The chief of defence staff will be a single-point military advisor to the defence ministers on military matters.

LT General (retd) DB Shekatkar, Chairman of Committee on Combat Capabilities Enhancement of Armed Forces has said, “India needs a chief of defence staff but his role, responsibilities and accountability have to be defined as per Indian requirements and Ministry of Defence should not directly adopt a western model.”

The general has just submitted his report to Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, who recently said a decision on appointment of CDS will be taken after studying the Shekatkar committee report.

The 11-member committee has submitted a 550-page report to the Ministry of Defence. “Its contents are classified but on principle I can tell you a CDS is long overdue. We should not adopt a western model but keeping in mind the Indian environment appoint a CDS,” Shekatkar said speaking

WHO IS CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF?

Parrikar had in May 2016 set up a committee to work on enhancement of combat capabilities of the Indian armed forces. “There is need for integration of forces at two levels. One within the three services and the other with the ministry of defence. CDS should not be symbolic and the integration should not be cosmetic,” he added.

Also read: Why Indian Army Special Forces are way behind US Navy SEALs or Israel’s IDF despite upgrade  

Also read: We have tight military relations with India, says Russian minister countering Pakistan bonhomie

The CDS will be a single-point military advisor to the defence ministers on military matters. He should have authority over the three chiefs but the chiefs are over all responsible for the functioning of the three forces. Keeping in mind future warfare enhancement of combat capabilities formation of a cyber space command and special forces command are included.

There is likely to be a major debate on need to reorganise the armed forces to make them combat-ready for future wars. A section within the security establishment is of the opinion that hybrid wars, with the adversary using terror as a weapon is a bigger and immediate threat, more than conventional war in the near future. The elaborate report running into 550 pages is being studied by Parrikar and delves deep into aspects like joint planning, training and higher defence management.

Also read: Home Ministry agrees to grant status of battle casualty to paramilitary personnel 

Also read: Why Nagrota attack is a slap on security array of army establishments

WHAT DOES THE REPORT LOOK LIKE

The report looks into future requirements of the armed forces in terms of the operations to be undertaken. Despite joint training at the level of NDA initially, Defence Services Staff College at the level of majors and National Defence College at the level of Brigadiers, jointness in planning is missing in the armed forces.

“Instead of different army, navy and air force war colleges – there should be an integrated war college for joint planning of operations. This can be at the level of commanding officers.”

Barack Obama is currently vacationing in Hawaii. Reuters file

Washington, December 24

US President Barack Obama has signed into law the USD 618 billion defence budget for 2017, which enhances security cooperation with India and conditions nearly half of the funding to Pakistan on a certification that it is taking demonstrable steps against the Haqqani Network.Currently vacationing in Hawaii, Obama on Friday signed the National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA) 2017, which asks Defence Secretary and Secretary of State to take steps necessary to recognise India as America’s “major defence partner”.

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A summary of the bill released by Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee Senator John McCain said NDAA-2017 “enhances security cooperation” between the US and India.It also asks the administration to designate an individual within the executive branch who has experience in defence acquisition and technology to reinforce and ensure, through inter-agency policy coordination, the success of the Framework for the US-India Defence Relationship; and to help resolve remaining issues impeding US-India defence trade, security cooperation, and co-production and co-development opportunities.The NDAA, which among other things, creates a USD 1.2 billion Counter-ISIL Fund, imposes four conditions on Pakistan to be eligible for USD 400 million of the USD 900 million of the coalition support fund (CSF).The US Defence Secretary needs to certify to the Congress that Pakistan continues to conduct military operations that are contributing to significantly disrupting the safe haven and freedom of movement of the Haqqani Network in Pakistan and that Islamabad has taken steps to demonstrate its commitment to prevent the Haqqani Network from using any of its territory as a safe haven.Early this year, US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter refused to give a similar certification to Pakistan due to which it was not given USD 300 million under coalition support fund.In his signing statement, Obama did not mention to any of these provisions of the bill, but he did express disappointment over certain other provisions in NDAA-2017.He said: “I remain deeply concerned about the Congress’s use of the National Defence Authorisation Act to impose extensive organisational changes on the Department of Defence, disregarding the advice of the Department’s senior civilian and uniformed leaders.“The extensive changes in the bill are rushed, the consequences poorly understood, and they come at a particularly inappropriate time as we undertake a transition between administrations. These changes not only impose additional administrative burdens on the Department of Defence and make it less agile, but they also create additional bureaucracies and operational restrictions that generate inefficiencies at a time when we need to be more efficient.” PTI

