Mizoram The Dagger Brigade

Mizoram The Dagger Brigade
Author: Nirmal Nibedon
Publisher: Lancer Publishers LLC
Total Pages: 324
Release: 2013-10-11
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1935501828

This is the explosive story of the MNF struggle that persists in the dense jungles of Mizoram. Area Specialist Nirmal Nibeaon penetrated the MNF and came upon a mine of information that had never been made public. This gripping, stranger-thanfiction story is authenticated by a rare selection of photographs and contemporary sketches. Recorded conversations with top Mizo leaders who either participated in the movement or were holding important positions during the height of the insurrections and snap interviews with guerrillas lend an extraordinary force to the narrative. Nibedon is the first journalists to have made the leaders of the movement break their decadeold silence. Owing to the fluid situation prevailing in the hills, there are gaps in the Mizo story. Yet, this is a brilliant attempt to reconstruct the insurgency operations carried out by the Underground and the Indian War Department’s actions to contain the threat. Besides a minute-to-minute account of guerilla depredations and the counterinsurgency operations by the soldiers in Olive-Green, it is also the tale of Mizo people who have passionately preserved their traditions and whose fighting spirit is still nourished by legendary warriors of the past. The Dagger Brigade is the graphic account of a disastrous, yet heroic struggle. It will be attacked, damned, praised and read around the world, for it is true, tough, objective and the first bold exposure of the activities in The Hood of the Cobra.

India's Near East

India's Near East
Author: Avinash Paliwal
Publisher: Hurst Publishers
Total Pages: 366
Release: 2024-08-01
Genre: History
ISBN: 1805262394

India’s near east encompasses Bangladesh, Myanmar and the Indian states of the ‘Northeast’—Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram. Celebrated as a theatre of geo-economic connectivity typified by India’s ‘Act East’ policy, the region is key not only to India’s great-power rivalry with China, which first boiled over in the 1962 war, but to the idea(s) of India itself. It is also one of the most intricately partitioned lands anywhere on Earth. Rent by communal and class violence, the region has birthed extreme forms of religious and ethnic nationalisms and communist movements. The Indian state’s survival instinct and pursuit of regional hegemony have only accentuated such extremes. This book scripts a new history of India’s eastward-looking diplomacy and statecraft. Narrated against the backdrop of separatist resistance within India’s own northeastern states, as well as rivalry with Beijing and Islamabad in Yangon and Dhaka, it offers a simple but compelling argument. The aspirations of ‘Act East’ mask an uncomfortable truth: India privileges political stability over economic opportunity in this region. In his chronicle of a state’s struggle to overcome war, displacement and interventionism, Avinash Paliwal lays bare the limits of independent India’s influence in its near east.

My Years in a Pakistani Prison

My Years in a Pakistani Prison
Author: Kishorilal Sharma
Publisher: Lancer Publishers LLC
Total Pages: 299
Release: 2013-10-28
Genre: History
ISBN: 1935501925

He was called for his service to the motherland. He reciprocated immediately. Giving up all familial relationships, he partook in a rigorous training programme that was a true test of his heart, body, mind and soul. Fighting off his cowardly hopes of quitting the organization so as to avoid the ordeal, he was finally made battle ready. Slipped into enemy territory, his espionage attempts met with complete success. However luck soon turned against him, as during his third mission he was seized by the enemy camp and imprisoned. He was subjected to absolute third degree torture and only miraculously, and albeit divinely, escaped the contours of death on more that one occasion. But he continued to strive towards seeing his own country once again. He looked forward to coming back home. And one day, God gave him that chance. He returned to the border once again, so that he could be united with his fellow countrymen. Was the welcome given to him befitting that of a hero? Or even if not a hero’s welcome, certainly he needn’t have been treated like a blackguard, a traitor! Who was he after all a Spy, or a Soldier?

