“Do not regret a battle that has matured you.” Arab proverb. The current United States – Iran crisis has changed Saudi Arabia’s energy security eco-system that is linked with current military challenges and economic future. Iran is attacking energy infrastructure of Gulf countries including Saudi Arabia on the pretext that these countries host American forces….
“So, it is with minds. Unless you keep them busy with some definite subject that will bridle and control them, they throw themselves in disorder hither and yon in the vague field of imagination… And there is no mad or idle fancy that they do not bring forth in the agitation.” Michel de Montaigne In…
“The first problem for all of us, men and women, is not to learn, but to unlearn.” Gloria Steinem Human mind simplifies complex problems with multiple facets to ease the burden of processing. In this process quantifiable measures take precedence over the unquantifiable. In case of conflict, quantifiable measures such as numbers and quality of weapons…
“He who aspires to greatness must endure sleepless nights”. Arab proverb The United States and Israeli war against Iran have put Gulf countries in the middle of the conflict that is not of their making. They are victims of the recklessness of Tel Aviv, Washington, and Tehran. United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a federation of…
“I, against my brothers. I and my brothers against my cousins. I and my brothers and my cousins against the world.” Arab Bedouin proverb The U.S.-Israeli war against Iran has put Gulf countries in a bind. U.S. and its regional ally Israel started the war without any consultation with the Gulf countries and Iran is…
“More than in any other endeavor, things in war often do not unfold as anticipated.”Carl von Clausewitz Historically big powers usually overextend and squander resources in peripheral regions at the cost of ignoring core issues at home. The American war on Iran is the latest example of this pattern. The allure of overwhelming military power…
In early nineteenth century, several contenders of the Afghan throne engaged in a fratricidal war. In 1839, Shah Shuja (r 1803-09 & 1839-42) was living in Ludhiana on British pension when a trilateral agreement was reached involving East India Company, Shah Shuja, and Singh Sahib of Lahore Ranjit Singh. Shah Shuja was restored to the…
In 1960, General Muhammad Musa visited India on the invitation of the Indian army chief General K. S. ‘Timmy’ Thimayya. This group photograph was taken when former comrades of 6th Royal Battalion of 13th Frontier Force Rifles (6/13 FFR) got together in Delhi. The battalion had many titles over time. After the British conquest of…
Indian and Pakistani armies share a common history but the memory of that shared bond has faded away. Soldiers of British Indian army belonged to different religions and ethnicities, but all were proud to serve the profession of arms. They fought side by side as comrades all over the world and never imagined future hostilities…
John Masters (26 October 1914 – 07 May 1983) was a British army officer and a famous author. His novels dealt with life in British India. John’s own background fully qualified him for the task while his family had long association with India going back to 1805 when his great-great grandfather came to India with…
