Militants fired at an army patrol team at Beewra in Anantnag’s Srigufwara on Wednesday morning, sparking a gun battle. File photo

Srinagar, December 14A top Lashkar-e-Toiba commander was one of two militants killed in separate encounters with security forces in Kashmir’s Anantnag and Baramulla districts on Wednesday.Abu Bakar, a top commander of the militant LeT carrying on his head a bounty of Rs 10 lakh, was killed in counter-insurgency operations in Baramullah’s Sopore. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)In another incident, militants fired at an army patrol team at Beewra in Anantnag’s Srigufwara on Wednesday morning, sparking a gun battle, a policeman said.A suspected militant identified as Basit Ahmad Dar was killed.Dar had recently joined the Hizbul Mujahideen, the policeman said.— PTI/TNS

HARDLINE REGIME Intel chief believes in ‘aggressive measures’ to thwart New Delhi’s influence in Afghanistan

Pakistan needs to prevent the opening of another hostile front should Afghanistan emerge as a proxy for India… LT GEN NAVEED MUKHTAR, chief of Inter-Services Intelligence agency

ISLAMABAD/NEW DELHI: Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar, the new chief of the powerful InterServices Intelligence agency, believes Pakistan could resort to “aggressive measures” to undermine India’s role in wartorn Afghanistan to prevent Kabul from becoming a “proxy” for New Delhi.

Mukhtar was named director general of the ISI as part of a major shake-up of the Pakistan Army top brass by the new chief, Gen Qamar Bajwa. He isn’t a newcomer to spycraft as he earlier headed the ISI’s counter-terror wing.

He is known for his low profile and professional demeanour, say those who have met him. As ISI chief, Mukhtar will have to handle Pakistan’s deteriorating relations with Afghanistan and India.

For the second time in a row, a general overseeing security in the financial hub of Karachi was picked to run the ISI, which has often been criticised for meddling in politics and its links to several militant groups.

In a paper titled “Afghanistan — Alternative Futures And Their Implications” that he wrote five years ago while studying at the US Army War College, Mukhtar emphasised that Pakistan has to take steps to counter India’s influence in Afghanistan.

He also wrote that “moderate” Taliban factions should be accommodated in the government in Afghanistan before US troops withdraw.

Noting that Islamabad’s fate is closely linked with Kabul, Mukhtar wrote that “Pakistan needs to prevent the opening of another hostile front should Afghanistan emerge as a proxy for India. Consequently, Pakistan will closely follow India’s efforts to influence Afghanistan and may take aggressive measures to undermine India’s efforts in this regard.”

Mukhtar’s views on the Taliban and India are largely in line with the thinking among the Pakistan Army brass. For a long time, the top generals in Rawalpindi have favoured an accommodation with the Afghan Taliban, whose leaders have sheltered in the Pakistani province of Balochistan for years.

Pakistani generals also believe a government in Kabul incorporating Taliban elements is their best bet to prevent India increasing its influence in Afghanistan. Mukhtar wrote in the paper that New Delhi is concerned about the “perceived dangers posed by a return of a Taliban-controlled Afghan government that sponsors terrorism threatening India”.

“India strongly opposes any accommodation with the Taliban in the governance of Afghanistan in that it perceives a nexus between the Taliban, al Qaeda terrorists, and jihadist groups operating in Pakistan that are all hostile to India,” he wrote.

Mukhtar, commissioned in the Armoured Corps in 1983, concluded that “India could still move to be a major destabilising force if it perceives that a return of a radicalised Taliban government is likely”. Mukhtar replaced Lt Gen Rizwan Akhtar, who did not complete the three-year term for an ISI chief. Akhtar was made president of the National Defence University

Observer Research Foundation fellow Manoj Joshi (right) and defence analyst Rahul Bedi during a talk organised by the Indian Ex-servicemen Movement in Panchkula on Saturday. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, December 10

