Chinese intrusions across the LAC China’s border intrusions have been bolstered by a steady and committed expansion of its military hardware and infrastructure in Tibet and neighbouring provinces. The improvement of surface transportation near the LAC has resulted in larger military presence and augmented rapid deployment capacities of the PLA and the PLAAF. Namrata Goswami December 17, 2013 Issue Brief
Border Roads Organisation in the North-East: Need for Priority The importance of the road network in the north-east needs no emphasis. India is now raising the 17 Mountain Corps to augment its strategic strike capability vis-à-vis China. The BRO is the key instrument to realise the road network objective and provide the required logistical capability to this Corps. Gautam Sen December 16, 2013 IDSA Comments
Is It Time to Withdraw the Army from Kashmir? 2013 witnessed the highest ceasefire violations in eight years, accompanied by a sharp increase in security force casualties. Some sections within the media and intelligentsia have misunderstood the army’s presence in disturbed areas as a reflection of its vested interests. It is time that the reality of its role and responsibility are better understood. Vivek Chadha December 13, 2013 IDSA Comments
Chief of Defence Staff must be Appointed Immediately All major democracies have opted for the CDS and India cannot ignore it any further. In the prevailing battlefield milieu of joint operations, combined operations and even coalition operations, modern armed forces cannot be successful without a well-developed and deeply ingrained culture of jointmanship. Gurmeet Kanwal December 12, 2013 IDSA Comments
US Rebalancing to the Asia-Pacific: Implications for West Asia White House has sought to assuage the West Asian states’ feelings that the ties with Asia-Pacific would not be at their expense. On the other hand, there are strong prescriptions from within the US calling for quietly downgrading involvement in the sorry mess of West Asia as the problems there can at best be managed, but never solved. Gulshan Dietl December 11, 2013 IDSA Comments
China’s ADIZ: A Case of an Overreach? There is no doubt that this an audacious foreign policy gambit played by China. Un-named Chinese officials have been quoted in the Chinese press to say that China is willing to instigate strategic confrontation against Japan and are prepared for it to last a 'long time'. R. S. Kalha December 10, 2013 IDSA Comments
Iran Nuclear Deal: The Fine Print The November 24, 2013 Joint Plan of Action between Iran and its P5+1 interlocutors is the first agreement since November 2004 that contains Iran’s acceptance of certain short-term limitations on its nuclear programme. S. Samuel C. Rajiv , G. Balachandran December 09, 2013 Issue Brief
Cause and Effect of the ADIZ over East China Sea The primary aim of the ADIZ is to provide a lead time to the air force, in case of hostile aircraft intruding, and take appropriate actions to counter them. The establishment of the ADIZ in the East China Sea by China is a signal of its assertiveness and authority over the Senkaku/Diaoyu island and probably a readiness to escalate it. Naval Jagota December 06, 2013 IDSA Comments
Gen. Raheel Sharif: Chief Has Changed, Army Remains the Same A lot has being made of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif taking his time to select the next army chief and signalling civilian supremacy by picking the number three in the seniority list. Whether Gen Raheel Sharif will remain subservient to civilian authority because ‘Pakistan has changed’ and ‘democracy is here to stay’ remains to be seen. Sushant Sareen December 03, 2013 IDSA Comments
Reduction in Expenditure on Internal Security in Nagaland: Is it Feasible? The State hardly has any `balance from its current revenues` to take on additional internal security expenditure or fund its own development activities. In this backdrop, the State has perforce to depend on the Centre to maintain a security establishment and sustain it on a long-term basis. Gautam Sen December 03, 2013 IDSA Comments