Targeted attacks on Indian flagged ship off the coast of Oman presumably by Iranian state or supported nonstate actors will test India’s multi-alignment policy in the Gulf balancing Iran with a tilt towards the UAE and Israel.

Iran proposes to sustain a long blockade of the Straits of Hormuz where diplomacy is seen as a hedge and not a resolution of the ongoing crisis. Iran is banking on international pressure for opening the Straits as the energy crunch is spiralling into a poly crisis in Asia and Europe.

An option to end the current impasse in the Straits of Hormuz in the next two weeks could be exercised by the United States after May 15, and it is not more negotiations with Iran.

Three options for prosecution of Operation Sindoor 2 which can emphatically denote success of the Indian Armed Force beyond the narrative common in today’s war, discussed.

The United States and Israel, while facing economic challenges, are inured to the shock of poverty by their developed status. Iran, on the other hand, is in a state of resignation, accepting interminable human and material losses while ironically “celebrating” regime survival. Even as Rest of the World suffers.

Col R Hariharan in Sri Lanka Perspectives April 2026 outlines how the AKD government is managing one of the gravest economic and energy crisis faxed by the Island Nation eve as it is on the path of fiscal recovery.

India’s conflict with Pakistan in May 2025—which involved the use of combat aircraft, drones and missiles— pushed up military spending during the year. Pakistan’s military spending grew by 11 per cent to $11.9 billion in 2025.

The fundamental of who has won the war and the sticky points of passage through the Straits of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear file will have to be resolved for a forward movement in Iran and US negotiations.

Col NN Bhatia (Retd) reviews five books read by him on contemporary subjects of military and general interest, have a look

The World is seeing two wars – one in the Middle East, now 52 days and another between Russia and Ukraine in the fifth year. While Iran and the US have opted for a negotiated end, there are no signs of a similar approach in Moscow despite the grievous losses suffered. Here is a review of the current state of play.