Oath-Taking Ceremony & Foreign Policy.

As the NDA coalition is set to form a government for the third time; we take look at the dignitaries invited to the oath taking ceremony of PM Modi and its effects on regional foreign policy.

This time, heads from 06 neighboring & IOR countries have been invited.

• Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina.
• Prime Minister of Bhutan, Tshering Tobgay.
• Maldivian president, Mohamed Muizzu.
• Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravind Jugnauth.
• Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal.
• Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

What does this mean in reality? Coalition or not, the foreign policy remains constant. Elections are an internal matter which have international repercussions, mainly on foreign policy. Yet it does not change the fundamental fact of democracy.

With an ‘India Out’ Movement in Maldives, calls for Boycott in Bangladesh, A heavy Chinese debt trap in Sri Lanka & Bangladesh, Chinese shadows on Nepal & insurgency in Myanmar, a border crisis with China in Bhutan.

In a divided neighborhood, bringing the leaders together proposes a symbolic & political gesture to the recent setbacks and a promise to work on them ; as stated by Mrs. Palki Sharma Upadhyay.

After the recent setbacks by Maldives, the invite comes as a positive move for them to reset & settle relations with the only neighboring support or rely on far & distant China that may abandon, shall you be in danger. New Delhi is not giving up on Male; the ball is now in Muizzu’s court.

With Pakistan, it comes as a humiliation, as all major South Asian leaders come together yet you are not invited, set yourselves straight first then we shall talk.

From last two oath taking ceremonies, it has been made a point by the PM to invite head-of-state of neighboring countries as a show of solidarity, unity and control in the region, the need for which is now more than ever.

When PM Modi assumed the office for the first time in 2014, the leaders of the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) countries were invited his swearing-in ceremony.

In 2019, the leaders of the BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) countries attended Modi’s swearing-in for his second consecutive term as prime minister.

Over a decade (2014) later two countries are missing, namely Afghanistan & Pakistan.

Afghanistan is now ruled by the Taliban, India does not officially recognize the Taliban govt. since the group came to power through an armed insurgency. Although we maintain a cautious position catering only to the humanitarian requirements of the Afghans with some backdoor diplomacy.

As for Pakistan, then PM Nawaz Sharif was invited in 2014. Since then, much has changed in Pakistan.

After the Pulwama attack and numerous other terror incidents, along with a rigged election in Pakistan and the rise of PM Shehbaz Sharif, there has been no acknowledgment of the Pakistani government by India.

Forwarding CPEC, selling the country to China & the west, Pakistan at most remains a vassal state, controlled by the Army – owned by shareholders of distant lands.

China & Myanmar remain out of question for obvious reasons. With alarming Chinese investments in regions of Indian influence, one must think of improving its hand.

A good reconciliation is just half the way, India too is responsible. Be it the investments in Nepal & Bhutan, economic aid to Sri Lanka or trade and disputes with Bangladesh, this outreach must bear it results.

Four ISIS affiliated terrorists arrested at Ahmedabad airport by Gujarat ATS

All four, natives of Sri Lanka, were intercepted at SVPIA Ahmedabad, were tasked with carrying out suicide attacks in Gujarat by their handler in Pakistan.

🇮🇳 | Four ISIS affiliated youths arrested at Ahmedabad airport by Gujarat ATS.

Four terrorists alligned to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) were arrested at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad. The terrorists were nabbed on Sunday night.

All detained individuals are Sri Lankan nationals. Extensive interrogation is underway by ATS and other concerned authorities. The terrorists have been identified as Mohammad Nusrath (33), Mohammad Faris (35), Mohammad Nafran (27) and Mohammad Rasdeen (43).

The arrests were made ahead of the arrival of IPL teams at the Ahmedabad airport for the qualifier and eliminator games. Reportedly aimed at sabotaging.

As per the information, they were going to reach Ahmedabad on May 18 or 19 either by railway or flight. Teams were formed and strategy was created based on the information received. Passenger lists of trains and flights coming from the south were analyzed.