Indian Defence Review Vol 29.4 (Oct-Dec 2014)

Indian Defence Review Vol 29.4 (Oct-Dec 2014)
Author: Air Chief Marshal PV Naik
Publisher: Lancer Publishers LLC
Total Pages: 341
Release: 2014-11-26
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1940988152

There was a change of Government in India in May 2014 which galvanised a rather insipid Foreign Policy. The Prime Minister’s (PM) visit to the neighbouring countries and the Foreign Minister covering those where he was not able to go created a new dynamic in the neighbourly relations. However, Pakistan due to its Army shadowing the Civilian Government presents a unique dilemma in progressing bilateral relations. China surprisingly put across contradictory signals due to the actions of the Peoples Liberation Army on the Line of Actual Control during the visit of the President to India. These present a dilemma to the Indian Government and are covered in the Comment by Lt Gen Jiti Bajwa. Gp Capt Joseph Noronha looks at the future of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles followed by Gp Capt B Menon presenting the need for developing weapon systems for the Air Force in the near future. Air Marshal PV Naik views National security in a holistic perspective. The visit of the PM to Japan has been succulently analysed in the strategic dimension by Dr S Roy Chaudhary. The Chinese President’s visit in the first year of his term coinciding with that of the Indian PM was looked at with much anticipation, the nuances of the visit has been persuasively covered by Claude Arpi. Lt Gen Gautam Banerjee interprets the Pakistan nuclear rhetoric in a realistic geopolitical setting. Consequent to Boeing of USA successfully test flying a retired F 16 fighter aircraft in an unmanned mode Sqn Ldr Vijendra Thakur studied the possibility of Chinese Air Force utilising similar modification to their hordes of retired Migs. The outcome is a surreal scenario. Maj Gen AK Chadha has ventured in to Cyberspace and looks at the military possibilities in this ‘No Man’s Land’ most comprehensively. Our Special Correspondent has looked at two connected issues Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA) and India’s Defence Industrial complex. Rear Adm AP Revi analyses the consequences of a depleting submarine fleet of the Indian Navy. Priya Tyagi covers the latest defence news and Col Danvir Singh reports of his visit to France presenting the FREMM multi-mission Frigate by DCNS.

Cyberspace Security: A Primer

Cyberspace Security: A Primer
Author: Air Vice Marshal AK Tiwary
Publisher: Lancer Publishers LLC
Total Pages: 141
Release:
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 194098811X

Cyberspace has become a playground for everyone. Financial institutions, online shopping, e-commerce, e-governance, communication networks and almost all agencies – civil, military and private make continuous use of cyberspace. At the same time spying by certain agencies on daily life of all seems to resurface the fears of George Orwellian’s 1984 classic. While the internet is an essential means for most to conduct their daily lives, the Deep Web, nearly 395 times the size of internet permits untraceable activities to normal and evil doers with similar ease. The ease and efficiency provided by the cyberspace, alas comes with the risk of cyber criminals threatening its very benefits. It has already provided undreamt reach to terrorists to launch their attacks worldwide. Even Nation States have not shied away from extensive use of cyberspace for unethical purposes. Attribution – an essential precondition to initiate retaliatory measures is extremely difficult in cyberspace. It is like the Wild West with no Sherriff to enforce law and order. How does then One ensure safety in cyber space operations? This Primer is the basic step towards cyberspace security. It offers suggestions at all the levels of cyberspace in simple language minus the jargon.

Indian Defence Review Vol 31.3 (Jul-Sep 2016)

Indian Defence Review Vol 31.3 (Jul-Sep 2016)
Author: Air Marshal Anil Chopra
Publisher: Lancer Publishers LLC
Total Pages: 371
Release: 2016-08-12
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1940988276

In this volume: Coup in Turkey Now in A Coop | Lt Gen JS Bajwa Fifth Generation Aircraft: Battlefield Air Support Mission | Air Marshal Anil Chopra Unmanned Full Scale Fighter Targets for Training and Ucav Technology Development | Sqn Ldr Vijainder K Thakur Women Join the Fighter Stream of the Iaf: Will it Work? | Gp Capt Joseph Noronha First Param Vir Chakra | Sumit Walia Military Aviation and the Indian Air Force | Dr Narender Yadav The Contours of Iddm: A User’s Perspective | Lt Gen VK Saxena Challenges to the Indo-Us Defence Relationship | Abhinav Dutta Aerospace and Defence News | Priya Tyagi About Wars of the Future | Artsrun Hovhannisyan Decision-Making in War: Recalling India’s Military History | Brigadier Amar Cheema China’s Maritime Strategy: Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD) | Bharat Lather Is Indianess Reasserting in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir? | RSN Singh Indian and Chinese Covert Efforts | Nicolas Groffman Home Minister in Pakistan: Take Action Against Terrorists and Countries that Support Them | Danvir Singh Decommissioning of Ins Viraat | Danvir Singh Potent Indigenous War Unfolding in Jammu & Kashmir | Brig Narender Kumar China – The New Aerospace Power | Gp Capt AK Sachdev Sino-Pak Collaboration – Military Aviation | Air Marshal Anil Chopra Success Breeds Stunning Success: The Story of India’s Space Endeavour | Gp Capt Joseph Noronha Book Reviews

