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Thursday, July 7, 2016
Hard Reality Versus Popular Perceptions Of Reality
282 comments:1 – 200 of 282 Newer› Newest»
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
For those nuclear WMD wonks who are interested:
Lawrence Livermore Lab's analysis of India's May 1974 PNE:
And various CIA estimations of India's civil/military nuclear programmes in the 1950s & 1960s:
- July 7, 2016 at 6:20 AM
- DAshu said...
Is there any difference between PRC helping PAK developing its nuclear WMD and the US helping India developing its WMD?
This could be one of the reasons why US never tried to book PRC for her WMD proliferation activity.
Like they say - " people staying in glass houses should not throw stone at others house".
On another note how do you foresee the future of Afghan Army ? Can they be able to defend Afghan territory on their own against PA and its proxies?
- July 7, 2016 at 7:13 AM
- john said...
The cars have two tanks which are filled with dissolved metallic salts. These dissolved salts have opposite ionic charges which are then pumped through a membrane. The chemical reaction which unites both molecular structures produces energy which is used to power the four electric motors, each of which powers one of the wheels, by utilizing the built-in super capacitors.
It costs less than 10 euro cents per litre to produce the energy carrier on an industrial level (plus the charging costs)
After Tesla Motors successful pre-booking of the new model, I think DRDO must seriously think about Electric/Hydrogen based engines. Another 3-5 years time internal Combustion will become obsolete.
- July 7, 2016 at 10:28 AM
- Ganesh said...
Hello Prasun,
Thanks for the heads-up, for me being a person from non-defense field, this makes a good read to connect the dots and get a correct perspective about the past and understand the present and present future actions (max 3 years in future) to follow. Without talking anything bad about East India company (Congress) government activities and its leaders; I believe the present government is taking the right steps to better India's interests without falling into the prejudices that you have cleared with this article. I believe economic strength will provide all the necessary incentives to build a strong military and astute foreign policy to safeguard and increase the gains made in economic and military fields. Kudos to you.
- July 7, 2016 at 2:41 PM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
To DASHU: There's a HUGE difference: the US NEVER supplied any WMD warheads or their missile delivery systems off-the-shelf to India, whereas China did exactly the opposite by supplying such hardware to Pakistan. Nor did the US supply any nuclear-related industrial facility that was unsafeguarded. China in contrast supplied the 4 Khushab PHWRs. Consequently, the US today retains the high moral ground when sanctioning various Chinese military-industrial & nuclear commerce entities since the early 1990s. The US has from time to time slapped economic sanctions against such China-based entities.
As the ANA continues to evolve through training & mentoring from its Indian counterpart, it will be more than capable of taking on the Afghan Taliban & other such terrorist entities, rest assured.
- July 7, 2016 at 3:31 PM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
To S SENTHIL KUMAR: Slowly but steadily, scientific means are now inching closer towards unravelling the existence of Kumari Kandam, while demolishing the myth of the Aryan invasion of the subcontinent & the related connection between the Aryans & the four Vedas:
- July 7, 2016 at 3:35 PM
I do NOT understand why you have to reflect on a book written by M K Rasgotra and thereafter declare that whatever he said about US-India relations is true.
Obviously Rasgotra has to glorify the US. He was hand in glove with the CIA. After the Bhopal Gas tragedy, Rasgotra worked overtime to help Warren Anderson escape from India.Did you forget that part?
And all that talk about the US giving India a heads-up about a possible invasion by Pakistan in 1965 is just that - Bull.
Why did the US accept every anti India garbage that UK, France & Portugal had to say about India? Obviously they could not provide any evidence to suppor their case.
Previously when I used to hear from several people in New Delhi that Rasgotra is a CIA agent I had some doubts, after reading his book I am convinced that he was planted in the Indian establishment by the Yankees.
- July 7, 2016 at 3:53 PM
- Pierre Zorin said...
It is absolutely clear that Indian leaders must have taken a lot of valium post independence and even today. The whole country could have been different if the missed opportunities were grabbed then. Whilst Nixon was a staunch anti-Indian (perhaps for good reasons) Kennedy loved India. But as they say you can take a horse to the water but can't make it drink. By using foresight India could have had an upper edge over China, saved two costly wars, had a better relation with the USSR more on equal terms. Now Indians have an opportunity to see how Nehru ruined India - he put himself before the national interest. If he wasn't pussyfooting (literally with Mountbattens's wife) and taken a more pragmatic and wise approach today's India would be much more than a developing nation. The same sort of indecision is plaguing the country even today. Like Minister James Hacker in Yes Minister said, "our policy is not to have a policy". Indian leaders should have been like Sir Humphrey Appleby - "I need to know everything. If I don't know what I don't know I won't know whether I need to know or I don't need to know. When I know what I now don't know then I know that I know that I don't need to know. "
BTW what do you make of Y20 is it a clone of IL 76/78?
- July 7, 2016 at 4:34 PM
- Ved said...
Dear Prasun,
How deep can P8I detect subs in open ocean? How deep can mk54 torpedoes strike at enemy subs?
Is there any credible information on the same.
- July 7, 2016 at 6:12 PM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
To RAMAKANTH: LoLz! Care to explain how an official of the MEA can help any foreigner escape from Indian soil? You are obviously not aware of the job responsibilities of officials of either the Union MHA or the MEA. Hence all the senseless conspiracy theories being spewed out by you! Whenever any foreigner exits India, he/she has to pass through an immigration counter. So you need to check under which govt ministry the Immigration Dept comes. Nor have you read the book, for if you had, you would have known when & how M K Rasgotra entered the Indian Foreign Service & obviously the Yankees weren't around inside India then to vett his job application & related examination papers.
- July 7, 2016 at 9:01 PM
One can read more authoritative accounts on what transpired on the secret missions carried out jointly by RAW-CIA here :
- July 7, 2016 at 9:05 PM
Dear Prasun, Why Paki's claim that their fighter pilots are better trained,did they really shot down 10 Israeli aircraft? is M.M. Alam really an ace or it is just a Paki propaganda? VINOD KUMAR
- July 7, 2016 at 9:10 PM
And here's the the Interview with Rasgotra with Karan Thapar on the Anderson fiasco (please read it!):
- July 7, 2016 at 9:21 PM
- Munna Bhai said...
@ Sengupta
The points Ramakanth makes (para 1 & 4) are pretty much germane and plausible, though his conjecture about MKR being a CIA agent remains, well, a conjecture in absence of hard evidence. You have simply and lazily dismissed the CIA conjecture because that was the easiest thing to do. You've not countered the other issues which he pointed out. After all, if the US were such babes in the woods listening to UK and France on India without applying their grey cells, they'd hardly be the power they are, don't you think? Despite what MKR would like us to believe, history tells us otherwise.
- July 7, 2016 at 10:02 PM
You claimed : "Slowly but steadily, scientific means are now inching closer towards unravelling the existence of Kumari Kandam.."
Has any evidence come to light in support of this pseudo-historical hypothesis? It was a scientifically discredited idea holding no academic currency the last time I checked.
Can you unravel anything in support of this ?
- July 7, 2016 at 10:03 PM
hi prasun
turkey seems to be modernizing the agosta subs for pakistan. How come the french allowed that?.Is turkey so good to dabble with the french built sub and put in its own CMS and sensors?.
- July 7, 2016 at 11:07 PM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
To MUNNA BHAI: LoLz! Your statement (You have simply and lazily dismissed the CIA conjecture because that was the easiest thing to do. You've not countered the other issues which he pointed out. After all, if the US were such babes in the woods listening to UK and France on India without applying their grey cells, they'd hardly be the power they are, don't you think?) clearly portrays you as the one who is too lazy to delve into research to seek out the truth.
For, you gloss over the fact about the US relying entirely on the UK both during & after WW-2 for both political & military intelligence regarding the whole of South & Southeast Asia. You are perhaps deliberately forgetting (or maybe you're plain ignorant of the home-truths) that Lord Louis Mountbatten of the UK was the SUPREME Allied Forces Commander for this entire region during & after WW-2 & therefore the allies were totally depending on the UK for advice & inputs of all kinds about this region. Diplomatic & military intelligence expertise & networks take decades to develop & are not obtained in an instant, like you find in Playstations or XBox. That's why the US took almost a decade to get a grip on areas it was ignorant about. For instance, it was only in 1956 that the US discovered that what the UK, France & Israel were doing to precipitate the Suez crisis was plain wrong & only then did the US put its foot down & dissented against the UK. The same was the case with India, when realisation about the true state of affairs in South Asia began dawning on President Eisenhower. Therefore, do take the time to do some serious research & self-introspection before engaging like RAMAKANTH in needless tongue-lashing aimed at defending the indefensible. And also don't ASSUME that the US was as powerful & resourceful in the late 1940s & early 1950s as it is today.
Base your case on corroborative evidence & then speak out. For instance, contrary to earlier popular perception, the US Navy's USS Enterprise CBG DID NOT enter the Bay of Bengal at any time in 1971. On the instructions of the then CNO of the USN, Admiral Zumwalt, the CBG held off in the Straits of Malacca from December 10, when it arrived, to December 14, during which surrender talks were already on in Dhaka. When that was confirmed, the CBG entered the Indian Ocean via the Andaman Sea & pushed off for a visit to Sri Lanka. In addition, it was the Soviets that stopped India's planned ground offensives in northern J & K (with the objective of capturing Skardu) for December 17 and December 19, because the USSR had told India that it could not veto four consecutive UNSC resolutions after having vetoed the first 3 resolutions. Thus, a ceasefire was agreed upon on December 16, 1971.
To RAD: The modernisation involves only the installation of new optronic masts/attack periscopes, a new surface search radar & a new ESM sensor. Nothing beyond that. The SUBTICS CMS on the 3 Agosta 90B SSKs remains the same.
To SPYKAR: The evidence will be unveilled in the future by India's National Institute of Oceanography. For, right now, deep-sea archaeological excavations, & explorations assisted by sidescan sonars are now being carried out in the waters east of Mauritius.
- July 8, 2016 at 12:02 AM
- SUJOY MAJUMDAR said...
1. According to Jane, components for the IN's Mig 29K are not readily available because of the sanctions on Russia. Consequently Russia is exporting a "substandard" Mig 29K to India.
One wonders why India can't produce these components in house.
2. Thanks for sharing the link about the origins of the Swastika. Is it true that Rishis in ancient India had developed the ability to fly, as stated in some Hindu texts like Upanishadas?
Thank You
- July 8, 2016 at 12:27 AM
- Munna Bhai said...
@ Sengupta
That was one hell of a rant and not a rebuttal by any stretch of imagination. I hope it made you feel better for it brought nothing new to the argument.
- July 8, 2016 at 12:34 AM
- Arpit Kanodia said...
Obviously Rasgotra has to glorify the US. He was hand in glove with the CIA. After the Bhopal Gas tragedy, Rasgotra worked overtime to help Warren Anderson escape from India.Did you forget that part?
@Ramakanth You saying he singlehandedly escaped Warren Anderson, while MoHA & Rajiv Gandhi was sleeping in there AC rooms. Are you that much dumb or acting like dumb?
- July 8, 2016 at 1:15 AM
- Arpit Kanodia said...
Or you are that dumb which unable to grasp why US/Canada transfered PHWR test reactor under Kennedy.
Obviously a PHWR test reactor utility is so much about peaceful use.
- July 8, 2016 at 1:20 AM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
To SUJOY MAJUMDAR: Not just for the MiG-29Ks, but also for the Su-30MKIs & Mi-17V-5s. Before the European/Ukrainian embargoes, United Aircraft Corp used to source various sub-systems & components directly from European & Ukrainian OEMs. But since April 2014 that's not been possible. So India now places orders with these OEMs & once they arrive in India, they're flown to Russia to the OEMs there where final-assembly of the MiG-29K & Mi-17V-5 takes place. This is called customer-furnished equipment (CFE). It is a bit more expensive exercise due to greater transshipment costs, but it is not a great problem by any stretch of imagination. For instance, the SAFRAN-developed SIGMA-95N RLG-INS on the MiG-29K, Su-30MKI. Tejas Mk.1 & Jaguar IS/DARIN-3 are already being licence-built by HAL's Korwa Division & therefore as & when reqd such RLG-INS units are supplied by HAL to to RSK-MiG for installation on the MiG-29Ks.
As for the Rishis, the Upanishads state that they used to exist in ancient India, but the texts never say that they made ancient India their home or they had permanent residences in ancient India. On the other hand, the Sangam Literature states that these Rishis were from other worlds who used to visit Earth from time to time during the regular Sangams (grand gatherings, like what we today known as AGMs of corporate entities). And it is said that it was in these sites of such Sangams that cone-shaped temples (like the Gopurams) were built to commemorate the Sangams.
To MUNNA BHAI: LoLz! To make sense of these 'rants', one needs both the hardware & operating software, i.e. brain & intellect. Since you've still not grasped what I had explained, I guess you have no other choice but to step out & go shopping for those missing items (hardware & related OS). Good luck with your shopping!
To RON: After inking the India-USSR Treaty of Friendship & Cooperation on August 9, 1971, the USSR pladges that if China attacked India, then the USSR would unleash up to 14 of its its Central Asia-based Motorised Infantry Divisions for invading Xinjiang. In addition, between August & November, there were large-scale shipments of conventional weapons of all types from the USSR & they all arrived by sea in both Mumbai & Kolkata. Israel, France & the UK didn't pitch in much since the hardware reqmts from them weren't much. For Pakistan, only Jordan, Iran & to some extent Turkey helped Pakistan by supplying some US-origin hardware, because the US after 1965 had imposed a 10-year ban on weapons supplies to both India & Pakistan.
- July 8, 2016 at 2:00 AM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
To ARPIT KANODIA: Both RAMAKANTH & MUNNA BHAI are devoid of the grey-coloured hardware & the OS & the size of their worlds is as small as the volume inside the circumference within which the cow or buffalo repeatedly goes round & round in circles whenever they're tethered & their eyes are covered in order to operate the stone-crusher for making wheat-flour. There's thus no difference between these two & folks like the Zakir Nazik fella.
Munna Bhai's last response reminds me of the guy who one fine morning went out riding his domesticated donkey & when his neighbours asked him where he was headed for, he replied that he was wandering in his neighbourhood looking for his 'lost' donkey.
- July 8, 2016 at 2:12 AM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
o PIERRE ZORIN: Not IL-76MD or IL-78, but more like the C-17A Globemaster in terms of both external looks & performance. The glass cockpit of the Y-20 employs the same design architecture as those on the Y-9 turboprop transporter & the H-6K bomber. The following are video-clips of the handover ceremony of the 1st production-series Y-20 to the PLAAF:
- July 8, 2016 at 2:27 AM
I never knew thought you of shying away from a debate and I thought you like to tread on paths where others fear to tread or even tremble. Or have you no regard for truth, fairness and morality?
Though each one of us is free to make any assumption that he pleases but he must be able to prove that assumption or withdraw it. I think this is fair. What I fear is that you are engaging in a polemic which results in a senseless competition of rhetoric and in reality playing a name game in the garb in the name of an academic debate. The participants are close-minded in the case of the former and open to truth in the case of the latter.
The one who learns more is the bigger winner and it is in this sense alone one should hope to be a winner. Only those who have inflated egos will feel defeated once proven wrong.
