On August 12, Gateway House hosted Air Commodore Shaun Clarke, New Zealand’s Defence Advisor to India and Neeru Gaba, New Zealand High Commission Policy Advisor. The delegation was received by Manjeet Kripalani, Executive Director and Co-founder, Gateway House.
The meeting looked at India’s security challenges and the regional security situation. Air Commodore Clarke was briefed by Sameer Patil, Associate National Security Fellow, Gateway House on India’s changing security priorities. The meeting also looked at the possible areas of cooperation between the Indian and New Zealand defence forces.
Commodore Clarke as Defence Advisor to India, represents and advocates for the New Zealand Defence Force’s views and is working to gain a better understanding of the military position of the two countries. Commodore Clarke also serves as Defence Advisor to Canberra.
Air Commodore Clarke enlisted in the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) as a Pilot in 1981. He completed various flying tours on Numbers 42 (HS74 Andovers) and 40 (C-130 Hercules) transport squadrons. Air Commodore Clarke’s operational tours have included Deputy Detachment Commander in Tehran flying air transport in support of the United Nations Iran-Iraq Military Observer Group (UNIIMOG, 1990); Senior Military Liaison Officer for the United Nations Interim Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK, 2001), and National Contingent Commander for New Zealand forces in the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI, 2003).
Sameer Patil is Associate Fellow, National Security, Ethnic Conflict & Terrorism studies, Gateway House. Prior to this, he was Assistant Director at the National Security Council Secretariat in Prime Minister’s Office, New Delhi. Sameer has written extensively on various aspects of national security including cyber security, fake currency, terrorism, India-Pakistan relations, India-China relations, the Kashmir issue and nuclear proliferation for various magazines, journals and newspapers.
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