Monthly Archives: August 2018

Mukesh Ranjan

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 28

With Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s keenness to turn India’s land boundary with Pakistan watertight to block any future infiltration bid, NITI Aayog is working on a blueprint to give border policing a “technological edge” consisting of laser precision weapons and fencing.The Aayog, which has been asked to prepare a long-term Vision document for 15 years replacing the five-year plan, has assigned the task of working out a complete chapter on “internal and external” security to its member VK Sarswat, who, in turn, sources said, has been working on “future options” in the light of heightened hostilities between India and Pakistan post the Uri terror attack.Sources also confirmed that NITI Aayog is looking at weapons, which have abilities to launch “no-contact counter offensives”. Such weapons will be based on latest technologies like laser, which is high among the options. Saraswat, who was earlier secretary in Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is working on identifying laser-based disruptive technologies.Listing out advantages of laser technology for military applications, sources in the NITI Aayog, who are in the know of the development, said such weapons have high precision and rapid on-target. These weapons also have scalable effect, which make sure avoidance of collateral damage caused by fragmenting ammunition, low logistics overhead and minimum costs per firing, they added.Laser weapon systems operate on the basic principle that laser beams are impossible to avoid or detect. They can target both enemy personnel and enemy communications and installations. The US army and navy are most advanced in laser weapons or directed energy weapons research.Experts in NITI Aayog, however, admit that currently a few challenges confront the scientific community in developing such systems, which could be mobile, rugged, cost-effective and functional under a variety of weather conditions. But still they feel, “once developed and put to use” particularly along the Line of Control in Jammu & Kashmir, will prove to be a game changer.

ixteen years after the proposal for a replacement fighter jet was first mooted by the Indian Air Force (IAF), and 17 months after Prime Minister Narendra Modiannounced acquisition of 36 fighter jets in Paris, India inked the approximately Rs 59,000-crore Rafale deal with France on Friday.

The inter-government agreement, signed between Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and his French counterpart Jean-
Yves Le Drian, specifies that the first aircraft will be inducted into the IAF within 36 months, and the full complement will be in service within 67 months.

“Rafale is a potent aircraft for deep strike capabilities. It can move at high altitudes and has potential weapons with the most modern technology. It will add to the capability of the IAF,” Parrikar said.

The induction of these 36 fighters — 28 single-seaters and eight twin-seaters — is expected to bridge the shortfall in the depleting number of fighter squadrons in the IAF.

The IAF currently has 32 fighter squadrons against an authorisation of 42, and this number is expected to come down to 25 by 2022. These 36 aircraft, however, make for only two squadrons. As reported by The Indian Express on September 18, the clinching factor for buying the two squadrons is their use for delivery of nuclear weapons after the French-built Mirage-2000s retire from service.

Top defence sources said the French fighters, equipped with Meteor air-to-air and Mica air-to-land missiles, will be delivered in flyaway condition by Dassault. Moreover, offsets of half the value of the deal will be executed by France in India within seven years. Although Dassault is yet to submit the full details of its Indian offset partners, 74 per cent of the offsets are mandated to be exported from India. Another 6 per cent of the offsets are for technological sharing, which is currently being negotiated by the DRDO.

“We expect export worth Euro 3 billion to happen from India due to offsets as part of the deal. This will take a couple of years to start but it will create jobs and opportunities in India,” sources said.

Although the base version of Rafale remains the same as the one being used by the French Air Force, the Indian version of the fighter jet will have 14 India-specific enhancements. Sources said these include the helmet mounted display, Doppler beam radar, IR search and track, and towed decoy. It is because of these enhancements that the delivery time of the first aircraft cannot be less than 36 months.

In addition, the French are also guaranteeing performance-based logistics support, which means that 75 per cent of the fleet will be airworthy at any given time. According to sources, the airworthiness of the Russian Sukhoi Su-30, the mainstay of the IAF, has reached 55 per cent with great difficulty from 46 per cent two years ago.