Army men carry in a wheelchair Balaminda Ekka, widow of PVC awardee Albert Ekka, at a Vijay Diwas function in Kolkata. PTI

New Delhi, December 16

India and Bangladesh today recollected the creation of Bangladesh and the decisive victory of the Indian armed forces over Pakistan 45 years ago. On December 16, 1971, 93,000 Pakistan troops under Lt Gen AAK Niazi had surrendered to the Indian Army.The Nehru Memorial Museum and Library along with the India Foundation organised a seminar on the “1971 India-Pakistan war — Liberation of Bangladesh”. A special pictorial exhibition and seminar was opened to showcase key elements of the war.Gen VK Singh (retd) and Mofazzal Hussain Choudhury, who participated in the war in different capacities, shared the stage. Gen Singh fought the war as a young officer of the Indian Army, while Choudhury was part of the Mukti Bahini — a pro-independence militia in East Pakistan.In the audience sat greying veterans of the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force. President Pranab Mukherjee, in a recorded message, hailed the relations between India and Bangladesh. He lauded the “able and mature leadership of Sheikh Bangabandhu (Mujibur) Rahman”, describing him as the father of Bangladesh. — TNS

VK Singh compares Pak army with Nazis

• Making a strong statement against India’s arch enemy, Gen VK Singh equated the atrocities committed by Pakistan forces in Bangladesh, then East Pakistan, in 1971 with those of Nazi forces. “The type of atrocities which went on in Bangladesh (before liberation) is something the world has probably forgotten,” said General Singh. The Army had played a key role in the training of Mukti Bahini.

BEIJING : China has positioned anti-aircraft guns and advanced weapons systems on disputed islands and reefs in the South China Sea (SCS), an US thinktank has said after releasing new satellite pictures. It also said Beijing has further fortified ongoing constructions in the region.

REUTERSA satellite image shows what CSIS Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative says appear to be anti­aircraft guns.

The images taken in November show “significant point-defence capabilities, in the form of large anti-aircraft guns and probable close-in weapons systems (CIWS), at each of its outposts in the Spratly Islands ,” the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI), part of the Washington-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) said.

But Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said on Thursday the deployment had “nothing to do with militarisation”. “To conduct construction on China’s own territory and deploy necessary national defence facilities is quite normal,” he said.

The new images revealed new construction on Fiery Cross, Subi and Mischief reefs on the Spratly islands, known as Nansha in China.

The islands and reefs are also claimed by Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei and Taiwan.

“AMTI began tracking the construction of identical, hexagon-shaped structures at Fiery Cross, Mischief, and Subi Reefs in June and July. It now seems that these structures are an evolution of point-defence fortifications already constructed at China’s smaller facilities on Gaven, Hughes, Johnson, and Cuarteron Reefs,” AMTI said.

“China has built nearly identical headquarters buildings at each of its four smaller artificial islands. The two smallest of the islets, Hughes and Gaven Reefs, feature four arms built off of these central structures.” (With inputs from agencie

SC bench dismisses the pleas filed by two Muslim personnel of IAF. — File photo

Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, December 15

The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld Air Force’s denial of permission to two Muslim personnel to grow beard, holding that the two orders were in compliance with Regulation 425(b) which applied only to “personnel whose religion prohibits the cutting off the hair or shaving off the face of its members”.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)The petitioners failed to show that they were entitled to exemption under the relevant regulation, a bench comprising Chief Justice TS Thakur and Justices DY Chandrachud and LN Rao ruled.

