Publication Filter

Is India’s Nuclear Doctrine Credible?

Recent debates by former officials and analysts on India’s nuclear doctrine highlight certain credibility problems. Two inter-related pillars of the doctrine—the pledge of ‘No-First Use’ (NFU) and the assurance of a ‘massive retaliation’ response to a nuclear strike—have been scrutinised.1 The backdrop shaping the debate is the pressing need to discover options to produce a de-escalation or deter an escalation in Pakistan’s sub-conventional war. This is the context for the ongoing contestations around India’s nuclear doctrine.

Outer Space Treaty: 50 years later

There is a need to rework the Outer Space Treaty and contemporize it to deal more directly with issues of the current era.

Natallia Khaniejo
January 27, 2017
Backgrounder

Defence Modernisation: A Silver Lining in the Dark Clouds?

The presentation of the Union budget on February 1 is expected to ensure full utilisation of allocated funds and will ensure that ‘New Schemes’ can be processed, approved and contracted from April 1, 2017.

Vinay Kaushal
January 27, 2017
Issue Brief

Frontiers, Insurgencies and Counter-Insurgencies in South Asia, 1820-2013, by Kaushik Roy

Frontiers, Insurgencies and Counter-Insurgencies in South Asia is a well written and intelligently composed monograph by Kaushik Roy, a leading expert in South Asian military studies. It primarily deals with frontier issues, insurgency and counter-insurgency (COIN) operations in South Asia from 1820 to 2013, adequately emphasising on the inter-relationships between colonial making of frontiers, state formation, and small wars conducted by the British in this particular region.

ALH Dhruv and the Indian Helicopter Industry: Unrealised Potential, Promises and Challenges

For more than half a century, independent India’s aircraft manufacturing has been dominated by, and entirely limited to, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The helicopter, in particular, was seen almost exclusively as a platform of military utility. Therefore, other than the defence forces, paramilitary and a few state governments, civilian use of helicopters was almost unheard of until recently. Commencing from the 1990s, awareness about the utility of helicopters for civilian use increased rapidly due to its widespread use by political parties during elections.

Preparing For The 4th Review Conference Of The Chemical Weapons Convention: Some Observations On Process And Outcomes

The Fourth Special Session of the Conference of the States Parties to Review the Operation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (4th CWC Review Conference) will be held in 2018. A… Continue reading Preparing For The 4th Review Conference Of The Chemical Weapons Convention: Some Observations On Process And Outcomes

John Hart
January-June 2017
CBW Magazine

BEML Disinvestment: What about the other DPSUs and OFs?

The BEML model of disinvestment needs to be applied to the rest of the Defence Public Sector Undertakings as well as Ordnance Factories.

China’s White Paper on Asia Pacific Security Cooperation: An Assessment

Through this white paper, China has affirmed its regional ambitions and aims to shape the regional security agenda in the Asia Pacific on its stated terms.

Abhay Kumar Singh
January 19, 2017
Issue Brief

Yersinia pestis, Biological Warfare, and Bioterrorism

Preface I teach a graduate seminar course at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey titled “Chemical and Biological Weapons and Arms Control.” Last semester a student asked me,… Continue reading Yersinia pestis, Biological Warfare, and Bioterrorism

The Decline of the Cuban Armed Forces

While the Cuban armed forces are but a shadow of their former self with unserviceable equipment and massive reductions in personnel strength, the country still retains combat capabilities far in excess of any of its Caribbean neighbours.