As reported by The Indian Express on Wednesday, the deal provides for free training of 10 IAF personnel, including three pilots, estimated to be worth Euro 100 million. The IAF will also get a guarantee for an additional 60 hours for the trainer version of Rafale fighters, and a concession to keep the weapons storage in France for an additional six months without any charge. The French have also agreed to supply spares for a period of seven years at initial cost.

After Prime Minister Modi made the announcement on purchase of 36 Rafale fighters in Paris in April last year, the French had made an offer of Euro 11.8 billion. By January this year, when French President Francois Hollande was the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations, the French offer had come down to Euro 8.6 billion. The negotiations, however, could not be concluded between the two sides then. In May, the two sides agreed to a price of Euro 7.878 billion, and the deal was formally cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security in August.

As per the agreement, 15 per cent of the total amount will be paid as advance, 25 per cent in 12-18 months, and the rest on schedule as per delivery, with 5 per cent of the amount being retained till the deal is completed. On questions about the high price of the French fighter, sources said the base price of a single-seat fighter is only Euro 91.07 billion, while for a two-seater it is Euro 94 billion.

“By negotiating the inflation at actual indices, but limited to 3.5 per cent, in comparison to 4 per cent or more in earlier deals, we will save Rs 4,000-14,000 crore over the deal. In addition, the annual maintenance for spares and performance-based logistics is 20-25 per cent of the cost. Besides the initial five years, an additional two years of performance-based logistics is included in the deal,” sources said.

Many experts have compared it with the benchmarked price in the original Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) deal. But Defence Ministry sources said the two prices cannot be compared.

“The price of 18 Rafale flyaway aircraft was different from the 108 which were to be made by HAL in India. Dassault had used a factor of 2.7 for labour cost in India over France, which had raised questions about it being the lowest bidder itself. It also meant that each aircraft would cost Rs 68 crore more due to manpower costs itself. The then defence minister, A K Antony, had noted on the file that he will take a decision after price has been negotiated. That never happened and we don’t even know what their final price would have been,” sources explained.

Pakistan wants peace with India. I have gone the extra mile to achieve this… Burhan Wani, the young leader murdered by Indian forces, has emerged as the symbol of the latest Kashmiri intifada… PAK PM NAWAZ SHARIF, addressing the UN general assembly on Wednesday

NEW DELHI: Defence minister Manohar Parrikar dismissed on Wednesday a nuclear threat from Pakistan, describing the neighbour’s provocative statements after the Uri strike as a case of “empty vessels make more noise”.

His statement came hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his top ministers and military commanders to weigh an effective response to the deadly weekend terrorist attack at the north Kashmir army base that killed 18 soldiers.

“The stronger man doesn’ t make too many arguments,” Parrikar said, responding to a question on Pakistan’s nuclear saber-rattling amid calls for a swift retaliation.

“How to punish, that is for us to work out. We are serious about it.”

It wasn’t immediately known what the Modi-headed cabinet committee on security decided, but he has been under pressure to keep his election promise two years ago to deal firmly with attacks on India from Pakistan. The army has said it will retaliate at a time and place of its choosing.

Something obviously went wrong in Uri, Parrikar said, stressing the government will take steps to prevent such attacks from happening again. He said he believed in the “principle of zero error” and India needed to ensure “wrongs” are not repeated.

What next? Parrikar said he preferred to “execute things” rather than talk. “India is a responsible power but that doesn’t mean I will sleep over this kind of terrorism that is being pushed from across the border,” he said.

Politicians and army veterans have called for a muscular response, including air strikes on training camps in Pakistanoccupied Kashmir.

Despite growing clamour for punishing Pakistan, India is unlikely to act rashly and its moves will be well-calculated, senior military officers said.

Parrikar said: “If required I can have a knee-jerk reaction. Sometimes knee-jerk reaction is required.” He was quick to add he was talking in general terms and not specifically about the Uri attack.

