Symbolism to an evolving strategic reality “The only sure basis of an alliance is for each party to be equally afraid of the other.” –Thucydides I have been commenting on the Makkah Accord from the very beginning that it was conceived – I labelled it as ‘dead-on-arrival’ and a symbolic arrangement more than any practical…

I have often been criticised for not saying the things I say now when I was in service. However, how does one know what I said or did not say at the time? Yet this criticism comes up so often that I have decided to address it, though I know that it will not affect…

“The whole earth is a sepulchre of famous men”, Thucydides, History of the Pelopeonnesian War An army is a strange entity. It is an organised institution, deliberately trained, equipped and structured for one fundamental purpose: to impose its will upon a defined enemy through controlled violence. Its success is measured not merely in territory gained…

Opportunity, Obligation or Strategic Ambiguity? “The US-Led Middle East Order is over. The Makkah Agreement proves it”.Council on Foreign Relations (US) Let me begin this paper by acknowledging that the appropriate time for public critique of a government decision is normally before that decision is made, while the matter remains under contemplation and consideration. At…

“The liberties of a people never were, nor ever will be, secure, when transactions of their ruler may be concealed from them” Patrick Henry. The National Security Policy (NSP) is finally out. Forty-Eight pages of the document were made public. Normally national policy is a public document and is rarely kept confidential. Quis custodiet ipsos…

“The people are the sea in which the revolutionary swims”, Mao Zedong The country is in the throes of civil unrest, violence and insurgency and is gradually losing critical cohesion. In any situation where there are civilian protests, the central problem will always evolve around aggrieved people, exploited by hostile agencies. These people have to…

Part VI Written on the 9th of April. To be read in conjunction with Global Order 1 to 5 withspecial emphasis on pages 3 of both, Global Order ii and Global Order V. ‘Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate’– John F. Kennedy The powers that be are…

Part VII Note: To be read in conjunction with Global Order 1 to 6. They came, they talked, and agreed to disagree. Islamabad was abuzz with diplomatic activity as US and Iranian delegations arrived on 10th April 2026 for high-level talks conducted on the 11th. The US delegation was led by Vice President JD Vance,…

Part V Note: Written on 29th March 2026. To be read in conjunction with Global Order 1 to 4 ‘The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts’ Bertrand Russell. More than a month has gone by as we stand…

The Desperate Search For Peace Part IV This article was written on 26th March 2026. To be read in conjunction with Global Order 1, 2 and 3. The conflict in the Gulf has not turned out as the US would want or Israel had hoped. The consequences of their mindless war have begun to take…