Also, as this is your blog, the rules of this debate are totally in your favor(like one of boxers in the ring also being the referee), except for the fact that you are standing on a very shaky ground of facts and conjecture and are armed by an air gun that makes only noise, while I am standing on a solid ground of facts and my logical gun is loaded with real ammunition.
I hope i didnt gave you an itch that you can never scratch.
- July 8, 2016 at 2:51 AM
There is no shame in turning back, when you discover you are on the wrong path.
- July 8, 2016 at 3:23 AM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
To email@example.com & 3.23AM: First, kindly get a decent handle & don't blog anonymously. The gospels of truth, fairness & morality can only be preached by those who practice them first & are willing to stand up & be held accountable for their utterances & actions. Secondly, all debates in this blog are totally in favour of only those who employ logical reasoning to make compelling arguments, and who are not selective or economical with facts that are now in the open domain. I therefore can only presume that your comments/observations om shaky ground of facts & conjecture are aimed at folks like RAMAKANTH & MUNNA BHAI.
- July 8, 2016 at 5:09 AM
Did USS enterprise really threatened our existence which led soviets to deploy nuclear submarine? is it the only reason that made us to make nuclear bomb and detonate in 1974?does any country has anything to do with homibaba death?why did pakis detonated nuclear bomb so many times than us in 80' and 90s?what led to vajpee to go official on nuclear detonation in 1998 even though we know we will be slapped with sanctions? what events led pakis to detonate after us and what role china played in this activity? why is it our yield so less than expected?
- July 8, 2016 at 5:15 AM
Hi Prasun,
Thanks for the book review. I will definitely pick it up the next time I am in India since the online retailers where I live are selling it for a lot. Do you have a list of must-haves - I remember you suggested one on ISRO and another by Arjun Subramaniam?
Also regarding Kumari Kandam, it would be interesting to see if that civilization was Buddhist. That would mean that present-day Kerala and Tamil Nadu were historically Buddhist (like Lanka is today) before the Nambudiris came around the 8th Century. Caste hierarchy was not inherent to Kerala's society until their arrival, but I believe the Jews/Christians might have been an endogamous community before this time. This would suggest that many of the elements that seem to be inherent to "Hinduism" were in fact not part of the ancient's original cultural system but rather introduced at a much later point (several centuries later). Some of the more regressive elements could have been assimilated from the various nomadic invaders over the course of centuries although this is entirely conjecture.
- July 8, 2016 at 6:45 AM
- birbal said...
".....Since you've still not grasped what I had explained, I guess you have no other choice but to step out & go shopping for those missing items (hardware & related OS). Good luck with your shopping!"-------------HAHAHA, nice joke Prasunda
Prasun K. Sengupta said...
To ARPIT KANODIA: Both RAMAKANTH & MUNNA BHAI are devoid of the grey-coloured hardware & the OS & the size of their worlds is as small as the volume inside the circumference within which the cow or buffalo repeatedly goes round & round in circles whenever they're tethered & their eyes are covered in order to operate the stone-crusher for making wheat-flour...
Munna Bhai's last response reminds me of the guy who one fine morning went out riding his domesticated donkey & when his neighbours asked him where he was headed for, he replied that he was wandering in his neighbourhood looking for his 'lost' donkey."----------------------------hahaha, good sense of humor Prasunda
- July 8, 2016 at 7:56 AM
- birbal said...
Prasun K. Sengupta said...
" .....The gospels of truth, fairness & morality can only be preached by those who practice them first & are willing to stand up & be held accountable for their utterances & actions._______What does it mean to me? Only one thing - Be a MAN and Stand-up for your actions..
Secondly, all debates in this blog are totally in favour of only those who employ logical reasoning to make compelling arguments, and who are not selective or economical with facts that are now in the open domain......"___________What does it mean to me - Use your OWN Reasoning power, then only one can see the TRUTH.
Have a NICE time everyone....
- July 8, 2016 at 8:06 AM
The latest article in economic times by Air Chief is a tight slap across the face of embedded laziness, sluggishness and babuism in MOD, DRDO and political landscape. Now here is man VISION. If only his predecessors could have thought like this.
Brown Desi
- July 8, 2016 at 8:28 AM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
To BROWN DESI: Kindly post the link to that story.
To RON: It was common practice during the Cold War era for Soviet Navy SSNs & SSGNs tailing US Navy CBGs. Therefore, this incident wasn't specific to the 1971 war. The Soviet Navy was following standard operating procedures. How can the Enterprise CBG threaten anyone or the Indian Navy when it never even entered the Bay of Bengal in December 1971?
As for the late 1980s & 1990s, kindly read the book HALF LION (on P V Narasimha Rao) which explains in detail India's plans for testing boosted-fission devices on December 11, 1995 & the thermonuclear device in June 1996.
To GOPU: Kumari Kandam was a continent that perished or went underwater some 10,000 years ago, meaning long before the advent of Jainism or Buddhism or even the Mahabharata. Therefore, what religion was practised in that continent remains a mystery till this day. But based on what's available about the Sangam Literature, the inhabitants of Kumari Kandam were reportedly in a very highly evolved state, both materially & spiritually, & they subscribed to the very same Dharma code of conduct that was later spelt out in detail in the Bhagwad Gita.
As for the list of must-read books, for starters, the ones you've mentioned along with the one I mentioned above regarding PVNR, should be a good point of departure. On average, I buy about 2-3 books per month (a practice that's been going on for the past 26 years!) & so if I were to supply you with a list of such must-read titles, the list would be far too long.
- July 8, 2016 at 1:16 PM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
The 'Islamic preacher' Zakir Naik says that music intoxicates a person and that it is like alcohol. He also says that other Muslim scholars who did not call it a sin were misguiding fellow Muslims. If that is indeed a case, then this entire detachment of PA soldiers at Dansum (attached to the PA's 323 Siachen Brigade) indeed committed blasphemy when they merrily danced & sang to herald in Eid 48 hours ago, all of which can be seen in this video-clip:
- July 8, 2016 at 1:19 PM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
And here's a selection of the outrageously infamous mumbo-jumbo from this 'Islamic preacher':
And the above-two video-clips are interviews given to this crazy Pakistani medicial practicioner who himself has an on-going series of Pakistani TV programmes dealing with an alleged forthcoming apocalypse.
- July 8, 2016 at 1:35 PM
- Rajesh said...
Zakir naik is a bad and mad genious but there is a method in his madness. As the times are really getting bad, so he can be expected to muster more and more evil support from the muslamics.
- July 8, 2016 at 2:34 PM
Fact of the matter is Prasun, all these types of preachers need to be put back in the box. Of all religion, not just islam. Then you will have broad support. If on the one hand you allow political party to dress in yellow and go around the country inciting whatever and stop someone else...it wont work.
Bnagla's government is just pointing finger at india, ratherthan owning upto the fact that this is a blow back from the skeletons they have been playing with to get revenge on Jaamat Islami. Blowback was expected.
- July 8, 2016 at 2:59 PM
- Anup said...
1) Once Again Lockheed raises pitch for F-16s (Head of the aerospace giant meets Jaitley; manufacture, technology transfer on the agenda)
why they are pitching F-16,F-18,Gripen again again and again ?
2) Indian Navy reports problems with Russian carrier, aircraft?
Is this true?
- July 8, 2016 at 3:38 PM
- Pierre Zorin said...
These videos seem to indicate US hostile attitude towards India in 1971.
- July 8, 2016 at 4:11 PM
- Arpit Kanodia said...
@Anonymous aka Ramakanth This is not about debate, this is about stupidity.
Please tell me ,,, how this so called CIA guy helped Warren in escape without asking PM or Cabinet.
Or you saying he violated direct orders from Cabinet, but still no one prosecuted him?
- July 8, 2016 at 5:06 PM
- Arpit Kanodia said...
I am amazed that people still think Warren escaped without PM orders. And PMO, MoHA & Cabinet was clueless.
- July 8, 2016 at 5:11 PM
- Unknown said...
Dear Prasunji,
Can the GOI have govt to govt deal with italy for blackshark torpedoes to save valuable time and to avoid any corruption smear?? especially when things gave started to get somewhat notmal between the two govts post MTCR entry and resolution of marine crisis..
- July 8, 2016 at 10:36 PM
Ali Sina On Zakir Naik
- July 8, 2016 at 10:36 PM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
To RAJESH: Well, what goes around eventually comes around. It now looks like the Sunni & Shia clerics of India have started heeding my unsolicited advice & have begun issuing fatwas against this Naik fella. First were the Barelvis & now this:
They should also now issue similar statements abiut Islam has been systematically distorted over the past 6 decades by the Pakistanis & how as a result of this that country is now producing creatures that are directly attacking the holy citires in Saudi Arabia:
This will now push Pakistan into a tight corner even within the OIC.
To RAT666: Now's the time to show some imagination:
India's national security establishment must now ensure that the dead body of this terrorist poster-boy is NEVER handed over to his next-of-kith-n-kin for burial. Instead, just like the disposal of OBL's body, this terrorist too should be given a burial in the high seas. That will send a very clear message to all other creatures who are thinking of following in this terrorist's footsteps.
- July 8, 2016 at 10:59 PM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
To ANUP & RON: http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/boeing-mahindra-defence-systems-open-c-17-training-center-for-iaf/
To PIERRE ZORIN: LoLz! Actions always speak louder than words, don't you think? As I had explained earlier, when it came to the reckoning, Admiral Zumwalt did what was best of the US, despite all that was then being said by President Nixon & NSA Dr Henry Kissinger.
BTW, did you know that after inking the India-USSR Treaty of Friendship & Cooperation on August 9, 1971, when India's then Foreign Minister Sardar Swaran Singh went to the US a month later, he calmly told his US counterpart William Rogers (after Rogers was livid with anger & read out the riot act to Singh for a good 10 minutes) that he had been instructed by his PM to sign an identical agreement with the US within the next 48 hours, subject to the US being agreeable to such an arrangement? This terribly embarrassed Rogers & his staff of the US State Dept, while the Indian delegation accompanying Singh at that time for this meeting had a very hard time controlling their laughter after witnessing the totally bewildered & dumbfounded looks on the faces of Rogers & co (who had prejudged the Indians) after hearing out Singh.
Rasgotra's autobiography is full of such anecdotes & therefore makes very interesting & enjoyable reading.
- July 8, 2016 at 11:10 PM
See how Zakir Naik spread lies
- July 8, 2016 at 11:15 PM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
To RAJESH & RAT666:
RE: http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/burhan-wani-dead-killed-encounter-jk-reactions-2902120/
Some of these tweeting 'desi' journalists/TV programme anchors should be told in no uncertain terms that there's no such entity as a 'militant'. Certainly not after 9/11. Anyone attacking soft targets & causing loss of innocent life through force of arms is a terrorist. Labelling them as militants means harbouring hopes of such entities surrendering their weapons & being 'born-again' as model citizens. It is such presumptuous tweeting 'desi' journalists that sow doubts in the minds of others, while innocently or deliberately failing to acknowledge that we are dealing with irreconcilable folks who have no love for humanity.
- July 8, 2016 at 11:25 PM
- birbal said...
Prasun K. Sengupta said...
....that there's no such entity as a 'militant'.... Anyone attacking soft targets & causing loss of innocent life through force of arms is a terrorist. ...... while innocently or deliberately failing to acknowledge that we are dealing with irreconcilable folks who have no love for humanity.
WELL Said Prasunda..
- July 8, 2016 at 11:35 PM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
To UNKNOWN: What for? The MoD is right now close to concluding contractual negotiations for the DCNS-built F-21 HWT, which in any case is a Black Shark HWT that's assembled in France by a French company with components supplied by Italian vendors. Everything's the same internally & externally in terms of hardware content & looks. Only the names are different for branding purposes.
- July 8, 2016 at 11:38 PM
- SUJOY MAJUMDAR said...
1. A good description of THAAD.
2. Lockheed CEO Marillyn Hewson is in India. Can you please state what are the weapon systems she wants to sell to India. The Hindu reported last week that AEGIS has been offered.
3. Apart from 12 Pakis who have been arrested by Saudis, another Paki was jailed in UAE for screaming Alla Hu Akhbar in an Emirates plane.
It seems who so ever said ""those whom the gods wish to destroy they first make mad" had Pakis in mind.
4. What % of Bangladesh's population comprises of Urdu, Punjabi speaking Paki Muslims? Some say it is 25%, some say it is more. IIRC, these are the ones creating all the jihadi outfits.
Thank You
- July 9, 2016 at 12:05 AM
Dear Sir,
Please throw some light on the DTOA/DF passive radars, the DWL002 & the YLC-20, employed by China and their current status and about their perceived anti-stealth capability.
And also on AESA radars such as JY-26. Chinese media claimed it detected F22 Raptors off south korean coast in mid 2014.
Also shed some light on the Divine Eagle UAV.
- July 9, 2016 at 12:12 AM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
To BIRBAL/PALLAB: VMT. Kindly spread this same message along in all forms & in all forums, since it seems no one is taking notice of such incidents. As a result, these 'desi' journalists most often get away unscathed & continue to propagate their ignorant/ill-informed observations with impunity, and also at times have their own insidious agendas to pursue. It is now high time to call their bluff & make them come to grips with some hard-truths.
To RON: Well, what more can one expect from a country where 60% of the students are churned out from the 52,000 madrassas every year? If India has one Zakir Naik, over there there are tens of thousands of them like him who have been engaging in obfuscations & distortions since 1979.
To SUJOY MAJUMDAR: VMT. Firstly, that interview confirms now that the follow-on 6 C-130J-30s are on order & deliveries will begin this year. Secondly, Lockheed Martin's immediate marketing priorities are to sow up the long-overdue contract for 16 S-70B Seahawks & another 8 as options, plus promoting the 12-tonne CH-0148 Cyclone. The 10-tonne Seahawks won't replace the 12-tonne Sea King Mk.42Bs, the CH-148s will in future. Thirdly, Lockheed Martin wants to set up a regional MRO facility for the C-130 family of aircraft in India, where the C-130s from Bangladesh & Sri Lanka too can be periodically serviced. Fourthly, there's the AGM-114 Hellfire ATGM that is being offered for the Rudra helicopter gunships of both the IA & IAF, & for the LCH of the IAF. Lastly, there's the Javelin ATGM from Raytheon for which Lockheed Martin supplies fire-control/targetting components. If an India-specific Javelin fitted with thermobaric warheads is to be co-developed with the DRDO, then Lockheed Martin would be an involved industrial party as well in the R & D effort. Also, LM is supplying all the stabilised gyros for all the optronic turrets for long-range surveillance that are being assembled by VEM Technologies Pvt Ltd. These will go on board tethered aerostats for both the IA & BSF. The optronic sensors have been developed by IRDE.
F-16s & AEGIS have no takers in India.
Then there's this:
Looks like DENEL Land Systems will at last be allowed to partner with the OFB's Nalanda facility for producing 155mm artillery rounds of all types, plus BMCS modules.
