Prime Minister Narendra Modi had his biggest outing of the year in addressing the US Congress in Washington on Wednesday. Shorn of the atmospherics, Modi seems to have missed the moment to get counted as the world’s leading statesmen. True, there was a surfeit of platitudes and catchy phrases such as the Indo-US relationship having “overcome the hesitations of history”. Modi also provided a preview of how India sees today’s world — “(India is) already assuming her responsibilities in securing the Indian Ocean region” — and the problems — “absence of an agreed security architecture in Asia creates uncertainty”. The world by now is well acquainted with Brand Modi — words rolling out fluently, a commanding stage presence and an innovative twist at every show.But a Prime Minister on his fourth visit to the US should have been more forthcoming about his vision of India than could be gleaned from his party’s election manifestoes. Modi can hardly hope to excite American businessmen with an anodyne rendering of his government’s priorities or talking about the snakes in the terrorist pit next door which managers of American security and their accomplices had incubated. His take on social harmony —  “all the 1.25 billion of our citizens have freedom from fear, a freedom they exercise every moment of their lives” — too sounded a shade hollow when juxtaposed against the under-reported Human Rights Commission hearing at which US Congressmen slammed his government for violence against minorities.However, after all the hits and misses are tallied, Modi accomplished his primary purpose of assuring the Americans that there is permanency in India’s affinity with the US in security, defence and climate change. He also managed to convey to the ordinary US politician, the country’s indispensability in the region — India was the first responder during natural calamities in Nepal, the Maldives and Sri Lanka — as well as its disagreement with the current global structures. Despite his dexterity as a communicator, Modi missed a trick or two in painting India as a country whose time has come.http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/editorials/modi-s-big-moment-in-us/249134.html

Washington, June 7

US President Barack Obama, who held over hour-long talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi here, today promised to cooperate with India against terrorist threats from groups such as Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba as well as ‘D’ Company, a reference to underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.”In this context, they (the two leaders) directed their officials to identify specific new areas of collaboration at the next meeting of US-India Counterterrorism Joint Working Group,” said a joint statement issued after the talks.Significantly, the American side also committed itself to treating Pathankot attack on a par with 26/11 terror strike in terms of ensuring punishment to perpetrators based in Pakistan.The two countries also decided to start work on construction of six American nuclear reactors in India amid affirmation that the Liability issue has been addressed.Six pacts, including one on exchange of screening of terror information, besides two other documents were signed after the talks that mainly covered issues such as terrorism, clean energy, climate change, defence, regional security, cyber security, economic ties and people-to-people contacts.Addressing the media jointly with Modi at his Oval office, Obama said it was natural for India and the US, two biggest democracies, to “deepen and broaden” partnership.Progress made in the Civil Nuclear agreement was among the issues discussed, Obama said. Obama underlined that India needs technology, which is critical for its progress and prosperity. — PTI

Tribute to Kalpana

• PM Modi laid a wreath at the Tomb of Unknown Soldiers and paid homage to Indian-American astronaut late Kalpana Chawla at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington. “Honouring sacrifice, saluting valour. Formal engagements begin with a solemn ceremony,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted

US returns artifacts

• The US has returned to India over 200 stolen cultural artifacts, some dating back 2,000 years, estimated at $100 million. Items returned included religious statues, bronzes and terra-cotta pieces, looted from some of India’s most treasured religious sites
• Among the pieces returned is a statue of Saint Manikkavichavakar, a Hindu mystic and poet from the Chola period (circa 850 AD to 1250 AD) stolen from the Sivan Temple in Chennai, valued at $1.5 million and a bronze sculpture of Hindu god Ganesh estimated to be 1,000-year-old

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti during a visit to Shahadra Sharif in Rajouri on Friday. PTI