Kargil: Turning the Tide

Kargil: Turning the Tide
Author: Lt Gen Mohinder Puri, PVSM, UYSM
Publisher: Lancer Publishers LLC
Total Pages: 280
Release: 2015-12-24
Genre: History
ISBN: 1940988233

Kargil: Turning the Tide, is a gripping account of the operations of 8 Mountain Division, which was tasked to evict the enemy from the Drass-Mushkoh Sector during Op Vijay. Coming from the pen of Lt Gen (then Maj Gen) Mohinder Puri, who led the division during the operations, the book is as authentic an account of the operations as one can hope to have. Written in a racy style, the book vividly captures the emotions and sentiments of a soldier; the apprehensions and fears of the leaders, and finally the joy and ecstasy of a hard won victory. The book, covering a wide spectrum from attacks at platoon level to issues impinging on national security, will be of immense value to all military professionals. Civilian readers will find the accounts of various close quarters, hand to hand battles fought in the extremely challenging and hostile environment of rugged high altitude terrain, inclement weather and an entrenched enemy, very engrossing and moving. A very high casualty count of 268 killed and 818 wounded, coupled with a rich haul of gallantry awards – three Param Vir Chakras, eight Mahavir Chakras, and 42 Vir Chakras – operations of 8 Mountain Division are a saga of fortitude, exceptional bravery, and exemplary junior leadership, which will undoubtedly swell any Indian’s heart with pride.

Indian Defence Review Vol 31.2 (Apr-Jun 2016)

Indian Defence Review Vol 31.2 (Apr-Jun 2016)
Author: Col Danvir Singh
Publisher: Lancer Publishers LLC
Total Pages: 385
Release: 2016-06-10
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1940988268

IN THIS VOLUME: ‘Sagara Manthan’: Make in India Transition | Lt Gen JS Bajwa “Our vision in next 10 years is to become top defence industry in the world...” | Interview by Danvir Singh Indian Airborne Troops Script History | Danvir Singh Submarine Ahoy – Whither to Bound? | Rear Adm AP Revi Aerospace and Defence News | Priya Tyagi Higher Defence Organisation for India: Towards an Integrated Approach | Maj Gen Rajiv Narayanan Indian Army: Adopting ‘Deep Operations’ Doctrine | Col JK Achuthan The Government’s Burden of Military Security | Lt Gen Gautam Banerjee Global Terrorism: An Analysis of Fault Lines and Risks | Maj Gen SB Asthana Tackling Global Terror | Anil Kumar Tandale Islamic State: The New Brand of Terrorism in India | V Balasubramaniyan India & China Territorial Dispute: The Growing Challenge | Brig Gurmeet Kanwal China-India-Myanmar: The Forgotten Frontier | Air Cmde PC Chopra Myanmar and India: A New Future | Maj Gen Nitin P Gadkari Airfield Security: Lessons for the IAF | Air Marshal Anil Chopra Acoustic Capacity Building in the Indian Ocean Region | Cdr (Dr) Arnab Das & Vice Adm DSP Varma Transportation Infrastructure in the North East | Air Marshal Dhiraj Kukreja Our Forgotten Wars: Victimisation and Survival in Bodoland | Dr Samrat Sinha Women Officers in the Indian Army: A Reality Check | Lt Gen Mukesh Sabharwal Socio Economic Transformation: Through Ex-Servicemen | Lt Gen SK Gadeock & Col Nishant Sharma DPP 2016: A Missed Opportunity | Dr SN Misra Defence Budget 2016: Hits and Misses for the IAF | Air Marshal Anil Chopra Privatisation of the Indian Aerospace Industry: Problems and Prospects | Gp Capt AK Sachdev The Patrol Leader | Sumit Walia

Indian Defence Review Vol 30.2 Apr-Jun 2015

Indian Defence Review Vol 30.2 Apr-Jun 2015
Author: Col Danvir Singh
Publisher: Lancer Publishers LLC
Total Pages: 422
Release:
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1940988195

