Directed Energy Weapons: New Frontier of Warfare

The genesis of 'Directed Energy Weapon' (DEWs) came up during cold war when Karl Bendetson and the High Frontier panel of private citizens advised President Ronald Reagan for a crash program to develop missile defenses. It was not just to defend against Soviet nuclear weapons but also because of strong indications that the Soviets were going to deploy 'powerful directed energy weapons' in space to gain control of space by using weapons like lasers, jammers etc. Towards the end of Cold War, the US focused on ballistic missile defence and spending on DEWs.

PARVEEN BHARDWAJ

Arctic Circle: Challenging Exclusivity

The Arctic Circle is the new circumpolar forum to address Arctic issues. It is the brainchild of Ólafur Grímsson, Iceland’s President and his team comprising of Prince Albert II of Monaco, Greenlandic Prime Minister Kuupik Kleist, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski and Russian explorer Artur Chilingarov, who seek to engage a number of stakeholders through an inclusive process. The forum was launched at the National Press Club in Washington in March 2013 and aims to provide opportunities to a variety of stakeholders to present their views on ‘Arctic matters’.

VIJAY SAKHUJA

India-China Hydro Diplomacy: Beyond Information Sharing MoUs

This World Water Day (22 March 2013) calls for cooperation on transboundary rivers. Among 276 transboundary river basins in the World, it makes sense for  countries in Indian subcontinent and China to consider it seriously. While the international institutions are trying to define a working definition of 'water security', will India be able to secure unhindered access to water for living beings across McMahon line - the source of all perennial rivers flowing through India?

 

AVILASH ROUL

India Needs National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC)

State governments ruled by non-Congress party opposed the formation of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) due to the apprehension of dominant authority and unilateral action of centre over states using the agency would challenge their authority. Consequently, Indian Government has planned to draft a more transparent and accountable proposal of NCTC to pacify the opposition, that the NCTC is kept out of Intelligence Bureau (IB) and states be given major role in counterterrorism activities. 

 

DR.R. BHANU KRISHNA KIRAN