SHADOW BOXING: Maleeha Lodhi was ridiculed for holding up a fake picture. TWITTER

G Parthasarathy

MALEEHA LODHI, Pakistan’s ambassador to the UN, is known among her friends and admirers in Pakistan and elsewhere as being high profile, ambitious and loquacious. Lodhi is regarded as being close to the military establishment since her days as an editor in Islamabad. She was also close to Benazir Bhutto in the 1990s, but at loggerheads with Nawaz Sharif during his first two terms as Prime Minister.  Insiders believe that Nawaz agreed to her appointment as ambassador to the UN in his third term, after “persuasion” by the military. Having served twice as Pakistan’s envoy to Washington, as a close friend of the India-baiting Robin Raphael, Lodhi evidently thought that she would crown her tenure in New York by getting the issue of J&K back on the UN agenda, with the support of her many friends and admirers in Washington.Lodhi persuaded Pakistan’s interim Prime Minister, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, to launch a broadside against India in New York. Abbasi resorted to the usual rhetoric about alleged violations on human rights in J&K and references to antiquated UN resolutions, whose texts have long been thrown into UN waste paper baskets. Pakistanis, however, never speak of the Simla Agreement, while in New York! Not surprisingly, India’s External Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj, responded sarcastically, drawing attention to Pakistan’s record as a state sponsor of terrorism. She noted that while India is building institutions that are “the pride of the world”, Pakistan has only “produced terrorists and terrorist camps” of groups like the Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and Haqqani network. But, what appears to have got under Lodhi’s skin was the description of Pakistan as “Terroristan” by a young Indian First Secretary, Eenam Gambhir. An irate Maleeha became a subject of ridicule internationally and was blasted even in the Pakistani media when she displayed a photograph in the General Assembly of a young Palestinian girl wounded by Israeli pellets, bizarrely claiming that this photograph exposed Indian excesses in Kashmir.How then does one deal with a Pakistan which faces growing isolation, when ruled by a government deprived of its elected leader Nawaz Sharif, following a farcical trial, where the investigators included members of the military intelligence services, with the judiciary dancing to the tune of the military? It is evident that the military has no intention of permitting Nawaz to return to power. The Generals are determined to see that a supine judiciary disqualifies him from participating in the 2018 general elections. In the meantime, the Intelligence Bureau, which reported to Nawaz, is seeking to hold the ISI responsible for backing terrorist outfits. In the meantime, Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves are falling sharply and the IMF has thus far shown disinclination to bail it out. Pakistani economists are warning about the long-term problems posed by the China’s “One Belt, One Road” project, where Pakistan has to soon commence repaying Chinese loans of over $50 billion at near-commercial rates of interest. This, while Japan provides India long-term loans, requiring negligible interest payments.American academic Ashley Tellis, who undertook his graduate and post-graduate studies in Mumbai’s St Xavier’s College, is a highly regarded analyst on sub-continental strategic studies in Washington. In a recent study he published, Tellis clinically argues that routine calls for a “continuous India Pakistan dialogue” are “misguided” and “counterproductive”. Tellis notes that differences between India and Pakistan are fuelled by “Pakistan’s irredentism, its army’s desire to subvert India’s ascendancy as a great power, seeking revenge for past Indian military victories”. He adds that the Pakistan army has “aspirations to be treated on par with India, despite their huge differences in capabilities, achievements and prospects”. Senior officials, particularly in the Pentagon and White House, share these views of Tellis.Even influential and previously pro-Pakistani Senators like John McCain are stating that their patience is wearing thin with Pakistani duplicity. The fact that US Defence Secretary General Mattis visited India and Afghanistan and deliberately bypassed Pakistan, speaks for itself. But, given the propensity of President Trump to change his stance suddenly on foreign policy issues, India would be well advised not to be overly dependent on consistency in Trump Administration policies. Significantly, almost immediately after the Mattis visit to India and Afghanistan, Pakistan’s army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa led a military delegation to Kabul to meet Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. It is clear that General Bajwa and the ISI will decide how relations with Afghanistan and India will be conducted. The emasculated civilian leadership in Pakistan, under a cloud legally and preparing for elections, will merely be spectators, carrying out the wishes of the military.New Delhi now has to undertake a concerted diplomatic effort to take advantage of current developments.  No effort should be spared to make Pakistan pay a heavy price for its errant conduct. Dialogue, if any, with Pakistan, should be almost exclusively focused on terrorism. India has to simultaneously take measures to engage people and organisations across Pakistan who seek better ties with it, while meeting humanitarian needs of people, particularly children, in Pakistan requiring medical treatment in India, as External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has consistently demonstrated. Indian diplomacy should have a humane dimension. There are sections of people in Pakistan who are tired of the country’s domination by the army.Diplomatically, India should make common cause with Afghanistan, insisting that Pakistan does not just put all its terrorist outfits temporarily in cold storage to win American “understanding”, but defangs and dismantles them. These range from the Talban and Haqqani network, active in Afghanistan, to the Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, operating against India. China should be reminded to fulfil its obligations, agreed to during the BRICS Summit, to pressuride Pakistan to act against designated terrorist groups. The international community and multilateral financial Institutions like World Bank should be asked to link development funding for Pakistan to action against terrorism. President Trump will, hopefully, take up these issues when he visits China. But, ultimately much will depend on the ability of the Afghanistan government to develop an internal political consensus and effectively address issues of corruption, national security and economic development.Winter snows will soon close Himalayan mountain passes in Kashmir. India should be ready with effective covert, pre-emptive and proactive measures to respond effectively to infiltration across the LoC, when the snows melt in 2018.

