Monthly Archives: August 2018

Ravi Krishnan Khajuria
Tribune News Service
Jammu, November 26

In the backdrop of the terror attack on an Army camp close to the Line of Control in Tangdhar on Wednesday, the BSF has alerted all its commanders on the ground and fortified its formations along the 198-km-long international border.
“In view of the recent attacks by the ISIS, we have alerted our commanders on the ground. We are well prepared to counter anything but the possibility (of terror attacks) cannot be ruled (out),” said Inspector General, BSF, Jammu Frontier, RK Sharma today when asked about the ISIS presence in Pakistan and how big a concern it was for the BSF.
The IG said the BSF as of now had not come across any such input but was “very very alert” to the situation unfolding across the world, especially in South Asia.
“Terrorists can do anything, anywhere,” the IG said.
On Army’s anticipation on the possibility of the ISIS joining hands with the Lashkar-e-Toiba, Sharma said: “There are intelligence inputs that the ISIS can support Pakistani terrorists. We have to see what symptoms evolve and how the situation unfolds. Every development and movement is being monitored carefully.” He said the BSF had fortified all its formations along the Indo-Pak border after Diwali.
On Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed, the BSF IG said there had been reports of Hafiz visiting training camps on the Pakistani side of the international border, indoctrinating and motivating terrorists before launching them to carry out terror attacks on the Indian soil.
“Off and on, his (JuD chief) presence had been reported somewhere in the Sialkot sector and his movement in forward areas to indoctrinate and provoke terrorists against India can never be possible without the help of the Pakistan army and the Pakistan Rangers,” said Sharma.
On the eerie calm on the international border post the sector commander-level meeting on October 27, he said, “We have not seen any suspicious movement in the past few days but then, there is no lull day for us. We have briefed our personnel to deal with any eventuality because we have suffered a lot in the past.”
When asked why Pakistan had shifted its focus to the international border from the Line of Control despite heightened security, he attributed the shift in strategy to the winter when mountain passes on the Line of Control get closed due to snow.
He, however, added that there was no dispute of land, water resources and farming on the international border but Pakistan, which never wants peace, shifts to the international border to internationalise the Kashmir dispute.
45 intrusion attempts foiled
The ceasefire violations by Pakistan were higher as compared to 2014
45 intrusion attempts were foiled between mid-2014 andOctober 2015
Pakistan involving criminals, deathconvicts in BAT-like teams for attacks
Smart fence trials on the ground yet to be conducted
Terror infrastructure intact on the otherside of the international border. It remains vulnerable to intrusion bids by militants
The Inspector General said the BSF would not tolerate ceasefire violations, sniper fire and
other mischief byPakistan

Tribune News Service
Mandi, November 24
The recommendations of the Seventh Pay Commission are a bolt from the blue for serving and retired personnel of the armed forces. This was stated by the Honorary Commissioned Officers’ Welfare Association of Himachal Pradesh.
In a statement issued here today, association president Capt Jagdish Verma (retd) said the recommendations made to the government were unfriendly and demoralising for them. They said scrapping the already existing facilities or benefits like calculating of military service pay for house rent and transfer grant, use of 100 units of free electricity, funeral allowances and reducing Siachen allowances were some of the key benefits not taken care of by the pay commission.
Capt Verma also regretted that the Honorary Commissioned Officers — Honorary Lieutenants and Captains and their equivalent — who get the Commission in penultimate year of service to elevate their status and prestige in recognition of their meritorious and selfless service of the highest order to defence forces, had also been kept at par for pay and pension with their counterpart regular Lieutenant and Captain of the Army and their equivalents in other two services, including the Air Force and the Navy.

Beijing, November 19

India and China today agreed to form a ministerial-level mechanism headed by their home ministers for the first time to step up cooperation and coordination on a host of security-related issues, including cross-border terrorism, smuggling and drug trafficking.
The decision to form the ministerial mechanism was agreed upon after Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s talks here with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Interior Minister Guo Shengkun.
The ministerial mechanism, which would be followed by a comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the security-related issues to be worked out, will become operational during Guo’s visit to India next year, Singh told the media here after his meetings with Li and Guo.
The committee will handle issues like terrorism, security and law enforcement related issues, trans-border crimes, cyber crimes and drug trafficking. “From now onwards all the issues will be handled by the committee, co-chaired by both the home ministers,” he said. The committee will meet every year to review the progress, Singh said.
“There is a common recognition by both sides that terrorism is a common threat. It is a transnational and transborder threat which requires our joint response,” he said, adding that the point was also highlighted in talks with Li. The decision by the two countries to deepen cooperation relating to terrorism comes in the backdrop of the Paris terrorist attacks and killing of Chinese and Norwegian hostages by Islamic State terrorists.
“In principle we have agreed to a new bilateral document which will provide the contours of cooperation in counter terrorism, security, trans-border crimes and related issues,” Singh said. — PTI

