National Security Conversations

In this episode of the NSC, Dr Happymon Jacob discusses ‘Nuclear Dangers in Southern Asia’ with Dr George Perkovich (vice president, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and author of India’s Nuclear Bomb). The discussion focuses on how the growing rivalry between India and China could potentially complicate nuclear stability in Southern Asia. The conversation brings out the conceptual and practical aspects of nuclear deterrence in the region. Answering a question whether the growing Chinese cyber capabilities could trigger a change in India’s nuclear policy and posture, Dr Perkovich argues that it might not make any sense for India to abandon its ‘No First use’ policy or adopt a ‘Launch on Warning’ posture to respond to growing Chinese capabilities.

In this episode of the NSC, Dr. Happymon Jacob (Founder, csdronline.org) discusses India’s South Asia policy in context of the rise of China with Amb. Gautam Bambawale (former Ambassador to China and High Commissioner to Pakistan). The discussion highlights the fierce competition underway between India and China for influence in South Asia and how New Delhi should up its game to remain relevant in the region. Amb. Bambawale argued that India should build on the cultural and historical connect with the region, something China doesn’t share with South Asia. The discussion also focuses on issues relating to the two front situations faced by India and India’s 5G options.

In this episode of the NSC, Dr. Happymon Jacob discusses India’s standing in the world with Dr Ashley J. Tellis (Senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Washington DC). The discussion focuses on how India-US relations will fare under a Joe Biden administration, and what the two sides could do to address the growing China Challenge in the Asian region. The discussion also provides important insights on the potential geopolitical changes in Southern Asia in the years ahead and what that might mean for New Delhi.

In this special episode for The Wire, Dr. Happymon Jacob is joined by former Foreign Secretary of India Nirupama Menon Rao and Max Rodenbeck, South Asia Bureau Chief for The Economist magazine, to discuss the future of India-US relations under a US Administration led by Joe Biden. The panel discusses the current state of India-US relations and assesses whether a democratic administration in Washington DC would change the character and course of the robust India-US strategic partnership. The panel examines the sources of the bipartisan support for India in the US, how the China challenge has brought the two sides closer than ever, and the potential geopolitical changes under the Biden administration in the US and their impact on India.

Dr Happymon Jacob discusses the 2020 Asia Power Index with Herve Lemahieu (Director, Asia Power & Diplomacy Programme, Lowy Institute, Sydney & Lead, Annual Asia Power Index). This episode unpacks the 2020 Index & offers insights into the measures & indicators used in the study. The conversation analyses how the pandemic has unsettled the balance of power in Asia. The episode also focuses on India’s performance in the Index and how it will need a multi-decade effort to regain the lost ground due to Covid-19.

In this episode, Dr Happymon Jacob speaks to Amb. Vivek Katju (Former Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan) & Tilak Devasher (Former Special Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat, Government of India) against the fresh backdrop of the shocking allegations that Pakistan has made against India. The discussion probes whether this is a tactic by the Pakistan Government to divert attention away from its own domestic failures. The conversation also analyses the impact of Islamabad’s unbridled accusations against New Delhi on the bilateral relationship of the two rival countries going forward

Dr Happymon Jacob speaks to Amb. Gautam Mukhopadhaya, (Former Ambassador to Myanmar 2013-2016) on the strategic importance of India-Myanmar relations.The discussion explores the rationale behind the new momentum in India-Myanmar relations and the historical background to the current state of bilateral relations. The conversation brings forth interesting insights regarding India’s strategic Port-building projects in Myanmar which would play a crucial role in India’s land & maritime connectivity to the ASEAN region. Ambassador Mukhopadhaya explains how Myanmar is a ‘launching pad’ for India’s maritime grand strategy. The conversation concludes with the Ambassador reasoning how India can afford “a more sympathetic policy towards persecuted refugees”, even while abiding by national interests.To Receive Instant Updates! Follow: @NSCwithHJ @HappymonJacob 

