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Late Brigadier Gurmeet Kanwal (Retd.) was a celebrated soldier, author, thought leader and noted strategic affairs analyst. Graduating from the National Defence Academy in March 1972, Brigadier Kanwal went on to command an Infantry Brigade along the LOC and an Artillery Regiment in Kashmir (1993-1994). He also served as Deputy Assistant Chief of the Integrated Defence Staff.

After taking voluntary retirement in 2003, Brigadier Kanwal joined the Observer Research Foundation and served at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses and Centre for Air Power Studies. He was Director of the Centre for Land Warfare Studies from 2008 to 2012. He was also the co-founder of two think tanks, Forum for Strategic Initiatives (FSI) and the South Asian Institute for Strategic Affairs (SAISA). In November 2012, he was nominated among 50 Thought Leaders by Mail Today. He was awarded the COAS Commendation Card twice. He had contributed extensively to various journals and leading newspapers, including a column in the Statesman for over two years. He was a regular speaker at well-known international think tanks and military institutions.

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“If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.”
— THOREAU —

Honours

Life & Work

Writings

Indian missiles: Reaching for the sky

These Indian missiles are being developed under the Integrated Guided Missile Project, launched by the Government of India in 1983, under the aegis of the Defence Research and Development Organisation. As the missiles will be purely Indian systems, the enemy will be unable to ascertain their exact...

Jan 1, 1997
Izzat ‘O’ Iqbal in Kashmir

With 120 men routinely out on a daily basis, and taking into account the normal commitments of a field regiment, the personnel generally available in the regiment area during daytime are the Commanding Officer or Second-in-Command, Adjutant or Quarter Master, Subedar Major, Regiment Havildar Major,...

The Artillery Journal | Aug 4, 1998
United Nations-I

Since most of the conflicts that require UN intervention are in the Third World countries, these developing countries have a major stake in ensuring that the UN peace-keeping apparatus functions smoothly and impartially. The most important task facing the developing countries is to work in a united...

The Statesman | May 15, 2002
अब सर्जिकल स्ट्राइक से आगे की बड़ी कार्यवाई करनी होगी
Defence Monitor | Feb 2, 2018
Operation Vijay-II

While army convoys had continued to ply throughout Pakistan's daily bombardment of Drass village and other points on NH 1A, it had not been considered prudent to allow civilian traffic to ply on the the highway till Tiger Hill was finally cleared and direct observation of the road was denied to the...

The Statesman | Aug 7, 2002
Maximum security minimum fuss

While a strategic defence review is yet to be conducted, the CMP won't ruffle any feathers, which augurs well for a national political consensus on major foreign policy and security issues. The UPA promises to make the National Security Council a "Professional and effective institution" and has...

Hard News | Jul 1, 2004
Pakistan’s continuing challenge in Kashmir: Need for a trans-LoC pro-active response

Pakistan army's foolhardy attack on a forward Indian post on the Line of Control in the Palanwala sector of the area of responsibility of the Akhnur Division on January 22, 2000, was part of Pakistan's larger gameplan of keeping the LoC active so as to perpetuate the myth that Kashmir is a nuclear...

Strategic Analysis | Mar 5, 2000
लद्दाख मोर्चे के लिए भी स्ट्राइक कोर ज़रूरी
Defence Monitor | Aug 1, 2016
Maximising minimum security

Other notable measures included the establishment of a National Security Council with an active National Security Advisory Board, the partial merger of the three Services Headquarters with the Ministry of Defence and the establishment of the Strategic Forces Command to manage India's nuclear...

Hard News | Dec 1, 2004

Condolences

Sharpening the arsenal: India’s evolving nuclear deterrence policy
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The essence of the defence minister's introspection was that ambiguity enhances deterrence. This view has been expressed by several nuclear strategists. Nuclear doctrines are not written in stone and are never absolutely rigid.

Indian Army Vision 2020
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Indian Army: Vision 2020 examines the threats and their changing nature, identifies the key operational commitments, makes a comparative analysis of how other modern armies are coping and offers a considered guide map for a modern fighting force that is light, lethal and wired to meet the operational challenges of the 21st century.

Pakistan’s Proxy War
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This book presents an incisive analysis of the trends and prospects of Pakistan`s proxy war and its wider ramifications. Specific recommendations focus on the pro-active military measures that are necessary to regain control over the vitiated security situation and restore normalcy.

Heroes of Kargil

This book recounts in graphic detail the raw courage under fire displayed by the young officers and heroic fight back against daunting odds. It is a tribute to the young heroes and gallant martyrs of the campaign that stirred the national consciousness like nothing else before.