Chanakya Forum

INDUS WATER TREATY (IWT) – TIME TO REVIEW OUT DATED TREATY - https://chanakyaforum.com/indus-water-treaty-iwt-time-to-review-out-dated-treaty/ - Reading Time: 6 minutes Indus Water Treaty (IWT), often heralded as the most resilient water sharing treaty between coriparian states, having survived three and a half wars and three decades of proxy war is in precarious state. The annual meetings between Indus Water Commissioners have become infrequent, since 2016 due to diplomatic freeze in aftermath of Uri-Pulwama-Balakot incidents. In a very significant move India in Jan 2021, sought review of the Treaty due to unforeseen and fundamental changes in circumstances. India has also been boycotting somewhat puzzling, concurrent proceedings of Court of Arbitration (CoA), since Sept 2023. The process of dispute resolution has been […]

YAHYA SINWAR’S DEATH AND THE FUTURE OF THE WAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST - https://chanakyaforum.com/yahya-sinwars-death-and-the-future-of-the-war-in-the-middle-east/ - Reading Time: 5 minutes The war initiated by the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas on Israel could theoretically end tomorrow once the means to fight run out and so also the will. Unlike the past when short wars characterised standoffs in the Middle East, this one is, however, going beyond the expected. Hamas built itself an arsenal and an offensive plus a defensive system in Gaza relatively unnoticed by Israel despite its reputed ‘eye in the sky’ surveillance. The tunnel system which ran the length of 150 kilometers proved a monstrosity as far as Israeli inefficiency and lack of focus was concerned. The […]

5G POISED TO USHER IN A PARADIGM SHIFT IN MILITARY COMMUNICATIONS - https://chanakyaforum.com/5g-poised-to-usher-in-a-paradigm-shift-in-military-communications/ - Reading Time: 6 minutes As the world braces for the fifth generation (5G) wireless technology revolution, the implications for national security, especially for countries like India, are profound and multifaceted. The 5G network, known for its high speed, ultra-low latency, and huge bandwidth, is poised to revolutionise the battlespace, bringing significant advancements in communication, intelligence gathering, combat operations and logistic support. Following are some of the key military applications of 5G: Enhanced Command and Control. Real-time battlefield awareness facilitated by the 5G enables real-time sharing of data between forward troops, the fire delivery means, aerial assets such as combat helicopters, Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA), […]

IRAN’S MISSILE ARSENAL VS ISRAEL’S MISSILE DEFENCE: WHO WILL EMERGE TRIUMPHANT? - https://chanakyaforum.com/irans-missile-arsenal-vs-israels-missile-defence-who-will-emerge-triumphant/ - Reading Time: 11 minutes As India was busy in preparations for the impending Holy Navratra Festival, the skies over Central/Southern Israel were lit up when Iran launched an unprecedented attack with 180-200 missiles on its adversary in the Southern Levant, on the evening of 1st October 2024. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated that as part of Operation True Promise-2, it had “fired missiles at Israel in response to Israeli attacks in Gaza/Lebanon, as well as the assassinations of top IRGC, Hamas and Hezbollah leaders”. The IRGC further stated that the missiles were aimed at “vital military/security targets”, specifically at three military bases […]

Rising Chinese Air Power in the Maritime Domain – Is it Time to Reset Maritime Strategy? - https://chanakyaforum.com/rising-chinese-air-power-in-the-maritime-domain-is-it-time-to-reset-maritime-strategy/ - Reading Time: 7 minutes As the world’s focus is riveted to the rapidly spiraling crisis in the Middle East which threatens to escalate with Iran’s retaliatory missile strike following Israel’s extensive air strikes and the ground invasion of southern Lebanon, it will be a mistake to take the eyes off China. The expansion of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has made it the largest Navy in the world in size, as its overall battle force is expected to grow to 395 ships by 2025 and 435 ships by 2030 and has the United States and other affected nations worried. But what has slipped […]

