Indian Defence Industry
By Air Marshal B.K. Pandey (Retd)The major global investors seeking to make large investments in the defence sector, are unlikely to find the change to be a significant departure from the past.
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Border Protoclols — can they be effective
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)After the aborted NSA level India-Pakistan talks, the three day Director General talks between the Border Security Force and Pakistani Rangers...
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UCAV Race in Subcontinent
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)Pakistan's army spokesman announced on September 7 that Pakistan's indigenous Burraq armed drone was used to hit a terrorist compound in Shawai Valley killing three high profile targets.
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Fifth Joint India — China Counter Terrorism Exercise
By Lt General V.K. Kapoor (Retd)The fifth joint counter terrorism exercise by troops of the Indian Army and China's PLA got underway on 12 October 2015. The exercise termed "Hand-in-Hand 2015" will terminate on 23 October 2015. This time the exercise is being held in Kunming in China.
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A National War Memorial in India
By Lt General V.K. Kapoor (Retd)The clamour for a national war memorial from the armed forces and even non government bodies has been fairly loud in the past decade or so. This is especially noteworthy because in the past 67 years since independence, the Indian Armed forces have been constantly involved in military operations...
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Chinese Incursions in Indian Territory
By Lt General V.K. Kapoor (Retd)China is in illegal occupation of 38,000 square kilometres of Indian Territory in Ladakh mainly Aksai Chin and Shaksgam Valley. Chinese claim lines have also been expanding over the years.
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Fencing Borders
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)By all indications Pakistan is hell bent to increase terrorist attacks in India and make all out efforts to continue infiltrations both through the LoC and IB sectors.
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Babus all the Way — woes of India's security
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)That the defence of India has remained in a defunct state is no secret, with hundreds of articles and reams of reports by studies, committees and what have you.
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PM's UAE Visit
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)As far back as October 2011, HSBC had predicted that India would leap over China as UAE's top trading partner by 2025 with bilateral trade touching US$ 103.6 billion.
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New Tri-Service Commands — how effective will they be?
By Lt. General P.C. Katoch (Retd)As per media reports, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on August 19 has directed HQ IDS to "work out and fine-tune" the "basic structures" for the Cyber, Aerospace and Special Operations Commands.
