The book is about internal armed conflict-insurgency and counter-insurgency-in India: the Constitution describes it as `armed rebellion`.

It is based on the premise that internal armed conflict within the country will persist and that the military will, perforce, have to continue to play a significant role in its management and resolution.

The book is in three parts. The first part (Chapter I) discusses internal disturbances and internal armed conflict in general: this serves as a backdrop to the discussion in the rest of the book. The second part (Chapters II to VI) analyses the Indian experience. The third part (Chapters VII to X) examines various options and suggests a way forward for the counter-insurgent.

It is for the practitioner-the politician, civil servant, policeman, and soldier. The aim is to encourage the formulation of a joint civil-military doctrine to deal effectively with internal armed conflict in India.