Insights from India: Lessons from India’s Experience for the Future of Counterinsurgency Policy

Insights from India: Lessons from India’s Experience for the Future of Counterinsurgency Policy

The IPCS in collaboration with the India Studies Program and the Center on American and Global Security at Indiana University held two conferences in 2008 on Insights from India: Lessons from India’s Experience for the Future of Counterinsurgency Policy. The objective of the project was to draw upon India’s rich experience in counterinsurgency campaigns (Nagaland and Mizoram in India’s Northeast, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir and Sri Lanka) in shaping counterinsurgency policy, doctrine and practice. Through these case studies, the project sought to examine both specific instances of counterinsurgency activity and any general trends in the evolution of Indian counterinsurgency doctrines, strategies, and training over time. The first conference was held in mid-March 2008 in India and the second conference in June 2008 in the United States.

Programme (11-13 March 2008)

Inaugural Session

Maj. Gen. Dipankar Banerjee, Director, IPCS
Sumit Ganguly, Director of Research, Center on American and Global Security, Indiana University
David P. Fidler, Director, Center on American and Global Security, Indiana University

Counterinsurgency in the Northeast
Nagaland: Lt. General D. B. Shekatkar, Indian Army (Retd)
Mizoram: Lt. Colonel Vivek Chadha, Indian Army (Retd)
Sanjoy Hazarika, Centre for North East Studies and Centre for Policy Research
Walter Ladwig, Merton College, University of Oxford

Counterinsurgency in Punjab
Ved Marwah, Center for Policy Research
Ajit K. Doval, Director, Intelligence Bureau (Retd)
Christine Fair, RAND Corporation

Counterinsurgency in Kashmir
Lt. General V. G. Patankar, Indian Army (Retd)
Praveen Swami, Associate Editor, Frontline
Sumit Ganguly, Director of Research, Center on American and Global Security, Indiana University

Counterinsurgency in Sri Lanka
Major-General Ashok Mehta, Indian Army (Retd)
Colonel R. Hariharan, Indian Army (Retd)
Jack Gill, National Defense University

Development of Indian Counterinsurgency Doctrine
Maj. Gen. Dipankar Banerjee, Director, IPCS
Lt. General Rostum Nanavatty, Indian Army (Retd)
Lt. Colonel John Nagl, U.S. Army (delivered by David P. Fidler)


The Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies (IPCS) is the premier South Asian think tank which conducts independent research on and provides an in depth analysis of conventional and non-conventional issues related to national and South Asian security including nuclear issues, disarmament, non-proliferation, weapons of mass destruction, the war on terrorism, counter terrorism , strategies security sector reforms, and armed conflict and peace processes in the region. For those in South Asia and elsewhere, the IPCS website provides a comprehensive analysis of the happenings within India with a special focus on Jammu and Kashmir and Naxalite Violence. Our research promotes greater understanding of India's foreign policy especially India-China relations, India's relations with SAARC countries and South East Asia. Through close interaction with leading strategic thinkers, former members of the Indian Administrative Service, the Foreign Service and the three wings of the Armed Forces - the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force, - the academic community as well as the media, the IPCS has contributed considerably to the strategic discourse in India.

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