All four of them were travelling from Chennai to Ahmedabad on the same PNR number through an Indigo flight. Further verification was done in Colombo too for confirmation. Radicalization material, communication in Tamil & weapons cache found in recovered evidence.

Alleged path of tour of the four terrorists.

The ATS team also recovered three Pakistan-made pistols and 20 cartridges lying abandoned at a location in the city’s Nana Chiloda area based on geo-coordinates and photographs found on the mobile phone seized from the accused. The men were allegedly in close contact & directed by their Pakistani handler to collect these weapons.

The terrorists were purportedly instructed to collect the arms and then stay at a “normal, low profile, budget hotel” by their handler, Abu, based in Pakistan. One of the terrorists had a visa of Pakistan and he had earlier and was going to meet their handler. The agencies also suspect that the terrorists were in touch with some people in India due to weapons cache being found.

Two of the four suspects, M. Nusrath and M. Nafran had been to India 38 and 40 times, respectively, while the other two were first timers, according to the ATS. Weapons were already supplied to a prescribed location as per recovered encrypted chats from their phones, where they were supposed to pick them up and wait for further orders.

As per the ATS, the targets of the group were, as they said, wanted to “teach a lesson” to the Jews, Christians, leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), who allegedly commit atrocities against the Muslims of/in India.

“These people are highly radicalised. The terrorists came/were in contact with an IS (allegedly, ISI) operative named Abu in Pakistan. He had tasked them to carry out suicide attacks in Gujarat and gave them Rs 4 lakh to make bombs.” said DGP Vikas Sahay.

Primary investigation, in coordination with Colombo, revealed their criminal history. Gujarat ATS SP Sunil Joshi, in a press release provided following statements; “M. Nusrath has been earlier apprehended twice at Mumbai airport for smuggling of gold. He also has cases registered against him over assault and alleged narcotics offences in Sri Lanka. Similarly, Faris has offences pertaining to narcotics in Sri Lankan jail and was arrested twice. Rasdeen too has been arrested for theft and three drug-related offences. While Nafran has not been arrested, he has confessed that he has smuggled gold and drugs from Dubai and Sri Lanka in the past.”

Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Police on Wednesday said a senior deputy inspector general appointed by IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon, will head a team designated to probe four of its citizens arrested in Ahmedabad.

As of until May, some major arrests have been made of IS cadres trying to operate in India. In March this year, two top leaders of ISIS in India (IS operates in the Indian subcontinent under the banner of ISKP – Islamic State Khorasan Province – referring to historical region of Khorasan) were arrested by Assam Police near the international border after they crossed over from Bangladesh. The arrested cadres were identified as Haris Ajmal Farooqi alias Haris Ajmal Farukhi, a resident of Dehradun and Anurag Singh alias Rehan, a resident of Panipat in Haryana. Ajmal was dubbed as alleged head of IS in India while Rehan served as his right-hand man. The case was later taken over by NIA.

Within a few days of Haris & Rehan’s arrest two IIT Guwahati students were held for alleged ‘IS links’ and were on their way to join the organization. Haris was majorly responsible for brainwashing and joining of young promising individuals and lure them to the trap of the terrorist organization.

ISIS, the alleged group that earlier destroyed Iraq, Syria and parts of middle East and Africa is now, slowly, silently & gradually spreading its wings and opening its fangs to engulf, indoctrinate and indulge in acts of rampant terrorism in India. The role of Pakistan is obvious, along with several other foreign adversaries majorly working with local support structures like SIMI, IM, PFI under the alleged cloak of political and religious favors. The NIA claimed the PFI has been involved in “recruiting (Muslim) youth to proscribed organizations like ISIS”. The PFI has also been accused of providing training to its members to carry out acts of terror.

Parting note – As the punchline of a famous crime show goes – “Saavdhan Rahein, Satark Rahein”. As a responsible citizen, stay alert & be on a lookout amongst yourselves. Keep yourselves informed & aware.