Sonika Sharma being crowned Mrs India Earth 2017.

Vikram Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, October 16

Sonika Sharma, 40, Mrs India Earth 2017 has expressed her desire to work for addressing the miseries of the war widows of Bhadurgarh, Rajasthan.Wife of an Army officer Colonel Yogesh Sharma and mother of 12-year-old daughter and 8-year-old son, Sonika said before competing for the pageant, she had a vision to do something for war widows, but now she owns the responsibility to be with them for their betterment.“The Army supports war widows to all extent, but still they remain struggle while completing the formalities, which adds to their miseries. I want to be with them and help them secure their life,” Sonika added. She informed that Bhadurgah village in Rajasthan was a place where most of the war widows live as almost every household in the village had a male serving in the Army.“Many Army officers of the village have lost their lives while performing their duties in different conflict zones. I have a great yearning to be among these widows, listen to the heroic acts of their men and help them in all possible ways,” she said.Sonika clinched the coveted trophy after competing with 48 other finalists drawn from India and abroad as well. The pageant was conducted by Ritika Vinay Asia Pacific while Bollywood celebrities Mahima Chaudhary and lyricist Sameer were the judges.Sonika wore a Dogri dress in the traditional round of the Mrs India Earth pageant. She is actively involved in environmental control activities and has been working for the handicapped and underprivileged children. Besides, she is a fitness freak and runs up to 50 km in a week. She has also taken part in three premium half marathons representing Jammu.Sonika is the principal at Akhnoor Army School. She is also into fashion designing and has produced great quality fashion outfits for women.

Jammu/Rajouri, October 12

A soldier and a civilian porter were killed today as the Pakistani army opened fire on Indian positions on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Krishna Ghati sector.Sources said five soldiers were also injured in the ceasefire violation. The Defence PRO said the Pakistani army resorted to unprovoked firing with small arms and automatics from 10.35 am and the Indian Army retaliated strongly. The firing stopped in the afternoon. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)The slain soldier has been identified as 21-year-old Sepoy TK Reddy from Obulapuram village of Andhra Pradesh. He is survived by his mother Gurrumma. The porter has been identified as 22-year-old Mohammed Zahir, a resident of Kalali village in Rajouri district of J&K.A source said: “All the soldiers and the porter were injured or killed in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast that was planted to stop the illegal entry of anti-national elements into the Indian territory. Some bullets might have hit the IED, triggering the blast.” This month alone, the Pakistani army has violated the ceasefire agreement more than 10 times. — TNS

Flying Officers Mohana Singh, Avani Chaturvedi and Bhawana Kanth have been commissioned as India’s first women fighter pilots. — PTI file photo

