Recalling 26/11 Mumbai Attack, the Kargil of India’s Internal Security | S3 | Ep 31
Seventeen years ago, India was shaken when Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists launched 12 coordinated attacks across Mumbai, striking the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Chabad (Nariman) House, and other locations in the country’s financial capital. The assault killed 166 people and injured over 300. Nine of the ten terrorists were killed, while the lone surviving attacker, Ajmal Kasab, was captured alive. In this episode of In Our Defence, host Dev Goswami and national security expert Sandeep Unnithan revisit the assault that became the Kargil of India’s internal security. They take you deep inside the shadowy world of terrorist training, high-risk counter-terror operations and the elite response mechanisms that shaped India’s modern security doctrine. From Special Forces–style training used by the attackers, to the MARCOS team’s first response and the intense close-quarters battle inside the Taj Hotel and Chabard House. Unnithan revisits the tactics, planning and coordination failures that emerged during the 26/11 Mumbai Attack, offering rare insights into what changed and what still hasn’t. The two discuss: - Terrorist training methods -Frontline decision-making -The evolution of India’s counter-terror capabilities Tune in! Produced by Taniya Dutta Sound mixed by Aman Pal
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Tejas Crash: What It Means for India’s Indigenous Fighter Programme
On November 21, an Indian Air Force Tejas fighter jet performing aerial manoeuvres at the Dubai Airshow crashed, killing its pilot, Wing Commander Namansh Syal. This is the second crash involving the indigenous aircraft in its 24-year history but the first to result in a fatality. The previous Tejas crash took place in Jaisalmer in March 2024 when the pilots ejected safely. With the IAF ordering a court of inquiry, this bonus segment of In Our Defence sees host Dev Goswami and national security expert Sandeep Unnithan break down what the accident reveals about India’s indigenous defence production and the future of the Tejas programme. Tune in! Produced by Taniya Dutta Sound mixed by Suraj Singh
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Beyond 120 Bahadur: Inside Battle of Rezang La and the 1962 India-China War | S3 | Ep 30
With the release of the Farhan Akhtar-starrer 120 Bahadur, the spotlight returns to the Battle of Rezang La -- one of the bravest last stands in military history. But the 1962 India-China war was much more than just one battle. It was a geopolitical storm involving a "Forward Policy," a distracted America, and a political leadership caught off guard. In this deep-dive episode, host Dev Goswami and national security expert Sandeep Unnithan will peel back the layers of the 1962 conflict. They discuss the tactical realities of Major Shaitan Singh’s Charlie Company, the mystery of the "missing" Indian Air Force, how and why the Indian Army was handed a solid defeat, the strange connection between the Himalayas and the Cuban Missile Crisis, and, of course, whether this indeed was Nehru's 'Himalayan Blunder'. In this episode, Dev and Sandeep discuss: - The Real Rezang La: How 120 men of the 13 Kumaon held off thousands of Chinese troops at 18,000 feet without winter gear. - The McMahon Line: Who drew it, why it was flawed, and why a "thick line on a map" led to war. - The Geopolitics: Did the Panchsheel Agreement lull Nehru into a false sense of security? What was the "Forward Policy"? - The Cuban Connection: How Mao Zedong timed the attack to coincide with the Cuban Missile Crisis to ensure US silence. - Classified History: What is the Henderson Brooks-Bhagat Report, and why does the Indian government refuse to declassify it 60 years later? - The Chinese Perspective: Why Beijing calls this a "Self-Defence Counterattack" and why they unilaterally withdrew after winning. Whether or not you plan to watch 120 Bahadur, this is your comprehensive crash course on the war that changed India forever. Tune in! Produced by Taniya Dutta Sound mixed by Rohan Bharti
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Red Fort blast and Asim Munir's Death By Thousand Cuts Strategy | S3 | Ep 29
A car explodes near Delhi's Red Fort and the trail runs through Srinagar posters, Faridabad storehouses, and an alleged "white-collar" module featuring multiple doctors. In this episode, host Dev Goswami and national security expert Sandeep Unnithan take their first impressions of the deadly terror attack that has revived scary memories of blasts in India's urban centre. The two examine what we know (and don't) about the Red Fort attack, why the government's initial messaging stayed deliberately measured, and zoom out to Field Marshal Asim Munir's "thousand cuts" doctrine that the Pakistani military boss seems to have adopted. Tune in! Produced by Taniya Dutta Sound mixed by Aman Pal
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Unpacking Donald Trump's Nuke Testing Bomb & India's Nuclear Doctrine Dilemma | S3 | Ep 28
Donald Trump says China, Russia and Pakistan are "testing nuclear weapons". And that is why he's told the Pentagon to immediately prepare to test the US's nuclear weapons. In this episode, host Dev Goswami and national security expert Sandeep Unnithan unpack what counts as a nuclear test in 2025, who's actually doing what at their test sites, and what a US return to explosive testing would mean for India, the CTBT, and global stability. The two cover: - Why does Trump want to carry out nuclear testing? Are Russia, China, and Pakistan really carrying out secret nuclear tests? - Cold tests vs hot tests: Why the world doesn't really need 'explosive' nuclear tests anymore? - Why India feels satisfied with its comparatively lower number of nuclear tests vis a vis the rest of the world? - Should India take a re-look at its nuclear doctrine that vows no first use? - What global treaties on nuclear testing really achieved? - And finally, what happens if the US actually carries out a nuclear test? Tune in! Produced by Taniya Dutta Sound mixed by Suraj Singh
In Our Defence is a weekly podcast that breaks down wars, weapons, and the world of military power with clarity, curiosity, and zero jargon. Hosted by journalist Dev Goswami, each episode features sharp, story-rich conversations with leading defence experts, offering distinct perspectives and nuances on how nations prepare, fight, and defend. From battlefield strategy and military tech to geopolitics, intelligence, and national security -- In Our Defence focuses on conversations that are grounded, engaging, and made for curious minds. No fluff. No noise. Just a clear line of sight into the world of conflict.
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