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Bomb Threat emails sent to schools in Delhi and Ahmedabad have been traced to Pakistan

By utilizing advanced Technical methods, Indian intelligence agencies successfully exposed a hoax bomb threat campaign targeting schools in Delhi and Ahmedabad. Investigation was conducted with assistance from Intelligence Bureau (IB), Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS), NTRO, R&AW and other central agencies.

The mass emails, sent to 32 schools in Ahmedabad city and four schools in Ahmedabad rural, were sent through a Russian domain (mail.ru), specifically from the email address “tauheedl@mail.ru,” and was termed as “hoax” by the police the same day after searches were conducted by bomb detection and disposal squad, dog squad and Crime Branch teams on the premises of the schools. The mails were also received days after more than 100 schools in Delhi-NCR received similar threats from the same Russian domain.. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) promptly issued a statement labelling the emails a “hoax,” urging the public not to succumb to panic. The MHA reassured citizens that the Delhi Police and security agencies were taking necessary steps per protocol.

A technical surveillance was then initiated to trace the sender of the email. The intelligence agency employed advanced infiltration techniques and a social engineering tactic known as “honeytrap” to identify the perpetrator.

Investigators discovered the emails originated from mail.ru addresses linked to a chat platform owned by a Russian firm. Then Delhi Police approached the Ministry of Home Affairs(MHA) and, subsequently, the court to request a Letter Rogatory (LR) to Russia, seeking information about the email ID responsible for sending bomb threats to schools in Delhi-NCR. They have already sought assistance from Interpol through the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Russian intelligence reportedly shared crucial information that aided the investigation.

The findings, including the suspect’s location within a Pakistani military cantonment, bolster suspicions of Pakistani involvement, possibly backed by Chinese intelligence. The culprit, traced to Faislabad, Pakistan, is suspected to be an agent of Pakistan’s ISI intelligence agency. Indian authorities in Delhi and Gujarat have been informed of the initial investigation results. Both bomb threats exhibited similar characteristics. The Delhi emails, signed with the term “Sawarim” associated with ISIS propaganda, included religious verses. The Ahmedabad emails originated from the “tauheedl@mail.ru” address, with the sender identifying himself as a “Tauheed Warrior” threatening suicide attacks. Investigators traced the “tauheedl” address to an account belonging to “Tauheed Liyaqat,” linked to another account under the name “Ahmad Javed.” Both accounts exhibited activity on gaming platforms and assumed different identities on various social media platforms such as Snapchat, Twitter, ICQ (cross-platform instant messaging software).

Revamping Unmanned Strike Capabilities

In an ambitious move to enhance its military prowess, India is set to make significant acquisitions and upgrades in its drone fleet.

Shopping the General Atomics MQ-9B

General Atomics MQ-9B

In the recent visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the U.S approved of plans to procure General Atomics MQ-9B High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) Unmanned Aerial vehicles (UAV). The MQ-9B has two variants – the Sky Guardian and its maritime variant, the Sea Guardian. The reported acquisition of total of 31 UAVs, 15 Sea Guardians for the Indian Navy and 16 Sky Guardians, eight each for the Indian Army and Air Force. The statement said that the MQ-9Bs will be assembled in India and will be aimed at enhancing the Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities of the tri-services.

As part of the pact, General Atomics will also plan to establish a comprehensive Global Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in India in support of India’s long-term goals to boost indigenous defence capabilities.

The procurement process began on June 15, the total cost of the deal is estimated to be $3,072 million/2510 crores. The Navy is keen on acquisition of these UAVs as it will significantly reduces the wear and tear on manned aircraft like P-8I long range maritime patrol aircraft and the Dornier fleet, as well as reducing the crew fatigue. The crew will be less as compared to those in survaillence aircraft. This includes ground station comms., uplink & downlink systems and control room setups.

