Brigadier (retired) Xerxes P. Adrianwalla served for 30 years in the armoured corps of the Indian Army and has been in the corporate sector for the last five years.
During his military service, both in combat and in peace, he has obtained varied experience in command and staff assignments, notably:
In Sri Lanka with the Indian Peace Keeping Force
As Commander of an armoured regiment, and also an armoured brigade
As a military observer on a UN assignment
As an instructor at various institutions, including the Defence Services Staff College
As a director in the Directorate General of Military Operations
His qualifications include an M. Phil and two Masters Degrees in management and International relations in India and abroad. He has also qualified in Defence and Strategic Studies from the Australian Defence College and the Global Program for Management Development from the Ross Business School, Michigan.
He retired as Chief of CIS and Group Security of the Mahindra Group, and has written and spoken extensively about national security issues at both defence and civilian organizations.
Disclaimer: External experts are not affiliated with Gateway House and have been presented here for reference only.
Though India may seem to be mirroring or competing with China’s military build-up, it doesn't seem to be doing so in consonance with a long-term plan. New Delhi would be better served by avoiding an arms race; staying away from the U.S.-China rivalry and fostering stronger relations with its immediate neighbours.
Various unfavourable factors, attributed to both the government and the military, have resulted in dubbing India as the world’s largest arms importer. These factors – corruption, political interference and bureaucratic lethargy – have contributed to an absence of clarity on the use of arms in diplomacy.
South Asia Monitor published Xerxes Adrianwalla's article on India's expensive arms imports. He writes that India needs to shake off political interference and bureaucratic lethargy, and awaken its somnolent arms manufacturing sector to break away from expensive imports.
The Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) confers special powers upon the Indian army in disturbed areas, and legitimizes any actions they may take. The law, however, has been misinterpreted by many. Are calls for the revocation of the AFSPA warranted or misplaced?
India must revisit the need for a unified command structure, to effectively use the enormous combat power it is developing at such astronomical cost. A balanced force-restructuring based on operational needs can enable the armed forces to project itself as a single, viable, effective war machine.
At times of declining growth rates and marginal economic reforms, there is a need for leaders in India to balance their needs with their budgets. With the absence of a comprehensive national security doctrine, can India afford high-cost acquisitions like the MMRCA deal?
Brigadier Xerxes Adrianwalla takes a hard look at the security response to 26/11 and outlines the urgent systemic changes needed in our approach to combating terrorism.
Brigadier (retired) Xerxes P. Adrianwalla served for 30 years in the armoured corps of the Indian Army and has been in the corporate sector for the last five years.
During his military service, both in combat and in peace, he has obtained varied experience in command and staff assignments, notably:
Courtesy: Ministry of Defence, India
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Courtesy: South Asia Monitor
Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons/Agência Brasil
Courtesy: Ministry of Defence, India
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