4) They are the Bihari Muslims who had migrated to East Pakistan & not Pakistani Punjabis. Only some 12% remain. The native terrorists are all owing allegiance to the JMB & their main sources of IEDs, country-made bombs & tamanchas are all from India, especially from WB & Jharkhand. Almost all factories previously in Munger in Bihar have now relocated to WB. The accidental discovery of JMB modules in Malda & Khagragarh 2 years ago have brought all this to light. The JMB also uses India as an outlet for transferring funds to offshore accounts in Malaysia & it is these bank accounts that finance the travel=plans of those JMB recruits who wish to go to Iraq or Syria for joining ISIS. Unlike Indian outlawed outfits like the CoCom or NSCN-R or Myanmar's NSCN-K or Manipuri extortionists who can obtain weapons from Myanmar, the JMB cannot since Myanmar has sealed its border with Bangladesh due to the Rohingya problem, & therefore the JMB has no other option but to look inside India for obtaining the 'desi' tamanchas & IEDs. Hence, it is imperative that the India-Bangladesh border be totally fenced on a war-footing if disaster is to be averted inside both countries.
- July 9, 2016 at 12:58 AM
Apart from investments in the gas sector, are there any stretegic interests underpinning Modi's visit to Mozambique? HT reports that India plans to develop the important port of Beira with one senior Indian officer adding "This is a country shaped like a carrier,". The hydrographic survey of Beira Port was also carried out by Indian Naval Ship INS Darshak in 2012. India also handed over 30 Mahindra SUVs and 4 Buses to Mozambique.
- July 9, 2016 at 1:18 AM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
o SPYKAR: I wish the writer of that report had delved into the past in greater detail.
Let me share a few tit-bits not known before to most Indian citizens or PIOs or NRIs. For instance, in the 1980s, both the South African ANC & Namibia's SWAPO leadership cadres were based in Maputo & India was one of the countries that was giving financial assistance to these movements' govts-in-exile. In fact, from 1983 onward till 1989, the quantum of secret or black funds reqd by the Govt of India for financing such covert operations grew in an appreciable manner. It was for this very reason that the Govt of India as far back as 1982 had adopted the policy of not requiring middlemen for negotiating & inking contracts for military hardware procurement, i.e. henceforth the money from commissions would not go into the offshore bank accounts of private individuals not under the control of the Govt of India, but would instead go to a select bunch of individuals who would be NOMINATED as agents by the Govt of India strictly on a verbal & unofficial basis (so as to leave no paperwork trail or trace) & only these individuals would be allowed to set up offshore bank accounts in various European tax-havens. This money would then be used for financing various covert operations of the Govt of India. That's how the UK-based Hinduja Brothers entered the scene WRT the Bofors & HDW deals of the 1980s. They never wanted even a single paisa for their personal benefit. Instead, they only offered their good services for the cause of their motherland. But unfortunately, human greed played a dastardly role in the form of Rajiv Gandhi & his family getting too pally with the Quattrochis & consequently Rajiv devised his own nest-aid plan for his family-members so that his kids could obtain higher education abroad. And that's how word leaked out about the nexus between the Govt of India & arms merchants/middlemen & a perfectly sound covert operation for legitimate national security reqmts was sabotaged by the individual greed of Rajiv Gandhi. Another consequence of the personal greed was the total scrapping of plans for licence-producing 1,000 FH-77B towed 155mm howitzers & up to 6 Class 209/Type 1500 SSKs.
And it is for this reason that even during the NDA-1 govt from April 1998 till May 2004, no serious attempt was made to take the Bofors & HDW investigations to their logical conclusions. For, had serious investigations been done to unearth the truth, all related information about India's covert operations funding too would have come to light & that was never an option from a national security standpoint. And therefore even the present-day Govt of India will never ever bother to bring the Bofors & HDW scandals to full closure.
As for Mozambique, it along with Indonesia are India's primary suppliers of low-ash content coal. It is far cheaper to import coal from Mozambique than it is from Australia.
- July 9, 2016 at 1:59 AM
Now that's a revelation! I'm sure many people would even KILL for the sort of knowledge you carry in your software! Keep Baring & Sharing for us!
- July 9, 2016 at 2:31 AM
In one of the Video posted by PIERRE ZORIN, Admiral Kruglyakov, commander of the Pacific Fleet from 1970-75, presents a contrary view involving the USS Enterprise during 1971 :
"The Chief Commander ordered me to lift the subs when they (the Americans) appear!. It was done to demonstrate that we had nuclear submarines in the Indian Ocean. So when our subs surfaced, they recognized us and knew the Soviet cruisers, destroyers and atomic submarines equipped with anti-ship missiles were there." Then, we intercepted the American communication. The commander of the British fleet, Admiral Gordon told the 7th American Fleet Commander: 'Sir, we are too late. There are the Russian atomic submarines here, and a big collection of battleships'.
- July 9, 2016 at 2:44 AM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
To SPYKAR: VMT. In fact, the late B Raman in his book THE KAOBOYS OF R & AW had broadly hinted at this issue & the role of the Hinduja brothers, but for obvious reasons at the time of writing that book, he chose not to go too deep to bare it all. That was followed by the more recent THE X FACTOR, an autobiography of ZEE Media Group's Dr Subhash Chandra Goenka in which he explained in detail how the nomination process worked under both Indira Gandhi & Rajiv Gandhi.
As for the USS Enterprise-Soviet SSGN faceoff, it took place east of Trincomalee near Dondra Point & it proves my earlier point about the USN's 7th Fleet CBG not entering the Bay of Bengal at all & instead heading for the Indian Ocean. Furthermore, with the Vietnam War in full swing then, neither the US nor the USSR wanted to escalate matters to any kind of military showdown & that too at a time when the IA was already negotiating surrender terms with the PA in Dhaka.
- July 9, 2016 at 3:04 AM
One can read few chapters from the book "The Blood Telegram" By Gary J Bass here:
- July 9, 2016 at 3:13 AM
Must Read :
- July 9, 2016 at 3:17 AM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
To SPYKAR: BTW, such covert funds were also used by India for averting a politico-military coup in Mauritius in the early 1980s when the elected govt of Aneerood Jugnauth was threatened. That operation was codenamed LAAL DORAA & it involved the Indian Navy engaging in a bit of gunboat diplomacy as well.
- July 9, 2016 at 3:20 AM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
To SPYKAR: This is a far more detailed book on the war crimes & other atrocities committed by the PA:
- July 9, 2016 at 3:39 AM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
To BIRBAL: Witness how this Maulana refuses to share the podium with Taslima Nasreen:
If I'm not mistaken, this programme is supposed to be broadcast later tonight. Those who shy away from civilised debates & also fail to make compelling arguments in defence of their stance don't even deserve to be heard. These are the kind Maulanas that always fail to derive wisdom from that of the Holy Prophet's Al Hadith & instead they seek short-cuts through over-simplifications & the consequent distortions & obfuscations--in contravention of all that the Holy Prophet had stood for throughout his life. No wonder the overwhelming chunk of the Muslim Ummah is today running around like headless chicken.
- July 9, 2016 at 3:47 AM
Also, read a couple of interesting anecdotes surrounding the events of 1971 :
1) Some Indian units sent to Sri Lanka to help the government there to supress a "maoist" uprising were operating the ATC at Colombo airport. The ATCOs thus had to provide directions to Paki military aircraft transporting troops and supplies between west and east pakistan!
2) Soviet aircrafts used the Lahore airport as refuelling stop while carrying military equipments to the IA, but the pakis felt they could not prevent the use of the Lahore facilities for that purpose!
3) The usual Indian practice in public statements in this period was to refer to east pakistan as 'East Bengal' but during a statement at Indian embassy,Washington DC on 13th Aug 1971, Swaran Singh used 'Bangladesh' - possibly a slip of the toungue!
- July 9, 2016 at 3:53 AM
This video made my Day :
- July 9, 2016 at 4:07 AM
@Chinaman: I second your motion. Would like to include OTH Radars in possesion of china also. Prefarably dedicating a new post for all these`!
- July 9, 2016 at 5:06 AM
In 1980's when PK nuclear research is on full swing Israel offered a joint operation to destroy PK nuclear establishments how much of it is true? Did Morarji Desai really closed RAW operations in PK? why did PK offered their highest civilian award to him?
- July 9, 2016 at 5:41 AM
i have come across this foolish person who is he? see this if u have time and comment
- July 9, 2016 at 6:21 AM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
To RON: LoLz! That foolish person was last year incarcerated in a Saudi prison for 6 months. Before that he was all praise for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. After his release from the Saudi prison, he has changed colours like a chameleon & is a rabid anti-Saudi for now. The Israelis NEVER made any offer for a joint air-strike on Kahuta. For both India & Israel knew all too well at that time that Kahuta was just a propaganda for mis-direction.
- July 9, 2016 at 6:36 AM
- Pierre Zorin said...
No I didn't know! Well certainly a coin has two sides indeed. By the sounds of things Rasgotra has plenty of Rasgullah, er Rawshogollah- in that book :)
I have found the US to be very pragmatic. The same can't be said about the UK which is a tunnel visioned self focussed country. This is where Indian foreign policy failed - be a Roman when in Rome still works very well.
- July 9, 2016 at 6:39 AM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
To email@example.com: LoLz! This guy should be out in the podium debating with the cabal of Zakir Naik, Hafiz Saeed & Masood Azhar! Next PIERRE ZORIN will exclaim: WTFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF!
- July 9, 2016 at 6:42 AM
have anybody read this book 'The People vs Muhammad' if yes can u summarize?
- July 9, 2016 at 6:54 AM
Anon at 3:53 AM & 4:07 today and 2:51 AM & 3:23 AM yesterday and also ROY and JEET on previous instances was me. Just so than you know, though it doesn't matter.
- July 9, 2016 at 7:01 AM
- birbal said...
" Some of these tweeting 'desi' journalists/TV programme anchors should be told in no uncertain terms that there's no such entity as a 'militant'. Certainly not after 9/11. Anyone attacking soft targets & causing loss of innocent life through force of arms is a terrorist. Labelling them as militants means harbouring hopes of such entities surrendering their weapons & being 'born-again' as model citizens. It is such presumptuous tweeting 'desi' journalists that sow doubts in the minds of others, while innocently or deliberately failing to acknowledge that we are dealing with irreconcilable folks who have no love for humanity. "
Kindly spread this same message along in all forms & in all forums, since it seems no one is taking notice of such incidents. As a result, these 'desi' journalists most often get away unscathed & continue to propagate their ignorant/ill-informed observations with impunity, and also at times have their own insidious agendas to pursue. It is now high time to call their bluff & make them come to grips with some hard-truths.
I will try my BEST Prasunda... To me it's NOT a one-day process, it' a continuous process, a LIFE-LONG process of SANITIZATION...Enough is ENOUGH!!
To me Spreading HATRED, Distorted Information is EVIL, and to Kill someone...ARRRRRGGGGHHHHHH.......God has NOT given us Humans the RIGHT to kill each other but to live in HARMONY with each other just like other Species do...
Live and let others LIVE, that's the Real DHARMA of us Humans... I know many of the Blog readers will be reading this, but let not only read but UNDERSTAND why it is so IMPORTANT....let our KARMA CHAKRA be set in motion GUYYSS, as the BUDDHA says FAITH without ACTION is useless....
So let's Put our MISSION into ACTION guys....
MISSION: SAVE our Motherland, save India , Save HUMANITY.....
- July 9, 2016 at 7:45 AM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
To SPYKAR: You're going to love this too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aoYNQrOOu0
Watch it & have a good laugh for the rest of the day.
- July 9, 2016 at 7:48 AM
is true what Christine has said about PK PM bhutto setting up ISI cell in afghan and arming and training people before and after soviets left in 1990's? why did soviets attack afghan when they were almost brink of collapse?
- July 9, 2016 at 8:09 AM
@PKS Sir,
I guess my reasoning would have been blurred too if I was born in Pakistan. And Christine Fair could have been our HRD minister if she was born here.
- July 9, 2016 at 9:09 AM
@RON : Well you have to read THE KORAN and THE AL HADITHS for contextualization.., but the summary goes like this :
- July 9, 2016 at 9:40 AM
The video was a parody but a cynical marketing ploy for the book "People Vs Muhammad"
And the melt-down? Here's the real deal;
- July 9, 2016 at 9:56 AM
- Technology, Photograpy and Travel said...
Prasun Da,
what abt Myasishchev M-55 design for Long range uav. Also Russian Research ?
- July 9, 2016 at 3:31 PM
- Technology, Photograpy and Travel said...
Nice video on the testing of the new aircraft
- July 9, 2016 at 4:21 PM
Dear Prasun,
The GoI don't seem to have commonsense. Burhan Muzaffar Wani has been given a royal burial. Now youths are vowing to follow his path. Militancy continues like this. If they had given heed to your suggestion, then India could have been in a better position in the future w.r.t law and order in J & K. I smell bad politics over this issue.
- July 9, 2016 at 4:21 PM
- Pierre Zorin said...
Yes what the....indeed. Now that is democracy! Glad someone has that guy on camera coz all you will see next is a headless body strung up on clothesline! Prasun you said a lot of today's muslims are running like headless chickens. Does this mean we should raise a motion to set apart chop chop square as a holy site for a new mosque seeing these chickens' heads are probably lying there? haha ha Just occurred to me someone mispronounced Mussalman to sound like Muscleman and that could be the core of terrorism everywhere! :)
On another note: when you compare product demo at say Eurosatory with Defexpo Indian products look so cheap - poor paint work, poor finish, looks like panels manually bolted together e.g. Arjun Tank. May be a great tank but compare with other Western, Chinese or Korean ones. Perhaps the engineers and workers are spending too much time reading a different kind of "sangam" literature the likes of Hustler, Penthouse, Lolita etc.
- July 9, 2016 at 7:37 PM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
To SOUBHAGYA: Not only the govt, but even the opposition doesn't. Read this:
This jaundiced member of the Congress conveniently forgets that losses of civilian life in J & K were far more during the reign of UPA-2 & they had peaked at 2010. When dealing with irreconcilables, holding talks is just a waste of time & effort. A no-nonsense, principled stand must always be taken with no prospect of compromise until the adversary is on his knees begging for mercy. That's exactly how the wars against Naxalite & Maoist irreconcilables were won in WB and AP. Perhaps the Govt of India needs to learn more from our Afghan friends in dealing with such issues, since Afghanistan too regards the Afghan Taliban & Pakistan as irreconcilable entities & is therefore determined not to engage these irreconcilable parties through negotiations.
At the same time, it must be clearly spelt out by the govt to the country that terrorists can & must NEVER be labelled as militants. Even in Pakistan the TTP factions were all officially labelled as 'miscreants' from 2002 till December 2014, but once gruesome terror strikes took place in Peshawar, these miscreants became terrorists overnight. The Govt of India should have learnt lessons from all these a long time ago.
- July 9, 2016 at 7:57 PM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
To RON: Yes, it is all very true & this was first detailed in this book which I have just finished reading:
- July 9, 2016 at 8:02 PM
can u explain which groups were responsible for terror strikes in Peshawar? how did PA and ISI react?
- July 9, 2016 at 8:57 PM
- July 9, 2016 at 9:09 PM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
To RON: Had explained it all before several times (about TTP) & the weblink of the briefing by Pak ISPR's briefing WRT OP Zarb-e-Azb was also posted in previous threads.