The first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, had little understanding and liking of the armed forces and consequently he did not take the military’s advice as he should have done.Stating this here today while delivering a talk on “Evolution of India’s Defence Policy under Pandit Nehru” as part of the Veterans Day Commemoration organised by the local chapter of the Indian Ex-servicemen Movement, Dr Manoj Joshi, fellow, Observer Research Foundation, said while Nehru had his shortcomings on the military front, the military too did not come up with any strategic plan or vision. As a result, appropriate advice was not available to Nehru and he committed mistakes and ad hocism prevailed.Dr Joshi said Nehru had reposed great faith in the United Nations (UN) giving a fair play in sorting out the post-Independence India-Pak imbroglio, but that did not happen as some countries like Britain backed Pakistan.Stating that while Nehru had made significant contributions to the national cause, he faced vast challenges and after the death of the then Home Minister, Sardar Patel, he had no equal among his political peers, which led to him developing a personality cult and devising his own way of doing things unilaterally.They also discussed various aspects of India’s national security issues pertaining to the Nehruvian era.

Following are the excerpts from Gen VP Malik’s inaugural lecture, “Defence at 70”, under the aegis of the Tribune National Security Forum, on Saturday, December 3, 2016.

INDIA’S  defence report card of the past seven decades is more positive than negative. But the credit for that goes less to our policies and grand strategies; more to those responsible for operational planning and execution on the ground. The baptism started soon after Independence.

Yesterday

Barring the 1962 war with China, India’s national defence has been ensured in all military engagements. But many a time, we have failed to convert-hard-won with much sacrifices-operational achievements into long-term politico-strategic successes. There is a need to analyse this aspect at this juncture. In hindsight, these reflect on India’s poor strategic vision, guidance and directions, and lack of coordination amongst civil and military leaders. Let me end this part by stating, rather sadly, that the lack of political guidance on important security-related issues, its excessive dependence on bureaucracy in PMO, MEA, MoD, IB, RAW, and marginalisation of professional and critical stakeholder’s military advice at the highest level of decision making, continues to be a major handicap even after 70 years.

Today

Externally, both our neighbours have established a very strong strategic nexus. Internally,  although threats have declined the vulnerabilities persist. They persist due to polarising, violent, identity politics and contempt for constitutional norms.

Tomorrow

In this new age of heightened nationalism and unpredictability, no one can give an assurance of nuclear and high-level conventional wars. But recent trends show that there is a greater likelihood of sub-conventional, hybrid and limited border wars. Information technology has made the battle space larger, more inclusive and faster. The entire command-and-control mechanism depends on space satellite facilities. Cyber-attacks on civilian infrastructure would have far more significance than any damage to military installations.

Defence management

The separation between tactical, operational and strategic levels of warfare has blurred. A small military action becomes an issue for consideration and decision making at the highest level. We have a situation where a junior military officer is expected to understand political considerations, and the political leader to know the tactical and operational considerations.Therefore, defence management requires greater, direct politico-military interface covering national security strategy, defence policy and planning, budgetary economy and common personnel and logistics. This requires a major overhaul of the Ministry of Defence and the higher defence-control system.

The roadblock

We have neither delivered a Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) nor addressed many organisational problems. By keeping the Integrated Defence Staff headless, it has failed to provide an integrated and joint paradigm; much less give integrated advice to the Defence Minister, Prime Minister or the CCS. My feedback shows that there has been no change in the responsibilities, accountability and procedures, or in the attitude of civilian officers in the Ministry of Defence.  Inter-Services cooperation remains weak. The bureaucratic wall between the political executive and the professional service chiefs has converted the concept of “civilian political control” into “civil bureaucratic control”. There is an urgent requirement to reorganise the Ministry of Defence and its business rules. The CDS appointment has become indispensable.

At others’ mercy

The Kargil war made me realise the importance of being self-reliant in arms and equipment. During that war, every country that we approached, either refused or took us for a ride by trying to sell their old weapons, ammunition and equipment at a high price. That situation is not very different today. We also carry the dubious distinction of being world’s largest importer of defence equipment. Despite the latest changes in FDI, defence purchase norms and the PM’s push on “Make in India”, it will take 20-25 years to make up deficiencies in our arms and equipment. This delay is unacceptable.

