Vappala Balachandran

Vappala Balachandran is a columnist, former special secretary for the Indian Cabinet Secretariat, and author of four books on Indian security, strategy and intelligence. In 1987 he led a two-member Indian team to revamp the security set-up of an Indian Ocean country, at its president's request. In 1993 and 1994 he headed the Indian interagency intelligence groups for annual dialogue with US agencies on terrorism. In 1995 he organised the first discreet talks between Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao and the chief ‘rebel’ Naga group, paving the way for a ceasefire.