Reflections on Strategy: Applied Strategy through Lens of a Practitioner

An illuminating compilation of essays and articles that shed light on the prevailing geo-strategic landscape. Some of the essays are quite prescient in nature and shed light on what has been, what is, and what could happen in the future. An excellent read, especially for students and practitioners in the fields of strategic studies and international relations.

— Gen (Dr) MM Naravane (Retd), PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM. PhD, Former Chief of the Indian Army

There is the old adage," strategy without tactics may be the slowest route to victory, but tactics without strategy is simply the noise before defeat."

It is in this spirit that I commend Lt Gen DP Pandey's latest offering, REFLECTIONS ON STRATEGY, a masterly compilation on the various nuances of the subject.

Of equal salience to the professional soldier and the lay reader alike.

— Lieutenant General Raj Shukla, PVSM, YSM, SM, ADC, Member UPSC, Former GoC-in-C, Army Training Command

A compilation of diverse articles on wide-ranging aspects of modern warfare, covering leadership and kinetic as well as non-kinetic nuances of statecraft. A scholarly work indeed gives excellent lessons for national security.

— Lieutenant General Jaswinder Singh Sandhu, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, VSM, Former GOC 15 Corps and Military Secretary

The age of armchair strategists is fading. In his compelling new book, Lt Gen DP Pandey highlights why real-world practitioners must lead strategy formulation to secure victory in war. A must-read for anyone interested in security and strategic thinking.”

— Lieutenant General Dushyant Singh, PVSM, AVSM, Director CLAWS

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Strategic direction is an imperative to succeed in any field. Exceptional tactical brilliance may lead towards nowhere if the strategy is flawed or absent. However, with a suitably carved out strategic direction, an average tactical leadership will arrive at the destination in some time. The acme of leadership is to evolve the strategic direction with information available, particularly in the uncertain world as today, and continue to devise and improvise solutions to remain objectively on the path of the vision outlined, as the situation plays out and information is analysed.

It is flawed in the contemporary world that practitioners and strategicians are distinct and different, one fighting and struggling on the ground and the other sitting in the comforts of air-conditioned offices as an academic or planner. The world now needs and heavily relies on strategic practitioners, with hands-on experience of rolling out the strategic plan. It allows the OODA loop to be shortened and the Coup d'oeil of exceptional leadership to be in play.

This practical experience has to commence at a very young age and service rather than waiting for a time with adequate seniority by when the ways an individual thinks and acts are fixed at a tactical level. This flawed thinking in the Indian landscape, particularly the military, must go out of the window for Bharat to emerge not only as Viksit Bharat 2047 but also Surakshit Bharat 2047, because both pillars are inseparable.