Efforts to revive India-China-Russia troika

Apropos of ‘India needs friends to turn the tide’; there are no permanent friends or foes in diplomacy. Alliances and friendships among nations are based on mutual interests and convenience. In some good news, China has expressed its support for Russia’s initiative to revive the Russia-India-China (RIC) troika. It can positively influence India’s border issues with China. Nonetheless, India should continue to upgrade its armed forces to the optimum, following the policy of self-reliance. As far as Pakistan is concerned, it will always remain hostile towards India as its very existence depends on the anti-India narrative.

Ashok Bahl, Kangra

Drone supremacy via collaboration

With reference to ‘Drones to the fore’; future warfare demands tomorrow’s technology, and waiting is not an option. To truly stay ‘ahead of the curve’, we must recognise that the core of next-generation UAVs lies in artificial intelligence and machine learning. The key to unlocking this potential is a robust collaborative framework. Public sector giants like DRDO and HAL must forge dynamic partnerships not only with private players but also with our premier academic hubs like IITs and the IISc. This synergy is crucial to foster cutting-edge innovation and provide meaningful opportunities to our bright minds. We must harness this talent for national security before a brain drain to foreign tech firms further widens the gap we are trying to fill.

Harsh Pawaria, Rohtak

Frontrunners in modern conflict

Apropos of ‘Drones to the fore’; the dawn of non-contact warfare means that missile-laden drones are now becoming frontrunners in a conventional conflict. Besides ramping up air offence capability, India should also focus on developing cheap and effective anti-drone systems. Several technologies are being tested, ranging from jammers which can confuse a drone’s navigation system to lasers which can burn them up mid-flight. Commercialising them and mass-producing drones and anti-drone systems will need robust supply chains, for which private companies, particularly small and medium enterprises should be made partners in India’s national security.

Chander Shekhar Dogra, Jalandhar

Ill-treating our rivers

When Kali Bein was revived with the efforts of Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal, it raised hopes that the glory of the ‘Buddha dariya’ too would be restored. Now, even its name has been downgraded from a dariya to a nullah. Discharge of Ludhiana’s industrial waste into the water body without effluent treatment and unwillingness of residents to take corrective measures have decimated chances of its revival. We, the citizens of this country, know very well how we ill-treat our rivers. Whether it is the Ganga, Yamuna or Buddha dariya, we don’t treat our rivers with respect.

Deepak Taak, Panchkula

A blot on democracy

The clash between BJP and NCP (Sharad Pawar) members inside the Maharashtra Assembly is a stark reminder of how far some elected leaders have strayed from the dignity their office demands. When those trusted to make laws engage in virtual street brawls, it doesn’t just shame democracy, it weakens public trust and evokes disrespect for elected leaders. Leadership is not about position or power alone; it’s about restraint, responsibility and moral conduct. If our lawmakers can’t uphold decorum at their workplace, what example are they setting for the common man? It’s high time our politicians showed real character.

Asad Damrubar, by mail

Epitome of courage

Refer to ‘PVC awardee IAF pilot Sekhon’s Srinagar room now a museum’; it is a befitting tribute by the Army to Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon on his 80th birth anniversary (July 17). Sekhon was an epitome of courage who rammed his jet into enemy war planes and shot down two Pakistani jets in a dogfight. He showed the guts to fight hard when six enemy jets attacked Srinagar and the airbase there during the 1971 India-Pakistan war.

Col Gurdeep Singh (retd), solan

Letters to the Editor