Japan’s quest for East Asian Community Japan is seeking to forge an East Asian Community inline with the European Union. But the optimism that East Asia will realize the goal of European Union (EU) type integration does not seem realistic since historical issues still impede normal diplomatic relations. Shamshad A. Khan | October 28, 2009 | IDSA Comments
India-Pakistan Conflict Outcome Probability The Prime Minister in his address to the Combined Commanders conference of the armed forces exhorted the Services to remain alert, due to the unfolding situation in Pakistan. The armed forces would be monitoring the situation closely, because preparedness is a professional obligation and a matter of pride. Thus, if another 26/11 were to occur India’s military options would need to be considered. This commentary reinforces arguments against war as an ‘option’ by looking at the probability of breakdown in deterrence in the event of an India-Pakistan conflict. Ali Ahmed | October 27, 2009 | IDSA Comments
Severing the Hawala Trail to and from India Terror groups need money for procuring weapons, ammunitions, material, communication equipment, recruiting, conducting information operations, housing, and paying compensation to active members and their dependents. Terror organizations utilize a number of sources to fund their operations such as charities, extortion from local traders, forest produce, narcotics, kidnapping-ransom, extortion from NGOs and aid organisations. So where does Hawala figure in the above matrix. Hawala largely acts as the mover of funds than source of funding. Dushyant Singh | October 2009 | Journal of Defence Studies
Taking Strength from the Past in Securing India’s Future To promote the establishment and maintenance of international peace and security with the least diversion for armaments of the world’s human and economic resources -Article 26 of the UN Charter… Continue reading Taking Strength from the Past in Securing India’s Future Binalakshmi Nepram | October-December 2009 | CBW Magazine
Use of Force: Possibilities in the Indo-Pak Context My presentation on, “ Use of Force - Possibilities in the Indo – Pak Context ” shall be brief and pointed. I shall make a few salient points, leaving the nitty gritty for discussion, in the interactive session that will follow. I may add that what I present today, is not any institutional position, but merely a personal opinion, albeit one that is steeped quite naturally, in my professional experiences and inclinations. May I also asterisk to the arguments that follow, a few caveats Raj Shukla | October 2009 | Journal of Defence Studies
An Empirical Study of Motivation in the Indian Air Force Motivation in the IAF implies dedicated, reliable and sustained performance from the air warriors under most trying and dangerous situations fraught with risks to life. Consequently, the motivational drives and needs of an air warrior will be different from that of a worker, supervisor or manager in a civilian organisation. Motivational aspects in civilian organisations are adequately covered by research and studies. However, no dedicated study has been undertaken to assess motivational drives and needs in respect of air warriors of the IAF. Jagdeep Singh | October 2009 | Journal of Defence Studies
Defence Budgeting: Trends and Issues The defence budget for the financial year 2009-2010, even though in terms of percentage increase appears large, yet it is not actually so. There has generally been a mismatch between the funds asked by the MOD and those allotted by the MOF. The absence of indication of likely availability of funds impacts adversely the defence planning process. Of late, there has been improvement in the ratio of revenue to capital expenditure, but for a healthy ratio there is a need to increase the defence budget as a percentage of the GDP. Vinod Anand | October 2009 | Journal of Defence Studies
China should not use water as a threat multiplier Water may not become a catalyst for a direct conflict, but China could leverage Tibet’s water as a politico-military tool vis-à-vis other riparian states. As the economies of India and China grow, both are bound to treat water as a strategic commodity. P. Stobdan | October 23, 2009 | IDSA Comments
Japan: CBW Japan claims that it does not possess Weapon of Mass Destructions including the Chemical and Biological Weapons. Determined never to revisit war following its disastrous defeat in World War II,… Continue reading Japan: CBW Shamshad A. Khan | October-December 2009 | CBW Magazine
Thinking Change in the Armed Forces History is replete with examples of radical, modest and even failed transformations, thus revealing the fact that the armed forces are intrinsically not flexible enough to accept transformational changes. The prime drivers for change have been the emerging nature of conflict, and the development of cutting edge technologies for war fighting. It is a well known fact that introduction of new ideas and technologies usher in new dynamics and constraints, thus necessitating complementary changes in structures, policies, procedures and practices. Harinder Singh | October 2009 | Journal of Defence Studies
