In Our Defence

On January 3, 2026, the United States military changed the rules of engagement. In a lightning-fast raid involving 150 aircraft and Delta Force operators, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was captured from his palace in Caracas. The US calls it Operation Absolute Resolve. The world calls it the boldest special operation in history. But beyond the headlines, how does a raid like this actually work? It’s not just bearded men kicking down doors -- it’s cyber warfare, diplomatic wrangling, and domain superiority. In this episode of In Our Defence, host Dev Goswami and national security expert Sandeep Unnithan break down the mechanics of the Maduro snatch. They also talk about a little-known Indian operation called Operation Sundown -- an aborted 1983 plan to snatch Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale from the Golden Temple using similar tactics. Tue in! Produced by Taniya Dutta Sound mixed by Aman Pal

The killing of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi has set Bangladesh on fire again. But this time, the anger isn't just anti-government, it's dangerously anti-India. In this episode of In Our Defence, host Dev Goswami and defence expert Sandeep Unnithan decode the chaos next door. From the smashing of Sheikh Mujib's statues to the chilling return of the Pakistan Army in Bangladeshi politics, the two answer the hard question: Is India facing a new "Third Front"? The two discuss: -The legacy of the founder (Sheikh Mujibur Rahman) and the general (Ziaur Rahman) -How the erasure of 1971 is opening the door for a "Pakistan-style" Islamic nationalism -The rumor of a Pakistan-Bangladesh mutual defence pact and why that should worry India -What 2026 may bring to Bangladesh and its politics. Produced by Taniya Dutta Sound mixed by Rohan Bharti

The new spy thriller Dhurandhar has sparked a massive controversy. The Adtiya Dhar film explores the concept of 'sleeper spies' -- spies who are deeply embedded in a target country's society. On this episode of In Our Defence, host Dev Goswami and national security expert Sandeep Unnithan look at what the film gets right and wrong about this aspect of espionage.  The two talk about the intersection of ISI and Pakistani underworld that the film portrays and discuss how that is a hat-tip to the unholy alliance between the Pakistani deep state and Dawood Ibrahim that was forged in the early 1960s.  The two also look back at the stories of some of the world's most legendary sleeper agents such as Mossad's Eli Cohen and Soviet Russia's famous 'Cambridge Five'. Also on this episode is a look at how the Research and Analysis Wing's (RAW) operations evolved in Pakistan under several Prime Ministers and what intelligence agencies are actually asked with. Produced by Areeb Raza Sound mixed by Suraj Singh

On paper, Field Marshal Asim Munir is the most powerful man in Pakistan. He has the Army, the intelligence agencies, and a constitutional amendment that effectively grants him unlimited power. So why is he seemingly terrified of a 73-year-old man locked in a 6x8 cell in Adiala Jail? In this episode of In Our Defence, host Dev Goswami and defence expert Sandeep Unnithan peel back the layers of Islamabad's power struggle. Is the conflict actually a deep-rooted ethnic clash between the Punjabi-dominated Army and Imran Khan's Pashtun base? The Adiala Curse: Why does every Pakistani Prime Minister eventually fall out with the Army? The God Complex: What ingredients create a Pakistani General who thinks he is the saviour of Pakistan? The Endgame: Does Munir keep Khan locked up forever or will a 'Black Swan' event completely upend Pakistani politics? Produced by Areeb Raza Sound mixed by Rohan Bharti

India is set to commission its third -- and most powerful -- nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, the INS Aridhaman (codename: S4). But this isn't just another ship joining the fleet, it marks a critical tipping point in India's national security architecture. INS Aridhaman is the most complex and devastating weapon to exist in India's weapons arsenal. In this episode of In Our Defence, host Dev Goswami and defence expert Sandeep Unnithan decode the secrecy shrouding the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project. They explain the "Rule of Three" (why you need three subs to keep one at sea), the massive upgrade in firepower with the K-4 missiles, and how a memo during the 1960s kickstarted India's quest for nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines. Key discussion points: The Upgrade: Why Aridhaman is bigger, deadlier, and carries double the missiles of INS Arihant. The Range War: How the K-4 missile (3,500km) finally allows Indian subs to target threats without leaving the safety of home waters. The History: PN Haksar memo and the birth of the Indian nuclear submarine program. The Command: Who actually presses the red button? (Hint: It's not the Navy Chief). Tune in for a deep dive into the "Silent Service" that protects India from the deep. Produced by Taniya Dutta Sound mixed by Aman Pal