Rustom-II & Upgrading Heron

DRDO Rustom-2 also known as TAPAS BH-201 (Tactical Airborne Platform for Aerial Surveillance-Beyond Horizon)

Indian Air Force to procure 97 drones worth Rs 10,000 crore for Border Surveillance and Unmanned Combat capabilities. Among the potential acquisitions that could be made under the ‘Make-in-India’ project, the TAPAS UAV also known as Rustom-II, being the leading contender. Initially, 76 Tapas drones are on order; 60 for Army, 12 for the Airforce, 4 for Navy.

IAI Heron MALE UAVs

Project Cheetah: IAF’s “Project Cheetah,” is a program aimed at enhancing the IAI made Heron drones by equipping them with enhanced strike capabilities and increasing flying capabilities for close to 30 hours while implementing minor upgrades to their fuselage. These drones are intended to meet the Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE). The project entails incorporating advanced communication facilities and missile systems, thus significantly enhancing their effectiveness in targeting enemy positions.

End.

Truth about parliament installment of Akhand Bharat map.

In an attempt to instil controversy by getting offended like their liberal counterparts, mainly Pakistan claimed the map placedthe Akhand Bharat, or Undivided India, map in the new parliament building, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi late last month has been shut down by EAM Jaishankar.

The theories that have been revolving around over the ancient map of India from the Maurya era which has been called as Akhand Bharat map, this theory is rejected by EAM.

India’s foreign ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in a media briefing the mural depicts the spread of the ancient Mauryan Empire and “the idea of responsible and people-oriented governance that King Ashoka adopted and propagated”

The only resolution to this will be burnol and the fact that our dear neighbours find peace in the fact that the map is an ancient depiction of the region their nation now stands on. They weren’t even a reality until a few decades ago. And the country they are seeking an explanation from, is the sole reason for their independent existence.

Now if you search the word “Indian subcontinent” you might as well see what the results depict. Pakistan should claim it be called the Pak subcontinent.

As for our progenies on the western border, EAM Dr. Jaishankar says;

“It depicts the extent of the Ashokan Empire. Friendly countries will understand. You can forget about Pakistan, they don’t have the capacity to understand.”

True to his words, those who read books like “Five Thousand Years of Pakistan ”, are somehow alive on foreign aid and are corrupt to their souls shall not ask questions. We would recommend you revise history and accept it, rather than living in delusion.

For our neighbours on the Northern end, who have not spoken but did poke others to speak; centuries of your civilizations come from us. The scholars of the far east roamed the lands of Bharat in search of knowledge and medicine. The famous monasteric martial arts rose from the southern lands. You are an epitome of modernity because your kings came from here.

Now we see some misguided characters calling the aforementioned map “extremely problematic”.

They claim, as we quote “it depicts a different colour for the southern part of India, the north east, and the entire Himalayas, with clear demarcation. The same hue as China. Perhaps they are attempting to prove China’s point.” And some other nasty claims.

After having a good laugh, let’s clear the fog. As mentioned above in the statement by MEA, this depicts the map of the Mauryan empire.

Now why Mauryan empire you might ask, as there have been countless empires before & after.

The Mauryan Empire was the largest and one the most powerful empires to exist in the history of the Indian subcontinent. The era of the empire has often been regarded as the “Golden age of Ancient India” for high levels of cultural development and economic prosperity.

Earlier development of writing scripts like Brahmi script and Prakrit language happened in this period, which later form the bases of many other languages. If you see the slab with some inscription at the foot of the map, yeah that is brahmi script.

The Mauryan Empire was also notable for its efficient administrative system, which included a large network of officials and bureaucrats, as well as a sophisticated system of taxation and a well-organised army, which can be seen in today’s India.

According to the estimates given by historians, during the Mauryan era Indian subcontinent almost contributed to around 1/3rd of world’s GDP, which would be the highest the region would ever contribute. This goes with the goal of a trillion dollar economy by the current government.

Fourth edition of bilateral naval exercise Samudra Shakti-23 concludes in South China Sea

The fourth edition of the Indo-Indonesia bilateral Exercise Samudra Shakti-23 has concluded in the South China Sea. Taking place from May 17 to 19, 2023, the sea phase of the exercise featured the active participation of the Indian Navy’s assets including ASW corvette INS Kavaratti, an Anti Submarine Warfare corvette, along with an Chetak helicopter and a Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft.

