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 

Nepal in the throes of strategic choices

Nepal in the throes of strategic choices

Wednesday, 29 November 2023 | Ashok K Mehta

Nepal is exercising its strategic autonomy; distancing itself from the bullying Chinese dragon Nepal is recovering from its long annual hangover after celebrating Dussehra and Tihar. It energises Nepal to face the winter and the new year Vikram Samvat 2080 but with one-third of Nepal in India and abroad with 1500...

Stop putting the cart before the horse

Stop putting the cart before the horse

Wednesday, 28 June 2023 | Ashok K Mehta

The change is introduced following a strategic assessment and holistic review. India is guilty of transgressing this concept and principle India and US have taken one giant step in defence technology transfer and upgrade that makes their Global Comprehensive Strategic Partnership approach an alliance but allows India to preserve its strategic...

Let democracy prevail in Thailand

Let democracy prevail in Thailand

Wednesday, 14 June 2023 | Ashok K Mehta

The rise of the Move Forward Party and its dynamic leader Pita eclipses the Thaksin family aura, giving Thailand a chance at democratic transformation It looks like democracy is about to trounce the military-monarchy nexus in Thailand one more time. But appearances are deceptive in a country where the military has...

Indo-Nepal ties will flourish on trust

Indo-Nepal ties will flourish on trust

Wednesday, 31 May 2023 | Ashok K Mehta

Political engagement between the countries is missing for some time now. The historicity of bilateral relations will depend on Prachanda’s longevity as PM PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda will finally arrive today on a four days visit. Prachanda’s first visit was a state visit when he came after the 10 April...

Pak’s civil-military conflict continues

Pak’s civil-military conflict continues

Wednesday, 17 May 2023 | Ashok K Mehta

An unstable neighbour is anathema but it would be wrong on our part to assume that a disturbed and divided Pakistan is better than a stable one Pakistan’s poly-crises – political, economic and civil-military relations – continue unabated though it is nothing new – and an only spike in scale and...

Choose wisely on options in Myanmar

Choose wisely on options in Myanmar

Wednesday, 03 May 2023 | Ashok K Mehta

New Delhi has abandoned the democratic forces in Myanmar, practising realpolitik to deal with the Govt of the day, not the elected Govt Military coups usually end in instant success or instant failure. The coup in Myanmar has lasted more than two years and has reached a stalemate. The Resistance forces...

Triumph of India’s foreign policy

Triumph of India’s foreign policy

Wednesday, 05 April 2023 | Ashok K Mehta

What looked like near impossibility in not too distant past is now a reality. Sri Lanka has repulsed the allure of China and is back in India’s fold Who could have dreamt that Sri Lanka where anti-India sentiment was sky-high and China (and Pakistan) ruled the roost, would come into India’s...

Trust Prachanda to build relations with Nepal

Trust Prachanda to build relations with Nepal

Wednesday, 22 March 2023 | Ashok K Mehta

With Prachanda at the helm in Kathmandu, New Delhi can start with a clean slate. A fresh approach can put Indo-Nepal relations back on track On Monday, Nepalese Prime Minister Prachanda won the confidence vote to start his third term. India has had far better relations with Maoist leader Prachanda than...

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