A Pakistani F-16 fighter performs during a ceremony marking Pakistan Defence Day in Islamabad on September 6, 2015. Reuters file photo

Washington, March 5

Amidst stiff opposition from India and top American lawmakers, the US government has formally published federal notification for the sale of eight F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan.“This proposed sale contributes to US foreign policy objectives and national security goals by helping to improve the security of a strategic partner in South Asia,” said the notification which was published by the federal register yesterday, along with a copy of the February 11 letter, which the Defense Security Cooperation Agency wrote to the House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan.The total cost of these F-16 is estimated to be nearly $700 million, said the federal notification. It added that the Government of Pakistan had requested for this sale.India has opposed the sale of F-16 to Pakistan, saying it disagree with Washington’s rationale that such arms transfers help to combat terrorism.Republican Senator Rand Paul has asked colleagues in the Senate to join him in opposing the sale of F-16s to Pakistan.Pakistan Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz told Defence Writers Group this week that Pakistan had initially requested for 18 F-16s, but because of “financing problem” it is purchasing just eight.”In the last five years Pakistan air force has been saving US assistance to be able to finance these F-16. That is why, the administration has recommended that these should be sold because it is a very critical part of our counter terrorism operation,” Aziz said.These F-16, Aziz argued, are a critical tool in the war against terrorism.When asked if this is to be used only in the tribal region, he did not rule out otherwise.”This is part of our fleet. For the last two-three years they have extensively been used in tribal areas,” Aziz said. “Right now the specialised need is the counter-terrorism operation, for which we are heavily dependent of F-16.”According to notification published in the federal register, the proposed sale improves Pakistan’s capability to meet current and future security threats.“This sale will increase the number of aircraft available to the Pakistan Air Force to sustain operations, meet monthly training requirements, and support transition training for pilots new to the Block-52. Pakistan will have no difficulty absorbing these additional aircraft into its air force,” the federal register said.As per the notification, this sale involves the release of sensitive technology to Pakistan. The F-l 6C/D Block 50/52 weapon system uses the F-16 airframe and features advanced avionics and systems.It contains the Pratt and Whitney F-100-PW-229 engine, AN/APG-68V(9) radar, digital flight control system, external electronic warfare equipment, Advanced Identification Friend or Foe (AIFF), LINK-16 datalink, and software computer programs.As per federal notification, if a technologically advanced adversary were to obtain knowledge of the specific hardware or software source code in this proposed sale, the information could be used to develop countermeasures which might reduce weapon system effectiveness or be used in the development of systems with similar or advanced capabilities.The benefits to be derived from this sale in the furtherance of the US foreign policy and national security objectives outweigh the potential damage that could result if the sensitive technology were revealed to unauthorised persons, the federal notification said. — PTI

Jupinderjit Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 28

With the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) from Pakistan not being taken to Dinanagar town where three alleged Pakistani terrorists had attacked a police station, family members of martyr SP Baljit Singh are angry at the Indian Government for ignoring the attack and the sacrifice made by Punjab Police personnel.Other Punjab Police personnel who participated in the attack are also upset on why Pakistan was not being confronted for carrying out the Dinanagar attack.“The Indian Government has conveniently forgotten the Dinanagar attack. Why is Dinanagar not on the agenda of the Pakistan team? Why did the Centre not raise the issue of Dinanagar with Pakistan?” asks Kulwant Kaur, wife of martyr SP Baljit Singh. Bitter at more importance being given to the Pathankot attack, she said she salutes the heroes of Pathankot, but the Centre can’t give step-motherly treatment to a similar attack that happened a few months ago.

https://youtu.be/7LP7CVrQfb4

The Central Armed Police Forces ( commonly referred to as Paramilitary forces) play an important role in border security as well as internal security. Along with the Defence Establishment, they play an important role in National Security. This video is an effort to explain the role played by the Seven Central Armed Police Forces that come under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

http://

Tribune News Service

Shimla, March 14

Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dhani Ram Shandil told the Vidhan Sabha during the Question Hour today that the state government would consider raising ex gratia relief to families of martyrs from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 20 lakh.He was replying to a question of Anirudh Singh, Congress MLA from Kusumpti, who suggested that the ex gratia relief should be increased to Rs 20 lakh as given to two jawans from the state who died in the recent Pathankot terror attack and pleaded that the same analogy be applied to other martyrs.Shandil said there were two categories for giving compensation to those who died during war and others who laid down their lives in special operation and the grant was decided on case to case.At this stage, Leader of the Opposition PK Dhumal, who was joined by MLA Inder Singh, said “martyrs are martyrs” and there should be no discrimination in amount of relief.