The Indonesian Navy had deployed assets to the exercise, including the KRI Sultan Iskandar Muda, which featured an integral Panther helicopter and a CN 235 Maritime Patrol Aircraft. Throughout the exercise, a series of complex activities were conducted, such as tactical manoeuvres, weapon firings, helicopter operations, air defence, and Anti-Submarine warfare exercises. These exercises served to enhance the inter-operability between the two navies.

Prior to the sea phase, a successful harbour phase was held, fostering professional interactions, tabletop exercises, and sports exchanges. This phase further strengthened the camaraderie and cooperation between the Indian and Indonesian navies.

The completion of Exercise Samudra Shakti-23 highlights the robust partnership between India and Indonesia, emphasizing their joint commitment to promoting peace and stability in the region through cooperative engagements.

According to a press release by the Eastern Naval Command, Exercise Samudra Shakti aimed at enhancing interoperability, jointness, and mutual cooperation between the two navies. The successful execution of Samudra Shakti-23 demonstrated the high level of interoperability between the Indian and Indonesian navies, underlining their shared dedication to peace and stability in the region.

India Joins the Hunt for Gravitational Waves: LIGO-India Project Gets Green Light

The Union Cabinet on Thursday cleared Rs 2,600-crore project to construct and set up a Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory- India (LIGO-India), which is likely to be completed by 2030.

Union space and technology minister Jitendra Singh said the gravitational wave observatory will come up in Hingoli in Maharashtra. The observatory will help in better understanding of astronomical objects like neutron stars and black holes and for in-depth study of gravitational waves.

For the LIGO-India, 174 acres of land have already been acquired in the Aundha area of Hingol district in Maharashtra. The environmental clearance for the project has also been given and geo-technical survey is also done.

LIGO- an overview

What is LIGO?

The LIGO is a giant L-shaped instrument. Each arm of the ‘L’ is 4 km long. Two laser pulses are shot through each arm at the same time, and they bounce off a mirror at the end to return to the vertex. A detector checks whether the pulses return at the same time.

When a gravitational wave passes through the detector, the pulses are slightly out of time. Researchers use this and other signals to detect, record, and study gravitational waves.

Gravitational waves are emitted by very massive objects in the universe in extreme environments, such as when black holes collide. Just as light emitted by an object can be used to probe its electromagnetic properties, gravitational waves can be used to probe the gravitational features of the source.

CAD drawing of the proposed LIGO Indian observatory

While two LIGOs can study gravitational waves, a third observatory is required to better triangulate the location of a source in the sky. A more ideal setup requires four observatories to record the same wave. To this end, researchers are setting up and upgrading detectors in Italy and Japan.

There are already two such LIGO observatories in the US. LIGO-India will be the third such advanced gravitational-wave observatory as part of the worldwide network. It is envisaged as a collaborative project between a consortium of Indian research institutions and the LIGO Laboratory in USA, along with its international partners. The US will provide key components for the lab worth $ 80 million, which amounts to Rs 560 crore.

The LIGO-India project will be built by the Department of Atomic Energy and the Department of Science and Technology, with a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the National Science Foundation, US, along with several national and international research and academic institutions. An autonomous body of the UGC will also help in the project. Indian companies will be roped in for providing components for the project. Once operational, LIGO-India will be scientifically managed and operated in collaboration with the US LIGO detectors to optimise the scientific return.

An aerial view of the LIGO detector site near Livingston, Louisiana, U.S 2016 | Photo Credit: LIGO Laboratory/Reuters

Indo-Bhutan relationship in recent days.

Bhutanese King and Prime minister.

On March 28 2023, a statement issued by the Prime minister of Bhutan over the Doklam face off, stated that all the three nations (India, Bhutan, China) should come together and hold a discussion. He said that it’s not upon Bhutan itself to resolve the issue and that there are three of us. There is no big or small country but three equals and China has an equal share to say.