- July 9, 2016 at 11:47 PM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
To PIERRE ZORIN: LoLz! There's no need to replicate the chop-chop square anywhere in India. The problem is far too deep-rooted & it can be resolved only though protracted self-introspection & soul-searching. For instance, when proponents of the 2-nation theory in Pakistan & Bangladesh, & certain Muslim pseudo-intellectuals in India talk about the golden age of Muslims being the 1,000 years of Muslim rule in the subcontinent, they conveniently choose to bask in reflected glory for deriving a false sense of self-assurance—something which even the majority of non-Muslims in the subcontinent fail to grasp. In reality, those 1,000 years of Muslim rule over the bulk of the subcontinent were nothing but virtual slavery of BOTH the Muslim & non-Muslim natives of the subcontinent. Muslim invaders—be they Chugtai Turks or Afghans or Persians—never blinked whenever they arrived in the Indo-Gangetic plain & bergan their loot & plunder, with very few exceptions like Sher Shah Suri, Akbar, Jehangir & Shah Jahan. The Muslim invaders looted both non-Muslim & Muslim natives without any discrimination & often fought bloody battles with their Muslim predecessors who had settled down in Delhi. In fact, so great was the feeling of self-superiority of some of these invaders that when, for example, Emperor Shah Jahan wanted to choose a Shahi Imam for the newly-built Jama Masjid in Delhi, he could not find any native Muslim worthy of this position & eventually he ended up importing an Imam from Bokhara that is now in present-day Uzbekistan. Same with the Taj Mahal, with the Persian architect Shirazi being chosen to design this monument. And when Mohd bin Qasim invaded Sindh, he did so because he was baying for the blood of the Holy Prophet's family members who had escaped from the Arabian peninsula to save their lives, i.e. Muslims hell-bent on slaughtering fellow Muslims of the same racial stock.
Therefore, the subcontinent's Muslims, instead of possessing a false sense of pride derived from reflected glory, should honestly acknowledge the true facts of history (that they too were brutally subjugated by fellow Muslims) & only then will they become sober & be able to somberly estimate what exactly is their true state of existence today & how thery can strive for a better life for the future. If you can understand Urdu, it is all explained here in great detail from 10.14 till 22.04:
As for MBTs, I can guarantee that the Arjun Mk.1A of today is perhaps the best MBT in technological & performance terms in South Asia. It is also a MBT with great potential for pre-planned product improvements in the ture sense of the term, unlike the Pakistani Al Khalid or Chinese ZTZ-96G & ZTZ-99A—all of which are medium battle tanks.
- July 9, 2016 at 11:57 PM
Sir can reveal some facts other than what we know from wiki of the RAW super agent Ravindra kaushik? How was his life in PA? His family over there? what were the crucial information did he pass?
- July 10, 2016 at 12:51 AM
1000 years over the bulk of the subcontinent - really? parts of the subcontinent - sounds more accurate. there were periods when it was over bulk of the subcontinent.
- July 10, 2016 at 6:54 AM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
To BHOUTIK: Depends on how the subcontinent is defined, for in the pre-British colonial era Myanmar was part of India & the Ahoms from Myanmar were ruling up to Assam. Similarly the southern peninsula in its entirety was never under Muslim rule nor was the whole of Northeast India. Only the bulk of the Indo-Gangetic plain was under the sustained rule of various Muslim invaders.
Meanwhile, yesterday there was a really decent & thought-provoking debate on TV after a long long period of time & Tareq Fateh as usual excelled in it:
The following are also quite interesting, all aired yesterday:
ISIS Footprints in South Asia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RclYybbevBs
Radicalism inside Bangladesh: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtAhIpS_9N4
Taslima Nasreen explaining how the Awami League has been building madrassas & mosques on an industrial scale since 1972:
- July 10, 2016 at 7:26 AM
- joydeep ghosh said...
@prasun da
1. hope this reaction to wani death is the last flare up after before the militancy lamp is exinguished
2. you gave said that anti ship version of nirbhau will be developed, (i remember you talked about variants of nirbhay) but when Brahmos (currently half tank) will get full tank in mid life upgrade to strike 550km away then what is the use of 700km anti ship nirbhay
3. while the prospect of C130J SH MRO & later a production line may well be happening but a bigger concern is procurement of C17 globemaster if possible
4. what was flaw in Rustom 2, it true then the UCAV & other drones are pipe dreams
5. why is the IA always shifting goalpost while selecting assalt rifles, first 5.56, then interchangeable barrel, then 7.62, what next
Joydeep Ghosh
- July 10, 2016 at 12:59 PM
- Pierre Zorin said...
Those who want to see Nexter Caesar in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ui3nHSj9Ag4
- July 10, 2016 at 2:00 PM
what is this Stuxnet, a piece of self-replicating computer malware that the U.S. and Israel on Iranian nuclear facility and spread beyond its intended target?
- July 10, 2016 at 2:16 PM
- Ganesh said...
Hello Prasun, I disagree with the notion that Muslims did not rule South India. One of the reasons for Maharashtra to separate from Karnataka in terms of language and identity is loss of Rashtrakutas control and Tipu sultan and his father converted people through sword within their short rule. Nothing needs to be spoken about the nizams
- July 10, 2016 at 3:01 PM
- Vikram Guha said...
Prasun Da,
(1) You have repeatedly raised this important issue of Pvt defense companies in India not getting a level playing field because of the Govt. bias towards DPSUs.
Did you ever get a chance to raise this issue with Govt Of India? If yes, did they assure you that this issue will be resolved?
(2) Based on this report it seems DRDO's AIP program is not making musg progress. Having sensed that DCNS has sought approval to set up a company in India (IndiaCo) for designing AIPs.
- July 10, 2016 at 3:33 PM
- Vikram Guha said...
PrasunDa one more news
Aleksandr Poteyev joins long list of Russian defectors to die suddenly in USA.
I suspect this is the handiwork of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Agency - SVR.
Compare that with R&AW who till date do NOT have a clue where des drohi, former joint secretary of R&AW Rabinder Singh is.
- July 10, 2016 at 3:42 PM
Thanks a lot Prasun for the detailed info still wonder what would have happened if Nehru would have accepted the offer we would have been in much better times. The worst part is mistakes were made repeatedly and we are paying the price for it.
- July 10, 2016 at 6:53 PM
- Technology, Photograpy and Travel said...
Prasun Da,
Awaiting the russian research from you please upload some info, I would like to have good night sleep
- July 10, 2016 at 7:45 PM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
To GANESH: Did I ever say any such thing? What I had stated was this: " the southern peninsula in its entirety was never under Muslim rule."
To VIKRAM GUHA: Even if I did, do you by any chance expect the listening audience to act upon it? For it is not that easy for India's politicians to let go of the 'Refusing to Develop' mindset. For instance, all the post-1991 economic reforms that both the Congress & BJP like to take credit for today, & this is a classic case of taking credit when they clearly don't deserve it. The reforms were thought of & put in writing as far back as 1988 by a bunch of bright bureaucrats & technocrats of the Planning Commission. All that Dr MMS did was dust off those files & call it his plan of action. In reality, that poor sod never did any homework of his own & it is all revealed here:
It only proves that victory will always have a thousand fathers. Back in 1991 when I was based in Singapore, I had a meeting with Dr MMS, P Chidambaram & Montek at the city-state's World Trade Centre during which the Dr asked me about Singapore's economy. When I told him that a country of 2 million citizens at that time was having a defence budget that's one-third that of India's, the Dr without any reflection just muttered "not possible". After 10 seconds, he realised that he had made a mistake & then asked me whether I could explain matters in greater detail to Montek. This then, is an example of the calibre of the Indian political leaders. So how can you expect politicians in the MoD to make any meaningful sense of proposals like the one presented by DCNS? For as long as politicians don't read the RULES OF BUSINESS of the Govt of India from cover-to-cover, they will never be able to understand how to negotiate the maze that lies buried within the riddle inside an enigma.
Rabinder Singh is now a resident of New Jersey State in the USA. That has been well-known within 6 months of his departure from India via Nepal.
Meanwhile, only the Almighty knows what P Chidambaram was smoking over the weekend. For, nothing else can explain this statement of his: "For centuries—stretching back to perhaps 3,000 years—India has been a poor country or, more accurately, a country of poor people."
Or maybe it's the atmosphere in Delhi itself. For example, the reason why Delhi Cm Arvind Kejriwal's secretary was arrested was, it seems, due an FIR filed by a female who had alleged that while she was swimming in some gymkhana, this secretary too was swimming & reportedly he was swimming in such a manner so as to increase the prospects of a collision course, i.e. the secretary was steering a course to as to enable physical bodily contact between the two swimmers! So the lady decided to file a sexual harassment complaint with Delhi Police. This is the first time I have heard of such innovative ways of causing/inflicting sexual harassment. So for all those swimmers frequenting public pools or private-club pools, better watch out! Or make sure you wear some conformal marine version of a traffic collision avoidance system. Or just forget swimming in community pools & instead head out for lakes or rivers. Better to be safe than sorry nowadays, it would seem.
Maybe that's why the Parikkar fella too is nowadays petrified to crack jokes while present in Delhi. I don't blame him, for he too must have learnt his lessons the hard way.
- July 11, 2016 at 6:00 AM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
To RAT: Look at this two-part programme aired over the weekend in which this female Pakistani news-anchor claims to be in the Siachen Glacier:
The visuals of the terrain clearly that she took off via helicopter from Skardu & went straight to the Baltoro Glacier, which is 30km to the west of Siachen Glacier. In other words, she recorded her footages in the Baltoro Glacier & simply ASSUMED that no one will be able to tell the difference by analysing topographical differences. Little did she realise that less than a month ago there was an ISPR-sponsored documentary on the PA's No.5 helicopter sqn & the 323 Siachen Brigade (whose YouTube weblink I had uploaded earlier) which clearly showed the same locations & the commentary itself had stated that this was the Baltoro Glacier!
What a specifiable bunch of liars they're turning out to be in the eyes of the whole world!!!
- July 11, 2016 at 6:08 AM
- Ganesh said...
My mistake, I should have read properly, the issue is I have so much prejudice about that community and the message made me express it
Thanks, Ganesh
- July 11, 2016 at 9:55 AM
hi prasun
there is a pic depicting the super sukhoi with a f-22 type antenna radome ,may be to cater to the aesa radar. Has the integration and flight testing been completed and what will the long range weapons be on board. Is there a possibility of the same weapons being given to china as usual.?.
How is the Darin 3 upgrade fairing ?
Now the army wants a 7.62 x 52mm nato rifle , what would be the best options?.
Is there any legal basis on which the mad cap zakir nail arrested?. Will a middle east country give him asylum and what can we do to counter that. He seems to be slowly drumming up support among the radical in india.
- July 11, 2016 at 10:06 AM
- joydeep ghosh said...
@Prasun da
still awaiting response
btw there is rethink by Philipines for contract to GRSE why
also i want to know is a rail link from Himachal to Leh possible. had heard that a rail link and rohtang pass tunnel will b reality by 2025
- July 11, 2016 at 12:13 PM
have u seen this news its a shock a well educated people from Kerala where literacy rate is 100%, how can a person be brain-washed to this extent. These incidents are making me scared of Muslims and their persuasion abilities. I seriously hope that only a negligible of Muslims are like this. May we should learn from china,russia where they handle these kind of things with Iron hand? Russia, China Kills the whole family of the terrorist, to avoid few irrational activities it takes toll of a few innocent lives.problem with us is we dont address the problem from its root and it cannot be cured through symptoms.
- July 11, 2016 at 5:05 PM
can u in detail elaborate from ur point of view how Andhra defeated the Maoists with its Greyhounds. KPS Gill defeated the Kahlistani militants with his police force that used unorthodox methods to tackle terror?
- July 11, 2016 at 8:33 PM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
To ARPIT KANODIA & GANESH: This is very interesting:
Looks like this time, the EU & even the Saudis are preparing to give a real thrashing to Pakistan.
- July 11, 2016 at 9:04 PM
- CSC said...
Hi Prasunda
Can you pls tell us the actual stock of wvr and bvr missiles that iaf has. With details as to which aircraft can carry which missiles, what nos do we have them in and the comparative nos for paf and plaaf
- July 11, 2016 at 9:49 PM
Prasun Da,
Thanks for letting us know about your interactions with MMS, Chidambaram & Montek Singh.
(1) According to this report India has decided to spend $4 billion for the final stage of the FGFA. Please share your views
(2) The same report also states that till date even specs for the Super Sukhoi has not been finalized. Please do let me know why it takes such a lot of time to finalize the specs.
(3) Some individuals on Twitter are reporting that probably IA's Eastern Command will be shifted from Kolkata to Guwahati.Is this true?
- July 11, 2016 at 11:07 PM
- blackurrant said...
Prasun Da,
Some dose for China, your comments please....
- July 11, 2016 at 11:35 PM
- Abhay Jain said...
prasun sir,
Are they actually flying this time or as always tareekh pe tareekh?
- July 12, 2016 at 12:36 AM
@ Ganesh
If you're curious the historical area of Venad (ancestral lands of Travancore/Southern Kerala) has never been conquered by the Muslims. Tipus armies were never able to go further than the banks of the Periyar river despite repeated invasions and overwhelming numerical superiority. In fact,
- July 12, 2016 at 1:36 AM
- Arpit Kanodia said...
What's your view on Iranian involvment in Gilgit Baltistan?
Also this is clear now ISI now again opened the tap of terrorism, and relaunched Hizb & JeM which was in dormant state in last 10 years.
Why not India trying to ignite a uprising in PoK, and providing arms & ammunition to them?
BTW, here is the twitter acc. Of FIF
- July 12, 2016 at 1:40 AM
- Arpit Kanodia said...
Those who love interconnection of history with UFO
- July 12, 2016 at 2:11 AM
1) Interesting anecdote on the politicians wrt MMS and Chidambaram. The fundamentals of economics hinge upon the assumption that decisions will be made rationally, to the best knowledge of the party involved. However, it seems the sub-continental study of economics hinges upon making inherently irrational decisions, followed by making a cascading flow of irrational decisions to fix the problems of the previous irrational decision. This is probably why folks like Raghuram Rajan want out. Anyways, Rajan isn't going to get a Nobel Prize by twiddling his fingers at the RBI.
2) You said there was a naval requirement for CH-148? Does that mean CH-148 will be the de-facto VVIP helicopter now? Also why do is there a requirement for 12 tonne naval helicopters when a single 10-tonne helicopter can be used instead? There's a larger range and payload, but is it worth operating two numerically small fleets of NMRHs when they could be one medium-sized fleet?
3) Any news of the MGS system for the IA? The IA always seem to be moving at their own jolly, leisurely pace on these matters no matter how urgent a requirement is.
4) Is Rheinmetall and ST Kinetics still blacklisted? I've never seen any article that mentions that the blacklist was lifted.
- July 12, 2016 at 2:58 AM
- Arpit Kanodia said...