Tribune News Service
Rewari, November 18

Lt-Gen Arun Kumar Sahni honours a veer naari during an ex-servicemen rally in Rewari on Wednesday. Tribune photo
Lt-Gen Arun Kumar Sahni, GOC-in-C, South-Western Command, has said that special steps would be taken to provide the facilities of pension, health, canteen and record of ex-servicemen under one roof .
Addressing a gathering at an ex-servicemen rally organised by the Rezang La Trust here today, General Sahni said: “I know the problems being faced by ex-servicemen to get the benefit of government schemes. Sincere efforts will be made to provide them all facilities under one roof ”.
He also felicitated 85 veer naaris, besides giving away Rezang La Shaurya award to Sub Kisan Singh for bravery. Mountaineer Rekha Gurjar, football player Rahul and social activist Shiv Sahay were also honoured.
General Sahni also handed over FDRs for Rs 25,000 and Rs 50,000 to the grandson and granddaughter, respectively, of Rezang La martyr Sultan Singh of Kohrana (Rajasthan).

Washington, November 13
A group of 27 retired military leaders have backed US Sikhs long-standing demand to be allowed to serve in the US military while keeping their turbans and beards.
Sikh Coalition, an advocacy group, plans to deliver a letter from the military leaders, including a retired three-star US Army general, to Defence Secretary Ash Carter saying Sikh Americans “should be given equal opportunity to serve.” “The US Department of Defence has taken important steps toward recognising the importance of religious faith to the lives of our service members,” said the letter as cited by the Wall Street Journal.
“Nevertheless, obstacles remain for patriotic Sikh-Americans who wish to serve in our nation’s military while maintaining their articles of faith.” They are asking that the military find a more reasonable way for Sikhs to serve without going through what they describe as a long, difficult process of getting an exemption allowing turbans and beards.
In some cases, a military service branch may require a Sikh to shave his beard and remove his turban while waiting for the exemption, the Journal noted.
In the 1980s, the military established regulations that require service members to adhere to uniformity rules about appearance, including hair and grooming standards that prohibit beards and headwear.
Since 2009, the military has allowed three Sikhs to serve in the US military wearing turbans. Among them Maj Kamaljeet Singh Kalsi, 39, was awarded the Bronze Star for his work as the medical officer running the emergency room at Camp Dwyer in Helmand province, Afghanistan, in 2011. — IANS

Amritsar, November 11

For the second successive year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated Diwali with soldiers on Wednesday, saying the world looks at India with respect because of their valour and “character”, in comments that come against the backdrop of protests by several veterans over the one rank, one pension (OROP) scheme.
He visited the Dograi War Memorial in Khasa in Amritsar and placed wreath at the venue of one of the toughest battles fought and won by Indian forces on September 22, 1965.
He also laid a wreath at the Asal Uttar Memorial near Valtoha on the Amritsar-Khem Karan road in Punjab and at the tomb of Company Quartermaster Havildar Abdul Hamid, a Param Vir Chakra recipient.
Modi noted that during the Asal Uttar battle in 1965, Hamid single handedly destroyed 3 enemy tanks and helped stop their offensive, in spite of being mortally wounded.
“Paying homage to CQMH Abdul Hamid. He was awarded the Param Vir Chakra posthumously for his gallantry,” Modi later tweeted.
Asal Uttar Memorial marks the Battle of Asal Uttar, which was one of the largest tank battles fought within the Indian territory in 1965.
“Our forces captured/destroyed over 90 enemy tanks by the end of the Battle of Asal Uttar…During this battle CQMH Abdul Hamid single handedly destroyed three enemy tanks & helped stop their offensive, inspite of being mortally wounded,” Modi said in his tweets.
Addressing the troops in Khasa, he said, “I have come to celebrate Diwali with you. I am happy to get this opportunity…”
Hailing the soldiers, the Prime Minister said, “It is because of your valour, dedication and dreams that the whole world looks at India with respect. It is not only because of the uniform but character of the armed forces.”
He said India holds its head high in the comity of nations because the generations of leaders in the armed forces nurtured the forces.
“I congratulate those who have provided leadership over several years to the armed forces,” Modi said.
His tributes to the “character” of armed forces come against the backdrop of protests by a section of ex-servicemen over the “dilution” of ‘one rank, one pension’. Several war veterans have returned their medals as part of their protest.
Later, he tweeted, “I spent time with our soldiers and we had a wonderful conversation.”
This is the second successive Diwali that Modi spent with troops since becoming the Prime Minister. Last year on Diwali, he had paid a surprise visit to Siachen, the highest battleground in the world, to spend time with the troops.
Earlier in the day, he tweeted, “Today on the auspicious occasion of Diwali, I am visiting the border areas to spend time with our Jawans.”
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister also paid a visit to the Barki Memorial in Ferozepur, which was constructed in 1969 to commemorate the soldiers of the 7 Infantry Division killed in 1965 India-Pakistan War.
The memorial has a pillar in the centre, a Patton tank and a Barki milestone on the south along with a water fountain at its north. The 27-foot-high pillar is built of red and white sandstone.
Modi in his address to the troops at Ferozepur, said, “Recently, in the defence sector, the country has made many important decisions.”