There are expectations that the NDA government will respond strongly, given that its top leaders consistently accused the previous UPA regime of being soft on terrorism. Former army chief General (retd) Bikram Singh believes the political and strategic climate has changed and the government has clearly spelt out a more robust policy on Pakistan.

“The cautious and too idealistic approach of the past has been replaced by more realistic policy,” Singh said. “Pakistan will be paid back in its own coin and spoken to only in the language it understands.”

Major General Mrinal Suman

 It was the month of November 1971. War was imminent and the forces were being mobilised at a frenetic pace. Troops and equipment were being ferried to the forward areas by tens of special military trains every day. For the Westerns sector, Ambala, Ludhiana and Jalandhar were the main hubs as almost all trains passed through these stations.

One still recalls the warm reception the troops got at these stations. Hordes of BJP and RSS workers received the trains with shouts of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’. Local bands were in attendance playing martial music. The atmosphere was charged with nationalist fervour. Troops were treated with tremendous warmth; honoured with garland; served hot food and tea; and assured of the whole country’s support.

It was an unforgettable experience. BJP endeared itself to the soldiering community. Soldiers’ esteem for the party went up considerably and they have been voting for the party. Modi’s arrival in the last general election further consolidated the bond. 

The above has been recounted here to compare the then prevailing bonhomie with the present state of fast spreading disillusionment with BJP. Modi-euphoria amongst the soldiers is on the wane. Soon, the honeymoon will be over for good. All the goodwill and support assiduously garnered by BJP workers over the years have been frittered away by the short-sighted leadership.

During an informal survey in Punjab, almost all soldiers and veterans expressed their disenchantment with the current government. They are convinced that BJP is an equally self-seeking party, out to garner votes by exploiting neglected soldiers’ gullibility. The general perception is that Manohar Parrikar is helpless due to some inimical elements’ anti-soldier influence on Modi. They hold Modi responsible for letting them down.

The most surprising aspect of the complete phenomenon is that in spite of granting OROP (whatever be the form), Modi government has failed to earn credit for it. On the contrary, there is an acute sense of betrayal amongst the soldiers. Why and how has the relationship reached such a low point? Here are some obvious reasons.

Seeds of distrust were sown during the very first meeting of the then Defence Minister Jaitley with the veterans. His advice to them to lower their expectations came as a bolt from the blue. The veterans were aghast. How could BJP leadership renege on a solemn commitment? To soldiers, it was an act of sacrilege. They felt cheated and used.

The issue of OROP was handled in a most graceless and blundering manner. It took undue long for the government to announce it, denting its credibility. By that time, the soldiering community had lost its patience and faith. Jantar Mantra protest did immense damage to BJP’s standing. Worse, sights of police manhandling aged veterans will remain etched in the minds of all soldiers as a proof of government’s insincerity. No political leader from the ruling party displayed the sagacity to visit the protesting veterans to assuage their hurt feelings. The neglect was seen as a deliberate snub and it compounded distrust.

One wonders at the intelligence of the policy makers who agreed to spend over Rs 8,000 crore but left veterans dissatisfied for a few hundred crores by tweaking the well-accepted definition of OROP. Resultantly, instead of earning gratitude, it forced veterans to go to the courts. Can there be a bigger example of senseless behaviour!

Although the government claims that the National Commission for Ex-Servicemen Bill 2015 has already been drafted, there is no news of its likely introduction in the parliament. Even the draft has not been put in the public domain for suggestions of the stakeholders. Twenty six months is a long period for any ‘government that works’ to have the bill legislated. Apprehensions are being expressed that the proposed commission will be nothing more than a parking slot for the retired bureaucrats.

Approval for the construction of a National War Memorial and a National War Museum near India Gate was granted in October 2015 at an estimated cost of Rs 500 crore. Further progress is not known.