Insurgencies in Myanmar and Their Impact on the Security Situation in Northeast India - https://chanakyaforum.com/insurgencies-in-myanmar-and-their-impact-on-the-security-situation-in-northeast-india/ - Reading Time: 7 minutes The ongoing insurgencies in Myanmar, particularly following the military coup in February 2021, significantly impact the security landscape in Northeast India. This region, characterised by a long and porous border with Myanmar, has a history of ethnic conflicts and insurgencies. The current instability in Myanmar compounds these issues, creating a complex security situation that India must carefully navigate. Historical Background of Myanmar’s Insurgency Since gaining independence from British colonial rule in 1948, Myanmar has faced persistent ethnic conflicts. Ethnic armed organisations (EAOs) have fought for autonomy and rights, often clashing with the central government and military. Over the years, groups […]

THE OCTOPUS AND ITS TENTACLES: A Fight to the Finish? - https://chanakyaforum.com/the-octopus-and-its-tentacles-a-fight-to-the-finish/ - Reading Time: 4 minutes 1967 was a seminal moment in the Middle East – Israel’s spectacular military triumph then, put an end to the challenge of rising Arab Nationalism, giving Israel not only far greater wriggle room in the tumultuous politics of the region, but also an aura of invincibility. Such an aura has for long enabled Israel to punch far above its strategic weight. The Hamas assault of October 2023 dented that image grievously; the subsequent rocket, drone and missile assaults by the Hezbollah, Houthis and Iran, from the less populated areas to the targeting of Israel’s cutting-edge Unit 8200 in the heart […]

INDIA’S ‘FUTURE READY COMBAT VEHICLE’: SEEKING ENHANCED MOBILITY, FIREPOWER AND SURVIVABILITY - https://chanakyaforum.com/indias-future-ready-combat-vehicle-seeking-enhanced-mobility-firepower-and-survivability/ - Reading Time: 10 minutes In the present paradigm of operational environments saturated with aerial/ground combat machines, inter-platform lethality/survivability have emerged as essential prerequisites for a combat platform, now and into the foreseeable future. While it may be pertinent to challenge the efficacy and/or survivability of mechanized platforms against the backdrop of global conflicts where drone predominance continues to be underscored, India’s vast Northern and Western Plains, coupled with extensive trans/cis border desert/semi-desert environments, reinforce the imperativeness of a robust tracked combat vehicle profile platform. A modern and lethal armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) profile with our mechanized formations is therefore necessary to serve as a […]

RATIONAL THINKING REVEALS IRAN’S CALIBRATED MISSILE OFFENSIVE MAY NOT EVOKE AN ISRAELI RESPONSE - https://chanakyaforum.com/rational-thinking-reveals-irans-calibrated-missile-offensive-may-not-evoke-an-israeli-response/ - Reading Time: 4 minutes Unlike the last time in April 2024 when Iran’s escalation of the conflict with Israel was only in name, and slow-moving drones and missiles had been fired at stray targets into Israeli territory, this time Iran appears to have moved its response to a higher level by several notches. The destruction of its embassy in Damascus a few months ago and the killing of its IRGC commanders then had brought a response which was just an ineffective demonstration and did not achieve much for Iran’s military reputation. Even the assassination of the all-important IRGC Commander General Qassem Soleimani in 2019 […]

APACHE HELICOPTER DELIVERY DELAY: BROADER ISSUE OF TRUST QUOTIENT - https://chanakyaforum.com/apache-helicopter-delivery-delay-broader-issue-of-trust-quotient/ - Reading Time: 7 minutes The Boeing AH-64 Apache is an American twin-turbo shaft attack helicopter with a tail wheel-type landing gear and a tandem cockpit for a crew of two. Nose-mounted sensors help acquire targets and provide night vision. It carries a 30 mm (1.18 in) M230 chain gun under its forward fuselage and four hard points on stub-wing pylons for armament and stores, typically AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and Hydra 70 rocket pods. Redundant systems help it survive combat damage. Boeing claims the AH-64E to be the world’s best and most advanced multi-mission attack helicopter. According to Boeing, it is the only combat helicopter […]