Hindon (UP), October 8

The first three women fighter pilots of the country are likely to fly the MiG-21 Bison jets, one of the potent combat aircraft in the IAF’s armoury.The three women pilots — Avani Chaturvedi, Bhawana Kanth and Mohana Singh — are set to script history next month when they will fly military jets after completing a strenuous training programme within three weeks.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)”The present consideration is to put them to MiG 21 Bison squadron. Our opinion is that it will sharpen their skills as the aircraft has more manual features than other sophisticated aircraft,” Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa said today.He indicated that after honing their skills in flying Mig 21 Bisons, the three women can fly other jets.The IAF chief was talking to reporters on the sidelines of an event to celebrate the Air Force Day.The three women were commissioned as flying officers in July last year, less than a year after the government decided to open the fighter stream for women on an experimental basis.A senior IAF official involved in training of the three women pilots said they will steer the combat jets next month.Currently, the three women pilots are flying Hawk advanced jet trainers.The IAF has already selected the next batch of three women trainee pilots for fighter stream. — PTI

THE Modi government has finally slashed excise duty on petrol and diesel by Rs 2 per litre each after continuously raising it in small doses nearly a dozen times in less than three years. Maybe the Finance Ministry yielded to public pressure and slashed excise duty; many others see it as a political compulsion ahead of the crucial Gujarat election, the home turf of PM Modi. With public anger building up, the government could not remain indifferent to the demand of providing relief from rising fuel prices. The Finance Ministry has, however, justified it as a move to quell rising inflation, ignoring minister KJ Alphons’ cocky comment that those who own vehicles could also pay higher fuel prices. The Finance Ministry had been a silent spectator to the gradual increase in fuel rates because there was no immediate political compulsion. Undoubtedly, petrol and diesel are the biggest revenue earners for both the Centre and states. But, indirect taxes on fuels ultimately hit the common man. The poor are being asked to pay for roads, airports, educational institutions and hospitals, which are mainly patronised by the affluent sections of society. All good governments instead choose the direct tax option to increase their revenues, where people are taxed as per their income and ability to contribute. Not only has the government taken its own time in reducing duty but also the quantum of the cut is inadequate. This half-hearted move will neither provide the desired relief to the consumer nor save the Finance Ministry from missing the revenue deficit target as it will still lose a revenue of Rs 13,000 crore. If the government is serious about protecting the consumer’s interest and shielding the poor from the cascading impact of transportation fuel on essential commodities, it needs to slash excise duties by another Rs 3-4 per litre to align retail prices that existed three years ago. Simultaneously, the Centre and states should work together to bring auto fuels under the GST regime to bring predictability in pricing and have a one-nation one-tax policy.  

1. INDIA SHOULDN’T HESITATE TO STRIKE BACK AT PAKISTAN IF IT HAS ADEQUATE EVIDENCE LT GEN SYED ATA HASNAIN (RETD)
2. NEW DELHI IS TOO SOFT ON ISLAMABAD
3. GURDASPUR BYPOLL ::SPECIAL COVERAGE :03 OCT 2017
4. DROPPING THE ANNUAL BORDER MEETING: CHINA CONTINUES TO SQUIRM AFTER DOKLAM BY LT GEN ATA HUSNAIN
5. HEMKUND SAHIB PORTALS TO CLOSE ON OCTOBER 10
6. 5 MILITANTS DIE AS ARMY REPELS INFILTRATION IN URI, KUPWARA
7. ONE YEAR SINCE SURGICAL STRIKES: INDIA’S COUNTER TO PAK PROXY WAR VINDICATED, BUT MORE TROUBLE SHOULD BE EXPECTED BY LT GEN SYED ATA HASNAIN –
8. HAZARE: MODI AVERSE TO APPOINTING LOKPAL
9. IAF ENHANCES NIGHT FLYING TO BOOST STRIKE CAPABILITY
10. DEFENCE PSU HAL TO OFFLOAD 10% STAKE
11. INDIA SHOULD LOOK EAST AS ISLAMIC STATE COMES KNOCKING ON THE DOORS OF SOUTH EAST ASIA
12. IMA CONTINUITY DRILL
13. JOIN ARMY FOR GOOD LIQUOR: ATHAWALE TO DALITS
14. AIR FORCE PLANNING TO CELEBRATE MARSHAL ARJAN SINGH’S LEGACY
15. AFTER 30 YEARS OF SERVICE, ARMYMAN TOLD TO PROVE HE IS INDIA
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