Dr. Happymon Jacob in conversation with Dr Pallavi Raghavan (Assistant Professor at Ashoka University). They discuss the unique arguments she makes in her new book entitled ‘Animosity at Bay: An Alternative History of the India-Pakistan Relationship’.The conversation focuses on how newly-created India and Pakistan, despite a great deal of animosity, decided to cooperate with each other. The discussion evaluates whether it was the common cultural & institutional affinity that prompted cooperation between the two adversaries in the 1950s or whether it was due to their 'shared faith in the creation of Westphalian states.’ The discussion also revolves around the significance of the Nehru-Liaquat pact, its provisions for flexible sovereignty & the remarkable collaboration to reassure minorities on both sides.To Receive Instant Updates! Follow: @NSCwithHJ @HappymonJacob 

In this special episode from CSDR, Dr Happymon Jacob is joined by an eminent panel consisting of Dr Anne-Marie Brady (University Of Canterbury, New Zealand), Dr David Capie (Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand) &; Dr Euan Graham (IISS-Asia, Singapore).The panelists in this conversation discuss how Australia & New Zealand views the growing Chinese challenge in the Indo-pacific & the South China Sea. The conversation also revolves around Oceania & interests in the QUAD given the growing belligerence of China in the region. The discussion also probes whether the security decisions taken by Canberra and Wellington are handicapped by the strong economic ties both countries share with China and provides insights into India’s role in their strategies to tackle the ‘China Challenge’.For updates, find us on Twitter: @NSCwithHJ  @CSDR_India

In this episode, Dr.Happymon Jacob and Amb. Walter J. Lindner (German Ambassador to India) discuss the implications of the German Government’s new policy guidelines for the Indo-Pacific region.Starting with the curious timing of its announcement in the midst of the Indo-China standoff at the LAC, they discuss the opportunities & challenges in the Indo-pacific region before shedding light on how Germany seeks “to promote the ‘enforcement’ of rule-based order in the region”.While acknowledging that the strategy is a ‘break from the past’ the Ambassador asserts that the new policy guidelines are not designed to take sides, but intended to support and initiate multilateralism.

In this episode, Dr Happymon Jacob discusses the colonial origins and the post-colonial evolution of the Sedition law with Anushka Singh (Author, Sedition in Liberal Democracies & Assistant Professor, Ambedkar University of Delhi). 150 Years since the imposition of Sedition Law in colonial India, the discussion probes whether these Laws are used to stifle free speech and political opposition in contemporary India. The discussion brings out the contrast between the popular conceptions of ‘sedition’ in the country and the higher Judiciary’s views on the same. The discussion also explores how the Sedition Law eventually made it to the Constitution despite most Constituent Assembly members viewing it as a repressive Colonial Law. The author argues that while the conviction rate is negligible when it comes to those charged under the controversial law, the process itself is the punishment. NOTE: The Kerala case referred to in the interview where the Director General of Police had issued guidelines for registering FIRs under section 124A in 2016 was in the wake of a sedition case filed against writer Kamal Chavara and not Thirumurgan Gandhi. Gandhi was also charged for sedition in Tamil Nadu, not Kerala.

Dr. Happymon Jacob speaks to Amb. Shyam Saran (Former Foreign Secretary & Chairman of the National Security Advisory Board) on contemporary Indian Foreign policymaking. They discuss the various options available to New Delhi in addressing the twin challenge of responding to a restive neighbourhood and managing an aggressive China while at the same time adjusting to a changing global order. The discussion unpacks India’s attitude towards “Alignments & Alliances” amidst the ongoing US-China confrontation and examines the concept of ‘Strategic Autonomy’. The conversation also examines whether economic decoupling with China is feasible and probes whether the standoff with China has pushed India closer to the USA

In this episode, Dr Happymon Jacob speaks to Haseeb Drabu (Former Finance Minister of Jammu & Kashmir) about the economic impacts of abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. The conversation discusses whether J& K’s dependency on subsidy from the central govt will end after a change in its special status and compares economic growth of J& K before and after the August 5 decision. The discussion also probes whether or not development and economic growth are possible at all in Kashmir without sustained efforts at conflict resolution.