The department to look after the welfare of ex-servicemen remains staffed with personnel whose sole mission in life is to inflict indignity on the veterans. Not a single service officer has been posted to it. Despite Parrikar’s assertions to the contrary, the government continues to contest court orders given in favour of the ex-servicemen with vindictiveness and wickedness.  

With Modi’s reputation for taking bold decisions, it was expected that his government would initiate long overdue reforms in the higher defence management of the country. Nothing has been done and not a single progressive step has been taken. It is apathy as usual. There is no sign of the appointment of Chief of Defence Service. No creation of joint commands. No integration of service personnel in the Ministry of Defence. It will not be incorrect to deduce that the obdurate bureaucracy remains untamed.

BJP’s handling of the issues pertaining to the seventh pay commission is symptomatic of the brazenness of its duplicitous and hypocritical mindset. It has failed to safeguard soldiers’ interests. The least it could have done was to co-opt some service officers with the Empowered Committee of Secretaries. But then, it is too much to expect such a farsighted approach from a blinkered leadership that is hell-bent to shoot itself in the foot by losing the backing of the solid support base of soldiers and ex-servicemen.

Even the dumbest of the dumb knows that there is no justification for denying Non- Functional Upgradation to the services. Indiscipline has become rampant in the organisations that are manned jointly by uniformed and civilian officers. As seniority is decided on the basis of pay, every civilian considers himself senior to his service boss. The working environment has got terribly vitiated but the government continues to remain blind. 

Modi and his advisors failed to understand the psychology of soldiers. They treated them as a vote bank with false promises. For soldiers, a promise made by the leadership is a solemn commitment without any ifs and buts. They consider it to be a matter of honour. Breach means loss of credibility.

Unfortunately, smug in its unexpected victory in the general elections, BJP considers itself to be invincible. It has failed to appreciate the sensitivities of the soldiers. Despite repeated requests, Modi has not been able to spare a few minutes to meet the veterans during the last 26 months – some arrogance and disdain for the soldiering community.

BJP can write off states that have massive soldiering fraternity, like Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. Punjab is not Assam. In Punjab, almost all families have ties with the services. Time is fast running out for BJP. Even Kejriwal has started appearing more sincere and true to his word than Modi.

Somehow, the environment has come to believe that the ruling trio of Modi, Shah and Jaitley hold the soldiers in contempt and intentionally humiliate them through deliberate indifference and downgradation. Haughtiness seems to have gone to their heads. They will do well to remember what Swami Vivekanand cautioned, “Arrogance is the first sign of degeneration.”*****  

Simran Sodhi

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 28

In a big blow to Pakistan and to its image, Afghanistan, Bhutan and Bangladesh today joined India and conveyed their decision to pull out of the SAARC summit scheduled for November in Islamabad.For Pakistan, the major concern is likely to be the fact that all four countries have cited terrorism as the main cause for pulling out of the summit. Sri Lanka has joined the chorus and said the summit would not be possible without India’s participation.

Edit:SAARC summit boycott

According to sources, in its message to Nepal, which holds the chair of SAARC, Afghanistan said because of the increased level of violence as a result of imposed terrorism on Afghanistan, its  President was fully engaged, and would not be able to attend the summit.Bangladesh, which has made its anger with Pakistan very evident, has also conveyed to Nepal that “the growing interference in the internal affairs of Bangladesh by one country has created an environment which is not conducive to the successful hosting of the 19th SAARC Summit”. Dhaka also said that the decision to pull out of the summit was entirely their own and not influenced by India’s decision to boycott the summit.

Bhutan followed suit.

