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Late Brigadier Gurmeet Kanwal (Retd.) was a celebrated soldier, author, thought leader and noted strategic affairs analyst. Graduating from the National Defence Academy in March 1972, Brigadier Kanwal went on to command an Infantry Brigade along the LOC and an Artillery Regiment in Kashmir (1993-1994). He also served as Deputy Assistant Chief of the Integrated Defence Staff.

After taking voluntary retirement in 2003, Brigadier Kanwal joined the Observer Research Foundation and served at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses and Centre for Air Power Studies. He was Director of the Centre for Land Warfare Studies from 2008 to 2012. He was also the co-founder of two think tanks, Forum for Strategic Initiatives (FSI) and the South Asian Institute for Strategic Affairs (SAISA). In November 2012, he was nominated among 50 Thought Leaders by Mail Today. He was awarded the COAS Commendation Card twice. He had contributed extensively to various journals and leading newspapers, including a column in the Statesman for over two years. He was a regular speaker at well-known international think tanks and military institutions.

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“If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.”
— THOREAU —

Honours

Life & Work

Writings

Shoot before talking

Even if the suspicion is not too strong and the links of terrorists with the organisation across the border have been established only tenuously, to begin with, retaliation must be swift and accurately targeted to deliver the message that India has shown enough restraint and that from now onwards,...

Sahara Time | Jun 24, 2006
A peace pact waiting to be made

As the foreign secretaries from India and Pakistan try this week to sustain the peace process amidst growing mutual suspicion, the Siachen question offers one potential area where recent progress could be consolidated. When demilitarisation at Siachen is finally completed, it will act as a...

Jan 16, 2006
Americas summer of discontent

Military officials in the Pentagon are known to be of the view that Iraq’s political and military leaders are unlikely to be ready to lead the counter-insurgency effort till the summer of 2006.

The Indian Express | Aug 1, 2005
Military route to the civil services

While critics might argue that it would prevent qualified MBAs and engineers from joining the central services it is still debatable whether the 'generalist' central services really need them. Compulsory military service for the entry into the civil services will also result in giving civilian...

Sahara Time | May 28, 2004
Deterrent Power

Since India's GDP is growing at the compounded annual rate of approximately seven per cent, it clearly emerges that the expenditure likely to be Incurred on maintaining a credible minimum deterrent comprising 200 nuclear warheads is eminently affordable.

The Statesman | Jan 6, 2001
Briefcase Nukes : The new nightmare

Among the world's foremost terrorist organizations, the Al-Qaeda is the most determined and most likely to come into possession of a nuclear warheads sooner or later A future nexus between the Al-Qaeda and the intransigent North Koreans cannot be ruled out as both share a pathological hatred for the...

Sahara Time | Jan 1, 2000
पाक के ‘ऑपरेशन जिब्रालटर’ के उड़ा दी धज्जियाँ
Defence Monitor | Aug 17, 2015
Dominating the line of control with firepower

Russia gave India nuclear submarines on lease and provided assistance for the development of the cryogenic rocket engine for India's GSLV. During the December 2014 summit meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin, Russia had agreed to supply 12 nuclear power reactors...

The Artillery Journal | Aug 4, 2002
Challenges aplenty for the new defence minister

Parliaments Standing Committee on Defence and the armed forces have repeatedly recommended that it should be raised progressively to 3.0 per cent of the GDP if India is to build the defence capabilities that it needs to meet future threats and challenges and discharge its growing responsibilities as...

Geopolitics | Apr 5, 2017

Condolences

Sharpening the arsenal: India’s evolving nuclear deterrence policy
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The essence of the defence minister's introspection was that ambiguity enhances deterrence. This view has been expressed by several nuclear strategists. Nuclear doctrines are not written in stone and are never absolutely rigid.

Indian Army Vision 2020
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Indian Army: Vision 2020 examines the threats and their changing nature, identifies the key operational commitments, makes a comparative analysis of how other modern armies are coping and offers a considered guide map for a modern fighting force that is light, lethal and wired to meet the operational challenges of the 21st century.

Pakistan’s Proxy War
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This book presents an incisive analysis of the trends and prospects of Pakistan`s proxy war and its wider ramifications. Specific recommendations focus on the pro-active military measures that are necessary to regain control over the vitiated security situation and restore normalcy.

Heroes of Kargil

This book recounts in graphic detail the raw courage under fire displayed by the young officers and heroic fight back against daunting odds. It is a tribute to the young heroes and gallant martyrs of the campaign that stirred the national consciousness like nothing else before.