The second part of that
- July 12, 2016 at 4:05 AM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
To ARPIT KANODIA: You can rest assured that wherever in this world the Shia communities are threatened, the Islamic Republic of Irtan will become their praetorian guard. This policy is at the very heart of the ruling Shia clergy in Iran. As for Pakistan re-activating infiltration across the LoC, that is the least of J & K's problems at the moment. The most immediate issue to be tackled is the rising frustration (& not popular resentment or political unrest by any stretch of imagination, as Pakistani proponents of the two-nation theory would have us believe) among the youth & lower middle-class citizenry of South J & K & those in & around Srinagar) only, & nowhere else in J & K. And this is because after the floods 2 years ago, both the BJP & PDP took a long time to form a state govt & in the meantime all the money promised for economic rehabilitation never turned up. To makie matters worse, folks like NaMo made mouth-watering electoral promises (like giving every Indian citizen Rs.18 lakh from the black money stashed away abroad) & raised expectations, & this very NaMo dismissively said in his recent interview in TIMES Now channel that such promises were mere electoral sloganeering! In other words, he deliverately took a chance to underestimatre & insult the intelligemce of his fellow citizens! If this is the case, then how different is he from the Sharif Bros next door who had promised to rid Pakistan of power load-shedding within 6 months of coming to power??? NaMo therefore needs to do some urgently reqd self-introspection before announcing huge pre-electoral financial dole-outs. Then there's the issue of Mehbooba Mufti, who clearly is a politico-administrative neophyte unschooled of ruling with an iron-hand in a cold-blooded manner. In a highly patriarchal society, she is indeed finding it extremely difficult to impose her writ on both her party & in the state. The youth of South J & K are not interested in politics or radicalism or azaadi of any kind, they just want to lead a decent life. Unfortunately, administrative ineptness at the state-level is denying them this privilege. Hence the venting of frustrations. This will go on for at leasr another 10 days & will then subside, but much soul-searching is reqd at the federal & state govts. For example, India cannot have both an inept RM & an equally inept Union Home Minister. Cehck out the video-clips & you will notice that nothing has changed WRT since 2010 riot-control or crowd-control techniques of the local law-enforcement forces. Today, a host of non-lethal solutions are available, like L-RAD disrupters & multi-barrel tear-gas grenade launchers. But nonw of them are seen being used. Why? Such solutions avoid direct contact engagements with unruly crowds, thereby keeping human casualty-levels to the bare minimum. And yet they are not being introduced into service for reasons beyond my imagination.
Cont'd below…
- July 12, 2016 at 5:27 AM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
As for checking & reducing cross-LoC infiltrations, the almost-daily kill-rates prove beyond doubt that local field-level intelligence inputs from J & K's native populace is extremely good & timely. Therefore, the loyalty to India of J & K's populace should never be doubted or second-guessed. The weekly incidents of protests & processions can easily be eliminated if the state & federal govts bother to invest in cyber warfare tools so that WhatsApp-based cellular comms through social media channels can easily be vetted or even blocked. It is this channel of comms that is being used by the Mullahs & Imams of various masjids throughout the Valley, with the provocative materialsbeing supplied from Pakistan. You masy well be surprised by all this, but when exactly did India wake up to the threats posed by the likes of Zakir Naik, even though his TV programmes have been available on YouTube for more tghan a decade? Clearly, therefore, India's security & law-enforcement agencies should avoid applying band-aids or engage in firefighting, & should instead go on the offensive by resorting to pre-emption in the information warfare domain in cyberspace, just as China has done WRT Xinjiang. It is high time that a comnbined services cyber warfare agency be created without any further delay. And believ me, no one in the world will raise any objections, given the prevailing circumstances. If Pakistan makes nolises, we can easily neutralize them by telling them to apply ther same standards on China & Turkey, WRT how China controls restive Xinjiang, or how Turkey brutally cracks down on fellow Muslim Kurds.
WRT to your last point, the Pakis are already too damn scared to make any great noise, since they're now petrified by the combine of R & AW & the Afghan NDS. Here's an advisory/warning issued by Pakistani authorities yesterday:
- July 12, 2016 at 5:28 AM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
To RAD: Forget about Zakir Naik, Super Su-30MKI or Jaguar IS/DARIN-3 & instead look at the big picture & ask yourself the following:
1) Why was the LEMOA not inked during NaMo's most recent visit to the US? Is it because the US & India at the last minute agreed to increase the scope of the agreement by inserting in clauses related to the BECA & CISMOA agreements so that an all-inclusive agreement of some sort can now be drafted for approval?
2) Why was there a total blackoput of any news WRT to last May's EX RED FLAG ALASKA?
3) As opposed to Su-30MKIs being used during EX Red Flag 2008 for interdiction & tactical strike, why were the Su-30MKIs this time used for escort & air superiority, with the Jaguar IS/DARIN-2s being used for tacticasl interdiction in the exercises?
4) Why was Alaska chosen as the venue, & not Nevada? Was it because Alaska best replicated the AirLand environment that one comes across in northern J & K & Gilgit-Baltistan?
5) What does all this bode for in terms of future joint air campaigns?
To GOPU: 2) Not necessarily. The CH-148 Cyclone is a 12-tonne machine for which 12-tonne capacity hangars exist on the IN's P-15, P-15A & P-15B DDGs. On the FFGs of Indian make, the capacity is limited to 10-tonne NMRHs. 3) No movement on that front as yet, because the IA wants to acquire the K-9 Vajra tracked SPHs without any further delay. 4) Yes, they're still blacklisted as of now.
To GANESH: ISIS Footprints in South India:
- July 12, 2016 at 5:41 AM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
Am wondering why the 'desi' broadcast TV channels have not been highlighting the bloodbath that has been going on in PoK for the past 48 hours. It's all documented here from 4.05 onwards:
That's why India's MEA told Pakistan yesterday not to crack its head over J & K, but pay more attention to what's being played out in PoK.
- July 12, 2016 at 7:20 AM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
- July 12, 2016 at 7:43 AM
have u seen this news its a shock a well educated people from Kerala where literacy rate is 100%, how can a person be brain-washed to this extent. These incidents are making me scared of Muslims and their persuasion abilities. I seriously hope that only a negligible of Muslims are like this. May we should learn from china,russia where they handle these kind of things with Iron hand? Russia, China Kills the whole family of the terrorist, to avoid few irrational activities it takes toll of a few innocent lives.problem with us is we dont address the problem from its root and it cannot be cured through symptoms.
- July 12, 2016 at 8:06 AM
- birbal said...
Prasun K. Sengupta said...
To RAD: .. 1) Why was the LEMOA not inked during NaMo's most recent visit to the US? Is it because the US & India at the last minute agreed to increase the scope of the agreement by inserting in clauses related to the BECA & CISMOA agreements so that an all-inclusive agreement of some sort can now be drafted for approval?
2) Why was there a total blackoput of any news WRT to last May's EX RED FLAG ALASKA?
3) As opposed to Su-30MKIs being used during EX Red Flag 2008 for interdiction & tactical strike, why were the Su-30MKIs this time used for escort & air superiority, with the Jaguar IS/DARIN-2s being used for tacticasl interdiction in the exercises?
4) Why was Alaska chosen as the venue, & not Nevada? Was it because Alaska best replicated the AirLand environment that one comes across in northern J & K & Gilgit-Baltistan?
This is what I call " EYES, who Sees the REAL Picture"
- July 12, 2016 at 8:23 AM
- The Indian said...
Prasun you are absolutely right about the population of J&K being with us .It is actually the frustration against the totally inept administrative set up that is being vented out right now.When common people are denied proper provision of even basic amenities like electricity, water and food leave aside jobs etc., which is basically the role of the state administrative set up, any human being would protest.Over and above that being given false promises by their leaders, as you have brought out above, becomes the last straw.The amount of frustration in the populace is kept somewhat in control due to the armed forces reach out policy but how much can the poor armed forces also take on subject to their limitations as they are. It requires a complete overhaul of the state administration if there is to be any improvement in the peoples standards and consequent reduction in frustration.Over and above that the continuous biased reporting of the media and its presstitutes has turned people against J&K which is a sad thing.Fundamentalism be damned!It is my opinion that fundamentalists are just taking advantage of the situation through their various means.And then since when have security forces ever been given the equipment they require for carrying out their job or the freedom to act as they desire or as is required without there being always a price to pay for it.All in all a field time for every one in J&K.Everyone who is not directly involved in the ground situation I mean.What do you say?
- July 12, 2016 at 10:05 AM
hi prasun
your suggestive implications point to a whole new gamut of india US relations. But i feel little nervous about the new found love for india for the fact the US always uses and dumps countries when and where it suits them.
it was intriguing why there was no report on the conclusion of red flag truly . Indians have been addicted to tall kill ratios in such exercises. Similarly pak forums claim that their f-16 pilots thrashed typhoons !! and so did the turks it seems . How true is it?.
I am amazed with your skills of personal connection to Dr MMS and others .
My anxiety is that the darin 23 should not flounder in any case . Has the Pak Fa the same wing lerx mounted l band arrays?. and more?.
- July 12, 2016 at 10:54 AM
- blackurrant said...
Prasun Da,
The bugle has been sounded: Whole of Kashmir must be reunited with India, says UK's Conservative Party MP
- July 12, 2016 at 11:39 AM
Is this a credible piece of info?
BTW what is the update on Rafale front? Is it happening or not? quite frustrating though !!!
- July 12, 2016 at 12:20 PM
- Senthil Kumar said...
Dear Prasun,
Looks like Pakistan is key for China's Global Naval Power ambition.
S.Senthil Kumar
- July 12, 2016 at 2:18 PM
- Pierre Zorin said...
"must have learnt his lessons the hard way "- well do you mean as in stiffeing of their male organs at the fantasy of sheer bodily touch sending such electrical impulses that the females in question would start buckling unable to offer any resistance, powerless to withstand the pheromones of such powerful a male exuding such rock hard character ha ha ha ha ha
I have a new sign made up already- No Fool in the Pool!
- July 12, 2016 at 3:07 PM
- Pierre Zorin said...
"This is the first time I have heard of such innovative ways of causing/inflicting sexual harassment. So for all those swimmers frequenting public pools or private-club pools, better watch out! Or make sure you wear some conformal marine version of a traffic collision avoidance system. Or just forget swimming in community pools & instead head out for lakes or rivers. Better to be safe than sorry nowadays, it would seem." - I don't need a comedy channel I could not stop laughing reading your comment and each time I am thinking of it I can't stop laughing.
Here's ineptitude, lack of vision, laziness where it really matters - and there is clever innovation on the other to get into a woman's pants! Bravo! I bet some of these guys are diverting defence, R&D and educational budget into purchasing the new breed of "sangam" literature. Hah ha ha ha ha - I might give up the ghost laughing Prasun - thanks for the hilarity I needed after a tough day of work
- July 12, 2016 at 3:18 PM
- Senthil Kumar said...
Dear Prasun,
1. What is your opinion about possible Indian Army presence in Iraq during Vajpaee
2. Do you favor or against the deploying Indian Troops during that time?
3. Why Indian Politician cannot take decision during crucial times?
4. Is it true that US had asked India to show its "1998 (Pokhran) guts".
S.Senthil Kumar
- July 12, 2016 at 3:37 PM
Hello Sir,
Here is the link to PoK: it seems to be political parties PPP vPML(N) fighting there. I think they have this blood letting on regular basis. Why its not reported, probably most are not interested and as you say 'desi' need spoon feeding.
Important thing to bear in mind is that IA and India are not winning hearts and minds in Kashmir. That's the hard reality (having spoken to many who are currently serving or used to serve there). Many in positions see it as a place to enrich and not to serve national interests.
- July 12, 2016 at 5:56 PM
- Arpit Kanodia said...
Your view on this
After NSG fiasco, this statement seems like more diplomatic and dull, instead of taking China head on and should ask to adhere the ruling.
Afterall, India also accepted the ruling of same court,,, and we should ask China to do same, and follow international norms & rules, like what they said to India during NSG.
- July 12, 2016 at 8:44 PM
Thanks for the links Prasun I believe some one from Zee news might have visited your blog recently hence in yesterdays DNA news the anchor did raise the question "Why should we let our land be used to bury terrorist who we believe do not belong too any religion and why should we not burn them along with garbage?" I whish this momentum continues and reaches the ears of the Government so that some action like this can happen in future regarding dead bodies of terrorists. Thanks Again.
- July 12, 2016 at 8:49 PM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
At last someone has taken a serious note of what I had been saying all along about the 'desi' media branding terrorists as militants:
To RAT666: LoLz! The IA is not there in J & K to win hearts & minds. It doesn't need to since it is not in physical or kinetic contact with the residents of J & K. The IA is deployed only along the LoC for counter-infiltration taskings. Only Pakistanis who are used to seeing the PA wearing Khaki uniforms ASSUME that J & K Police personnel wearing Khaki-colour outfits are IA personnel! Are you onbe of those Pakis? BTW there are only 60 battalions of law-enforcement personnel in J & K, with 1,000 personnel per battalion.
- July 12, 2016 at 9:06 PM
Prasun da, Where does india stand in terms of offensive cyber warfare capability? Could you shed some light on this topic.
- July 12, 2016 at 9:57 PM
prasun da, how good is our offensive cyber warfare capability? could you please shed some light on this topic.
- July 12, 2016 at 10:13 PM
So me questioning something makes me a Pakistani? Are indians so docile that they never question anything?
I dont think I assumed anything. When i talk about IA, i am also including the RR and they are all IA.
If IA is not there to wins hearts and minds, what is it doing there. Anyway to backup what i said:
"Colonel Rai's approach, part of an Indian Army doctrine based on WHAM -- Winning Hearts And Minds -- was correct under the circumstances that have prevailed in Jammu and Kashmir for at least a couple of years."
also just a week or so ago:
- July 12, 2016 at 10:34 PM
- vikas gautam said...
how royal navy uses trident-2 icbm in their submarines, is their any international law to prohibits the transfer of icbm?
- July 13, 2016 at 12:14 AM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
To RAT666: Do read your own previous comment & you will realise (since you haven't yet) that you never raised any question or questioned anything. You had clearly made a statement or observation that wasn't followed by any question mark. Therefore, don't change the goalposts while you are on the back-foot. And just because the RR & its personnel drawn from the IA are deployed in J & K doesn't automatically mean that the RR or the IA are maintaining law & order. As I clearly explained above, counter-infiltration, counter-insurgency & law enforcement are 3 different functions being discharged by 3 different forces. So don't lump it all together for deriving over-simplistic assumptions like it is always done by the Pakistanis. It is such erroneous assumptions that sow doubt & confusion in the minds of others & that's when rumour-mongering starts.
As for WHAM under OP Sadbhavana, it is undertaken by those IA units that are deployed in far-flung, remote areas like Turtuk & north-eastern Ladakh among isolated civilian hamlets where there is no civilian administrative machinery to cater to even the basic needs. Nor is this anything new if one visits the North East, especially those areas covered by AFSPA, where the IA has been discharging such social responsibilities even in areas that are peaceful & violence-free. As for hosting Iftaar gatherings/banquets in cantonments throughout India in areas where sizeable Muslim communities have existed since 1947! The same practice is followed for other festivities for other faiths too. These are long-standing practices since the dawn of independence & are not any part of any WHAM strategem. The IN for instance organises the Navy Ball after every Christmas in all its shore-based establishments, but that does not mean it is doing so to win the hearts & minds of Christians.
Therefore, thye next time, if you don't know, then ask & put in a question mark. Don't jump to assumptive conclusions just based on what you read or hear from folks who are nowhere near Ground Zero & who only engage in sporadic grasshopping & claiming to file field-reports.
- July 13, 2016 at 1:14 AM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
To ARPIT KANODIA: Yes, you're right, because what China has been claiming is that the entire mass of the South China Sea that's within China's 9-Dash Line constitutes China's territorial waters, meaning China retains the right to declare a much greater EEZ whose inner boundary starts not from China's coastline, but from the 9-Dash Line! And in its 'territorial waters' within the 9-Dash Line, as per international law, China will be able to decline permission for overflights & transiting ships, meaning virtually the entire South China Sea will defended & policed by China & it will also be able to legally institute an ADIZ in the airspace over this sea-surface.