The to-do list

The strategy should include (a) facilitating the domestic defence industrial houses to expand their hi-tech base soonest (b) creation of skilled worker base (c) ensuring a level playing field for public and private defence sectors (d) an unambiguous export policy, and, most importantly, (e) sufficient defence budget for capital purchases.We must place some orders for complete items as in the case of 36 Rafael fighters aircraft, lest we are caught in another Kargil war-like situation.

People count

The man behind the gun is more important than the gun. In last 70 years, there has been a steady denigration and erosion of the soldiers’ status within the government, and therefore in civil society. This is reflected in the qualitative and quantitative dilution of the military rank and file, despite being the most dependable brand in the country. Honour, izzat, and comparable status in the government and society have sustained the armed forces and enabled them to draw the right kind of leadership. By taking away its pride and status, making the career unattractive, and not getting required weapons and equipment, the military is no longer a prime choice today. Next, it will affect their morale and fighting spirit. Our political leadership must introspect and correct this aspect sooner than later.

No silos

National security decision-making and higher direction of military conflicts require multi-disciplinary vertical and lateral consultations, and much faster decision-making. We need many changes in the national security structures, processes and procedures which can make it more efficient, resilient, and speedily responsive. I hope we will pay serious attention to our strategic policies, higher defence-control organisation, forces’modernisation, capacities, and military morale. It is only then that we can be secure internally and externally, fully prepared to take on the role that we see for ourselves. The writer is the former Chief of the Army Staff

The government will install laser walls and other technologically advanced systems on the India-Pakistan border to thwart any infiltration bid from the neighbouring nation, Union minister Kiren Rijiju said here on Sunday. He said the work will be completed in a year.

The minister of state for home affairs was here to pay tributes to Shaheed Ram Parkash on his martyrdom anniversary at Qadian town in the district.

The laser walls or fence are being monitored by the Border Security Force (BSF), which guards the Indo-Pak International Border in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat. A dozen laser walls have been made operational already along the border in Punjab to plug the porous riverine and treacherous terrain and keep an effective vigil against intruders and terrorists exploiting the frontier areas to cross over.After the Pathankot terror attack in January, where it was suspected that terrorists crossed over from Pakistan by breaching the IB from Bamiyal area in Punjab, the Union home ministry and BSF have sped up the deployment and activation of these walls along the border.

The south end of the Rohtang Tunnel at Dhundi, 23 km from Manali. Photo by writer

MC Thakur

MANALI, DECEMBER 2

With winter setting in and anticipated snowfall closing the 13,050- foot Rohtang Pass, gateway to Lahaul- Spiti, every year for almost six months, the Rohtang Tunnel Project work like every year has almost come to a halt at North Portal near Sisu in Lahaul Valley. There will be no work at the North Portal till May 2017 when the Rohtang Pass is likely to open again. However, the work will continue from the South Portal near Dhundi throughout the winter, said Brig DN Bhatt, Chief Engineer Project Rohtang Tunnel, today.As of now the excavation at the North Portal has been completed for 3.7 km, from South Portal 3.8 km while 1.3 km remains to be excavated.The Chief Engineer further said that South Portal has encountered fractured and weak rock. However, the project work is going round the clock overcoming the challenge. The Chief Engineer confirmed that all efforts are being made to ensure that the breakthrough is achieved in July-August 2017 as planned.Brig DN Bhatt also informed that the project has seen unprecedented progress. The excavation in 2016 has reached 2161 m as against the highest progress achieved earlier in 2011 of 2077 m. It is expected that excavation by December 31, 2016 will reach 2,250 m mark. Similarly, other activities like benching, emergency tunnel, etc, have also progressed considerably to achieve the completion target by the second half of 2019.Brig DN Bhatt further said that construction of this tunnel has not been easy. Whatever challenges thrown have been met successfully. Worst was the water and muck ingress in Seri Nullah fault zone, emission of hazardous gases, encountering of high pressure entrapped gases in the rock and frequent encounter with loose and weak rocks needing additional supports to be installed. Ventilation also became a challenge.Brig Bhatt also emphasized that strict quality control for material and workmanship is being maintained at both the portals. Labs with required testing equipments are being maintained at both portals and regular tests on materials are carried out.

