Ashok K Mehta

Ashok K Mehta

 

Ashok K Mehta is a retired Lt General of the Indian Army. He writes extensively on defence matters and anchors Defence Watch on Doordarshan 

Walking through the woods in UK

Walking through the woods in UK

Wednesday, 02 October 2024 | Ashok K Mehta

Suspension of winter fuel allowances, Starmer’s push to reset relations with Europe, and the forgotten legacy of the Gorkhas are echoing in the woods of the UK Hadlow Stair is a village in Tonbridge Kent, UK, with the Old Hadlow Road leading to it. Tonbridge is a poorer cousin of the...

Regime change on cards in Nepal?

Regime change on cards in Nepal?

Tuesday, 14 May 2024 | Ashok K Mehta

Amid strained India-Nepal relations, speculation swirls around a potential regime change in Nepal Nepal’s late Foreign Minister Rishikesh Shah would say that Kathmandu is the rumour capital of the world and also the fount of speculation.  Our own Madhuri Dikshit once hailed Nepal as a beautiful country adding: “We’re lucky it...

Why is the BJP avoiding China in campaigning?

Why is the BJP avoiding China in campaigning?

Wednesday, 01 May 2024 | Ashok K Mehta

The BJP’s election focus has shifted away from recent China tensions, opting instead to highlight Nehru’s actions during the 1962 conflict China has been generally missing from election manifestoes and campaigning so far. Former Army Chief Gen Naravane at a literary festival in Ajmer recently called China India’s primary threat adding...

Ignoring neighbours to embrace the world

Ignoring neighbours to embrace the world

Wednesday, 17 April 2024 | Ashok K Mehta

The BJP Government has put Neighbourhood First Policy on backburner, leaving it underperforming amid rising anti-India sentiments in the region BJP government has made foreign policy  a key election issue: Prime Minister Modi has stated, ‘Neighbour first and Act East second.’  Foreign Minister S Jaishankar is campaigning how G20 has enhanced...

Political seesaw in Nepal

Political seesaw in Nepal

Wednesday, 03 April 2024 | Ashok K Mehta

As Nepal navigates through these uncertain times, the future of its leadership and the direction of its governance hang in a delicate balance Many Nepalese see second time Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane Rashtra Swatantra Party as a future Prime Minister . With Bell as its election symbol it became the fourth...

Resurgence of military coups across Africa

Resurgence of military coups across Africa

Wednesday, 20 March 2024 | Ashok K Mehta

There is a precarious balance between military power and democratic governance, with implications resonating across continents Military coups, says Edward Luttwak in his Practical Handbook Coup d’Etat, can be immediately rewarding but the penalty of failure “is far greater than having to eat out of mess tin” he warns. After an...

Boost deterrence to subdue China

Boost deterrence to subdue China

Thursday, 07 March 2024 | Ashok K Mehta

Calling China a bully and seeking support from the US is likely to further strain relations with Beijing Earlier this month former Army Chief Gen Naravane at a literary festival in Ajmer called China India’s primary threat adding confrontation along the LAC was a good thing as it exposed this ground...

India is on the right track in Nepal

India is on the right track in Nepal

Wednesday, 21 February 2024 | Ashok K Mehta

Prachanda's adept balancing act and strategic positioning continue to shape the trajectory of Nepal's political future, with implications that extend beyond its borders Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda) has completed 13 months of his third term, by far the most successful in leading Nepal with the Maoist party with just...

Sunday Edition

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