No one with sanity will fall for this argument as it flies in the face of existing international laws & covenants. Therefore, both the US & ASEAN have been asking India since the past 5 years to clearly state that it DOES NOT & WILL NEVER recognise the 9-Dash Line as constituting China's international maritime boundary. But India has not spelt this out as yet, & has tackled the issue in a roundabout way (in the MEA statement) by stating that the SLOCs & air-corridors passing through the area within the 9-Dash Line should not be infringed upon, thereby indirectly refusing to recognise China's sovereignty over the area within the 9-Dash Line. But very soon the time will come when India will have to take a clear stand & stand in solidarity with ASEAN, the US, Japan, RoK & Australia. The clock is already ticking.
- July 13, 2016 at 1:32 AM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
To RAT: VMT. In fact, I had gone even further ahead & suggested that such terrorists don't even need to be buried or cremated on Indian soil' instead their bodies should be disposed off in international waters just like OBL's corpse was. The Govt of India's Ministry of Information must clearly spell out guidelines for the 'desi' media organisations about the usage of terms like militants & terrorists. Only those who choose to surrender unconditionally or those who wish to return back to their homes from PoK & resettle peacefully ought to be designated as militants. Those who incite, abet, facilitate & perpetrate violence will have to be labelled as terrorists. Those who live by the gun will have to die by the gun. This is the kind of no-nonsense policy that exists in all other parts of the world, be it the US, UK, China, Russia or Saudi Arabia. Therefore, enough of all this pussyfooting by the Delhi-based pseudo-intellectuals belonging to various think-tanks who can't be seen to let go of their self-styled bleeding hearts, all for the sake of seeking short-lived glories & claims to fame by appearing on prime-time TV channels & oozing out outrageous mumbo-jumbo by saying all these are political problems that ought to be solved politically. This is exactly the type of assumptive rhetoric that gets repeated here by folks such as RAT666 about human rights violations in J & K & this then gets amplified through rumour-mongering & ultimately ends up becoming the popular/domineering narrative.
- July 13, 2016 at 1:51 AM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
To THE INDIAN: Actually, matters would have been far better if everyone had been a fundamentalist, i.e. adhering to the fundamental codes of conduct that every religion preaches. But unfortunately, this hasn't been happening & fundamentalism has been replaced by deviationism, meaning instead of taking the trouble to find out by oneself the essence of the religious philosophies, folks in general have opted for short-cuts by willingly submitting themselves to those who give varying interpretations. These interpreters are the religious 'MIDDLEMEN' or Dalaals who have taken it upon themselves to do brokering between the Almighty & mortal human beings. In the case of Islam, as clearly explained in the NDTV-broadcast debate last Saturday, it is the Mullah's Islam that dominates Allah's Islam. Similarly, it is the edicts & practices of various cults that have imposed intellectual hegemony over the 'Hindus', thereby totally diminishing the intellectual wisdom behind the Dharma code of conduct that's enshrined in the Bhagwad Gita. Consequently, folks are scampering around like lost, headless chicken while the religious clergy representing various cults are trying to impose their hegemony by dictating what & where & why to eat, what & how to dress, what to or not to say, etc etc. This list of do's & don'ts will be never-ending for as long as the cult-leaders (like Zakir Naik or Baba Asaram or egg-heads heading the VHP etc etc) are entertained & financed. One therefore needs to break free of such encroachments & only then will illumination & enlightenment emerge & be within the reach of the ordinary masses.
To JOYDEEP GHOSH: How can the Philippines have a rethink when the term,s of the contract clearly state that payment will be made AFTER delivery of the warships? GRSE has never been exposed to this practice since it has always received progress payments from the MoD. In other words, GRSE isn't a public-listed company with deep pockets & therefore it will find it impossible to implement the Filipino contract.
To RON: No details are reqd. Just enact the long-overdue Police reforms as mandated by India's Supreme Court & you will see matters being tackled with ease. Insurgents & anharchists can never survive without political support & therefore once political interference within the law enforcement forces stops, the desired results will always be obtained. There is no magic wand or magic formula that exists to get rid of such violent insurrections. The IPS official who created the Greyhounds is NOEL SWARANJEET SEN, who was interviewed by News-18 (formerly CNN-IBN) 2 days ago.
As for ISIS footprints in Kerala, what one needs to realise is that a literate person isn't necessarily an educated one with the power to discern & think matters through. So don't go by literacy rates that can't define whether or not a society is knowledge-based. There will always be introvert literates with low sense of self-esteem who will always aspire to achieve publicity through outraegeous means—this being a temporary self-defence mechanism for boosting one's ego or sense of purpose.
To ABHAY JAIN: Yers, it will fly, but without any of its internal mission-avionics. But what good is it then? That question needs to be answered.
- July 13, 2016 at 2:18 AM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
To RAD & BLACKURRANT: Yes, while it is true that the US always uses and dumps countries when and where it suits them, wehat should also be admitted is that only those countries that want to be used in such a manner are meted out such treatment. Pakistan is one such case, i.e. it has acted as both a pimp & prostitute during the Cold War era. But it acted on its own due to its own selfish motives & was neither seduced nor forced to do so at gunpoint. So when Pakistan whines about Jihad being introduced into Pakistan by the US after 1979, it is engaging in self-denial by refusing to acknowledge its acquiescence of such a policy decision, which is exactly what Dr Christine Fair has explained with great clarity, as has former Pak Foreign Secretary Riaz Mohd Khan. Let me throw you a few more pointers so that you can connect the dots:
What if Pakistan. emboldened by its acquisition of a sea-based, survival nuclear deterrent sometime in 2018, decides with China's help to engage in strategic defiance of the US/NATO & stops all the G-LOC transit routes for NATO forces from Karachi to Torkham? What if Pakistan also denies the use of its airspace for the air-maintenance of NATO forces in Afghanistan? How then will NATO forces be serviced?:While the Chah Bahar port can replace Karachi as the transshipment point, what about the airspace access? Will the US & NATO forces then rely on the LEMOA-type agreement with India to seek airspace access to Afghanistan? If that's the case then surely there will need to be some contiguous airspace connecting the airspace of India with that of Afghanistan. So, will this mean that it will become imperative for the airspace of PoK to become sovereign Indian airspace that is seamlessly connected to Afghan airspace over the Wakhan Corridor? These are the pointers that require introspection & analysis, for big countries engage in large, complex stratagems, & do not play gulli-danda.
- July 13, 2016 at 2:35 AM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
To ARPIT KANODIA & S SENTHIL KUMAR: As expected, the nitwits of Pakistan have once again prostituted themselves by declaring their total support for China regarding the South China Sea. This is the second instance of doing so, the first being the declaration by the PA's COAS last year that China's enemy is Pakistan's enemy. Now expect ASEAN & Japan to declare economic war against Pakistan. All Japanese overseas economic assistance & investments will henceforth start flowing into India & Iran, while all money-flows to Pakistan will stop & Pakistani expatriate workers throughout ASEAN will be kicked out. It looks like Zalmay Khalilzaad was spot on when he had recently predicted that Pakistan was headed for total international isolation like North Korea.
The time is now gradually but surely approaching when the K-9 Vajra SPHs & Dhanush towed howitzers & LW-155/M-777 UFHs will all be pout to good use in the not-too-distant future.
To BLACKURRANT: Time to sound the bugles & conch-shells & the Rams & whatever else one can think of.
To PIERRE ZORIN: LoLz! At least I succeeded in making someone laugh for a few fleeting moments & to me that's a job well done since it also justified my existence in this world for that day. Delhi is quite a place to be & although it is India's most litigious & arrogant city, one can have fun there if one knows where & how to. It reminds me of an incident I read about in THE SUN tabloid in the UK a few years back when a man was accused of sexual assault. Subsequent investigations by the Met Police revealed that the complainant was a prostitute who was paid in cheque by her customer (the man accused of sexual assault). The next day, when the prostitute went to the bank to encash the cheque, the cheque bounced & that's when she realised she had been taken for a ride & therefore decided to file a case of sexual assault.
- July 13, 2016 at 3:20 AM
- Arpit Kanodia said...
If this is true, and if in past a space faring civ wiped out a Bronze level civ, just for fun. Then we are seriously in deep shit.
BTW, I don't find ISRO releasing any images of Cydonia region of Mars, even of low resolution.
- July 13, 2016 at 3:39 AM
can explain in detail how LEMOA strategically imp to us? how USA and IND will use it for best? as u said the red flag exercises were to get familiarized with terrain of POK but why do PAF has air bases in POK or Military bases? what more is going to add in LEMOA agreement?Dont u think russia will pressure IND not to do so? Dont u think US will compromise our security placing double agents in armed forces?
- July 13, 2016 at 5:31 AM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
To ARPIT KANODIA: Can you recall the explanation in the Mahabharata about 'naughty' Ghatothkatch screwing around by tinkering with the orbit of a certain planet & how this resulted in the destruction of that planet? If that planet was either close to Mars or even if it was a moon orbiting around Mars, then that could explain the discovery of certain intelligently-built archaeological relics on the surface of Mars.
To RON: How important? That's exactly what I was explaining to RAD above & how I have him further pointers to connect the dots. The only main PAF air base in PoK is in Skardu. What objections can Russia possibly have when return of PoK back to India will result in a stable Afghanistan & Central Asia? US-sponsored double agents in India's armed forces? So do you mean to say that the thousands of Indian officers from the IA, IN & IAF since independence that were sent to the UK & US for higher command courses or as exchange students all ended up as double agents??? In fact, not a single one of them has to date. Did Dr Homi Bhabha become a double agent for the British just because he studied experimental nuclear physics in Cambridge? Is India's present-day Union Minister of State for Finance a double agent just because in the late 1990s while his father was the Union Finance Minister he was then working for a US-based credit-ratings agency? C'mon. get real for God's sake.
- July 13, 2016 at 6:01 AM
ok then when will IMF economic sanctions keeping hitting hard on PK like it did for iran? do u think joint air operations will finished by 2018?If yes then BJP will have big ticket while going for 2019 elections
- July 13, 2016 at 6:21 AM
- DAshu said...
Allowing Pakistan to acquire a sea-based survival nuclear deterrent would be a huge blunder by India. Very interesting times ahead for Indian subcontinent. How can we expect China to be quiet while India busy taking back the PoK ?
- July 13, 2016 at 7:43 AM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
To RON: It will be a 14-day multinational coalition air campaign that will not only neutralise the PAF & destroy its nuclear WMD arsenals, but will also see a successful IA/IAF AirLand campaign aimed at wresting back Gilgit-Baltistan. Pakistan will be extremely hard-hit by severely declining levels of FDI & decreasing quantum of foreign remittances from its reduced expatriate workforce, while internally from this September onwards Nawaz Sharif & Co will be virtually surrounded by opposition political parties in Lahore & Raiwind, all thanks to the Panama papers leaks about his hidden wealth & his UK-based assets. It could well even result in the Sharif Bros being unseated by other members of the PML-N & a new PM can be elected to save the fortunes of the PML-N, all this of course being done with the blessings of the PA that is operating behind-the-scenes. In the end, it may well emerge that Nawaz Sharif received financial assistance from the Saudi royalty in the mid-1990s (similar to how the Saudis made payments into the personal bank accounts of the Malaysian PM Najib) because the Saudis were politically investing in Sharif. But since he failed to deliver on the Yemeni crisis & chickened out, the Saudis are pissed off with him & therefore they are likely to welcome a new man heading the PML-N, while welcoming the Sharif bros back to Saudi Arabia as self-imposed exilees. And the Saudis made all their sentiments amply clear when they awarded NaMo the country's highest civilian award when NaMo had visited KSA earlier this year. So, while all this internal political churning is going on accompanied by growing internal instability with the people coming out in the streets to protest against political corruption & growing poverty, the PA will likely train its guns against Afghanistan & India & in an act of strategic defiance will also close all land transit routes from Karachi to Torkham & Chaman, all in order to become popular & that's when the shit will hit the fan & the PA will be inviting disaster via a multinational invasion whose principal aims will officially be to avert a regional humanitarian crisis & to de-nuclearise Pakistan. A divided & internally fractured Pakistan with scarce financial & military resources will not stand a chance to resist such a multinational AirLand operation. That will also be the time when parties like the PPP will feel more encouraged to unilaterally declare an independent Sindhu Desh.
- July 13, 2016 at 10:18 AM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
To DASHU: China's headaches have now increased exponentially after the ICJ verdict & it will from now on have to face the prospect of similar arbitration cases being launched by Vietnam and Malaysia. Also shattered now are its dreams to possess a sanitised South China Sea where its SSBNs could operate freely from their respective bastions (since they're far too noisy to venture into the western Pacific & that's the very & only reason why China had made territorial claims through its 9-Dash Linbe) under the cover of an ADIZ. From now on the navies of the US, Japan, ASEAN member-states, Australia & the UK will all keep the PLA Navy extremely busy. India too will have to join this coalition fairly soon, since a potential world power hoping to occupy a seat at the high table cannot remain a fence-sitter anymore. Militarily, either the PLA Army or the PLAAF won't stand the chance of engaging in faceoffs or clashes with either India or the multinational coalition in any inch of J & K. The PLAAF's air bases in Xinjiang are too far away from Gilgit-Baltistan & qualitatively they're still quite a few notches below the IAF in terms of offensive power projection.
Also, watch this excellent analysis of the ICJ verdict on the South China Sea, aired yesterday:
And how & why pro Raheel Sharif posters sprang up overnight in 13 Pakistani cities:
- July 13, 2016 at 10:29 AM
- joydeep ghosh said...
@prasun da
1. hope this reaction to wani death is the last flare up after before the militancy lamp is extinguished, do you see that happening?
2. you gave said that anti ship version of nirbhau will be developed, (i remember you talked about variants of nirbhay) but when Brahmos (currently half tank) will get full tank in mid life upgrade to strike 550km away then what is the use of 700km anti ship nirbhay?
3. while the prospect of C130J SH MRO & later a production line may well be happening but a bigger concern is procurement of C17 globemaster if possible, is that happening? still cant figure why a country like qatar of the size of NCR needs 8 C17s?
4. what was critical flaw in Rustom 2, if true then the UCAV & other drones are pipe dreams ?
5. why is the IA always shifting goalpost while selecting assalt rifles, first 5.56, then interchangeable barrel, then 7.62, what next?
Joydeep Ghosh
PS:- you asked to put a question mark, so i am putting one :-)
- July 13, 2016 at 10:29 AM
- Kaustav said...
Dear Prasun Da
That would also explain then the asteroid belt which is theorised to be a planet more suited for Life but destroyed as a decoy in order to save earth and survivors thereon fleeing from a war in another star system from destruction by the chase party as supposedly stated in Jain legends according to Erich Von Daniken.
Again theories of the kind in a vein similar to ancient astronauts mixed with old myths.
- July 13, 2016 at 10:45 AM
- Senthil Kumar said...
Dear Prasun,
After reading your post regarding future war with Pakistan by NATO+Allies is really fantastic. Food is more spicy but taste is missing.
