Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses
मनोहर पर्रिकर रक्षा अध्ययन एवं विश्लेषण संस्थान

Colonial Legacies and Contested Territories: Unravelling UK-PoK Relations with a Focus on Mirpur

 This Article examines the UK’s historical and contemporary ties with PoK, focussing on ‘AJK’, and, in particular, the Mirpuri diaspora in the UK, through the lenses of colonial legacies, mass migration, and recent developments. Focusing on the 1967 Mangla Dam-induced migration as a pivotal moment, it analyses the socio-political influence of the Mirpuri diaspora in the UK and the geopolitical implications of recent events like British Envoy Jane Marriot’s 2024 Mirpur visit, which sparked India’s protest. By focusing on human-centric dimensions—migration patterns, identity tensions, diaspora activism—the Article highlights the complexities of UK-PoK relations and their ripple effects on India-UK-Pakistan ties. Colonialism, Kashmir, Migration, Diaspora, Identity, Radicalisation. Read More

Xi’s Call to ‘Tell the China Story Well’ – An Understanding of China’s Discourse Power

 To contest the discursive hegemony of the West, China has been striving to have a greater say in the way it is represented on the world stage. It is believed that China’s voice in international affairs is not commensurate with its increasing hard power. In this context, the article seeks to approach China’s quest for international discourse power from a three-fold framework: first, explore the concept of discourse power; second, assess the Chinese understanding of discourse power; and third, examine China’s efforts to enhance its discourse power with a special focus on the role of the Chinese State media. Read More

Competitiveness in India’s Defence Industry Ecosystem: An Analysis

 India has undertaken multi-pronged reforms to achieve self-reliance in defence sector. It has gained momentum based on the success of the indigenous weapon system during Operation SINDOOR. However, creating an ecosystem for defence industrialisation or indigenisation is an arduous and protracted journey. It calls for constant review of the system and dynamic formulation of strategies. This article attempts to assess the competitiveness of the defence industry ecosystem in India by using Porter’s Diamond Model. It emerges that India is moving in fast-track mode to promote indigenous development and manufacturing of defence products and achieve atmanirbharta or self-reliance. The analysis also discusses the ‘Way-Ahead’ to maintain momentum for indigenisation and ensure the competitive advantage of the Indian defence industry. Read More

The Geopolitical Trap: War in Ukraine and Strategic Takeaways

 Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, and the Ukraine–Russia War began in Europe.Footnote1 The War has lasted for more than three years, resulting in around 43,000 Ukrainian soldiers killed, 370,000 injured (as of December 2024), and 6.8 million Ukrainians displaced across Europe (as of January 2025), including women, children, and the elderly (Binley and Beale Citation2024; Statista Citation2025). Russia has also suffered significant deaths and casualties in the War, as well as faced economic sanctions from Western powers. Read More

Chinese Air and Missile Power

 Air force Built up with Russian aid in the wake of the Korean War in the early fifties, the Chinese Air Force grew up around 1960 to be the third-largest in the world with about 3,000 fighter interceptors (mostly MiG-15s, MiG-17s and a few MiG-19s) and about a thousand light jet bombers (mostly JL-28s) and transport aircraft. There were about 10,000 pilots. Flying schools, training depots and instructional centres were developed under Russian guidance and there was a regular flow of supply and replacement of craft and spares. A division of parachute troops was also in the process of formation during 1959–60 with Russian help. China’s first Air Force Chief Liu Ya-lou spelt out the magnitude of Soviet assistance, when he said in July 1957 that, ‘the Soviet Union has not only given us first-class modern equipment, but also sent here a large number of very learned and experienced experts to teach us aviation science, tactics, superior aviation techniques and air force tactics, and all kinds of advance experience’. Read More

Prioritising Human Development: A Blueprint for the World from India’s Journey from Pre-MDG Successes to SDGs

 This article examines India’s comprehensive journey towards sustainable development, demonstrating the deep alignment between its national priorities and the global development agenda even before the advent of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The article highlights the nation’s significant achievements in critical areas such as poverty reduction, health, financial inclusion, and environmental sustainability. Acknowledging persistent challenges in achieving all targets, we identify key areas requiring focused intervention for future progress. Ultimately, India’s distinctive development model, characterized by its immense scale, profound diversity, and global engagement, serves as a valuable blueprint for sustainable development in the Global South and beyond. Read More