The policy letter of May 8, 1980 did initially permit an airman professing Islam to sport a beard of a prescribed length. This was revisited by the Air Headquarters on August 10, 1982 and a distinction was made between the cases of Muslim personnel who had already sported a beard at the time of joining service (in whose case no permission was required) and cases where personnel desire to sport a beard after joining service (in which case a formal application informing the Commanding Officer was required to be submitted).

The policy was again revisited on February 24, 2003. This time a limited protection was granted for those who had a beard prior to January 1, 2002 at the time of enrolment but the policy also stated that no person would after joining service be allowed to maintain a beard.

This position was clarified on June 9, 2003 by stating that personnel whose religion demands sporting a beard, would be allowed to do so provided they were granted permission prior to the date of the letter or had grown a beard at the time joining Air Force.

The apex court ruling came on appeals by Mohammad Zubair and Ansari Aaftab Ahmed.

TNS & agencies

Tyagi: PMO part of Agusta move

Former IAF chief in 4-day CBI custody

New Delhi, December 10   A Delhi court today sent former Indian Air Force chief SP Tyagi, his cousin Sanjeev Tyagi and Delhi-based lawyer Gautam Khetan to four days’ CBI custody till December 14 for questioning on the AgustaWestland deal to unearth the “very large conspiracy with international ramifications”.Metropolitan Magistrate Sujit Saurabh said their custodial interrogation was required for a “fair probe”,  even as he put aside the CBI’s submission for a 10-day remand. Senior advocate N Hariharan argued that the FIR in the case was registered over three years ago and that there was no fresh ground for the arrests now.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)He claimed the decision to procure 12 VVIP choppers from AgustaWestland was a “collective” one and the Prime Minister Office (PMO) was also a part of it. The deal to supply 12 VVIP helicopters came under the scanner after the Italian authorities alleged that bribe had been paid by AgustaWestland to clinch the deal. Tyagi, who retired in 2007, has been accused of influencing the deal in favour of the company.The CBI said crucial information had been collected from Italy, Switzerland and Mauritius and the accused were required to be confronted with the information to “unearth the larger conspiracy”. Telling the court that regular meetings had taken place between senior officials of AgustaWestland and Tyagi with Sanjeev Tyagi’s help, the CBI alleged that a conspiracy was hatched to reduce the service ceiling of the copters after which AgustaWestland became eligible to supply a dozen helicopters for VVIPs. The CBI told the court that in 1999, the government decided to phase out old helicopters as these were not fit for high-altitude areas, and the Defence Ministry in 2002 issued global tenders for  new VVIP helicopters in which 11 companies participated. AgustaWestland could not meet the eligibility criteria.“Therefore, a conspiracy was hatched to help AgustaWestland win the contract by making changes in operational requirements,” the CBI said.

Ex-IAF chief sent to 4-day CBI custody in VVIP chopper scam

TYAGI’S COUNSEL SAYS THE PROCUREMENT OF CHOPPERS WAS A ‘COLLECTIVE’ DECISION IN WHICH FORMER PM’S OFFICE WAS INVOLVED

From page 01 NEW DELHI: Former air force chief SP Tyagi, arrested in the nearly `4,000-crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam, was remanded in four days’ CBI custody along with two others on Saturday.

HT FILEThe CBI told court that SP Tyagi had made huge investments in land and other properties without disclosing source of income.

The CBI has sought 10-day custody of the accused because it believed their interrogation was essential to unearth a “very large conspiracy with international ramifications”. The others arrested with Tyagi in the case pertaining to the procurement of 12 VVIP choppers from the UK-based firm are his cousin, Sanjeev, and advocate Gautam Khaitan.

During proceedings at a Delhi court, Tyagi’s counsel N Hariharan said the procurement of VVIP choppers from AgustaWestland was a “collective” decision in which the erstwhile Prime Minister’s Office also played a part. “The file moved through several levels, but (my client is) the only one who has been arrayed as the accused,” he added.