This diplomatic isolation of Pakistan follows India’s decision late last night to pull out of the summit. Unfazed, Pakistan, in the meantime, said it would go ahead with holding of the SAARC summit. This is at variance with the SAARC charter that states that even if one member of the eight-member grouping does not attend, the summit stands cancelled or postponed.Reasons given for not attending summit in Nov Afghanistan: Increased level of violence and fighting as a result of imposed terrorism on Afghanistan, President of Afghanistan Mohammad Ashraf Ghani as the Commander-in-Chief will be fully engaged, and will not be able to attend the summitBangladesh: The growing interference in the internal affairs of Bangladesh by one country has created an environment which is not conducive to the successful hosting of the 19th SAARC Summit in Islamabad in November  Bhutan: Unable to attend the summit due to escalation of terrorism in the region

HE BENCH QUESTIONED WHY AN INDIVIDUAL HAD TO APPROACH COURT FOR RELIEF WHEN APEX COURT HAS ALREADY SETTLED THE MATTER

CHANDIGARH: The Chandigarh bench of the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) has come down heavily on defence authorities for not amending a policy to grant disability element to pre-2006 prematurely retired officers, junior commissioned officers and other ranks, who are otherwise eligible, as the same is admitted to post-2006 prematurely retired personnel.

Taking a suo motu cognisance of the case, the AFT bench headed by justice Surinder Singh Thakur questioned why an individual had to approach the court for relief when the apex court has already settled the matter.

The Supreme Court had pronounced its decision in the case of Mahavir Singh Narwal on January 4, 2008, and the administrative decision to grant disability element to personnel below officer’s rank (PBOR), proceedings on premature retirement was taken on January 2010 after two years, but it was limited to only those who file court cases. The AFT said it was against the ratio of ‘Mahavir Singh Narwal’ decided by the apex court.

“Moreover, an administrative decision cannot replace or place any limitation on a court order, which in this case has been done by introducing the clause relief to be given only to those who file court cases. This too is not being complied with by the respondents (defence authorities),” said the judgment.

It added: “If each ministry resorts to such action, there will be chaos and the sanctity and supremacy of the apex court provided by the constitution would be questioned by those who do not have the power to do so creating an analogous condition and the rule of law would be the casualty, which should not happen in a democratic set up like India.”

The bench observed that from 2012 to 2015, the file remained with the defence ministry. “During this period of 40 months, why was the matter nor raised to the level of the raksha mantri (defence minister)?… It is incomprehensible that to implement a Supreme Court decision, the file moves within the same ministry for 40 months and the issue is not raised to the level of the minister concerned, in this case the hon’ble raksha mantri.”

The AFT commented: “Armed forces veterans in the twilight of their lives, cannot be made to wait indefinitely and illegally for their benefits under the pretext of procedure and inter-departmental consultation… This attitude is not acceptable and the department of ESW (ex-servicemen) has to change its attitude with respect to processing of veteran’s cases, which in this case are based on the judgment of the Supreme Court.”

The bench directed the Secretary, ministry of defence, to issue instructions to all concerned not to raise any objection for denying the relief to the eligible person by quoting the nonexistent clause. “In case they would do so, they shall be liable for contempt and cost, which shall be recoverable from the individual who illegally denies the legitimate dues by quoting a non-existent clause of the policy. These instructions shall also be put in the public domain with instructions for affected personnel to apply for such relief to the competent authority instead of directly approaching the courts/ AFTs,” the bench observed.