In this episode, Dr Happymon Jacob speaks to Altaf Bukhari (Founding President, of Jammu & Kashmir’s Apni party) about the political situation in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Mr Bukhari, a former minister in the J&K cabinet, explains what prompted him and his colleagues to come together and create the Apni Party. He also discusses the core agenda and vision of his party that responds to a new political context in Jammu & Kashmir. The discussion also brings to light the general sentiment on the ground and the resulting political trends in the union territory, a year after losing its statehood.  Note:At 01.18 Dr Jacob says that the PDP-BJP coalition was in power in J&K till August 2019. Correction: It was in power only until June 2019.

In this episode, Dr Happymon Jacob is joined by an eminent panel consisting of Amb. Nirupama Rao (Former Foreign Secretary), Lt. Gen DS Hooda (Former Northern Army Commander), Suhasini Haidar (Diplomatic Editor, The Hindu), Max Rodenbeck (South Asia Bureau Chief, The Economist) & Rajeshwari Rajagopalan (Distinguished Fellow, ORF). The panellists discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and its far-reaching implications on the stability of the South Asian region. The conversation touches upon COVID-19’s effect on pre-existing inter & intraregional conflicts in South Asia including on terrorism and insurgency and impact on the flow of regional migrants and refugees. The conversation also prescribes the ways in which countries in South Asia can cooperate in order to minimise these impacts and chart out a path of recovery to transform the region.

In this episode, Dr Happymon Jacob speaks to Mr Prem Shankar Jha(Managing Editor, Financial World; Former Information Advisor to V.P.Singh) to understand his interpretation of PM Modi’s statement during the June 19 All-Party meeting on China. The conversation attempts to unpack the reasons behind PM Modi’s statement which became controversial amongst the Indian strategic community. Mr Jha interprets the statement as a signalling strategy that the Indian PM used to signal to China. He argues that the PM was factually correct in stating that the Chinese have not entered India territory as the Chinese have only forced their claims on disputed areas. Therefore the PM’s statement is a call for de-escalation. Mr Jha argues that media coverage of this statement undermines this strategy by misinterpreting the PM’s words. Mr Jha also discusses the reasons behind the present Chinese aggression at the border and the future of Sino-Indian relations.

Dr Happymon Jacob speaks with Mr Kanak Mani Dixit (Publisher of Himal Khabarpatrika & editor of Himal Southasian) and Amb. Rakesh Sood (Retd.) (Former Ambassador to Nepal), about the recent tensions in India- Nepal relations.The two guests discuss the triggers of these tensions and trace the primary cause to multiple maps released by the British government in India. The conversation presents views from both India and Nepal as to how the differing perceptions presented by these maps should be interpreted in the present time. The conversation also discusses the impact of Nepalese domestic politics, China’s growing closeness to Nepal and India’s 2015 blockade on India-Nepal relations. Towards the end, the two guests recommend steps that need to be taken by both governments to restore relations and restart border resolution mechanisms.

Dr Happymon Jacob speaks with Lt. Gen. Deependra Singh Hooda, former General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Indian army's Northern Command, on the India-China standoff on the Line of Actual Control (LAC). They discuss the current state of the standoff, the larger Chinese rationale behind these unprecedented attacks, and the strategic importance of the region where the standoff is taking place. The discussion also covers the potential military options India has to respond to China and offers an assessment of the balance of forces between the two sides.

Dr Happymon Jacob speaks with Lt. Gen. H. S. Panag (Retd.) (Former GOC in C Northern Command and Central Commands, Indian Army. Former Member of Armed Forces Tribunal) on the ongoing India China military standoff on the Line of Actual Control. They discuss how the latest standoff is unprecedented and more worrying than the previous border skirmishes.Lt. Gen. Panag argues that the Chinese have chosen to alter the status quo at selected locations and are using a ‘Differing Perceptions’ paradigm to justify their actions. Therefore, India must challenge this narrative and call out China’s expansionist policies to set the narrative straight. Lt. Gen. Panag also argues that if India does not push back at this stage, China will only increase such behaviour in the future. The conversation ends with Gen. Panag’s thoughts on how New Delhi can counter these incursions.