Soldiers being air-dropped at Rohtak. AFP

“Iss se to Angrezon ka raj hi accha tha” (The British rule was better than what we see now),  said an old soldier from Haryana the other day. Having born, brought up and educated in a much bigger joint India, At the age of 21, I, like lakhs of others, bid a forced goodbye to my home and shifted to a truncated India at 21 years after Partition. I loved staying in erstwhile India, which was very peaceful till the time the maverick politicians did not sow the seeds of dissention and religious divide among gullible people. Consequent to Khattar’s announcement in Rohtak on February 15, that the government would wait till March 31 for the report of the committee dealing with the Jat reservation, the latter became restive and  started blocking roads and carrying out protest marches. The non-Jats resented this and began anti-reservation marches, resulting in clashes between Jats and non-Jat groups. This was followed by burning of shops, houses, vehicles, business establishments and offices. Shamefully, on February 22 at Murthal on NH 10, women were forcibly  pulled out of cars by goons, dragged to the fields and gangraped. Their cars were burnt, their husbands were looted and beaten up. There was a discernible division between the ministers and bureaucrats on the basis of caste. This resulted in the collapse of the state machinery. The Haryana police failed to grapple with the worsening situation. At best, some of them acted as a shield between the clashing groups. The rest stood as if nothing had happened. On February 18, rioting took an ugly turn in Rohtak when the rival protesting groups clashed and threw stones at each other and the police.  After that, the BSF troops were deployed. On February 19, the protesters clashed with the police and the BSF personnel. Three persons were killed and more than 100 injured when the security forces opened fire to control the rioters. The police personnel vanished from the scene of violence and even abandoned their posts on February 20. The Army was airdropped at Rohtak on the same day.  The Army carried out a flag march in Rohtak on February 20. The violence by now had spread to several towns in Haryana. After the Army was deployed in parts of Hisar on February 22 and despite the curfew, armed mobs looted, ransacked and burnt down  at least 20 houses at village Dhani Pal. The policemen and an Army column, as per the media reports, failed to control the mob. According to the rule book, law and order is a state subject, it should be controlled by the state police in conjunction with the state armed police. When the situation goes out of the hands of the police, the paramilitary forces are called in, If they too blink, then the Amy, which is government’s last resort, is called in to restore order. Soon after their deployment on this duty,  both police and paramilitary forces start looking over their shoulders for the Army to come and control the situation.  Because of this mindset, they do not take the situation seriously. If commanders of these forces are taken to task for dereliction of duty (as it happens in the Army), they will willy-nilly accomplish their task. Displaying the might of the Army had a catalytic effect on the civil population during the British regime because it was kept away from the people. Its sudden appearance on he scene did, therefore, ring a warning bell in the minds of the trouble makers.                                                                                                                 The flag marches by the Army have become very common. That is why they have lost their effect these days, thanks to the deteriorating law and order situation in the country. These marches are undertaken by the Army when it comes on the scene to create a deterrent in the minds of undesirable elements and to restore confidence among the peace-loving citizens. But unfortunately, the flag marche achieve none of these objectives. On the contrary, these marches can do more harm than good as the marching or mounted columns present a good target to the trained and well-equipped trouble makers. Given the current situation in the country, every move by the troops in the disturbed areas should be tactical and not ceremonial.After the deployment of the Army in Haryana on February 20, there was hardy any media coverage about it. This was unusual  as the Army always comes in for praise whenever it is deployed to quell disturbances. The only mention about it was that “the Army column (in Hisar) failed to control the mob.” There was a whisper in certain quarters that, like the police, the Army also gave a short shrift to law and order in Haryana. Accountability has become the worst casualty in modern India. It is a free-for-all situation and you can get away even after committing a heinous crime, provided you have tonnes of money and /or political support. Ironically, the hedge has started eating the crop. It has become a fashion to wear religion and caste on one’s sleeves and brag about it loudly. Surprisingly, all our problems stem from indecision of the politicians. This reminds one of what William James said: “There is no more miserable human being than one in whom nothing is habitual but indecision”. Who will stem the rot?The writer, a retired Colonel, is a defence columnist.

Narkanda, 60 km from Shimla, turns white on Saturday. Tribune photo

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, March 12

The higher reaches and tribal areas experienced fresh snowfall while the mid and lower hills were lashed by intermittent showers and hailstorm.The widespread rain and snowfall in the region reduced the winter rain deficit between January 1 and March 12 from 50 per cent to 17 per cent. More rain is predicted in the next two days.The rain caused landslides in the interior areas, blew off roofs and uprooted trees at some places in Kangra, Sirmaur and Mandi districts. Traffic was halted in the interior areas of Kullu, Lahaul-Spiti and Shimla.The Rohtang Pass recorded 90 cm of snow while the Dhauladhar range in Kangra and Churdhar range in Sirmaur have turned white. It has been snowing there since yesterday.Keylong in the tribal areas recorded 35 cm of snow while Kalpa, Bharmaur, Kothi and Hansa received 12 cm, 11 cm 10 cm and 5 cm of snow. Narkanda, Kharapatthar, Sangla and Chitkul also received fresh snowfall.Fresh snowfall in upper Manali and Rohtang has hampered the clearance operation on the Manali-Rohtang-Leh road. Two women were injured when a tree fell on their house near Palampur while a storm hit Pachhad and Sarahan in Sirmaur district.Bharmaur received 150 mm of rain while key tourist resorts of Dalhousie and Manali received 91 mm and 82 mm of rain followed by Hansa 76 mm, Saloni 75 mm, Kothi 71 mm, Dharamsala 58 mm, Shimla 45 mm, Jogindernagar 42 mm, Bangana 40 mm, Kangra 39 mm, Bhuntar, Sujanpur Tira 38 mm and Solan 32.5 mm.The Met Department has predicted heavy rain, thunderstorm and squall at isolated places in the mid and higher hills tomorrow and rain/snow in the region over the next three days.Kangra highway inundatedThe state highway passing through this temple town was flooded today following heavy rain and lack of proper drainage system near the old bus stand.Kangra experienced 30 mm rain in the past 24 hours, leaving the state highway inundated. Residents gathered at the spot and protested the non-availability of a proper drainage system. They raised slogans against the administration. — OCAvalanche warning in Kullu, ChambaAn avalanche warning has been issued for the higher areas of Himachal Pradesh. People have been advised to stay away from these places over the next 24 hours. The advisory has been issued by the Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE), part of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). ‘Medium danger’ avalanche warning exists in areas of Lahaul-Spiti, Kullu, Chamba and Kinnaur districts. — PTI