But I differ with your opinion. Reasons are
1. NATO's Force power is steadily declining because of reduction in budget.
(NATO is a old Lion without teeth. Today's Europe is almost dead)
2. NATO already preoccupied with Russia in Ukraine Crisis.
(Only possible countries participation is US & India)
3. Second biggest army in NATO is turkey which will never participate/Accept force
against Pakistan.
4. China is hell bound to stop this attack.
5. All Arab/Muslim Countries will oppose the war with Pakistan.
(Reason tomorrow their country will be target)
6. Western Powers will never close the issues permanently.
(If there is Pakistan then only India will be with them politically to use
against China. And their Military-Industry complex need to survive)
7. Still so far US has not made its mind regarding Future of Pakistan.
8. Only possible scenario is putting more economic pressure to stop increasing
their Nuclear stock piles.
S.Senthil Kumar
- July 13, 2016 at 12:18 PM
@Prasun K. Sengupta
What are all these noises about Pakistan acquiring sea based deterrence?
They have no military industrial complex to build technologically advanced SSBN vessels and equip them with hi-tech sensors. They never had any sort of engineering capability to build any sort of complex defense systems.
The engineering capability of Pakistan is almost zero, zilch -- then why this talk of pakistani SSBN?
- July 13, 2016 at 1:15 PM
PRASUN sir,
Pls dont say things like Sindh will be independent like Bangla.... I really realy want Akhand Bharat to happen after we get Gilgit Baltistaqn back. Pls tell the people in your political circles to create Akhand Bharat instead of making of disobedient SAARC puppet states like Nepal and Lanka. Who cares if the Muzzies dont agree.... send them to heaven with their vergens I say! Already with the current state of things it will be hard to get Burma back into AKHAND BHARAT. Also Afghanistan is a fake nation. IT IS REALLY A PROVINCE OF INDIA AND IT IS CALLED GANDHARA.
The people of the land are all HINDUS at heart and were converted by foren invaders. Modi is being too appeasement/pacifying of the MUZZIES/SICKULARS. He must focus on real purpose of recreating AKHAND BHARAT and be next Chandragutpa Maurya. ALL DESIS deserve to live in this superpower nation.
Here is the progression of Akhand Bharat.
Also sir, please dont say it cant happen... this is the only dream I want desperately to happen and I know it can and will happen! BHARAT MATA KI JAI!!!
- July 13, 2016 at 1:39 PM
- Pierre Zorin said...
I think what you do as a voluntary job puts a smile on many people Prasun - thank you friend. I would mark the calendar for the Prophecy of Prasundamas re: Pakistan because if this happens it is not just good for India but the entire world. The error of terror will take a back post and decent civilians in Pakistan might have a say finally over the PA.
That hooker could have saved herself hassles by installing an EFT machine down "there" so unless someone swiped major credit cards there would have been no opening to begin his gulli-danda game as you put it he he he
On another funny note isn't it appropriate that the Chief Bandalbaaz has his email address as : email@example.com!
- July 13, 2016 at 2:15 PM
- Arpit Kanodia said...
Future interplanetary & interstellar propulsion systems.
- July 13, 2016 at 4:55 PM
Do you seriously think that IAF has headup on PLAAF. Then you are simply boasting and not analysing. Whats your availability rate? Where are you going to get spares to keep the tempo up beyond 2 weeks? Where are you going to get the ammo from? Last time you ran out BASIC shells. You dont have info of whats happening across the Tibetan Plateau. IAF is blind. Do you know how many AEW planes PLAAF have, or electronic warfare one. If PLA ever came into Pakistani Kasmir IA/IAF will shit themselves PERIOD. Why would PLAAF fighters just be based in PoK kashmir. They could be based in 10 of their (PAF) bases down south, destroying Mumbai, Gujrat, IN for example. Or are the allies coming to save India again :-).
- July 13, 2016 at 6:57 PM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
To XIN ZHAUO: Alright, so let's analyse with the help of inputs from you, for starters. What's the availability rate of the PLAAF's combat aircraft? From where will the PLAAF obtain spares for its Su-27s and Su-30s to keep the tempo up beyond 2 weeks? Where will the PLAAF obtain its ammo from? What are the PLAAF's OTHR capabilities within TAR? How many air bases within TAR can host combat aircraft or AEW & CS aircraft? Has the PLAAF ever deployed AEW & CS platforms to TAR for exercises? There's no space for any PLAAF combat aircraft to be base anywhere inside PoK or even the rest of Pakistan. Do your homework with the help of Google Earth. Lastly, read up about how your Ruski neighbour has totally screwed up China by preventing the entry-into-service of all the cloned Su-27s & Su-30s. Have you ever wondered why the J-15s have yet to be fully armed & why they cannot take off fully armed from the Liaoning CV-16 aircraft carrier? So do us all a favour & stop projecting the PLAAF or PLAN or PLA Army as all being 9 feet tall, for at the rate in which Xi Jinping has been clamping down on corruption within the PLA, one can only conclude that the top hierarchy of the PLA is nothing but a bunch of pot-bellied 21st century Confucian pygmies more interested in making money & totally disinclined to to spill any of their blood.
To RON:P None of the territories captured by India in 1971 in northern Kashmir were surrendered or returned. That's why the new LoC map was delineated & demarcated in the first quarter of 1972.
To THE HUNDRED: Yes, that is still being negotiated.
To SWEET: Read up all you can in my previous threads about the Type 032 Qing-class SSK & its S-26 & S-30 export variants.
- July 13, 2016 at 8:19 PM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
To AKHAND BHARAT: There's only 1 way your dreams can come true & only 1 person who can make this happen for you: your psychiatrist. Kindly seek an appointment with the psychiatrist request him/her to hypnotise you & take you to your utopian dreamland. I wish you all the very best in this endeavour.
- July 13, 2016 at 8:27 PM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
To S SENTHIL KUMAR: There's a huge difference between invading a country in order to conquer & subjugate it, & invading a country for the sake of averting a humanitarian disaster that has regional implications. In the latter case, as was the case with East Pakistan, the case was won long before the war began in late 1971 & eventually even the UN had to accept Bangladesh's reality. In the scenario I've outlined above, there's nothing to even remotely suggest that anyone will be invading Pakistan & keeping it for good. Hence, the question of Arab countries opposing the war-plan does bot even arise. Unlike in Europe, NATO forces will not be reqd to put any significant number of boots on the ground. This will be a massive air campaign accompanied by selected surgical ground operations by SOF detachments. Turkey will be very happy if India has a contiguous border with Xinjiang for obvious reasons. After all, the treacherous Pakistanis have sent many Uighurs back to China for summary executions. Turkey does not like such extermination of its brotherly Turkomens.
To ARPIT KANODIA: It's interesting how many times the writer of this Op-Ed refers to J & K as Kashmir & how many times he calls it Jammu & Kashmir. Am also wondering if this writer has sent a corresponding Op-Ed to Pakistani newspapers & Chinese newspapers for publication & if yes, what would be their fate.
- July 13, 2016 at 8:56 PM
- Arpit Kanodia said...
A Chinese asking availability rate of IAF, LMAO. Where J-10 & J-11 crashing on monthly basis.
And the situation is only 10% of crashes are reported.
- July 13, 2016 at 8:59 PM
The so called 2018 Coalition axn on Pak is based on your imagination or you have confidential info due to your reach in higher circles? Does any concrete plans or meetings happened on this front? or this is your best guess? UK/US/EU promised India that POK would be back to India? I can guess Sindh liberation could be happened based on your comments. Any plans pak to be reduced to punjab? Thanks.
- July 13, 2016 at 9:35 PM
Here have a look at these figures:
SU-27/30 do not matter in PLAAF. They are old, like your Mirage, Jaguars, Mig-21, Mig-23/27, Mig-29. What makes you think that J-10/J11s/Jh-7/H-6 cannot fly from Karachi or Tibet? Do you think war is like chess? These fighters can even fly from highways. PLAAF has spent much time in Pakistan exercising against their force over many years. You think they fly toys?
Corruption, your army has much more than PLA. You cannot even fight Pakistani's who have very little force, little economy and you dream of fighting us.
- July 13, 2016 at 10:24 PM
to zin zhao
Dont dream that india is vietnam or philippines. Even vietnam gave you a good thrashing . So dont dream that PLAAF is all mighty and nothing can stop you .If you you think you can come to pakistan then we will come to vietnam , philippines , indonesia and all other countries .China knows the consequences of antagonizing india. India was ruled by idiots but not now. Oh so you are dreaming of destroying mumbai , delhi! good keep dreaming .None of your planes will go back if they come any where near india. Even america was surprised by our capacity in air war exercises. China is the most hated nation in the world and all countries will come together to kick you. watch how we are going to arm vietnam, malaysia indonesia with modern missiles and arms like what you gave to pakistan. china is now scared because of that. Vietnam won america finally thought they lost more men . So keep dreaming.
- July 13, 2016 at 10:47 PM
- Ganesh said...
Mr IndoUK, I suppose no details can be provided in concrete terms for obvious reasons. It is for each individual to look for specific information and the general guidance based on the situation on the ground.
- July 13, 2016 at 11:10 PM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
To ARPIT KANODIA: He's not Chinese, rest assured. Any Chinaman will first count dollars & cents & analyse the cost-benefit ratio. Consequently, when he/she realises that it is far better to keep earning US$46 billion per annum via bilateral trade with India than to sink US$46 billion in a country (through CPEC) where its own citizens are being killed on a monthly basis by terrorists & where its citizens brazenly resort to hacking of ATM kiosks for survival. We can therefore safely infer that these commentators like XIN & RAT666 are distant cousins of the now-defunct RAW13.
To INDOUK: To cut a long story short, I have been to the future, seen it all & have returned back to the present. If you want to take the long route, then by all means try to connect the dots based on pointers that I had shared yesterday with RAD. One doesn't need the UK, US or EU to promise anything when the UN resolution of 1948 itself states that PoK should be demilitarised by Pakistan & it should be returned back to India. Do read that UN resolution in full where everything's clearly spelt out. In fact, I personally am of the opinion that India should now take the cue from China's defence of its claims over islands, reefs & shoals in the South China Sea, & India therefore should ask Pakistan to apply the same principle WRT India's historical rights over Swat & Taxila, since those areas are now full of pre-Islamic Indian archaeological relics that are for the whole world to see. Only then will the pot reach the boiling point & Pakistan will really regret its decision to make China its all-weather friend. And then all the whining & fretting will once again begin inside Pakistan, i.e. about how the US had once used & dumped Pakistan & now how China enlisted Pakistan's support for the 9-Dash Line & in the process took Pakistan to a point of no-return vis-a-vis India's historical claims over Swat & Taxila. Analyse this issue from any angle or altitude or field-of-view, & one can now conclude that Pakistan is now fast hurtling down in a bottomless abyss, thanks to China.
- July 13, 2016 at 11:10 PM
- Vikram Guha said...
(1) Our friend prince of Saudi Arabia took your advice about swimming in dangerous pools very seriously. Consequently he left Saudi Arabia & decided to swim in less dangerous waters around Turkey.Here are some pics
(2) According to Russian media India wants to purchase Tu-22M3 bombers. Do you think this sale will go through?
- July 14, 2016 at 12:06 AM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
To XIN ZHAUO: Of course they can fly from anywhere, that's not the issue. The issue is whether it will be a one-way flight or a two-way sortie. War is indeed like chess. India goes & does battle ONLY AFTER the war has already been won, as were the cases in 1965, 1971 & 1999. And to date, no PLAAF combat aircraft has ever taken off or landed in any Pakistani highway ever since they began going to Pakistan since 2011 (& not many years). As for India not wanting to fight with Pakistanis, India is just plain bored fighting against an enemy that has never even won a single war & which is now being pounded from countries like Afghanistan & Iran. PA personnel are now exactl;y like their PLA counterparts, i.e. businessmen running sugar mills, rice polishing mills, cement plants etc etc. Both will never again have a stomach or stamina to fight & that's what giving Xi Jinping sleepless nights.
And who said anything about India fighting with China? It's you that started this whole discussion by explaining your wet-dreams! The last time I checked, way back in 1986 & 1987 the PLA had to withdraw from Sumdorong Chu after suffering 5,000 of its soldiers dead & that too to malaria, dyssentry & typhoid without killing even a single Indian soldier. In fact, so pertified was the PLA about its Indian counterpart that it withdrew from that area only by 1995. So Indians have no dreams about any illusions & are quite happy to enjoy seeing Chinese citizens & military personnel being killed in places like Pakistan, Mali & South Sudan. In fact, I can bet that the battle-hardened soldiers of the Philippine Army & Philippine Marines who have decades of COIN warfare experience will easily prevail over their PLA counterparts, who haven't had any combat experience since 1979.
- July 14, 2016 at 1:31 AM
- Rajesh said...
- July 14, 2016 at 1:37 AM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
To RAJEST & RAT: These are the true patriotic residents of J & K: Locals Brave Curfew to Rescue Injured Amarnath Pilgrims
And the latest revelations on atrocities in PoK:
- July 14, 2016 at 4:58 AM
can u in detail explain what events led to 1993 Mumbai attacks?who orchestrated these attacks? mention abt every foreign country and our own political parties part of it including funding, providing RDX etc? how ISI recruited dawood and why IND establishment failed to get him even after these many yrs?
- July 14, 2016 at 5:38 AM
@Prasun I have heard about the Type-32 class submarine, but what about sub-launched ballistic missiles?
- July 14, 2016 at 8:17 AM
- anupam said...
Prasun some of your predictions for 2018 are taking shape.
Link to recent hearing in DC
- July 14, 2016 at 8:39 AM
- The Indian said...
Prasun,can you elaborate why the Rafale deal has been so much delayed.And is it true that we are buying Backfires and more Kilos?
- July 14, 2016 at 10:26 AM
Dear Prasun Will IAF upgrade all 272 Su 30 mki to super sukhoi standard? Will IAF purchase extra MMRCA other than 36 rafale? Will IAF purchase 90 rafale or any other aircraft? Is there any chance for F-18 E/F super hornet in IAF service? does IAF really require 45 squadron to counter two front threat? Why Indian army ordered only 118 Arjun mk2? VINOD KUMAR
- July 14, 2016 at 10:27 AM
Good article that explains AIP for submarines:
- July 14, 2016 at 11:36 AM
- vishakh said...
1) IA army TCS is expected to shortlist the vendors ?? Is it going to be 4G based as in this link, Cost and time frame : http://www.indiandefensenews.in/2016/07/india-prepares-to-kick-start-delayed.html
2) Will TCS match current tech of France and Israel based similar system ? What technology does China Use??
3) BMS what is the status and when is prototypes being evaluated and which company is providing best tech and which foreign partner are there by BEL and Tata??
- July 14, 2016 at 1:31 PM
- blackurrant said...
Prasun Da,
PAN image resolution from CARTOSAT 2C is 0.65m. Is it native or re-sampled? If native to what resolution will it be improved to when re-sampling is done?
- July 14, 2016 at 10:52 PM
- blackurrant said...
Prasun Da,
ISRO has a datac reception ground station in Iran. US must have been hopping mad when they would have found out?.
- July 14, 2016 at 11:17 PM
hi prasun
what will the role of the long range tu-22 bombers be if reports are to be believed. what about maintenance and so on. Are we planning to bomb some one 5000km plus away?.
