This interview focused on India's nuclear program and strategic vulnerabilities. It highlighted India's missed opportunities to establish itself as a nuclear power and criticized the current government's reliance on Western nations for security while emphasizing the need for more independent strategic planning. The conversation concluded with discussions about military strategy, terrorism prevention in urban areas, and India's nuclear capabilities, including technical details about specific tests and the need for humility in claiming achievements. India's Nuclear Strategy Concerns - Dr Bharat Karnad discussed India's nuclear program, expressing concern about the lack of testing and the potential for strategic vulnerability. He criticized the government and military for their lack of strategic understanding and reliance on generalists in nuclear matters. He also criticized the government's approach to foreign relations, particularly with the United States, and highlighted the need for India to assert itself as a great power. India's Missed Nuclear Power Opportunity - Dr Karnad discussed India's missed opportunity to become a nuclear power in 1964, shortly after China's first test, which could have significantly altered its global standing. He criticized India's complacent approach to security and emphasized the importance of nuclear weapons as ultimate adjudicators of power. India's Strategic Planning Crisis - Dr Karnad and Hindol Sengupta discussed the lack of strategic planning and expertise in India's government, particularly in foreign policy and nuclear matters. They criticized the current approach of focusing on short-term issues and opinion-mongering rather than long-term strategic planning. Dr Karnad expressed frustration with the lack of serious decision-making content and the prevalence of "fairytale living" in policy-making, while Hindol highlighted the need for a more focused and proactive approach to national security, particularly regarding China and Pakistan's nuclear capabilities. Russia's Nuclear and Military Advantages - Dr. Karnad discussed Russia's nuclear weapons development, particularly the Burevestnik and Poseidon, emphasizing that Western nations have historically underestimated Russian technological capabilities. He explained that the Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile builds on Cold War technology and highlighted Russia's strengths in metallurgy and ruggedization, contrasting with Western weapons systems that may be more refined but less suitable for India's conditions. Dr Karnad defended Russia's military technology and questioned the value of expensive Western weapons like the Rafale compared to more rugged and economically priced options. India's Military Strategy and Nuclear Capabilities - Dr Karnad and Hindol Sengupta discussed India's military strategy and nuclear capabilities. Dr Karnad criticized the government's approach to military spending and questioned the effectiveness of India's military operations. He emphasized the need for India to resume nuclear testing and highlighted the country's lack of indigenous innovation compared to China. Hindol brought up the topic of air bases, specifically the Ayni Air Base and the Nyoma Air Base, and asked Dr Karnad to comment on their strategic significance in the context of India's ongoing confrontation with China. India's Strategic Missteps in Central Asia - The discussion focused on India's strategic position in Central Asia, particularly regarding the Ayni airbase in Tajikistan. The conversation highlighted how India lost strategic advantage by not cultivating relationships with local leaders in Dushanbe, resulting in the Chinese successfully pressuring India to vacate the base. Urban Terrorism Prevention Strategies - Dr Karnad discussed the challenges of preventing terrorism in densely populated cities, noting that complete prevention is not feasible due to the large scale and complexity of urban areas. He emphasized the importance of special forces in combating insurgents and terrorists, highlighting the success of deploying such forces in containing Naxalism in India. Chapters - 0:00-1:09 Opening 1:15-11:29 India’s nuclear strategy concerns 12:16- 18:32 The role of morality in National Security 19:55-38:32 India’s strategic complacency and global positioning 39:14-47:10 The implications of nuclear testing on global stability 48:02 -51:30 The threat of Russian nuclear advancements 51:35-54:26 Evaluating India’s military procurement strategies 54:30-1:01:15 The nature of modern warfare 1:01:18 -1:06:32 India’s strategic loss and airbase dynamics 1:06:35-1:17:06 The importance of strategic military positioning 1:17:10-1:27:57 The challenges of terrorism in India 1:27:58-1:28:10 Closing #india #pakistan #china #usa #nuclear #nucleartest #nucleartesting #russia #foreignaffairs #globalorder #interview #new #internationalrelations

Francesca Marino highlights the conspicuous presence of Hamas members in Pakistan and in Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir shortly before the Pahalgam terror attack. The ties between Hamas, the Pakistani state, and its jihadist proxies are often overlooked and warrant closer scrutiny in the interest of security. Watch the full interview here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxuU8x95Kzk&t=1s

Francesca Marino criticises Pakistan’s reckless nuclear rhetoric, noting that, unlike other powers, it repeatedly flaunts its nuclear status, yet its real danger lies in supporting terrorism, not pressing the nuclear button. Watch the full interview here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxuU8x95Kzk&t=1s

Francesca Marino points out the irony that while Taliban claims are dismissed, Pakistan, a known sponsor of terrorism, is still taken at face value by the world. Watch the full interview here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxuU8x95Kzk&t=1s

Francesca Marino highlights that Pakistan lacks true democracy, with journalists silenced or disappearing for defying the state narrative, unlike in India, where diverse voices cannot be controlled. Watch the full interview here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxuU8x95Kzk&t=1s

Francesca Marino explains that the TTP, once supported by elements within Pakistan, has been used for internal power plays, with its attacks often rising whenever Pakistan seeks foreign aid or approval. Watch the full interview here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxuU8x95Kzk&t=1s

In this compelling interview, Italian journalist and author Francesca Marino speaks with Ishan Dhar about her new book Balakot, which reveals hitherto unknown details about the 2019 India–Pakistan crisis. The conversation also delves into Pakistan’s ties with its terror proxies, the often-overlooked connection between Hamas and Pakistan that merits greater scrutiny, and whether India’s evolving relationship with the Taliban could have implications for jihadist groups hostile to India and more. Chapters - 0:00-1:15 Opening 1:59-5:26 A conversation with Pervez Musharraf in the aftermath of Operation Neptune Spear 5:52-9:29 Pakistan’s inconsistencies in the immediate aftermath of Balakot 10:05-20:14 Francesca Marino’s eyewitness source 20:32-21:49 How the SPICE bombs used in the strikes functioned 22:57-24:17 Double standards in Western reporting 25:05-32:14 How India’s democracy hinders its narrative battle with an autocratic Pakistan 32:48-37:51 Pakistan’s ties with terror proxies: not driven by strategy alone 39:17-44:50 Hama’s overlooked links to Pakistan and the Pahalgam terror attack 46:00-54:13 Could India’s evolving ties with the Taliban have any ripple effects for anti-India jihadists? 55:24-59:47 From Balakot to Operation Sindoor: Has India’s new doctrine changed deterrence? 59:49-1:00:07 Closing #news #india #pakistan #foreignaffairs #interview #explorepage #globalorder #balakotairstrike #pulwama #pulwamaattack