He said that experts in this sector would know how decisions are now quickly taken.

The Prime Minister further said, “Bharat ki koshish hai ki defence manufacturing yahaan ho. (It is India’s endeavour that defence manufacturing takes place here)”.

He said there is tradition to celebrate Diwali with one’s family and he treats them as his family, and had come to celebrate the festival of lights with them.
“I feel happy to celebrate the festival with you,” he said and told them that last year he had visited Siachen on Diwali.— PTI

New Delhi: After months of speculation, the government on Saturday issued the notification for implementation of One Rank One Pension for ex-servicemen.
According to the notification, the pension of past pensioners would be re-fixed on the basis of pension of retirees of 2013 and the benefit will be from July 1, 2014.Pension will be re-fixed as per average of minimum and maximum pension of personnel retired in 2013 in same rank and same length of service. In future, the pension would be re-fixed every 5 years, the notification stated.
The Pension for those drawing above the average shall be protected. Personnel who opt to get discharged, now on, on their request will not get benefits of OROP. It will be effective prospectively.
Arrears will be paid in four equal half yearly instalments. However, all the family pensioners, including those in receipt of Special/Liberalized family pensioners, and Gallantry award winners shall be paid arrears in one instalment.
Principal Spokesperson of the Ministry of Defence, Sitanshu Kar tweeted, “Government will appoint a Judicial Committee to look into anomalies and submit its report in six months.”Meanwhile, Major General Satbir Singh (Retd), Chairman of Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement hit out the government. “We have been let down by our government, the OROP notification is not acceptable, we will meet on Sunday to discuss and decide the future course of action. The protest will continue”, said Singh.

GLOBAL MEET India & China lead developing world charge

India and the US appeared headed for a face-off at the Paris climate summit starting Monday with the world’s biggest democracies divided over who should share the larger blame for greenhouse gas emission and, therefore, do more towards mitigating it.

Policemen clash with activists during a protest ahead of the 2015 Paris Climate Conference that opens on Monday.
Ahead of the high-stakes talks to be attended by negotiators from 196 countries, New Delhi and Washington have already engaged in a verbal war with US secretary of state John Kerry describing India as the “biggest challenge” for the Paris summit. India hit back by terming his remarks as “unfortunate” and “ill-timed”.
Officials of both countries as well as China – the world’s three largest emitters of greenhouse gases – agree that a successful outcome at the Paris conference will depend in a large measure on the three big players’ willingness to resolve their differences, some of which could prove deal-breaking otherwise.
Joined by China and other developing countries, India believes developed countries have contributed more to environmental degradation with their longer history of industrialisation and, therefore, they should do more and pay to the developing world to go green, called differentiation in negotiating parlance. “There is a difference between the developed and the developing world on historical responsibility and capabilities of each country. It cannot end,” Ajay Mathur, spokesperson for India’s climate negotiations team, told HT.
President Barack Obama has only two bilateral meetings scheduled to take place on the sidelines of the Paris conference so far — with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and China’ Xi Jinping.
“The purpose of these meetings,” a senior White House official said last week, “is to make sure that leaders are on the same page about our objectives and strategy going into these final two weeks of negotiation.”
A comment piece on Sunday in the Chinese official news agency Xinhua pointed to the “stubbornness” of some developed nations in accusing developing countries and “blaming them for blocking the birth of a new international treaty.”
The US, and other developed economies, however, want every country to share the responsibility equally for global warming and contribute equally towards its mitigation, to keep it below the annual two degree Celsius threshold. The next big dispute is about how to ensure countries deliver on their commitments, the voluntarily fixed emission reduction targets with a stock-taking scheduled for 2025. India is advocating self-assessment and self-reporting. Environment Secretary Ashok Lavasa told HT recently “there could be stocktaking of climate action plans by a global body but not a review”. But the US and European Union want some sort of an international mechanism to verify those claims. The two also differ on providing public climate finance to help developing nations move to cleaner fuels and technology. A proposal for providing “predictable” financing to developing countries is being rested by the US, Indian officials said pointing to a paper circulated by the Americans in Paris on Sunday.
But there is convergence too. Both India and the US agree the Paris outcome not be binding on countries with penalties.
“We have come here to talk and move forward. I believe we will,” Mathur said when asked about the Modi-Obama meeting.