Rainfall

• Shimla 45 mm
• Manali 82 mm
• D’sala 58 mm
• Solan 32.5 mm

Mohana Singh

Neeraj Bagga

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 10

Mohana Singh, who is among the first batch of women fighter pilots set to join the Indian Air Force, is a product of the city’s Global Institutes. There are three women who will join the IAF as fighter pilots.Global Institutes vice-chairman Dr Akashdeep Singh felicitated her telephonically and observed that her trail- blazing success would inspire many young women to aim high, work hard and achieve glory. He wished her many more milestones in future also.He said it was a moment of great pride in the history of Global Institutes when the news came that its student Mohana Singh, who did her BTech in Electronics and Communication Engineering with 83.68 per cent marks in 2013, received the honour of being one of the first women fighter pilots in the IAF, a rare distinction achieved by only three women of substance, courage and conviction for the first time in India.Hailing from Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan, Mohana had joined the institute while her father Pratap Singh was posted here in the Army.She has brought laurels not only to her alma mater and family, but also to all women of the country with this feat. She has proved that for a woman of determination, sky is the limit. She can, like men, conquer all barriers and obstacles to attain her chosen goal.This is what Mohana has shown as possible. She was determined to make a mark in this exclusive male domain. She has shown to all Indian women that they can achieve what they want and make their life more meaningful and fulfilling professionally also. Mohana had been a focused and hardworking student during her studies at Global Institutes.The management, faculty and the staff were thrilled to hear the news. They sent congratulations to the distinguished fighter pilot and her parents on her grand professional success.

Pakistani delegates during an interaction in Chandigarh on Thursday. Tribune photo: Parvesh Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 10

Leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) party and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) today said India should “religiously” follow the Indus Water Treaty, 1960, and allow full water discharge in the Jhelum and Chenab.The leaders said the occasional blockade of water discharge in these two crucial rivers led to immense hue and cry among peasants of west Punjab, as more than half of farmlands there were dependent on river water irrigation.Mian Mehmood-ur-Rashid, Leader of Opposition in Provincial Assembly of Punjab (Pakistan), said: “India should religiously honour provisions of the Indus Water Treaty, 1960 and act like an elder brother. Farmers in our country, especially in Punjab, are mostly dependent on the river waters.”The leaders are part of the delegation comprising over a dozen prominent politicians and retired bureaucrats, who are at present visiting India to participate in interactive sessions on sharing of experiences on governance and democracy being organised in various Indian cities. A similar such event was organised today at the Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development (CRRID).PML (N) leader Saud Majeed, a member of the Pakistan Senate from Punjab, who has also served as a member of the National Assembly from 2008 to 2013, also said India should ensure full water discharge in the Jhelum and Chenab.During the discussion, Mahtab Akbar Rashdi, a member of the Provincial Assembly of Sindh, shared as to how the agriculture sector in Pakistan was facing acute challenges similar to that in India.Admitting that India’s farm sector was still ahead of Pakistan’s, nearly all visitors appreciated India’s effort of developing high yielding seed of cash crops.“High lending rates being charged by commission agents, crop damage due to weather calamity, distress sale of produce and soaring input costs are some of the major problems that are common to farmers of both Punjabs. Even the climatic challenges are almost similar. Therefore, the exchange of technology know-how can benefit farmers of both nations,” said Saud Majeed.

‘Issues can be solved through dialogue’

• The South Asia region should be declared nuclear as well as missile-free zone, said Lt General Abdul Qayyum (retd), who served as military secretary with two Pakistan PMs. He was at the Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development at Chandigarh for a dialogue between India-Pakistan legislators and public officials. Qayyum is a senator from the Pakistan Muslim League (N) and serves as chairman of the Standing Committee on Defence Production of Pakistan Parliament. He said, “The interest of both nations lies in peace not in conflict and no country can become a superpower when it has conflicts at its backyard. There are so many issues that can be solved with dialogue on a table.” He said Sher Shah Suri Marg (GT Road) should be opened and accessible to different vehicles for people of both nations. “It will open new avenues of trade and will strengthen the economy of both countries,” he said.