Subscribe to Dostcast Clips: https://www.youtube.com/@dostcastclips?sub_confirmation=1 Listen to Dostcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/70vrbHeSvrcXyOeISTyBSy?si=be05dbdd564245d9 Join the Dostcast Janta Party on WhatsApp for regular updates: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbAZwo5D8SDs5kf94N3T Want to suggest a guest? Fill this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1ft_-1QDs7XpsSWnaPOeF21yUlhk9bzKvwHSyh4hHfBU/edit?usp=drivesdk ==================================================================== Prateek Mahtha is a combat veteran with 15+ years across Special Operations, Special Weapons & Tactics, and sniper work — including service in the French Foreign Legion and deployments in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Africa. He now runs Ultima Ratio Defence, an Indian weapons company built out of everything he learned in the field. Blunt, unglamorous, and completely uninterested in the myth-making around war. In this episode, Vinamre and Prateek discuss: • Sniper work — hitting moving targets, confirmed kills, and why there's no Geneva Convention protecting snipers • Fighting ISIS and Lashkar-e-Taiba in Iraq and Afghanistan, and why the Indian Army is unmatched in high-altitude warfare China's CCP playbook in Africa, what he saw in Mali, and what India should actually be doing Building a weapons company in India — doctrine, red tape, and why Google is a weapons company too • The French Foreign Legion — what actually binds men together, and learning French to survive it Post-army life, spirituality, his guruji, the Bhagavad Gita, and what soldiers lose without an inner life • Religious terrorism, who the Yazidis are, and mandatory military service for India Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Coming Up 00:00:55 - His Guru, His Ganpati 00:02:56 - Sniper Kills & Moving Targets 00:09:56 - Replace Your Coffee With This 00:11:07 - Camouflage, Snipers vs Special Forces 00:24:01 - Iraq, Afghanistan & Lashkar-e-Taiba 00:25:33 - His Hardest Operation 00:28:37 - Africa, China & Mali 00:49:23 - Building a Weapons Company 01:00:06 - Inside the French Foreign Legion 01:04:17 - What Civilians Are Missing 01:15:27 - Mandatory Military Service 01:34:26 - Faith in Modern Soldiers 01:43:25 - Religious Terrorism & The Yazidis 01:53:27 - The Bhagavad Gita 01:59:03 - Conclusion ==================================================================== Vinamre Kasanaa is a writer at heart, podcaster and entrepreneur by craft. He spends a significant part of his time reading and researching. With over 500 podcasts under his belt, he’s interviewed everyone—from HNIs and industry leaders to everyday superheroes. Follow Vinamre: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vinamre-kasanaa-b8524496/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vinamrekasanaa/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/VinamreKasanaa Dostcast: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dostcast/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/dostcast ==================================================================== Contact Us: For business inquiries: dostcast@egiplay.com