Tribune News Service

Jammu, June 3

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today lambasted Pakistan for carrying out a terror attack in the Bijbehara area of south Kashmir. Three BSF men died and three others were injured in the attack.“I fail to understand what such a situation will give,” Mehbooba said.Condemning the act of terror and expressing solidarity with the bereaved families, the Chief Minister said: “What if there would have been retaliation from the BSF? Children, women and men would have been killed and a situation like Handwara would have emerged.”Mehbooba was speaking during a ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ function after inaugurating an international convention centre in Jammu here this evening. She was critical of Pakistan’s response to the peace process.“Pakistan is itself fighting terrorism and their children are being killed but at the same time it is promoting terrorism in the state, which is not acceptable. We want to improve the relations but such incidents happen. Post the 1987 elections, a situation arose and people also supported the gun but now people don’t want it anymore and Pakistan must understand it,” she said.“Pakistan claims it loves people of Kashmir, but this is not the way to love,” Mehbooba added.Earlier in the day, immediately after the attack, the Chief Minister spoke to Director General, BSF, KK Sharma and expressed anguish and sorrow over the death of the BSF personnel in the attack.“Such senseless attack is a desperate attempt by the elements who want to derail the peace efforts of the government and subvert the rejuvenating economic activity in the state,” the Chief Minister said in a statement.She said such dastardly attacks and senseless killings had only brought miseries to the people and tragedies for the victim families, both security forces personnel and the civilians. “The only purpose of such gory acts seems to keep the turmoil in the state on and the latest attack is again aimed at vitiating the atmosphere,” she said.She also announced several schemes for girls, including 50 per cent subsidy on scooties for girl students of one college each in Jammu and Srinagar.CM takes on separatists over Pandit coloniesChief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Friday took on separatists over the construction of separate colonies for migrant Pandits in Kashmir. “We want to bring back Kashmiri Pandits to Kashmir and instill a sense of security among them they will be absorbed in separate colonies where other people will also live with them. After living there and once they feel the atmosphere is right, they can head towards their homes,” the CM said, adding that even workers of various political parties in Kashmir live in hotels with personal security officers.

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 31

The fire at the Army’s Central Ammunition Depot (CAD) in Pulgaon near Nagpur, the latest in the string of such incidents over the past many years, ought to be a wakeup call for the government over the manner in which ammunition is stored at defence installations across the country.While a series of reports by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) as well as Parliament’s Standing Committee on Defence have pointed out certain deficiencies in the firefighting and safety mechanisms, heavy encroachment around many such depots have compounded safety issues.Only a few months ago, CAG had observed that ammunition depots were functioning with risk of fire accident as the equipment and manpower were not held as per the requirement and authorisation. In eight selected depots, the deficiency of firefighting staff and main firefighting equipment was 47 and 65 per cent, respectively, during 2008-13, CAG pointed out in its report.Over the past two decades, there have been a number of fire incidents, both at ammunition depots as well as during mobilisation or hostilities, resulting in destruction of ammunition worth several thousand crore rupees.The scale of firefighting equipment and authorisation of firefighting staff was last revised by the government in March 2004. Steps for revision scales and manpower were initiated by the Director General Ordnance Services in November 2011, but could not be finalised, CAG observed.Further, the deficiency in storage accommodation of ammunition with reference to authorisation of war wastage reserves was 57 per cent, while 18 per cent ammunition was stored in temporary accommodation. According to DRDO’s Centre for Environment and Explosive Safety, which prescribes norms for storage of explosives based on storage, transport and explosive committee regulations and UN classification, there is no scope for any storage in temporary accommodation

Less space, encroachment raise safety concerns

• Heavy encroachment around many ammunition depots and unabated construction in the notified areas has compounded safety issues
• The deficiency in storage accommodation of ammunition with reference to authorisation of war wastage reserves stands at 57 per cent
• 18 per cent of it is stored in temporary accommodation. According to safety norms, there is no scope for any storage in temporary accommodation