The CBI had arrested Tyagi on corruption charges during the course of its probe into the `3,767-crore AgustaWestland helicopter deal on December 9. He is the first military chief to be arrested in India’s history.

Incumbent air force chief Arup Raha described Tyagi’s arrest as “unfortunate”, and said it had “dented” its reputation. “But we believe in the rule of law,” he added.

The CBI told the court that Tyagi had “abused his official position” when he was the air chief marshal, and made huge investments in land and other properties without disclosing his source of income. To this, Tyagi said he could give an account of all his land investments.

The counsel appearing for the other two accused also opposed the CBI’s remand plea on the grounds that the FIR was lodged over three years ago, and there were no fresh grounds to arrest them at this stage. The probe agency, however, alleged that Khaitan was the brains behind the transfer of bribe money to India, and Sanjeev was known to alleged European middleman Carlo Gerosa.

After hearing them out, the magistrate said: “Given the seriousness of the allegations and the gravity of the matter, I am of the considered opinion that CBI custody is required for a fair probe”. (With PTI inputs)

VVIP Chopper scam: CBI to produce Former IAF Chief SP Tyagi before court

The deal is related to purchase of 12 helicopters for VVIPs from Italian manufacturer, Finmeccanica in 2010 during UPA-2 government’s rule.

Former Air Force Chief S P Tyagi. (File)

The CBI will produce before the court today former Air Force Chief S P Tyagi and seek his remand after he was arrested yesterday in the Agusta Westland helicopter deal case. Delhi based lawyer Gautam Khaitan and another person namely Sanjeev Tyagi were also arrested in the case.

The deal is related to purchase of 12 helicopters for VVIPs from Italian manufacturer, Finmeccanica in 2010 during UPA-2 government’s rule. 71-year old Tyagi, who retired in 2007, was called for questioning at CBI Headquarters along with Khaitan and Sanjeev Tyagi.

These are the first arrests in the case by CBI which came three years after it registered an FIR in 2013. CBI spokesperson Devpreet Singh in a statement last evening, said, “It was alleged that Chief of Air Staff entered into criminal conspiracy with other accused persons. She said in 2005, Air Force Chief conceded to change IAF’s consistent stand and reduced service ceiling of VVIP Helicopters to 4500 meters.”

She said such changes in Operational Requirements made the private company based at the UK (AgustaWestland), eligble to participate in the Request for Proposal for VVIP Helicopters.

Singh said the arrested accused persons will be produced before the competent court tomorrow where their remand would be sought

Vikas Swarup, MEA spokesperson

Simran Sodhi

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 1

India today toughened its stand on holding talks with Pakistan and was firm in its assertion that Pakistan needed to stop cross-border terrorism for dialogue to resume. Reports emanating from Pakistani media today also suggested that so far, India and Pakistan had no plans to hold a bilateral on the sidelines of the Heart of Asia (HOA) conference scheduled to be held in Amritsar on December 3-4.At a media briefing today, when asked repeatedly over the possibility of a bilateral in Amritsar since Sartaj Aziz, the de facto foreign minister of Pakistan, will be in attendance, India was quick to say that while it was ready for talks, “India will never accept continued terrorism as the new normal of the bilateral relationship”.The official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Vikas Swarup, also listed out many of the terrorist attacks against India that had been traced back to Pakistan. Meanwhile, Dawn newspaper in Pakistan quoted official sources as saying that while Pakistan was willing for talks, India was not and also pointed out that New Delhi did not want to discuss the issue of Jammu and Kashmir. While many had pointed out that the HOA conference offered both countries an opportunity to talk and to reduce the bilateral tensions, India seems in no mood to take up Pakistan’s offer of talks.

