National Security Conversations

Dr. Happymon Jacob speaks with Lt. Gen. Satish Dua (Retd. Chief of Integrated Defence Staff) to the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC)) who played a major role in the establishment of three ‘integrated functional commands’ i.e. special operations, cyber, and space. The conversation looks at the importance of tri-service integration, history and current status of India’s efforts at integration, outstanding issues and what needs to be done in the future. The conversation also discusses the three new ‘integrated functional commands’ and whether these will adequately address India’s strategic environment

Dr. Happymon Jacob speaks with Dr. Vipin Narang (Associate Professor, Security Studies, MIT) about the new revolution in the military affairs (RMA) and its implications on global and regional strategic stability. The conversation discusses China’s growing military capabilities, especially new age weapon systems and their impact on India’s defense preparedness. Dr Narang also discusses the concept of a ‘Third Nuclear Age’, tactical nuclear weapon systems and their impact on nuclear dyads like India and Pakistan. How must India’s strategic doctrine and practices adapt in order to maintain a healthy deterrent capability in the third nuclear age?

Happymon Jacob speaks with Prof. Mahendra P. Lama (Member, Eminent Persons Group on Nepal and India) about India Nepal relations in the context of growing closeness between Nepal and China. Is India to blame for its reducing influence over Nepal? Why exactly has Nepal moved closer to China? What must India do to regain influence in the region? The conversation attempts to answer these question in the context of India’s place, policies and perceptions in South Asia

appymon Jacob discusses results of the recent general elections in Bangladesh with Ambassador Veena Sikri (High Commissioner to Bangladesh. Dec 2003 - Nov 2006). The conversation also looks at what these results will mean for India-Bangladesh relations. What is the current state of relations between the two countries and how this may change with increasing Chinese forays into South Asia? What can India learn from its relations with Bangladesh and apply to its policies towards other regional neighbours?

Happymon Jacob speaks with Moeed W. Yusuf (Associate Vice President, Asia Center at the U.S. Institute of Peace) about lack of India-Pak crisis management measures in the context of Imran Khan’s peace offers. The conversation tries to answer: What drives the Bajwa doctrine? What are the chances of escalation of crisis given that China and US may not work together for a third party intervention? What is the least common denominator India and Pakistan must agree on to better relations? Should normalising relations with Pakistan be a priority for India?

Happymon Jacob speaks with C Raja Mohan (Director, Institute of South Asian Studies, National University of Singapore) about India’s place in South Asia, what South Asia means as a political construct and how the arrival of China on the scene complicates the traditional India-centric geopolitical image of South Asia. They further discuss where India has gone wrong in managing the neighbourhood, what it must do to wrestle back influence from China, and the importance of multilateral forums like SAARC in reviving India’s integration into its neighbourhood.

Happymon Jacob speaks with C. Uday Bhaskar (Director, Society for Policy Studies, New Delhi) on the lessons learned from the 26/11 terror attack, current state of India's coastal security, important of beefing up India’s maritime surveillance using the latest technology, and the politics of intelligence.

Dr. Happymon Jacob talks to Peter Jones (Associate Professor, Public and International Affairs, University of Ottawa) about the theory and practice of Track Two Diplomacy. This is a master class on Track Two Diplomacy as Prof Jones discusses the necessity of Track Two, the problems with the processes, reluctance from State governments to participate, the successes and failures so far and the credible impact that many Track Twos have had in conflict situations.

Happymon Jacob speaks with Vice Admiral Shekhar Sinha (former Chief of Integrated Defence Staff, Member of Defence Acquisition Council - 2010 to 2012, Commander in Chief of the Western Naval Command) about INS Arihant's contribution to completing India's nuclear triad, robustness of India’s sea-based nuclear deterrence, Nuclear Command and Control issues and growing maritime capabilities in Indian Ocean Region.

Happymon Jacob talks to Prof. Farzana Shaikh (Associate Fellow of the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London) about Imran Khan's ascension to Prime-Ministership, his domestic and foreign policy, the role of Islam in Pakistan's democratic set up, role of Pak military in its relations with India and what CPEC means for Pakistan. Dr Shaikh is the author of Community and Consensus in Islam (1989, 2012) and Making Sense of Pakistan (2009, 2018).

Happymon Jacob speaks with Prof. Rajesh Rajagopalan (Jawaharlal Nehru University) on India’s strategic posture. Rajagopalan argues that India should shed its concerns about escalation and adopt a proactive military strategy towards Pakistan. The discussion brings out Rajagopalan’s realist perspective on India’s national security.

Happymon Jacob speaks with Yamini Aiyar (President and Chief Executive of Centre for Policy Research) about the implications of governance and development on national security. The discussion attempts at understanding the meaning of national security to include internal security challenges. Has the Indian state adequately prioritized domestic security issues? Has the strategy of securitization and militarization in disturbed areas served the state well?

Happymon Jacob talks to Pravin Sawhney (Founding Editor, FORCE magazine) about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s defence policy, need for understanding the real threat from China, future of warfare and India’s unpreparedness for the same. The conversation delves into what is wrong with India’s efforts with RMA (revolution in military affairs), the weakness of ‘two front’ war theory and what India must do to balance the behemoth that China has become.

Happymon Jacob talks to Amb. Aziz Ahmed Khan (Pakistan's High Commissioner to India from June 2003 to September 2006) and seasoned Indian diplomat Amb. K. C. Singh, to understand why India-Pakistan bilateral relations have taken a negative turn. The conversation veers into possibilities of redirecting the bilateral relationship towards peaceful coexistence and what each country will have to do to achieve this end.

Happymon Jacob speaks to Nisha Taneja (Professor, Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations) about the issues of formal and informal trade between India and Pakistan. The conversation further examines the impact of joint business forums and lobbies on trade; the potential of e-commerce and connectivity projects and major policy changes that need to be implemented by both countries to improve trade.

Dr. Happymon Jacob talks to Amb. Shiv Shankar Menon about the state of India’s national security. The conversations delves into contemporary challenges that India faces, the meaning of security and the goals of the national security apparatus. Dr. Jacob and Amb. Menon also discuss India’s relations with its neighbours and what India must do to continue its rise along with China.

Happymon Jacob talks to Arvind Gupta (former deputy national security adviser to the Government of India and currently, director of the Vivekananda International Foundation) about India’s national security institutions, overlap in their mandates, issues in the coordination of their activities, importance of the National Security Council and its role in formulating India’s grand strategy.

Happymon Jacob discusses the performance and implications of Washington's South Asia Policy 2017 with Bharath Gopalaswamy (Director, South Asia Center at the Atlantic Council).

Defence analyst Ajai Shukla and The Wire's founding editor M.K. Venu join Happymon Jacob to discuss the controversy surrounding the BJP-led government’s decision to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets from France.

Dr Happymon Jacob speaks with Ali Ahmed (Retd. Colonel) about doctrinal thinking in the Indian armed forces and the need to devise a comprehensive national security strategy.