Even as the Indian Army failed to strengthen its defences in time, junior officers and soldiers valiantly won the war on the western front, with significant contribution from the Indian Air Force

WINNING LAP: Maj Kuldeep Singh Chandpuri and his company successfully held back Pakistani armour and infantry through a harrowing night in the Rajasthan desert in the famous Battle of Longewala

Dinesh Kumar

Click here for a larger view of Looking back 1971 War

In keeping with its strategic thinking that the defence of East Pakistan lay in India’s Western Theatre, Pakistan launched an offensive on December 3 evening with aerial attacks on 11 air bases across Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. This was followed by an Army assault at four places across Jammu and Kashmir (Poonch and Chhamb), Punjab (Fazilka) and the deserts of Rajasthan that same night and early next morning.Although the surrender at Dhaka and dismemberment of East Pakistan has been the focus of all writings in this war, the harsh reality is that the conduct of the war on the western front was marked by low competence levels and offensive spirit, faulty planning and a mediocre display of leadership by generals (barring very few exceptions) on both sides. The Indian posture was largely defensive and the Army seemed content on maintaining status quo.India faced reverses at two key places. It lost Chhamb for the second time in six years, the first being during the 1965 War. Chhamb was then returned to India as stipulated by the January 1966 Tashkent Agreement. But in 1971 not only was the Indian Army unable to defend Chhamb a second time despite advance intelligence, made no worthwhile effort to retake this militarily critical portion in the Jammu area even after the Pakistani army ceased further operations on December 10 following the death of their Division Commander in a helicopter crash. The Army did, however, manage to prevent the Pakistanis from securing a bridgehead on the Munawar Tawi.A second reverse was suffered in Fazilka-Ferozepur where Pakistan captured the Hussainiwala enclave and the Fazilka agriculture belt, enabling it to establish a foothold on the Sabuna distributary which provided them depth to defend the Sulemanki Canal Headworks located 1.5 km from the border.Overall the Indian Army captured more territory from Pakistan (about 3,600 sq km) compared to 126 sq km by the Pakistani army on the Western front. But except the few high altitude tactical features wrested in Ladakh and a portion in the Jammu-Poonch area, the territory gained elsewhere was of little military significance. The largest territorial gains were in the desolate uninhabited desert area of Rajasthan. The more tactically important gains were made in the capture of a major portion of the Shakargarh bulge and the ‘chicken neck’ in Jammu area where India launched an offensive. It also captured some high altitude key features in Ladakh that included Turtuk and mountain peaks overlooking the Leh-Srinagar highway. Much later, in April 1984, Turtuk was of tactical importance in the capture of the 110 km long Saltoro ridge located at the head of the Siachen glacier. The Army did well to defend the assault on Poonch, but made no attempt to retake the Haji Pir bulge as was done in 1965.The two armies on the western front had near parity in armour and artillery although India had a much larger Infantry. India had two regional commands — Western Command with three Corps and a Southern Command with two Divisions — pitted against two corps of Pakistan. In maintaining a strategic defence on the western front, India may have maintained the moral high ground of not being termed the aggressor. But India reflected little strategic thinking and lost out on a major opportunity to possibly militarily settle the J&K issue or at least make significant militarily gains in the state by taking advantage of Pakistan’s initiation of the war. Clearly, the Western Theatre was a case of a wasted opportunity.