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 19

An initial internal assessment by the Northern Command identified five core lapses that could have led to the terrorist attack.Top sources confirmed that killing of 18 personnel was not possible without lapses in following the standard operating procedures at locations close to the Line of Control.Firstly, militants crossed the double barbed wire fence, supposed to be patrolled 24×7. Secondly, they breached the perimeter fencing of the military camp.Thirdly, soldiers who were part of an advance party of the 6 Bihar Regiment were not staying inside a built-up area which was available, but putting up in tents in the open.Fourthly, the tents were too close to the fuel dump of the Uri brigade. Fifthly, ample men were not on guard duty or only a few had weapons in ready-to-fire mode.The Army assessment accepted that the initial burst usually had some casualties. But, it was inexplicable to lose 14 men when tents caught fire after grenades were lobbed.Of the 18 deaths, 14 occurred due to fire in the tents. Those who escaped the fire were gunned down.It was being suspected that the terrorists hid inside the military camp for a few hours before launching the attack and were aware of the personnel putting up in tents.”Having seen the Army closely, I feel, it needs to be analysed as to what happened there…It needs to be investigated how the incident took place and what were the lacunas… from the Army’s side, alertness is required. The Kashmir situation needs to be thought about. Action has to be taken without getting influenced by emotions, anger. It has to be taken coolly and with proper planning.” V K Singh, Union Minister and former Army Chief “One has to accept that the situation today is worse than what was during the Congress regime. At a time when pro-Pakistan sloganeering is on in Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan flags are being hoisted there, the Centre should dissolve the state government and impose ‘martial law’ there as President’s (Governor’s) rule wouldn’t suffice.” Shiv Sena in “Saamana” Editorial

Sons of Havildar Ravi Paul who was martyred in Sunday”s terrorist attack at Uri Army camp, at their native village, Sarwa in Samba on Monday. PTI

Samba (J&K), September 19Ten-year-old Vansh, the eldest of the two sons of Havildar Ravi Paul Salotra, is aware that his father was martyred in the Uri terror attack but that has only strengthened his resolve to don the olive greens to serve the nation and avenge the killing.Ravi Paul of 10 Dogra Regiment was one of the 18 brave soldiers who lost their lives while fighting the four terrorists who attacked the Army Brigade Headquarters in Uri sector of Baramulla district yesterday.

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He had served the army for 23 years.Besides Vansh, 42-year-old Ravi Paul is survived by his wife Geeta Rani and another son Sudansheesh (7) and 80-year old mother.Because of Ravi Paul’s death, a pall of gloom has descended on his native Sarwa village in Ramgarh sub-sector of Samba district.“My father used to call early in the morning. Yesterday, he called us and we spoke in length on various issues. He asked me to concentrate on my studies so that I could fulfil his dream of becoming a doctor in the Indian Army,” said Vansh, a class 6th student.When asked whether he was aware of what tragedy has befallen on the family, Vansh, carrying two plastic tricolours, said his father laid down his life for the sanctity of the national flag.”Yes I know that my father laid down his life for the Tricolour and I will fulfil his dream of becoming a doctor in the Army so as to avenge the killing of my father,” he said.Ravi Paul’s two brothers have also served in the Army.In this sleepy Sarwa village of over 120 families, there are many who have donned the olive green uniform at one stage of their life.“Majority of the people in our village are either serving in the Army or have served at one stage of their life. Out of six brothers, my three brothers were in Army and Ravi Paul was the youngest to join the Army,” said Joginder Lal Salotra, elder brother of Ravi Paul.He described Ravi Paul as a very jolly and friendly person who used to mingle with everybody in the village.“Whenever he used to come on leave, people used to meet him as he always narrated the stories about his tenure in the Army,” Lal said.He said Ravi Paul used to make sure that he calls his family every day.Mohan Lal Salotra, another brother of the martyred soldier, said he has not only lost a younger brother but a friend who used to share every secret of life with him.“I also served in the Army and after retirement I joined Defence Security Corps (DSE) and I am currently posted in Ludhiana. Though I was elder to Ravi, we were like good friends who used to talk each other daily.”September 17 was the last time we spoke and yesterday when I tried to call him, the line could not go through. Later in the afternoon, somebody called me to inform that my brother has made the supreme sacrifice for the nation,” Mohan Lal said.He said his brother wanted both of his sons to become doctors and join the Indian Army to serve the nation, “Now it is our duty to make sure that the dream of our brother is fulfilled.”Since the news of the martyrdom of Ravi Paul spread, thousands of villagers and relatives started pouring in to the house of the martyr soldier to express their solidarity with the bereaved family. — PTI