A video grab of the Pampore attack

Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, June 27

Even as the Kashmir valley has been put on an alert after the deadly Pampore ambush that left eight Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel dead, a dramatic video of the attack has emerged which shows militants opening indiscriminate fire on the halted CRPF bus.The 110-second video has been shot by a local villager from across the Jhelum. It shows two militants dressed in black shirts and trousers firing at the CRPF bus on the Srinagar-Jammu highway at Frestbal, Pampore, 15 km from Srinagar.  The amateur mobile phone footage shows militants firing bullets for nearly two minutes.The video shows one of the  militants  raising his gun and  pointing it towards the CRPF bus, just to ensure that maximum bullets hit those inside. Then another gunman comes to one side of the bus and pumps more bullets on the  bus that was on its way to Srinagar from Lethpora, Pulwama. Inspector General (Operations), CRPF, Nalin Prabhat said that the video clearly showed the two militants were ‘fidayeen’ (ultras on a suicide mission).“As the video ends, it showed that the CRPF had pinned them down,” Prabhat told The Tribune. As is clear from the video, the militants had enough time to flee but they engaged the security forces in a gunfight. The two militants were killed in the retaliatory firing.A senior police officer said other videos of the attack had also emerged and the police were analysing  them. The  unidentified local, who has shot the video, seemed to be under impression that the security men were firing aimlessly which is evident from background voices. “Worried” women can also be heard in the  background while the  person shooting the video tells them to remain low.However, questions are being raised about lapses on the part of the CRPF that might have led to high casualties in the ambush. A Road Opening Party (ROP) of  the CRPF always sanitises the highway before the daily convoys pass the road to reach Srinagar. The ROP was on duty at the time of the attack.

Video clips reveal Kashmir’s new militancy

Azhar Qadri

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, June 27

The Pampore ambush footage is the latest in a series of audio and video clips that have emerged in recent years giving an insight into how the militants are operating in the region. The videos, shot either by militants themselves or by the passers-by, go instantly viral on social networking sites.The police said the videos showing militants provide “visibility” to them but they also help the security forces in understanding the militancy.A police officer, in charge of a district in south Kashmir, said the videos provide limited real-time intelligence to the security agencies. “We do get to understand their behavioural signatures, how they walk, how they talk, how they can hide and their geographical location,” the official said.Earlier this month, a video, shot by a passer-by, had shown two militants escaping from the scene of an attack in Anantnag town. In the clip, the two militants are seen stopping a little distance from the site of the attack, where two policemen were gunned down, and firing back to cover their escape. The police later used a still image of the two militants from the video on its ‘wanted’ posters.Inspector General of Police, Kashmir zone, SJM Gilani, told The Tribune that these videos had helped militants but also gave an idea about them to the security agencies. When asked if the videos help militants in recruitment and propaganda efforts, Gilani said, “It does, of course.”The recruitment of local cadre, which had slowed down in the last decade, has registered an increase in the recent years. “It does give them (militants) visibility and that is probably what they are looking for,” Gilani said. “The content (of the videos) gives us an idea about what they are up to and we also analyse it in different ways and it does help us,” he said.In the videos that have appeared in public domain in recent years, the militants who were involved in the new wave of insurgency in the region could be seen patrolling through orchards in south Kashmir, preparing for ‘iftar,’ performing a ritualistic sacrifice and preparing meals.In a  video, shot by militants themselves in May 2013, a militant, injured while ambushing an Army patrol in a south Kashmir forest, is seen preparing for his last stand.In a video shot recently, a cop-turned-militant Naseer Pandit, who was killed in April this year, is seen training a group of militants.

Possibility of more terror attacks

• Security forces are on a high alert as there have been inputs about possibility of more attacks similar to the Pampore attack. The Saturday’s attack is believed to have been masterminded by Pakistani commander of Lashkar Abu Dujana. There are inputs that he may be planning more such attacks. The investigation into the attack has revealed that the two ‘fidayeen’ militants had infiltrated a day before carrying out the attack.

