It is clear that India is not going to dilute its demand for the PLA to withdraw from the areas that it had transgressed last year.
Both at Kargil and in Eastern Ladakh, the Indian soldier ultimately salvaged a very difficult situation.
In the Army, we often described J&K as a pressure cooker that could blow up if not provided a release.
While there is some concern over nations clandestinely continuing with building of biological weapons, there is also the added threat from terrorist groups.
The victory lap should only be taken when the pain of the citizens is tackled and the country is firmly set on the path of its pre-pandemic trajectory.
Despite claims of having fought bravely, it is apparent that the security forces were surprised and overwhelmed.
There is an undeniable degree of optimism in the future of India-US defence cooperation. However, it has to be made sure that there are no stumbling blocks.
The continuing hostility and steadily worsening ties is serving little strategic purpose, particularly for Pakistan, and to some extent, for India.
Some of our reservations about Chinese intentions stem from a complete lack of trust that resulted from China unilaterally breaking all the border agreements and protocols that had kept the peace along the LAC.
To overcome internal challenges posed by COVID-19, there is a temptation to resort to hyper-nationalism and the erection of barriers to international trade. This would only exacerbate tensions.
Grievances among communities in India were traditionally about religion, identity, and ethnic rights. The new trigger is economic and social fears. The political class should steer clear of exacerbating the traditional grievances without addressing the more pressing problem of economic inequality and social harmony.
Soldiers from both sides facing each other at the Line of Actual Control will suffer enormously through the winter. Any settlement would probably not fully satisfy either side, but it would result in significant disengagement and de-escalation.
The Pakistan army holds a deep conviction that India has never reconciled to Pakistan’s existence and sees the competition in ideological and religious terms – a Hindu India vs a Muslim Pakistan.
The power of the information disorder on social media is used by everyone, from politicians to intelligence agencies, militaries, businesses, radical groups, terrorists, and self-proclaimed nationalists.
Military values are reinforced continuously among individuals until they become second nature. These values guide the conduct of soldiers during times of crises or personal dilemmas on the right way ahead. Values also shape an individual's perception of his role within the organization.