The point to note here is that China’s invasion in Bhutanese territory along the Amo Chu river which lies adjacent and directly to the east of Doklam went unnoticed. China even plans to set up villages inside the Bhutanese territory while the prime minister of Bhutan is denying any invasion in such matter.

Significance of Doklam is well known to all, in no words or circumstances we can afford the access of Doklam given to the dragons as it will give them a easy door to the “Chicken’s neck” of the country.

For India, Tshering’s remarks are significant. If Tshering is now saying that China has an equal right in the resolution of the Doklam dispute, then it is sure to change perceptions all around.

Looking into the history of China the only way to deal with it is by being aggressive and not inviting. Once you start acting soft in any matter you are inviting dragon on your door to eat you up.

The visit of Bhutanese King was prominent just after such statements by his Prime minister. He met the President, the Prime minister, the NSA and the EAM of India.

There was a lot that was discussed in regard of development, trade connectivity and facilitation, energy cooperation, space, startups, social-economic development, India’s support in 5-year plan of Bhutan, credit facility and so on.

Conclusion of visit of Bhutanese King.

One among these topics of discussion was security and check points. Both the countries have a firm belief in the strong bilateral ties with each other. In the statement issued from both sides it was clearly mentioned about how security is one of the pillars of this relationship. Adding to this information, there was also a talk about how both the countries agreed upon setting up an additional foreign checkpoint between Bhutan and Assam.

The neighbors are closest ally and sharpest enemy, if we tend to ignore any activity – we are inviting trouble. The foreign secretary of India stated that the Prime minister and the king will remain in touch over security issue as it is a national interest of the country. Indo-Bhutan relationship looks promising although let’s see what the future holds for us.

Where does India’s loyalty lie in Ukraine-Russia war?

The answer to this question is pretty simple, the loyalty lies with the interset of India.

Why? Here is the answer.
USA funded Pakistan when war broke out (1971) and eventually helped the Pakistanis bleed India with the strategy “bleeding India with a thousand cuts”. When Galwan incident took place, was there any NATO/EU nation putting sanctions on China? NO. So why should India bother with the west and it’s interests? And not reply west in their own language by remaining neutral.


West is not in any position to negotiate with India and that’s where the itching in Uncle Sam’s ass starts. Uncle Sam must understand we are part of QUAD not America. We are a free independent country and we will act accordingly to our interest.

This crisis for India isn’t Russia V/s Ukraine but Russia v/s West. We can not align with any bloc of the world.

US needs India to counter China. Not the other way around. As USA is trying it’s best to stop China to become a superpower. If US sanctions India under CAATSA, a neutral India will ally with Russia.

India is biggest exporter of Russia’s military equipments and approximately 86% of the defence requirement of India is fulfilled by Russia. The bilateral ties between India and Russia goes up to 8 billion dollar.

Russia has also supported us in the matter of Kashmir. Reds also supported us in BRICKS, which is the highly influenced platform by China.

Why should India remain neutral?

We didn’t condemned Russian invasion in Ukraine due to moral obligation, first.

Second, we will not destroy our old ties with Russia which has taken a step ahead of buyer and seller relationship.

Third and the most important, if we want to make a place in UNSC permanent then, we need support of Russia.

We also need Russia to support India diplomatically and militaryily to counter China and US strategy against us.

Yes our heart bleeds for the Ukrainian citizens suffering but our country will bleed more if we you step out and support Ukraniane. Also, we will remember how West and Ukraine found time for racism in these grive times. We will remember how you treated our country men by kicking and pushing them back in the Ukraine Border. Pointing gun on Indian citizens to force them to stay in Ukrainian territory. We will remember how Ukrainian soldiers held Indian students as hostage to protect themselves from the Russian forces.

Also, we will remember how Russia stopped bombarding and firing to let Indians pass from the country safely and reach homeland.


This isn’t India’s War. And there shall not be India’s tears. It’s your war! Fight or Surrender, it’s none of our business, through it concerns our busssines.