Lt Col Mitali Madhumita

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 30

The only woman officer in the Army to have been decorated for gallantry, Lt Col Mitali Madhumita, has won a legal battle to continue in service. The Supreme Court today dismissed an appeal filed by the central government challenging earlier court orders ruling that she could seek permanent commission.Lt Col Madhumita from the Army Education Corps had been decorated with the Sena Medal for saving at least 19 lives during the February 2010 terrorist attack on the Indian embassy in Kabul.She had joined the Army as a short service commission (SSC) officer and later, for personal reasons, declined to opt for permanent commission (PC) in September 2010. On her return from Afghanistan, she changed her mind and sought to withdraw her request for leaving the Army on completion of her SSC term, but the Army refused to comply with her request.She moved the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) which in February 2014 quashed the communication of the Union of India by which her application for withdrawal of her earlier unwillingness for grant of permanent commission was rejected. The AFT had observed she had withdrawn her option well before her actual term in office came to an end. Her application for withdrawal of her earlier unwillingness had been duly processed and strongly recommended through proper official channel.The Union of India contended that grant of permanent commission to Madhumita would interfere with the policy and cadre management with regard to grant of permanent commission of SSC officers. Her release from service was stayed when she had sought judicial redress.The Supreme Court Bench, comprising Chief Justice of India TS Thakur, Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice Nageswara Rao, held that Lt Col Madhumita was an outstanding officer and had been awarded the Army Commander’s Commendation even after her service had been protected and continued by the Supreme Court vide its interim order in October 2015.Close to 1,500 women officers are serving in the Army and about 350 have been granted permanent commission after the government introduced the same for some select branches such as the Army Education Corps and Judge Advocate General’s Department a few years ago. The Air Force and Navy followed suit.

SC dismisses Centre’s appeal

• Lt Col Mitali Madhumita (pic) from the Army Education Corps got the Sena Medal for saving 19 lives during a 2010 terror attack on Indian embassy in Kabul
• The SSC officer declined to opt for permanent commission in 2010. On her return from Afghanistan, she sought to withdraw her request, but the Army refused
• She moved the Armed Forces Tribunal, which in 2014 quashed the government communication rejecting her application for withdrawal of her request
• The SC on Wednesday dismissed an appeal filed by the Centre challenging earlier court orders ruling that she could seek permanent commission

Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha with Air Chief-designate BS Dhanoa. Manas Ranjan Bhui

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 28

Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha today came out in support of former IAF chief SP Tyagi saying “we stand by him till he is proven guilty”.  He also listed the IAF requirement of an additional 200-250 fighter jets to meet future short fall.Raha, who retires on December 31, was meeting the media in a farewell press conference in New Delhi today when he, without naming Tyagi, said till the time a person was convicted, “I think we should give him due” but if a person was found guilty, there would be “no sympathy” for him.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)Tyagi, a former IAF chief — retired in 2007 — was arrested recently by the Central Bureau of Investigation on alleged bribery charges in the Rs 3,600-crore deal to buy 12 helicopters from AgustaWestland for use of VVIPs.Raha said there were so many agencies involved and one “could not pin the blame on one particular organisation or service”.On the fighter jets, Raha said mere 36 Rafale fighter jets would not suffice as India needed another 200-250 “medium weight” fighters over the next 10 years. India has enough of heavy weight fighters — the Su30 MKI — while the lightweight need will be met by the 123 Tejas light combat aircraft.Raha said “a void has been created as many of the squadrons (of the MiG 21) are past their use-by date”.On the selection of the Army Chief Lt Gen Bipin Rawat by superseding two of his seniors, Raha said in the past the seniority principle had been overruled. “But once a decision has been taken, we should go along with it otherwise it will weaken the person who is going to be the next chief.”The outgoing IAF chief counted the AN-32 crash as over Bay of Bengal as one of the “worst memories” during his tenure. “The AN-32 is not the best aircraft to fly on this route,” he said.Twenty nine personnel are feared dead in the crash when an AN-32, on a routine sortie from IAF Tambaram in Tamil Nadu to Port Blair, went missing at 12.25 pm on July 22, around 150 nautical miles east of Chennai.Raha termed the Pathankot terror attack a major “setback” during his tenure. “We learnt our lessons. Today, I can say that we are very well prepared,” Raha said in reference to the January-2 attack in which seven security personnel and one civilian were killed.On the “one rank, one pension” imbroglio, the IAF chief said it was an “unprecedented situation” which affected the esteem of the armed forces.The OROP agitation resulted in an unprecedented situation. “Whatever has been awarded by government to my mind is reasonable I have always told my people to accept this,” he said.