Two issues that dominated the debates of the strategic community in the first quarter of this year were; ‘Make in India’ energetically marketed at the Aero-India Show and the Defence Budget. The Defence Budget is looked at intently to get the general emphasis of the government on security. Brig Gurmeet Kanwal has debated this lucidly. Maintaining a large standing armed force requires more than mere day-to-day support. An ill-equipped large force mired with equipment hollowness is not a guarantee for security but in a future war will be cannon fodder for the adversary. Someone will have to be held accountable to the nation for this debilitating lapse. Or take a conscious decision to reduce its size if this country cannot afford a well equipped large armed force!!! Preparing an armed force on a long-term basis requires a deeply considered perspective of its future role in the national security scheme and the road map for its implementation. The absence of a doctrine and the hesitation of establishing a single point of contact on all matters military have been well debated in this issue. Generals Harwant and Banerjee and Colonel Achutan look at the aspects of doctrine. ‘Make in India’ has been the didactic theme of this Government. It needs to be spelt out in clear terms and not left to the (mis-)interpretation of the bureaucracy. Make in India will be feasible only when the basic industrial manufacturing has notched up a number of counts and the manpower skills to go with it are matching. Currently it is more theoretical than implementable. The articles Dr Misra, Air Marshal Kukreja and Group Captain Noronha address these issues with particular reference to the aero-space industry. Two articles relate to the major current event on PM Modi’s visit to China; the first is on Tibet and the second on the boundary issue. Cyber space is emerging the next frontier; Gen Davinder Kumar has generated an excellent discussion on the issue. Col Harjeet has looked at the implications of social media on security. As a first Claude Arpi has documented a diary highlighting prominent issues relating to China’s PLA in this first quarter. This will now be a regular feature in the print edition. Wishing all our readers a worthwhile professionally invigorating reading experience.

Indian Defence Review Vol 30.1 Jan-Mar 2015

Indian Defence Review Vol 30.1 Jan-Mar 2015
Author: Air Marshal Dhiraj Kukreja
Publisher: Lancer Publishers LLC
Total Pages: 421
Release: 2015-02-17
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1940988187

The biennial Aero India Show is here again in Bengaluru. The current issue is focused on Air Power. With Prime Minister raising the upper limit of FDI in the Defence Industry sector and bringing forth a policy of “Make in India” the international weapon systems and equipment manufacturers are realigning their format to meet the requirement in these changed circumstances. The major players in the aviation industry are already on the starting blocks and fine tuning their nuanced approach. Dr Nikolai Novichkov has presented a view of the Russian aviation industry; Steven Gillard has outlined Rolls Royce’s committed support in positioning India as a global manufacturing hub. Boeing has elaborated on the maintenance support and services being set up for the two major aircraft deployed by the IAF – C17 and P8I as also making India as a hub for support and services in the region. Rafael Industries and IAI Israel too have outlined the format for possible TOT in an impressive array of technologies in the future. A fair number of our articles are devoted to analysing India’s Air Power. Air Marshal Dhiraj Kukreja has comprehensively dwelt on India’s present and future combat fleet. Drones as game changers are presented lucidly by S Gopal. Space is considered an adjunct to air power; Gp Capt AK Sachdev has analysed this aspect in relation to India’s space endeavours. IAF phased out its fleet of Canberra medium bombers in 1990. Was that a well considered decision taking into account India’s future growth as a regional and global power? The role of bombers in the air force is pithily argued by Sqn Ldr Vijainder Thakur. As aircraft exploit the air medium, air defence weapons aim to deny this freedom to aircraft and missiles. Air Marshal Anil Chopra brings forth the success of the ‘Iron Dome’ deployed by the Israelis and its role in protecting surface targets. This issue also covers India’s ‘sub-conventional deficit’ by our special correspondent and the present state of insurgency in India’s North East region by Brig R Borthakur. Gen Vijay Oberoi has highlighted the need for a structural change in India’s higher defence management. Brig Deepak Sinha has raised the issue of India’s security strategy and doctrine being on divergent paths. Maj Gen AK Chadha has emphatically put forth the need for the military in the digitalised battle field to carve out its own ‘slice of space’ for operating successfully in such a future war scenario. Air Marshal Anil Chopra and Dr SN Misra have presented the efficacy of TOT and off sets and challenges before the defence industry. Mr Kanwal Sibal has critically assessed the evolving dynamics of Indo-US relations. Gen JS Lidder with his UN experience has looked at the need for enhancing the role of women in conflict zones. Claude Arpi has been a keen China watcher. He presents the current situation in the PLA consequent to the crackdown by the Chinese President Xi Jinping on the wide spread corruption in the Chinese PLA. The IDR has endeavoured through the range of articles to hold the interest of the serious reader of military affairs.