Dr. Happymon Jacob in conversation with Amb. Nirupama Menon Rao (Former Foreign Secretary, Former Ambassador to China), Col. Ajai Shukla (Senior Defense Journalist) and Lt. Gen. Vinod Bhatia (Former DGMO, Indian Army) to understand the recent spate of incursions carried out by the PLA along the Line of Actual Control. The discussion focuses on the reasons why the latest incursions are different from what is usually seen, and seeks to understand why the Chinese leadership would choose to behave aggressively during a global pandemic. Discussants also shed light on the options India has in the short and long term in order to diffuse the current situation and to create mechanisms that may prevent a repeat of such incidents in the future. 

Dr Happymon Jacob speaks with Jeff M. Smith (Research Fellow, South Asia, in The Heritage Foundation’s Asian Studies Center, and author of “Cold Peace: China-India Rivalry in the Twenty-First Century”) about President Donald Trump’s ongoing visit to India (Feb 2020) and the issues on the agenda for this visit. Mr. Smith discusses the dynamics of trade relations between the two countries in light of the suspension of India’s GSP status. How does the revocation of privileges accruing from India’s status as developing nation get affected by USTR's clarification of India as a developed nation before President Trump's visit? Mr. Smith cautions against India's excessive partisanship towards the Trump presidency and endorses a broader political outreach. He also discusses the convergence of India-US interests over China and the larger Indo-Pacific strategy and ends with remarks on India’s possible role in US's policy on Afghanistan.

Dr Happymon Jacob speaks with Dr TV Paul (James McGill Professor of International Relations at McGill University) about the contemporary international order. Dr Paul identifies the peculiarities of the current global order, which he states is in a period of transition and flux. He assess India’s place in the world today, and critically analyses its quest for great power status. He dwells upon a multiplicity of factors – hard as well as soft power factors – that constitute a great power. He throws light on India’s trajectory in search of great power status, highlighting the areas where it faces major challenges. Dr Paul also discusses India’s soft balancing strategy vis-à-vis China and with other great powers in general.

Dr. Happymon Jacob speaks with Arun Mohan Sukumar about his book, Midnight’s Machines. In his book, Mr Sukumar charts the political history of technology in India since the end of the Second World War. In this conversation he lays out India’s tryst with technology under the aegis of various prime ministers, from Jawaharlal Nehru to Indira Gandhi to Rajiv Gandhi and Narendra Modi. He also dwells upon many considerations, ranging from philosophical and moral to outright political that led leaders like Nehru and others to temper and manage how Indian people viewed technology and interacted with it.

Dr. Happymon Jacob speaks with Amb. Vijay Nambiar (Retd. Indian Diplomat) about the international reaction to the amended Citizen Amendment Act (CAA) 2019. Amb. Nambiar discusses the manner in which the international community has reacted and how the Indian government has diplomatically handled these reactions in order to minimize negative implication for its foreign policy goals. Amb. Nambiar also discusses how India’s reaction to criticisms of its amendment to CAA shows a shift in its international outlook and foreign policy and how this could affect India’s image and perception in the international system.

In this episode, Dr. Happymon Jacob speaks with P. Chidambaram, Former Home & Finance Minister about the situation in Kashmir after the BJP government's decision to abrogate Article 370. The conversation revolves around the government’s logic behind the decision and its immediate and long term implications for India's national security. The conversation also focuses on the following specific questions: How can the government now work towards normalising the valley? Did this decision undo years of efforts by successive governments to integrate the people and the polity of Jammu and Kashmir into the rest of India? Where does Pakistan, if at all, figure in any Indian effort to bring peace and stability in Jammu and Kashmir? What mistakes were made by the previous governments in dealing with the valley and what lessons did they learn? Will the August 5 decision lead to Jammu and Kashmir becoming a bigger challenge than it was before this decision for all future governments?

Dr. Happymon Jacob speaks with Gopal Krishna Pillai [India’s former Home Secretary (2009 – 2011)] about a range of issues that constitute the Naga question, or the Naga quest for greater autonomy. He provides a historical overview of the Naga issue, the unilateral declaration of independence, the Indian state’s response, the insurgency and the many efforts at peace that have been made. Mr. Pillai highlights the many factions within the Naga movement, delineating their respective positions and demands. Mr. Pillai explains what he thinks of the 2015 framework agreement and the progress that has been made since then.

