Category: News

The Future of US-India Relations: Blackwill

The full text of the speech given by Robert D. Blackwill, the former Ambassador to India, Deputy National Security Adviser for Strategic Planning and Presidential Envoy to Iraq and current Senior Fellow at the RAND Corporation to the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) on May 5, 2009 in New Delhi.

IAF rubbishes Sukhoi grounding

“Aircraft are checked all the time. Naturally, after a crash, aircraft will undergo checks. But that does not mean the aircraft have been grounded. Our Sukhois are available to be tasked on missions as and when required. Grounding would mean the aircraft would no longer be available,” said a senior IAF officer.

Indian Army concerned about recruitment in Nepal

Nepalese Gorkhas constitute 40 per cent of the seven Gorkha Rifle regiments of the Indian Army. There are currently estimated to be over 30,000 Nepalese Gorkhas in the Gorkha Rifles. The schedule for the ongoing recruitment has not been decided yet and is likely to be affected by the political situation in Nepal.

Nepal Army Chief sacked

Indian army sources indicate the possibility of a fightback by the Nepal Army, which may unite behind the General Rookmangud Katawal and seize power. According to some reports, the cabinet decision has to have the approval of the President before it can be enforced. Other reports from Nepal also indicate General Katawal to have refused to accept his dismissal letter and he is said to be conferring with his aides at Army Headquarters.

‘The Ghost of Bofors resides in South Block’

An insider explains the legacy of the corruption scandal over the Bofors gun deal and how, while the Indian Army has always considered the weapon in question to be eminently satisfactory, the political and bureaucratic fallout continues to be such as to reduce any defense procurement to a crawl.