Pictures bring ‘visibility’

• The videos showing militants provide “visibility” to them
• Security agencies get to know militants’ behavioural signatures and their geographical location from the clips
• The first video came out on social media sites in 2013. It showed two ultras ambushing an Army vehicle

Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar signed the document. Photo courtesy: Twitter handle of @meaindia

New Delhi, June 27

India on Monday joined the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) as a full member and said its entry would be mutually beneficial to enhance global non-proliferation norms.Marking India’s first entry into any multilateral export control regime, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar signed the instrument of accession to MTCR in the presence of France’s Ambassador-designate Alexandre Ziegler, The Netherlands’ Ambassador Alphonsus Stoelinga and Luxembourg’s Chargé d’Affaires Laure Huberty.“India has joined the MTCR this morning…India’s entry into the regime as its 35th member would be mutually beneficial in the furtherance of international non-proliferation objectives,” the External Affairs Ministry said in a statement.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook and Twitter @thetribunechd)“India would like to thank each of the 34 MTCR partners for their support for India’s membership. We would also like to thank Ambassador Pieter de Klerk of the Netherlands and Robert Steinmetz of Luxembourg, co-Chairs of the MTCR,” the statement said.The MTCR Point of Contact in Paris has conveyed the decision regarding India’s accession to the regime through the French Embassy in New Delhi as well as the Embassies of the Netherlands and Luxembourg, it said.India’s entry into MTCR comes days after it failed to get NSG membership due to stiff opposition from China and a few other countries.China, which stonewalled India’s entry into the 48-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) at the just- concluded Seoul plenary, is not a member of MTCR.Since its civil nuclear deal with the US, India has been trying to get into export control regimes like NSG, MTCR, the Australia Group and the Wassenaar Arrangement that regulate the conventional, nuclear, biological and chemicals weapons and technologies.The MTCR membership will now enable India to buy high-end missile technology and also enhance its joint ventures with Russia.The aim of the MTCR is to restrict the proliferation of missiles, complete rocket systems, unmanned air vehicles and related technology for those systems capable of carrying a 500 kilogramme payload for at least 300 kilometres, as well as systems intended for the delivery of weapons of mass destruction. PTI

 

Simran Sodhi

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 27

India today formally joined the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) as the 35th member of the international grouping. This may come as a relief to the Modi government, reeling under the rejection of its membership to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) at the Seoul conclave.In 2015, India’s membership to the MTCR was blocked by Italy, which was upset with India over the detention of its two marines. The path was cleared when the second marine, Salvatore Girone, was allowed to return to Italy in May this year. During a brief ceremony this morning, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar signed the instrument of accession to the MTCR in the presence of France’s Ambassador-designate Alexandre Ziegler, the Netherlands Ambassador Alphonsus Stoelinga and Luxembourg’s Chargé d’Affaires Laure Huberty. India had recently joined The Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation (HCoC) which brought it closer to the MTRC membership.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook and Twitter @thetribunechd)Since 2008, when India signed the historic Indo-US civil nuclear deal, it has been trying to get a berth in international groupings such as the NSG, MTCR and Wassenaar Arrangement. The MTCR membership is especially sweet to India since China is not yet a member of this group. India, pointing an accusing finger at China, has said that “one country raised procedural issues and blocked India’s membership of the NSG”.   The MTCR membership is expected to give a boost to the NDA government’s  ‘Make in India’ project. It will enable India to buy high-end missile technology. France welcomed India into the MTCR, saying, “France welcomes India’s commitment to combating the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems. As of June 27, India is participating in the Missile Technology Control Regime.” It went on to state that India’s adherence would contribute to “better regulating the proliferation of equipment that could be used in missiles or drones capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction”. France has been very supportive of India’s bid to join the NSG.