Dr. Happymon Jacob speaks with Prof. Anit Mukherjee (Assistant Professor in the South Asia Programme at the Nanyang Technological University and a former Major of the Indian Army) about the state of India’s civil-military relations, which forms the theme of his book titled, “The Absent Dialogue: Politicians, Bureaucrats, and the Military in India”. Prof. Mukherjee identifies the factors characterizing India’s civil-military relations, which in turn have a bearing upon the effectiveness of the Indian military. Prof. Mukherjee addresses the various parameters of military effectiveness such as weapons procurement, jointness, military education, defence planning, etc. which are seriously affected by “the Absent Dialogue” within India’s civil-military relations. He offers several recommendations to overcome these challenges.

Dr. Happymon Jacob speaks to Amb. Chandrashekhar Dasgupta (Rtd. Indian Diplomat and Author) about the international discourse on climate change, unpacking the various themes that it entails. He elaborates on the twin aspects of responding to climate change: mitigation and adaptation. Furthermore, Amb. Dasgupta discusses the international climate change regime, beginning from the Rio Convention, through the Kyoto Protocol up till the recent Paris Agreement. He also assesses the implications of the US withdrawal from the Paris agreement. Finally, he stresses the significance of climate activism and suggests ways to move forward. He provides a comprehensive analysis of India’s efforts to combat climate change, and suggests areas requiring further impetus.

Dr. Happymon Jacob speaks to Amb. Talmiz Ahmad (Retd. Indian Diplomat and Author) about the emerging geopolitical situation in West Asia. He builds on his analysis of the region in the previous episode (Ep. 66: Part 1) to suggest the imperative and avenues for increasing the Indian role in the region. He speaks of Eurasia and the Indian Ocean Region as one integrated security space with deep historical connectivity, and argues for greater Indian involvement in the region. He also identifies several misnomers and psychological barriers that have so far dampened India’s attitude towards the region and hindered the prospects for cooperation and security in a broader sense.

Dr. Happymon Jacob speaks to Amb. Talmiz Ahmad (Retd. Indian Diplomat and Author) about the current state of affairs in West Asia. He provides a sweeping survey of politics in West Asia in the context of great power politics. He provides a critical account of US interventionism in the region and its consequences, both intended and unintended. Amb. Ahmad traces the genealogy of various regional conflicts: Arab-Israeli (Israel-Palestine) conflict, the stand-off between Iran and Saudi Arabia, and other major crises in Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan and elsewhere. Amb. Ahmad also offers a way forward.

Dr. Happymon Jacob speaks to Amb. Ranjit Rae [Rtd. IFS, and India’s former ambassador to Hungary (with concurrent accreditation as Ambassador to Slovenia, Bosnia, and Herzegovina) (20016-10), and then ambassador to Vietnam (2010-13) & was India’s ambassador to Nepal till 2017] about India-Nepal relations, both at a bilateral level and at a regional level. Amb. Rae traces the historical evolution of India-Nepal relations. He highlights the significance of India’s relationship with Nepal, both in terms of deeper historical ties rooted in religion, culture, and tradition and from a strategic point of view. In response to an inquiry by Dr. Jacob on India’s unofficial blockade of Nepal, Amb. Rae argues that India’s policy has been to support a democratic, inclusive Nepal, and at major turning points in Nepal’s history, India has supported what the people of Nepal have wanted. He considers and debates the concern over increasing Chinese involvement in Nepal, and argues that threat to India is exaggerated, and despite legitimate areas of concern, India should seek avenues for tri-partite cooperation involving China & Nepal.

Dr. Happymon Jacob speaks to Prof. Amita Batra (Professor at Centre for South Asian Studies in School of International Studies at JNU) about India’s decision to stay out of the RCEP. She discusses the significance that RCEP’s membership would have had for India. The conversation discusses the reasons behind India’s decision of pulling out from the mega-free trade agreement and the conditions under which India may reconsider its decision in the future. Prof. Batra argues that while at present India’s decision may have been a considered one but the onus of benefiting from RCEP in the future lies with India. Reforms to this end should focus on enhancing India’s its industrial and manufacturing competitiveness, which is the bottom-line for entering into any deal. The conversation also discusses India’s overall FTA strategy in general and the strategies which would allow India to take advantage of FTAs as strategic trade instruments like other countries. Prof. Batra recommends setting up of an independent domestic institution which would work constantly to design and identify India’s advantages as far as FTAs are concerned.

