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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
The untold story of Captain Rameshwar Thapa’s heroics
Capt Rameshwar Thapa, Nepal’s first civilian pilot to command a Russian Mi17 helicopter, played a pivotal role during the country’s Maoist insurgency When you think of rotary wing aircraft in Nepal, some names will crop up: Tula Bahadur Thapa, Narain Singh Pun, Madan KC, all Army Colonels, but among civilians a...
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Walking through the woods in UK
02 October 2024 | Ashok K Mehta -
Myanmar Junta on the backfoot
18 September 2024 | Ashok K Mehta -
The US endorses India-Tibet ties
04 September 2024 | Ashok K Mehta -
Another surprise regime change in neighbourhood
21 August 2024 | Ashok K Mehta -
Why a national security strategy is vital for India
07 August 2024 | Ashok K Mehta -
India backs Philippines in South China Sea standoff
24 July 2024 | Ashok K Mehta -
The Garhwal Regiment’s glorious military heritage
12 June 2024 | Ashok K Mehta
India needs substantial defence investment
The BJP’s defence manifesto, dubbed ‘Modi ki guarantee,’ pledges robust security measures but faces criticism for overlooking persistent threats and insufficient defence spending India’s Twin Challenges Warrant Active Deterrence: Achievable through Investment in Defence BJP’s defence and national security manifesto is Modi ki guarantee for Surakshit Bharat. It launched a massive 15-day...
Regime change on cards in Nepal?
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?
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
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
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
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
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...