Delhi to help Dhaka in defence production

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 1

Within two weeks of Bangladesh getting its first submarine from China, Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today ended a two-day visit to Dhaka with a promise of allowing Indian defence manufacturers to help the neighbouring country set up its own military hardware manufacturing base.New Delhi has offered Dhaka that Indian public sector undertakings will help build the military production capabilities of Bangladesh. Indian PSUs are already making naval warships, rifles, guns, tanks and armoured vehicles that are needed by the neighbour.Bangladesh would like to see some growth of its own defence production industry and India has offered its services, sources said.Leading an 11-member delegation, Parrikar is the first Indian Defence Minister to visit Dhaka. India and Bangladesh have sorted out their differences over the land boundary and maritime boundary disputes and till now the two countries did not have military-to-military relationship.Parrikar today called on Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who also holds defence portfolio, and discussed measures to strengthen military and security ties. He had yesterday met President Abdul Hamid who assured India that it had “zero tolerance” policy against terrorism and sought expanded military ties.New Delhi has offered more training slots for Bangladesh at Indian training institutions. The Defence Minister also met Hasina’s security adviser Major General Tariq Ahmed (retd). Hasina herself is expected to visit India next month.

At present, the chances of an armoured corps officer commanding a Rashtriya Rifles or an Assam Rifles unit are rare.

With counter terrorist experience helping Lt Gen Bipin Rawat become the next Army chief, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikaris now planning to give more postings to armoured and artillery corps officers in anti-insurgency operations to avoid the situation faced by superseded officer Lt Gen Pravin Bakshi.

Despite being the senior most and competent, the government chose to appoint Lt Gen Rawat over Lt Gen Bakshi due to the former’s experience in counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir and the northeast.

Senior government sources told Mail Today that Lt Gen Bakshi had discussed the issue of armoured corps officers being in a disadvantageous position in light of the recent approach of the government to give weightage to counter insurgency experience in appointing Army chiefs.

MINISTRY TO OPEN NEW AVENUES

“We would find out ways to give more exposure to armoured and artillery corps officers in counter insurgency operations so that they don’t miss out on important appointments due to lack of stints in anti-terrorist missions and operations,” senior Defence Ministry sources told Mail Today.

Also read: Government may assign post at par with Army chief to superseded Lt Gen Praveen Bakshi

Also read: Why Indian Army Special Forces are way behind US Navy SEALs or Israel’s IDF despite upgrade  

At present, officers from infantry get to command their units in Jammu and Kashmir and Northeast but officers of the armoured corps generally get that opportunity in the deserts of Rajasthan or plains of Punjab, as they have to command tanks and mechanized combat vehicles as they can operate in that terrain only.

Tanks and infantry combat vehicles cannot be deployed in hills and mountainous terrain of Jammu and Kashmir except for the China border in eastern Ladakh, which has vast plains where the tanks can have a free run. Moreover, tank regiments are supposed to penetrate and soften any Pakistani resistance in case of a conventional war and Punjab and Rajasthan are perfect terrain to do so in case of hostilities.

Officers from armoured and artillery corps get to do their mandatory stint in counter insurgency force Rashtriya Rifles in Kashmir valley but that is done when they are relatively very young in their military lives.

OFFICERS NO LESS THAN INFANTRY MATES

“We don’t want that the officers from these arms to feel that they are any less from their infantry mates and that is why we will find out ways how they can be given command of battalions, brigades and divisions in the regions where we have antiterrorist operations,” the sources said.

Also read: Why Lt General Bipin Rawat, man who led surgical strikes in Myanmar, is best suited to be Army chief

Sources in Indian Army Headquarters said such a thing can be done by the army by fixing vacancies for armoured corps and artillery officers in Rashtriya Rifles units so that they can also get counter insurgency operations if they want to.

At present, the chances of an armoured corps officer commanding a Rashtriya Rifles or an Assam Rifles unit are rare. The government is of the view that more than conventional wars, the biggest security challenge before India is from non-state actors and small groups of terrorists. Along with Bakshi, Southern Army Commander Lt Gen PM Hariz was also senior to Rawat and was overlooked. Hariz is from the Mechanised Infantry, which handles infantry combat vehicles.