Dr. Happymon Jacob speaks with Professor Peter Jones (Associate Professor at Graduate School of Public and International Affairs in the University of Ottawa) about conflict and cooperation in the new world order. The conversation discusses whether responses to the resurgence of China can be categorized as the new Cold War. Prof. Jones argues that current international politics is not marked by an ideological conflict, which was the defining characteristic of the Cold War, rather, Great power rivalry is a better paradigm to understand the resurgence of China and the resulting realignments. Prof. Jones suggest that while identifying certain residual frameworks from Cold War era with regard to nuclear weapons and arms control can be used to explain current world politics, characterizing the present international political order as embroiled in a new Cold War is inaccurate.

Dr. Happymon Jacob speaks to Max Rodenbeck (South Asia Bureau Chief of the Economist) about the international reactions to the situation in Jammu & Kashmir after its autonomy under Article 370 was removed and the state was bifurcated into two union territories. Mr Rodenbeck argues that while constitutionality of the move may be debated, the fact remains that people of Jammu & Kashmir were not consulted, which is quite a blot on the Indian democracy. He further addresses the issue of the orchestrated visit of far-right members of the European Parliament to Kashmir, a move that has backfired internationally. Dr. Jacob and Mr Rodenbeck also discuss the heated diplomatic exchange between India & China over what India calls a domestic issue. On the question of the UN Human Rights body’s concern over Kashmir, Mr. Rodenbeck argues that it might not be in India’s interest, in the longer run, to undermine the legitimacy of these institutions. He also addresses the larger implications for the people in J&K, and the wider strategic fallout. 

Dr. Happymon Jacob speaks to Ambassador Nirupama Rao [Foreign Secretary from 2009 to 2011, and India's Ambassador to the United States, China as well as High Commissioner to Sri Lanka] about the second informal summit between President Xi Jinping and PM Modi in Chennai. She discusses the significance of such informal summits in general and the room they provide for discussion and progress beyond the formality and protocols that often beset formal meetings and summits. She identifies and elaborates on the various issues that drive India-China relations including the border dispute, China’s nexus with Pakistan, the BRI and the CPEC, among others. Amb. Rao also comments on the fallouts of the August 5 decision to read down Article 370, the international fallout and the diplomatic way ahead for India.

Happymon Jacob speaks to Professor PR Kumawaswamy (Professor at School of International Studies in JNU and Honorary Director of Middle East Institute, New Delhi) about the evolution of India-Israel relations. He discusses the various aspects of India’s relationship with Israel in the context of India’s larger West Asia policy. He describes the various phases that mark India’s relationship with Israel from having no formal diplomatic relations to forging an increasingly significant strategic partnership. Prof. Kumaraswamy also addresses India’s evolving stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict, human rights issues, and the so-called convergence of Hindutva and Zionism.

In this episode, Dr. Happymon Jacob speaks to Lt. Gen. Satish Dua (Retd., Indian Army) and Air Vice-Marshal Arjun Subramaniam (Retd., Indian Air Force) about PM Narendra Modi’s announcement this Independence Day to create the position of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). The major role of a CDS in bringing about integration and jointmanship among the three services is also discussed along with the manner in which the position of CDS should be created. Questions of rank and hierarchy of the Chief of Defence Staff are also addressed, while simultaneously addressing the concerns of the three services respectively.

Happymon Jacob speaks to Rajeswari Rajagopalan (Distinguished Fellow & Head of the Nuclear and Space Policy Initiative, Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi) about India’s space program and its evolution through the decades. She stresses upon having a robust space policy and an aerospace command. She also assesses the complexities involved in the latest Chandrayaan-2 mission. She discusses major avenues of cooperation for the Indian space program in the region and the competition it faces from China. She further discusses major debates around Anti-Satellite Weapons, Militarization of Space and the role of Global Governance in coming up with an international policy on space.

