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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 return of homegrown terror
Much has been written about the Red Fort blast. More dots in the terror trail will unearth additional evidence. The terrorist plot must have been incubating for two years, according to reports, for three tonnes of explosives to be collected. The revocation of Article 370, the unprecedented demotion of the...
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Nepal: Will the elections be held on time?
15 November 2025 | Ashok K Mehta -
Taliban 2.0: The phoenix of Pashtun power
30 October 2025 | Ashok K Mehta -
Op Sindoor aftermath: A dangerous drift
15 October 2025 | Ashok K Mehta -
Gen Z sparks a digital revolution in Nepal
01 October 2025 | Ashok K Mehta -
Gen Z’s quake that shook Nepal
17 September 2025 | Ashok K Mehta -
Thailand in turmoil: Lessons for India
03 September 2025 | Ashok K Mehta -
Books, Battles and Bureaucracy
07 August 2025 | Ashok K Mehta
A Diplomatic Victory for Nepal’s Arzu Rana
Nepal’s Foreign Minister Arzu Rana has positioned herself as the quiet architect of what could be a significant reset in India–Nepal ties. Her personal rapport with Indian officials has kept the Oli visit on Delhi’s radar Raisina Hill grapevine is finally predicting the feverishly anticipated Oli visit to Kathmandu from July...
Valour and Legacy: Remembering the Gorkha Heroes on VC Day
On 26 June 2025, the legendary Second Battalion of the Fifth Gorkha Rifles (Frontier Force), fondly called the “VC Paltan,” marks the 81st anniversary of Victoria Cross Day — a stirring tribute to unparalleled courage, sacrifice and tradition. The Battalion’s story is etched in both history and legend The Victoria Cross...
Debate on India’s defence doctrine
The larger question looms: Can India afford costly engagements with transient outcomes, without a comprehensive reimagining of its military doctrine, defence spending and national security policy? CDS Gen Anil Chauhan has made the startling comment that costs don’t matter, outcomes do. He was answering questions from Bloomberg in Singapore about the...
A silent triumph or strategic gamble?
While Delhi claims strategic success, key questions linger: Was nuclear escalation ever imminent? Who brokered the ceasefire? As media hails a new deterrence era, critics warn that silent victories may sow deeper uncertainties Op Sindoor may have moved from Page One to Page Three. But it won’t go away as PR...
Modi pauses war, raises stakes
Striking a rare balance between statesmanship and strategic bluntness, Modi laid out a new doctrine for countering cross-border terrorism, signalling a fundamental shift in India’s military posture and approach to deterrence In his 22-minute address to the nation on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared a ‘pause’ in the war. The...
The endless war for Kashmir
The latest civilian attack in Pahalgam by Pakistan-backed terrorists not only shattered a long-standing unspoken pact against targeting tourists but also reignited calls for retribution, hinting at a dangerous new phase The latest civilian attack in Pahalgam by Pakistan-backed terrorists not only shattered a long — standing unspoken pact against targeting...
Saluting the Gorkha spirit
From World War trenches to high-altitude patrols, and now well into their centenarian years, these warriors — my comrades, my teachers, my brothers — carry their legacy with the same quiet pride as they once did a khukuri In my nearly 66 years of trekking and travelling in Nepal, from a...
