Category: Analysis
The opposition to a CDS
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•The issue of the creation of a Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) for the Indian armed forces is one who’s fate has been the hostage of usually reluctant government discussions and opposition from various quarters. StratPost analyzes this opposition to a CDS that has so far precluded jointsmanship and strategic planning.
PoK suicide attack extends Pak-Taliban war
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•“It’s too early to conclusively say the Taliban have changed their strategy and expanded the conflict to PoK. But while one attack doesn’t necessarily make a strategy, it (the frontline) has definitely been extended, and in such a way as to strike at the Pakistan Army out of the existing area of conflict.”
Graft, divides raise doubts about Pak Army
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•The operational capability of the Pakistan Army in the face of Taliban challenges in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) has much to do with the command authority of its officer cadre. But judging from recent events and the perception of the integrity of the officer cadre, especially at senior levels, the Pakistan Army fails to encourage confidence in its abilities to effectively combat the Taliban.
US report on Asian missile capabilities
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•A report issued by the US National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC) on Ballistic and Cruise Missile Threats has put in perspective the range of Chinese, Indian and Pakistani capabilities in this regard.StratPost publishes extracts from the report.
Information Operations: US deficient in Af-Pak
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•“The US has to transmit an effective message that they are here to stay till the local population can defend itself. These messages need to be tailored very carefully for maximum impact, understanding and acceptance.”
India and China: Eastern Border and Indian Ocean
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•It is safe to assume that this lack of infrastructural parity on both sides of the border would give China a natural military advantage over India. It is important to recall, it was due to India’s abysmal border infrastructure, poor intelligence and shortage in military supplies, besides possibly flawed political and military leadership that enabled Mao’s China to thrash India in the India-China war of 1961. So in the event of a repeat conflict over the eastern borders could India move strategically to choke Chinese maritime movement of strategic supplies, especially petroleum?
Network Security: India ill-prepared
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•‘One would naturally think we’d be good, with our IT and knowledge economy. The fact is, we haven’t identified, trained and nurtured talent on an institutional basis. India may have a lot of whiz kids but we still haven’t tapped them as a force-multiplying resource.’
India unimpressed by Pak ops in Swat
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•Indian security officials had earlier refused to render any assessment on the sincerity of the Pakistan Army’s operations against the Taliban. But over the past few days, senior security officers at Raisina Hill and elsewhere have dismissed the operations as a ‘fraud on the world’.
India sees changed campaign with new US commander
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•The change in command of US forces in Afghanistan is been seen by Indian observers as the possible beginning of a smarter strategy in dealing with the Taliban.
‘Pak Army against Taliban could become Pashtun versus Punjabi’
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•Observers in the Indian security establishment are concerned the current operations being conducted by the Pakistan Army may lead to a Pashtun-versus-Punjabi ethnic conflict.
Pak nukes worry India
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•The speculation over US plans for securing Pakistan’s nuclear weapons, in the event of their capture by the Taliban, has not gone unnoticed by the strategic community in India. “India is obviously the most natural and most achievable target for them,” says one brasshat.
US, Russia worry about new government
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•The Ministry of Defense, closely watching the ongoing electoral exercise, has noticed the apprehensions of various countries regarding the eventual new government and their defense trade and strategic relationship with India.
MoD bureaucrats worry about next boss
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•“Imagine Mayawati as Defense Minister,” shuddered an officer, “Do we want to see cantonments converted into parks idealizing her with larger than life statues?”
“Or Mulayam Singh,” piped up another, “Do we stop using computers or writing in English?”
Zardari after the Af-Pak summit
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•The reportedly sparse official outcome of the Af-Pak summit has lead many in Pakistan to suspect hidden agendas and secret agreements, leading one observer in Indian uniform to conclude, “They’re probably wondering what all he’s gone and signed away.”