“Highway of Death”

To understand Highway of death we need to go back in the year 1990 and situation of Iraq and Kuwait then.

In history it is remembered as the bloodiest slaughter of it’s times. Visuals of Highway 80 after the strike.

In year 1980 to 1988 Iraq and Iran were constantly were in war with each other. During this period of time Kuwait helped Iraq economically. And after the war, asked Iraq to repay their money.

Iraq’s economic bone was broken due to massive long war. During this time Kuwait was over producing Oli which caused downfall in the Oli prices and this directly affected the oil market of Iraq.

Kuwait didn’t stopped here and was found side drilling into Iraq Oli fields. Later in July 1990 Iraq asked for 10 Billion dollar in return of the Oli they produced from their land.

Kuwait agreed to give 9 billion dollar which didn’t satisfied Iraq and Iraq left the conversation and waged war against Kuwait.

Saddam Hussein’s army attacked Kuwait in August 1990 and within two days Kuwait’s Army and Government was collapsed. The Royal family ran from land and took refugee in Saudi Arabia. This was the era when Iraq had fourth largest Army in the world.

The Gulf war is divided into three phases;

1. Iraq’s invasion in Kuwait in August 1990.

2. Operation Desert Shield which was started on 2 August 1990 and was continued till 17 January 1991. This Operation was launched to build up the troops and prepare a defence for Saudi Arabia as it was in constant threat of Iraqi Army’s invasion.

This Operation was launched by America and other 34 countries coalition forces. It was Saudi who asked help of America.

Iraqi forces vehicles.

3. The last phase was Operation Desert Strom which started on 17 January and ended on 28 February. This was the combat phase to the war. From 17 January 1991, the coalition forces kept on air bombing to cut the logistic supply and to destroy infrastructure of Iraq. This bombing continued for four weeks on Iraq’s military installations and communication systems. The backbone of the Iraqi forces was thrashed by now.

In February American troops launched a fast moving attack on Iraqi forces that defeated Iraq within 100 hours.

In the late night of 25 February, 1991 the Iraqi Army was retreating from Kuwait and for this they used the route of Highway 80, which connects Kuwait City to the border town of Safwan in Iraq and then on to the Iraqi city of Basra. Basra was destination of Iraqi forces.

Iraqi Armoured Division and other troops were retreating from Kuwait on this six lane highway. While they were retreating US military started Air bombing on them. 28+ tanks, approx 2,000 vehicles and almost 600 soldiers lost their lives. This 10 hours of continuous bombing/airstrike follows it’s own controversy with it.

Some even states that, some troops with vehicles managed to escape the bombing and continued to drive on North were targeted individually.

Few soldiers who made to Basra on foot says that, bombs where shelled upon us as meteor shower. Pools of blood and mountain of death bodies. He describes it as a man’s wrost nightmare.

There is a reason why Highway 80 is called Highway of death. It shook our spine when we go through the images of it. You all must do some research to find them. Most of them were censored and was denied to get published. Here is one of them.

Some argue that the convoy was retreating in accordance with a U.N. resolution, and that there was no justification for attacking it even if it contained a significant number of military vehicles.

Others maintain that it included hostages as well as civilian refugees. Images from the scene, even those captured by the U.S. Air Force, tend to show primarily civilian vehicles.

Damage/Casualty in the war:
• 20K-30K Iraqi soldiers died.
• 200 coalition forces too lost their lives.
• 3500 childern died.
• Heavy looses to Iraqi infrastructure.

Objective of America in this war were;
• Kuwait’s independence.
• Protection to Saudi Arabia.
• Stable supply of Oli.
• Removal of Saddam Hussein.

Out of the four objectives they achieved three of them. The last one couldn’t be accomplished due to some intense reasons which will need another blog.


Highway 80 was repaired soon after the invasion was over. And, in a strange twist of fate, the road was used by U.S. and British forces in the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

The Highway 80 is still in use still even today the screams of Iraqi soldiers couldn’t be buried in the base of the highway.