- July 14, 2016 at 11:46 PM
1 Will India go for it? www.defensenews.com/story/defense/naval/navy/2016/07/11/russia-india-nuclear-aircraft-carrier-storm/869371
2 According to this report India & Russia are negotiating lease of another Akula class SSN to IN and both countries also discussed joint collaborate for Indian SSN submarine project based on Yasen class submarine idrw.org/india-pushing-russia-beyond-akula-class-submarine-technology/
- July 15, 2016 at 12:21 AM
According to idrw.org India's future SSN submarines will be based on Russian Yasen class submarines. Is it true? How many submarines will be build?
- July 15, 2016 at 12:29 AM
- vishakh said...
1) India looking for TU22M3 Bombers ?
2) Mi17 - 80 Heli
3) 6 IL 78 for AWACS ?
- July 15, 2016 at 12:49 AM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
To VISHAKH: Of course not. Tu-22M3 assembly-line at Kazan closed down years ago. IL-78 is the designation of aerial refuelling tanker. AEW & CS is A-50I. Only thing being tested now is the ATAGS barrel, which is 99.99% similar to the barrel already developed by OFB for Dhanush-52. TCS will be 4-G since the $-G pilot project of the IA has already been supplied by IAI of Israel. There cannot be any BMS until the TCS is introduced.
IMAC: Project 885 Yasen is an SSGN. Ther Indian reqmt is for SSN.
To SATYA: IN's plans for nuclear-powered IAC-2 have been postponed for another 10 years. Immediate priority is for 6 SSNs. 2md SSGN to be leased by the IN is the K-322 Kashalot that is now undergoing a mid-life refit. It is a Project 971 SSGN & belongs to the Shchuka family, & NOT Akula. The Akula is the family name of the Project 941 SSBN.
To RAD: Tu-22M3 assembly-line at Kazan closed down years ago.
To BLACKURRANT: No, that ground station was for acquiring data & imagery for meteorological & crop pattern monitoring purposes only. Cartosat-2C imagery reso9lution is native.
To VINOD KUMAR: Already answered those several timjes before.
To THE INDIAN: No such hardware is being procured from Russia. Rafale MMRCA procurement's contractual documents are all ready for signature from the French side. Delay is ONLY/SOLELY from the Indian side & it has to do with the selection of strategic industrial partners, about which the MoD is still deliberating & hasn't yet made a decision.
To SWEET: Heard? I had uploaded images of the SSK & its design which clearly shows the SLBM launch silos.
To ANUPAM: VMT. The noose has already started to tighten & that too from both ends. On one hand India has gone on the offensive WRT PoK & on the other the Afghans are officially against any more negotiations with the Taliban. Very soon news will emerge about Iran too coming out in the open to state that Pakistan's nuclear WMDs pose a threat to the entire region. Following that statement, matters will move ahead quickly along the lines I had explained above.
To RON: Haqqani netwrok is all about those Afghan Taliban graduates of the madrassa called Darul Haqqania in KPK. When Dawood Ibrahim fled India for Dubai, his vessels smuggling gold & silver into Daman & Ratnagiri coastline were, with the PN's help, intercepted & taken over by force from the Pakistan-based smugglers, called the Bhatti brothers. Pakistan then warned Dawood that if he refused to cooperate, then all his smuggling routes would be intercepted & impounded by the PN. Left with no choice he agreed to cooperate with Pakistan. The initial shipments of small arms & ammo were shipped to Diu while similar consignments arrived by land across the Rann of Kutch via the infamous Harami Nullah, a rivulet. Thus, the first 9mm automatic pistols & AK-47 SLRs to be used by the underworld in any Indian city came from these areas & they were first used in Gujarat, followed by Mumbai.
- July 15, 2016 at 3:05 AM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
To RAD: Forget about LEVCONs & Super Su-30MKI & focus instead on the latest technological innovations now being showcased at the Farnborough Air Show. Ypdates include:
Harris Corp's delivery of 18 ALQ-211(V)9 advanced integrated defensive electronic warfare system (AIDEWS) pods for the PAF's Block 15 F-16A/Bs that are now being integrated in Turkey.
BAE Systems-developed Laser Air Speed Sensing Instrument (LASSI) that does away with existing pitot-tube-based sensors.
The world's first UAV incorporating graphene in its airframe. The thinnest material on Earth, Graphene is lightweight yet 200 times stronger than steel, and could find many aerospace applications.
Elbit Systems' Digital Eye Piece (DEP) add-on night-vision system for the JHMCS (joint helmet-mounted cueing system) family.
Standoff microwave-emitting PGMs designed to cause three levels of damage: the minimum requires a reboot; next, the system requires some minor repairs; and, most seriously, it can completely destroy an electronic system.
RAFAEL-developed DEW laser effectors that counter the growing threat of micro- and nano-UAVs of the type supplied by China to Pakistan.
"detect-and-avoid" (DAA) avionics and radar suite that is meant to prevent an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) from colliding with other aircraft.
AESA-based ESM & active jammers developed by IAI/ELTA for fitment on MALE-UAVs.
Use these as your points-of-departure & then compare all these with the pussyfooting of the DRDO WRT developing Rustom-1/2 UAVs.
- July 15, 2016 at 3:17 AM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
To ARPIT KANODIA: The 'IDIOT OF THE DAY' award for July 14, 2016 goes to Cmde (Ret'd) C Uday Bhaskar becoming an apologist & for making a total fool of himself in this Pakistani TV programme:
- July 15, 2016 at 5:41 AM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
To BROWN DESI: LoLz! IHS Jane's is running 5 years late in reporting the existence of this medium battle tank.
This tank has been undergoing evaluations throughout the Qinghai Plateau & inside the Tibet Military District since 2011. It is heavier than a light tank but lighter than the ZTZ-96G & ZRZ-99A medium battle tanks & it is optimised for use in & around the Central Asian highlands bordering Xinjiang & Qinghai plateau. In comparison, the MBTs that are with India-centric formations use the ZTZ-96Gs that are based in Tibet & Chengdu.
To ARPIT KANODIA: And here's another 'desi' Indian apologist given to sermonising on Pak TV channels yesterday:
While the 'desi' journalists are as usual spinning yarns & are caught up with their delusional perceptions:
They have not yet been able to figure out all that had taken place in front of their eyes & are unable to connect the following dots:
1) Pakistan's need to create a distraction so that the on-going pre-electoral bloodbath in PoK is glossed over.
2) The PML-N's all -out war against the PPP inside PoK so that the PPP is denied its last source of political funds (i.e. the annual budgets of PoK) since money laundering from Sindh is no longer possible due to the crackdown on such activities by the PA & Sindh Rangers.
3) The overnight appearance of posters in 13 Pakistani cities 72 hours ago requesting the COAS of the PA to declare martial law, followed by the emergence of giant roadside banners calling for the same, & the PA's statement from ISPR saying that the ISI could not be bothered to investigate who put up such banners & posters because "it does not have the time to do so". Interestingly, even the Federal Interior Ministry has yet to initiate legal action against this blatant challenge to Pakistan's constitution.
4) The PPP is already alleging that such posters & banners were financed & put up by the PML-N in collusion with the PA as a way of creating opinion in favour of the present COAS being given a 3-year service extension (he is due to retire this November) & the COAS returning the favour by ensuring that the PML-N comes back to power through the 2018 general elections. This stratagem also reportedly has China's support.
5) These posters & banners, interestingly, came up ONLY AFTER the arrival in Pakistan of PM Nawaz Sharif from the UK following his heart surgery. If anyone really wanted Martial Law to be imposed, then such materials should have been put up when the PM was abroad, out of the country.
Lesson: ALWAYS ANALYSE EVENTS BY EXAMINING & UNDERSTANDING THE BIG PICTURE.
- July 15, 2016 at 8:00 AM
hi prasun
Are u attending farnborough? give us some nice pics and reports.
why on earth is US giving such sophisticated jammers to Pak? how is it compared to el-8222?.
If Israel has made aesa jamers for UAV then surely it has already made them for fighter ac and it is time we got them as well PLease give dope on the israeli aesa jammers.
what make are the microwave weapons?
the joke of the year -- india does not need israeli UAV due to the impending flight of the rustom -2 !@##$%. I think every day we must post a Joke of the day .!THey will realize lately it is not easy making high end UAV and end up asking israel assistance! The fools should have done that in t he first place.
will russia give us tech for more ssn? or will they make us lease only? Is it not better to make the torpedoes , sonars and BMS ,FCS all ourselves and use russian design for the hull, reactors etc?
- July 15, 2016 at 11:03 AM
can u in detail explain what events led to 1993 Mumbai attacks?who orchestrated these attacks? mention abt every foreign country and our own political parties part of it including funding, providing RDX etc?
- July 15, 2016 at 12:49 PM
- joydeep ghosh said...
@Prasun da
some questions
1. With verdict on SCS going against China, does it weaken its clam over Arunachal & Aksai Chin?
2. Read reports sometime back that said China withdrew from actual Sumdrong Chu but keeps vigil from surrounding mountain tops thus not allowing IA to venture into that area, how true?
3. why was nose cone of Brahmos A redesigned and what is this 36 on the warhead
4. the answer you gave to RON regarding attack on PoK seem to be very easy & preplanned, do you really think PA or its COAS havent figured it by now
Joydeep Ghosh
- July 15, 2016 at 2:33 PM
- Pierre Zorin said...
Xin Zhauo is NOT Chinese - that is guaranteed. It is not a Chinese name - secondly Chinese either speak very good English or they don't. Thirdly they will never compare India and China because Chinese mindset will never allow even such consideration - at least among those who are educated and interested in anything defence. Idioms, sentence structures, reference to PAK in particular only shows a man hiding under a burqa! If he Xin is Chinese then this is my version of saying something in Chinese:
BTW do we have some MIA - SBM, dr Tata, Subir, Jay Bhanusali - to name a few?
- July 15, 2016 at 2:33 PM
Have spent past few days reading about Kashmir: from gloom to doom they all appear.
There is light at the end of the tunnel if we follow through on some idea's that takes away the support. This is one article i thought worth sharing, its an attempt at rational analysis:
It is backed up by the likes of RAW chief:
"We in India wasted so many years in containing the Kashmir militancy," writes Amarjit Singh Dulat, the former chief of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), India's leading external intelligence agency, in his recent memoirs. "And once it was contained, we sat back and were happy with the status quo, instead of taking advantage of the situation to forge a political solution."
India needs to help these people, just look at the pictures (we need stop the alienation):
- July 15, 2016 at 3:21 PM
I can tell you where the problem is in Kashmir. The Power of SMART PHONES and facebook. What options are there to control this? Big companies tech like TCS, Infosys, will have all the skills to do this. What is stopping us doing it?
- July 15, 2016 at 3:38 PM
have u seen this news?
why Ind always shies away and wont ask for any independent inquiry for Baluchis, KPK, FATA & Gilgit-Baltistan of extra-judicial killings by Pakistan's security establishment?
- July 15, 2016 at 4:44 PM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
To RPATEL: It is all too very easy to smoke some shit & keep shagging within one's 4-walls while totally ignoring the ground realities staring at us all. The writer of that Op-Ed is one such person. Don't believe me? The read this gross distortion of truth: "It was the heyday of Manmohan Singh's proactive diplomacy with Pakistan on the Kashmir question even as his interlocutors were quietly negotiating with the dissident leadership in Kashmir on a 'Kashmir formula'." Former Pakistani Foreign Minister Khursheed Mehmood Kasuri's book clearly reveals that this had nothing to do with Dr MMS' pro-activeness or creativity. Rather, it was a clever ploy of Musharraf & Co to put a 4-point formula on the table as a 'temporary' solution with a validity of only 15 years, following which a referendum was specified about self-determination, in other words the same terms & conditions applicable to the 1949 UN-approved plebicite plan but with a difference, which is Musharraf wanted to do away with the UN clause that required Pakistan to withdraw from PoK so that a plebicite could be held. By doing away with this prerequisite, Musharraf was hoping that in the process India would be led into compromising on its principled stance WRT upholding the UN-acknowledged legality of the Instrument of Accession of October 25, 1947. Musharraf was also hoping for that 15-year breathing space so that he, with China's help, would have been able to implement the CPEC plan (first proposed by China in 2004 to Pakistan) in its entirety & once all the resources of Gilgit-Baltistan were diverted down south to Punjab & Sindh, he would have moved ahead with his plans for demanding the referendum for J & K inclusive of PoK & Gilgit-Baltistan. Had Musharraf's intentions been well-meaning, he would have dismantled the LeT & JeM between 2004 & 2008, but he didn't. While on one hand he was declaring with Dr MMS that the peace process was irreversible, on the other he was hosting members of the Indian Mujahideen & facilitating them, & ordering the killings of Indian citizens inside Afghanistan & instructing the Haqqani Network to mount deadly attacks against the Indian Embassy in Kabul.
Therefore, to brush all these under the carpet & eulogise folks like Dr MMS & Musharraf for 'creative diplomacy' is akin to labelling a zebra as a tiger.
Today, the world has no stomach anymore to digest expletives like "J & K issue is a complex one" or "a political solution" is the only way ahead. Youth in the 15-25 age-groups don't care about politics or politiking, nor are they politically mature to understand what a political solution involves. Nor does the world possess the threshold of tolerance to admire or support 'Mullah's Islam' of the type propagated by Burhan Wani's 'educated' father as the ideal moral compass. Because if the principle of armed jihad is justified in J & K, then it is equally justified for Xinjiang or for the Kurds inside Iran, Iraq & Turkey & for the Balochis of Baluchistan--a point folks like this JNU professor conveniently overlooks or chooses to stay mum about. Not just India, but the entire world today has no time or the stomach to take serious heed of such bleeding-heart, utopian mumbo-jumbo.
- July 15, 2016 at 8:48 PM
- Prasun K. Sengupta said...
To RON: What progress on which front? Only roads from Balochistan to Sindh & KPK are being built by the FWO. Most of the roads connecting PoK to Xinjiang have to be re-routed through Chitral & even there 1 month ago a series of landslides & floods have damaged most of these new roads & tunnels. This being the force of nature, how can any underground fibre-optic cable remain safe from such natural calamities?
- July 15, 2016 at 11:12 PM
@Prasun Da
I have been following your blog since very long. I don't exactly remember what you had spoken then, but at one point in time, during the tenure of UPA when Musharraf had proposed his Four point formula, and especially during the time of Sharm Al Shaikh, you had mentioned of the Kashmir issue being close to being settled. With the ultimate solution having the LoC turned into the International Border, demilitarized J&K, and a Canada-US like open borders between India and Pakistan. It is possible that you had said something else, which I cannot accurately recount now, but it was roughly along these lines. Back then you had given an impression that it would be a positive for India on the whole too.
I would like to believe that the thinking in the minds of the policy makers were along this direction too.
So, what changed and why in between, for India to have changed it's stance on the Four point formula? Did the Indian policymakers realize the duplicitous game of Musharraf before changing it's mood. Or did the USA's change in heart towards Pakistan play a major role in the change?
To help you remember, I am willing to tell you that this was round about the time, when you had suspected the admissions of MMS in Sharm Al Shaikh as a way to grant legitimacy to the civilian leadership, with an aim to make it the leading stake holder instead of the PA, in the upcoming peace process.
- July 15, 2016 at 11:31 PM