Happymon Jacob speaks to Amb. Nils Ragnar Kamsvåg (Ambassador of Norway to India since 2015) about Norway’s place in the comity of nations as a peace-builder. Norwegian efforts and contribution toward UN peacekeeping is discussed and decline in the same since 1990s is also analysed. Amb. Kamsvåg identifies Norway’s peace-building credentials as reflective of its foreign policy objective of establishing a rule-based international order. He addresses the controversy surrounding Norway’s former PMs offer to mediate on Kashmir conflict between India & Pakistan, stating that Norway’s official position is that Kashmir is a bilateral issue. Amb. Kamsvåg talks about evolution of India-Norway relations over his tenure as Ambassador of Norway to India since 2015.

Happymon Jacob speaks to Vipin Narang (Author of Nuclear Strategy in the Modern Era) about the status of India’s No First Use Nuclear policy in light of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s statement that India’s adherence to ‘No First Use’ in future will depend on the circumstances. Mr. Narang argues that continued aggression by Pakistan has led to shift in India’s counterforce strategy. It has prompted the leadership in Delhi to explore more flexible pre-emptive counterforce options in an attempt to re-establish deterrence. He also discusses nuclear escalation dynamics between India and Pakistan and possible strategies for the two nuclear armed neighbours.

Happymon Jacob speaks to Amb. TCA Raghavan about the geopolitical implications of India’s decision to abrogate Article 370. Amb. Raghavan examines Pakistan’s responses, i.e. downgrading of diplomatic ties with India and taking the matter to UN Security Council. He also examines the impact of abrogation of Article 370 on Sino-India, Indo-Afghan relations and repercussions on India’s central Asia policy.

Happymon Jacob talks about recent developments in Jammu & Kashmir, the reasons why the Indian government chose to scrap Article 370, the manner in which this was done & its domestic and international implications. "India made J&K an international issue in 1947 by taking it to the UN, demoted it to a bilateral issue in 1972 (Simla Agreement) & now considers it as a unilateral (domestic) issue in 2019", Dr. Jacob argues.

In this episode, Happymon Jacob speaks with Amb. Rakesh Sood (India) & Amb. Salman Bashir (Retd. Foreign Secretary of Pakistan & Former High Commissioner of Pakistan to India) and discusses the Lahore Declaration (signed in 1999), and its renewed importance in the aftermath of Pulwama and Balakot. The conversation discusses the confidence-building measures (CBMs) that emerged as a consequence of this declaration, in line with the Simla agreement (1972).

Dr. Happymon Jacob speaks with Saikat Dutta (South Asia Editor at Asia Times Online & Strategic Advisor at NullCon) about a story he published on the Indian military undergoing major reforms that will have far reaching consequences for India’s military strategy towards Pakistan and China. He speaks about the trajectory of these reforms and the rationale behind them. Mr. Dutta dwells upon the state of jointness within the Indian military vis-à-vis China and how this may affect future conflict scenarios. He highlights inadequacies in India’s defence spending and provides his analysis of the latest defence budget, all the while offering an insightful understanding of how India is planning to fight future wars and the gaps that continue to dog them. 

In this episode, Shah Faesal (Former Bureaucrat & Founder of Jammu & Kashmir People’s Movement), is interviewed by Dr. Happymon Jacob and Amber Rahim Shamsi (Pakistani Journalist and host of ‘Sawaal with Amber’ on Samaa TV). He speaks about his experience of growing up in Jammu & Kashmir and his years in bureaucracy, which he resigned from in 2018. He offers his understanding of J&K as a tripartite conflict between India, Pakistan and the people of J&K. He discusses his decision to enter active politics and launching his own party, Jammu & Kashmir People’s Movement, which he posits as an alternative for resolution in Jammu & Kashmir. Mr. Faesal stresses on the resolution of J& K conflict with foremost consideration of Kashmiri people and their involvement in any such process.

Dr. Happymon Jacob speaks with Niranjan Sahoo [Author of two books: Politics of Power Sector Reforms in India, Pentagon Press, 2007 and Reservation Policy and its Implementation across Domains in India: An Analytical Review, Academic Foundation, 2009] about Maoist Insurgency in India with reference to his recently published paper titled “Half a Century of India’s Maoist Insurgency: An Appraisal of State Response.” Mr. Sahoo provides a historical overview of the Naxalite movement and speaks about major course of events that posited it as the “single-biggest threat” to Indian State by the mid-2000s. He speaks about the Indian state’s counterinsurgency approach. Mr. Sahoo also addresses controversies regarding state-sponsored vigilante group Salwa-Judum (or Purification Hunt) and debate surrounding the so called “Urban Naxals".

