1766 Policy shift: Will structural changes in the armed forces bring about better output against an adversary like China? Reuters
Air Vice Marshal Anil Golani (retd)
Additional Director General, Centre for Air Power Studies
While democracies are considered to be the most evolved means of governance, nations not only take pride in their evolution as mature and evolved democracies, but also exhort others to follow suit. What ensues, however, is changing public perceptions based on a popular mandate which might sway the course of nations to paths unknown and may not deliver the promised results. Something similar seems to be underway in the national military discourse on the formation of integrated theatre commands. The examples being quoted to buttress the logic emanate from the integrated theatre commands of the US and China. A brief exposure to the structure and organisation in these countries is essential before we make an attempt to replicate them, if at all, in the Indian c
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Shalini Chawla
Distinguished fellow, Centre for Air Power Studies
Twenty years of the unfinished Afghan war have seen frequent phases of despair, occasional optimism and development of a civil society which started to ascertain its political and civil rights, the inspiring voices of the liberated Afghan women, and on the other hand, expanding Taliban influence, its growing legitimacy with the major regional powers and the group’s deepening confidence in its ability to dominate Afghanistan and run it on its ideological terms and conditions. Ironically, all the major regional powers and the United States have had channels of communication open with the Taliban, except the Afghan government. As the timeline for the complete US withdrawal from Afghanistan is approaching, there are serious concerns and apprehensions regarding the future of Afghanistan as the developments on ground are indicative of nothing less than the probability of a civil war, unless there is rethinking an
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Shalini Chawla
Distinguished Fellow, Centre for Air Power Studies
There has been ample speculation of late about Pentagon exploring Pakistan as an option for its air bases to prevent Afghanistan to be used as a base for anti-US terrorism and ensure that Afghanistan doesn’t slide into a civil war after US troop withdrawal (September 11, 2021). Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who often manages to attract limelight for his provocative remarks, said that “Pakistan will not be providing military bases to the US for counter-terrorism operations in Afghanistan”. The Afghan Taliban, on the other hand, warned the Afghan neighbours to not allow the US to operate bases on their territory and said, “We urge neighbouring countries not to allow anyone to do so… If such a step is taken again, it will be a great historic mistake and disgrace” and the Taliban would “not remain silent in the face of such heinous and provocative acts”. Pakistan has denied of