Su-30 MKI with BrahMos takes off on its first demonstration flight at the HAL facility, Nasik. Photo: HAL

The Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter jet of the Indian Air Force on Saturday carried out its first demonstration flight carrying the BrahMos supersonic missileHindustan Aeronautics Limited carried out the test flight at its facility at NasikThe integration of BrahMos with the Su-30MKI will render the weapon a multi-platform capability while making the IAF the only air force in the world in possession of such a system

BSF sets up airbase in Guwahati

Bijay Sankar Bora

Tribune News Service

Guwahati, June 25

The Border Security Force (BSF) has set up an airbase at Guwahati to bolster Central Armed Police Forces’ (CAPFs) air-support capabilities towards troop deployment, disaster management and counter-insurgency operations in North-East.The BSF (Air Wing) has taken over a hangar at the new apron area of Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi International Airport in Guwahati. The hangar and associated aerodrome facilities would enable the BSF to undertake the independent maintenance and flying operation of Mi-17 V5 aircraft on a short notice, said a source in the BSF. It would also facilitate emergency medical evacuation of critical CAPF personnel. The Ministry of Home Affairs has approved operation of three Mi-V5 helicopters from the airbase. Flying trials have already been conducted successfully from the new Guwahati airbase.  Prior to this, the BSF has been operating aircraft from Delhi, Ranchi, Raipur, Agartala and Srinagar.

First such purchase since the Bofors contract 30 years ago

Ajay Banerjee
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, June 24The Ministry of Defence on Saturday approved the first major weapon purchase for the upcoming Mountain Strike Corps of the Indian Army.The Defence Aquisition Council headed by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar okayed the purchase of 145 artillery guns meant especially for deployment in the Himalayas.Once signed, it will be the first artillery gun purchase since the Bofors contract was inked in March 1986.
The 155 MM, M777 ultra0light howitzer (ULH) has been approved at a cost of US $750 million. The BAE systems will assemble, integrate and test the guns at a facility it has created with Mahindra. This will be the main ground-based weapon for the Mountain Strike Corps.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook and Twitter @thetribunechd)The BAE will supply the first 25 guns in ready-to-use condition. It has been asked to start deliveries within six months of signing a contract. In May last year, the DAC headed by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had okayed the purchase of the ULH, which was originally proposed back in 2008. Made of titanium, each gun weighs 4,000 kg making its transportable by CH-47 Chinook helicopters, C-17 Globemaster and the C-130 Hercules aircraft or on trucks with ease to provide increased mobility in the mountains.The DAC also reviewed the progress of the indigenous 155 mm artillery gun, the Dhanush, modelled on the transfer of technology from Bofors.The DAC also approved the case of the six next generation missile-carrying vessels that will replace the 1980’s design Soviet-era warships. It will cost Rs 13,600 crore.

Washington, June 24

The US said on Friday that there is “a path forward” for India to become a full member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group by the end of the year, hours after the group’s plenary meeting ended in Seoul with no decision on India’s membership in face of strong China-led opposition.

“We are confident that we have got a path forward by the end of this year,” a top Obama administration official said.

“It needs some work. But we are confident that India would be a full member of the (NSG) regime by the end of the year,” the official said on condition of anonymity.

Refusing to divulge the discussions and opposition to India’s membership within the 48-member grouping, the official said details of the internal deliberations are confidential.

But the US strongly believes in India’s membership in the NSG and the Obama Administration has “worked closely” with New Delhi and other countries on this issues, the official said.

Without going into details of deliberations, the official referred to a similar discussion within the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) to which India was inducted early this month after months of discussions within its member countries.

Like NSG, decisions within MTCR is taken with consensus.

“We expected a discussion on the role that India will play and where it has been,” said the official.

“We were able to end discussion this week and we have a clear path forward for India to become a full member by the end of the year,” the official asserted.

“That’s our expectation,” the senior administration official reiterated when asked if US expects that India’s NSG membership could be achieved by the end of this year.

“Our expectations is that this would be finished by the end of this year,” the official said.

The NSG ended its plenary meeting in Seoul with no decision on India’s membership.

China, which had made no secret of its opposition, succeeded in scuttling India’s bid despite a significant majority backing the Indian case. Thirty-eight countries supported India, according to Indian officials. — PTI

‘Badal to blame for SYL’

• Amarinder alleged it was Badal who had accepted Rs 2 crore from then Haryana CM Devi Lal in 1978 for the construction of the SYL canal by giving precedence to personal relations over Punjab’s interests.