Happymon Jacob speaks with Sushobha Barve (Executive Secretary & Programme Director, Centre for Dialogue & Reconciliation, New Delhi) about her peace-building efforts in different parts of the country, especially in Kashmir. She talks about civil peacebuilding initiatives in Jammu & Kashmir carried out by her organization. She illustrates the importance of wide-ranging community level dialogues. She also dwells on her experience working with riot-affected communities in Mumbai after 1993 bomb blasts and the impact of such violence on communities. Mrs. Barve argues that the government in New Delhi must work towards ending hostilities in Jammu & Kashmir and must increase its efforts to engage at the level of communities.

Happymon Jacob speaks with Wajahat Habibullah (Former Chairperson for National Commission for Minorities and the First Chief Information Commissioner of India, an officer of the Jammu & Kashmir Cadre of the Indian Administrative Services, and the author of the much-acclaimed book, ‘My Kashmir: The Dying of the Light’) about the evolution of Jammu & Kashmir’s relations vis-à-vis the Indian state. Mr Habibullah elucidates upon the declining faith in Indian democratic institutions in particular and the Indian state in general. He discusses issues like corruption in bureaucracy, policy paralysis and political abdication, and other issues that have prevented democratic institutions from assimilating the aspirations of Kashmiri people. Have Articles 370 and 35A stabilized centre-state relations, as envisioned? What can future governments in New Delhi learn from these issues to reinstate faith in democratic institutions and the idea of India? These questions are also discussed in the conversation.

Dr Happymon Jacob speaks with Siddhartha Gigoo (Author of ‘Long Dream of Home’ and ‘A Fistful of Earth’) about the social and political circumstances in which Kashmiri Pandits had to leave Kashmir. Mr Gigoo narrates his first experience of persecution as a young boy and the escalation of such instances from harmless banter to organized exodus. He asserts that successive governments have failed to rehabilitate Kashmiri Pandits to their ‘homeland’, and have merely used their cause for electoral gains. Mr Gigoo laments at the loss of identity, dignity and a sense of belonging that Kashmiri Pandits, now settled across the world have experienced. The Kashmiri Pandit mind is now torn between deceitful hope and a dissipating longing for return.

Dr. Happymon Jacob speaks with Dr. David Devadas (Senior Journalist and author of ‘The Story of Kashmir’ and ‘The Generation of Rage in Kashmir’) about his two books. Dr. Devadas argues that one of the reasons why insurgency has returned to the valley most recently is because both the state and central government apparatus have failed to capitalize on the impact of PM Vajpayee’s outreach to Kashmir. He argues that policymakers have successively failed to capture the pulse on the ground, often focused on projecting ‘normalcy’ in the state for the rest of the country. The conversation also looks at how a rapidly changing social geography, influence of smartphones, problems of education, and international war on terror, etc., have influenced a new generation in Kashmir, which is vehemently anti-India. The conversation tries to address some common misperceptions about the insurgency in the valley and suggest ways in which stability could be established.

Happymon Jacob speaks with Abhijnan Rej (Defense Analyst & Political Risk Consultant) about India’s Defense budget. Mr. Rej compares defense budgets of the UPA and NDA governments and looks at how much has been allocated to capital and revenue aspects of defense. Additionally he talks about defense misspends, reasons why defense modernisation in budgets of successive governments bear the burnt when it comes to budget cuts; relationship between opposition to small sizing the Indian army and electoral implications due to shift in recruitment patterns from martial to non-martial states & other holy cows concerning defense spending. The conversation also touches upon the concepts of two & two and half front wars, India’s nuclear doctrine and indigenous defense production. In conclusion Mr Rej argues that intent without capabilities is bluffing, but if this bluff is exposed either by China or Pakistan, the outcomes for India will not be good. Hence any future government must focus on capabilities by reducing defense misspend.