India’s Neighbourhood First Policy: Navigating Power, Trust, and Rivalry in South Asia

 India’s Neighbourhood First Policy (NFP) is a touchstone of its foreign policy, aimed at promoting peace, stability, connectivity, and cooperation in South Asia to enhance India’s regional and global influence. It is a defining subset of its overall foreign policy. While the groundwork for this policy was laid during the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, under then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, through enhanced regional engagement, it was given emphatic currency by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the shape of the NFP, and formally launched in 2014. The NFP reflects India’s strategic imperative to cultivate a cooperative periphery, counterbalance external influences (especially from China), and project India’s influence within Asia and beyond. This Essay traces the origins of India’s approach to the neighbourhood from the pre-independence colonial period, its evolution under Jawaharlal Nehru and subsequent Congress and non-Congress governments, critically analyses the functioning of the NFP under the Modi government, and suggests ways in which India can retain its influence in the neighbourhood. Read More

Gaurav Sen, Peril of the Pacific: Military Balance and Battle for Taiwan, New Delhi: KW Publishers Pvt Ltd, 2025

 The issue of the Taiwan Straits lies at the core of tensions governing the relationship between two great powers: the United States and China. Amidst the economic and technological developments of China came a strong wave of aggressive military modernization that took the world by surprise. This development, as was speculated, had its spillover effect and saw force posturing and power projection across the Indo-Pacific region. Read More

Indian Traces in Korean Culture: The Legend and Beyond

 Indian Traces in Korean Culture: The Legend and Beyond, by Renata Czekalska, is probably the first of its kind in the context of India–Korea cultural relations and examines the cultural diffusion between the two countries from the ancient period to contemporary times. Although a few book chapters and journal articles on India–Korea cultural relations were published in the past (Tikhonov Citation2014; Pankaj Citation1988), a full-fledged book on this issue has indeed been rare. In this regard, this book is definitely a worthy addition to the available literature on India–Korea relations. While political scientist Huntington (Citation1996) wrote about the ‘Clash of Civilizations’, this book has tried to highlight the cultural exchanges that have been taking place between the nations since ancient times, particularly between the distant lands of the Indian Subcontinent and the Korean Peninsula. The legendary Silk Road played a pivotal role in the transmission of Indian cultural traditions, and Buddhism spread into the Eurasian landmass through these ancient highways (Behera Citation2002). In the modern period also, the cultural exchanges between Europe and Asia continued as a number of Asian nations fell under the European colonial occupation and dominance. While the Indian Subcontinent became a colony of the European powers, Korean Peninsula came under the imperialist control of an Asian power. Despite having lost their independence to the foreign powers, Indians and Koreans continued to develop their interest about each other. The thoughts of Indian thinkers and scholars, such as Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore and Sarojini Naidu found acceptance in Korea. On the other hand, Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of independent India felt amused by the non-violent Korean freedom struggle against Japanese colonial rule (1910–1945). The cultural influence of India through legends, philosophical thoughts, religious scriptures, political values, literature and popular culture on Korea has been well articulated in the book. Read More

Negotiating with Pakistan

 Sometime last June, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi wrote to Yahya Khan, President and Martial Law Administrator of Pakistan, about the need for normalizing lndo–Pak relations, which have been in deep freeze since the war of 1965. Kewal Singh, who bore the letter, came back from Rawalpindi with undue optimism because no sooner had he mentioned a probable positive Pakistani response, than Rawalpindi reacted adversely. Once again, Foreign Minister Dinesh Singh voiced his optimism after a recent meeting with Pakistani diplomats at the UN, and Pakistan promptly came out with a totally opposite interpretation on the talks, even before he returned home. The Statesman of 10 July 1969 rightly gave the warning that ‘it is very easy to read too much in airport statements’. However, it would be rash to conclude from these two episodes that the Indian diplomats were so naive as to fall easy prey to Pakistan’s bluff and bluster. Nevertheless, it was not adequately appreciated that contradictions of a compulsively anti-India foreign policy operates far more sharply under Martial Law than during any other regime. No wonder, contacts between Indians and Pakistanis have been reduced almost to nothing by Yahya Khan removing the last operative contact of exchange of books and journals between the two countries. Read More
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