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 26

The Ministry of Defence has accepted the recommendation of an expert committee to review some of the rules concerning pregnancy of women officers during the course of their service.The five-member committee, constituted to review service conditions and suggest ways to reduce litigation, had recommended a review of certain formats issued by the Coast Guard Headquarters relating to termination of services of women officers in case of pregnancy.  Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has said this recommendation “may be agreed to in principle.”The committee had observed in its report that the Coast Guard, after selection of women officers, takes an undertaking from them that they shall not get pregnant within three years of completion of training. Some other “incongruous restrictions” such as that they shall not get pregnant more than twice during their service careers, and if they do so, their services would be terminated have also been placed upon them.Pointing out that such terms of service were absolutely at odds with reality, the committee had questioned the legal validity of such rules.The committee had also observed that no such undertaking was taken from women in other services or even from women in other uniformed services. “Any such stipulation shows the entire organisation in a regressive light and should not be allowed to remain valid,” the committee had remarked.The MoD has also agreed to in principle another of the committee’s recommendations that decisions to challenge verdicts rendered by the courts in favour of women officers must be taken after consultations with all stakeholders.The committee had said any decision to file appeals should be taken at the highest level of the Defence Minister after discussions involving representatives of the defence services and by inducting on any such study panel at least one serving woman officer and one released woman veteran.

Saka Sirhind… Story of Undying Faith & Spirit

Chhotte Sahibzade (Punjabi: ਛੋਟੇ ਸਾਹਿਬਜ਼ਾਦੇ) of Guru Gobind Singh attained martyrdom on 26 December 1705 at a very young age. This is known as Saka Sirhind. Every year on 26 December, Shaheedi Jor Mela is organised at Fatehgarh Sahib, to commemorate the supreme sacrifice at the place of their martyrdom.

History

The Mughal forces, Hilly Rajas’ forces had laid seize to Anandgarh Fort, Anandpur Sahib for about 8 months, in 1704. The Mughals and Hilly Rajas wanted Guru Gobind Singh to leave the fort they swore on Gita and Quran to give a safe passage to Guru. The Guru decided to leave the fort. Guru Sahib, four Sahibzadas, Mata Gujri, Guru’s Mahil (wives), five Panj Piaras and a few hundred Sikhs left Anandpur Sahib on the chilly night of 20 December 1704 towards Ropar. In the intervening night of 20–21 December, the rnemy breached the vows and attacked Guru’s entourage at a site on Sarsa rivulet some 25 km from Anandpur Sahib. Guru’s family separated. This spot is now known as Parwar Vichhora. Mata Gujri with two younger grandsons, accompanied Guru family cook, Gangoo, a Brahamin, to his village, Saheri near Morinda. Guru’s Mahil left with Bhai Mani Singh, towards Delhi. Guru Gobind Singh with two elder Sahibzadas, 5 Panj Piaras and 40 Sikhs proceeded towards Chamkaur and reached there, in the afternoon of 21 December. Both are in Ropar Distt.(Pb.). The famous Chamkaur battle, took place on 22 and 23 December 1704, where two elder Sahibzadas, 3 Panj Piaras and 40 Sikhs laid down their lives. Mata Gujri and two younger Sahibzadas were arrested by Morinda Police at Saheri village. From there, they were handed over to Suba Sirhind. They were imprisoned, in the Thanda Burj (Cold Tower). A farcical Trial began, in the Kacheri, (Court) of Suba Sirhind. It lasted for three days. On 27 December 1704, a heinous and cold-blooded crime was committed in the Sarzameen of Sirhind. Guru Gobind Singh’s two younger sons, Baba Fateh Singh and Baba Zorawar Singh aged 7 and 9 years were bricked alive and later killed in the presence of the Assembly of Shaitans, presided over by Suba Sirhind, Wazir Khan. Two younger Sahibzadas and Mata Gujri were cremated by a devout Sikh, Diwan Todar Mal, at a spot, know known as Joyti Saroop Gurudwara.

Samat Bikrmi dates and year: Leaving of Anandpur Sahib,5 Poh 1761, Battle of Chamkaur 6, 7 and 8 Poh 1761, Saka Sirhind 11,12 and 13 Poh 1761.