MUST BACK NEW ARMY CHIEF: AIR CHIEF RAHA

SELECTION PRINCIPLES Outgoing IAF chief says not supporting designate Bipin Rawat would weaken his position

On General Bakshi being superseded by General Bipin Rawat, the new army chief Based on merits and demerits, there will be people who will speak for and against it… We have to strengthen Rawat’s hand. He is a good soldier… and so is Bakshi. But a decision has been made. On corruption allegations against former IAF chief SP Tyagi A former air force chief is like a family member… If anybody in my family goes through a rough patch, I think we should stand by that person. And if the charges are proved, then we have no sympathy for him. On the need for more than 36 Rafale jets We require more aircraft… to give entire spectrum of capability… Over the next 10 years, we must have 200-250 aircraft. It has to be balanced out. NEW DELHI: Outgoing air chief Arup Raha on Wednesday said following the seniority principle in naming top military picks might have its “merits and demerits” but now that a decision had been taken, everyone must back army chief-designate lieutenant general Bipin Rawat.

HT PHOTOAir Chief Marshal Arup Raha with newly-appointed Air Marshal BS Dhanoa in New Delhi on Wednesday.

The government superseded two generals while naming Rawat as general Dalbir Singh’s successor, sparking a debate whether seniority or merit should determine top military appointments.

Asked to comment, the Indian Air Force chief said, “We have had selections based on merit or the consideration of the government. Seniority has been overruled in the past as well. I think we should go along with the decision, otherwise it will weaken the person who is going to be the next chief.”

As chairman of the chiefs of staff committee, Raha is India’s senior-most military commander.

The Tu-154 plane at Chkalovsky military airport near Moscow. AP/PTI file

Moscow, December 25A Russian military plane carrying 92 people, including dozens of Red Army Choir singers, dancers and orchestra members, crashed into the Black Sea on its way to Syria on Sunday morning with no reports of survivors.The Russian Defence Ministry said one of its TU-154 planes had disappeared from radar screens at 5:25 am (0225 GMT), two minutes after taking off from Adler in southern Russia, where it had stopped to refuel from Moscow, en route to Syria.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)An unnamed ministry source told Russian news agencies that those on board had almost no chance of surviving and that no life rafts had been found. Interfax cited another unnamed source as saying the plane had not sent an SOS signal.The jet, a Soviet-era design first introduced in the 1970s, had been carrying 84 passengers and eight crew members, Major-General Igor Konashenkov, a ministry spokesman told reporters.At least 60 were members of the Red Army Choir, also known as the Alexandrov Ensemble, who were being flown out to Russia’s Hmeymim air base in Syria to entertain troops in the run-up to the New Year.Nine Russian reporters had also been on board as well as military servicemen.Konashenkov said fragments of the plane had been found at a depth of about 70 metres (yards) in the Black Sea about 1.5 km (1 mile) off the coast near the city of Sochi.”The search operation is continuing,” said Konashenkov.”Four ships, five helicopters and a drone are working in the area,” he said, saying a military commission had flown to Sochi to look into what happened.The Interfax news agency cited an unnamed source in the emergency services as saying about six bodies had already been recovered from the sea.Russia’s RIA news agency, citing an unidentified security source, said preliminary information indicated that the plane had crashed because of a technical malfunction or a pilot error.Another source told Russian agencies that the possibility of a militant act had been ruled out. The weather had been good.According to the defence ministry’s list of passengers, Elizaveta Glinka, a member of Putin’s advisory human rights council, was on the plane. Her mobile phone was switched off when Reuters called her on Sunday.Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Sunday it was too early to say what had caused the crash. President Vladimir Putin was being kept constantly informed of the latest developments, Peskov said.Russian military investigators said in a statement they had opened a criminal investigation into the crash.The Kremlin said Putin expressed his deepest condolences to those who had lost loved ones in the crash and ordered Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev to head a government investigatory commission into the crash.Russia’s Defence Ministry regularly flies musicians into Syria to put on concerts for military personnel. The base they were heading for, Hmeymim, is in Latakia province. It is from there that Russia launches air strikes against Syrian rebels.A Russian military jet crashed in Siberia with 39 people on board as it tried to make an emergency landing near a Soviet-era military base. Nobody was killed in that incident, though 32 people were airlifted to hospital. — Reuters