Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 8

Civilian officers in the Military Engineer Service (MES) have sought a separate and “full-time” head from amongst their own cadre in place of the Engineer-in-Chief at Army Headquarters.They have pointed towards a serious rift in the Army and civilian cadres that make up the officer strength of one of largest construction and maintenance agencies in India.The Engineer-in-Chief (E-in-C), at present, is head of the Army’s Corps of Engineers, a combat arm responsible for assisting formations in offensive and defensive operations, as well as the MES that is responsible for executing civil works like constructing buildings and structures in rear echelons. He also oversees the functioning of the Border Roads Organisation and the Married Accommodation Project.Dual role leading to problemsIn a meeting with Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman a few days ago, members of the Indian Defence Service of Engineers (IDSE) Association claimed that due to his dual role, the E-in-C is accountable neither to the Army or the Ministry of Defence in respect of the MES, which is an inter-service organisation under the ministry having an annual budget of Rs 14,000 crore. This is leading to several administrative problems.Some posts in the MES are tenable by officers drawn from the Corps of Engineers while others are manned by officers from IDSE, an organised Group-A service under the administrative control of the Ministry of Defence that comprises qualified engineers. Conflicts of interest between the two cadres have surfaced repeatedly.The association also pointed out that orders issued by the then Defence Minister over a year ago for creating three new posts of Additional Director General for the north, North-East and coast guard to expedite infrastructure projects have not made any headway.IDSE members have also urged the Defence Minister to implement the orders issued by the ministry in February 2016 on the recommendations of the Jaffa Committee that covered personnel issues, rationalisation of the MES structure, measures for improving time and cost operation and redeployment and training of staff.

Army donates wheelchair to polio-affected boy
An Army officer makes Basharat Ahmed, a polio-affected child, sit on a wheelchair in Rampur on Sunday. A Tribune Photo
Tribune News Service
Srinagar, October 1
The Army donated a wheelchair to a polio-affected child in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
The wheel chair was donated to 10-year-old Basharat Ahmed of Ghati Galiyan at Mohara in Uri.
“The child has been affected by polio since birth. The parents had lost their daughter to the killer disease six months ago and they used to carry their son (Basharat) on their shoulders,” an Army statement said. “To ease the movement of the child, the Army at Rampur donated the wheelchair to the family. The parents thanked the Army for this gesture.”

श्रीनगर.निर्मला सीतारमण ने पहली महिला रक्षा मंत्री के तौर पर शनिवार को लद्दाख रेंज में सियाचिन का दौरा किया। उन्होंने लेह से 120 किलोमीटर दूर ‘प्रथम-श्योक’ ब्रिज का इनॉगरेशन किया। इससे आर्मी को चीन से सटे दरबुक और दौलत बेग ओल्डी सेक्टर तक आवाजाही में मदद मिलेगी। रक्षा मंत्री ने हेलिकॉप्टर के जरिए चीन और पाकिस्तान की बॉर्डर से सटे इलाकों और फॉरवर्ड पोस्ट की सिक्यिुरिटी का जायजा लिया। उनसे पहले महिला मंत्री के तौर पर स्मृति भी सियाचिन ग्लेशियर जा चुकी हैं। दो साल पहले पूर्व रक्षा मंत्री मनोहर पर्रिकर भी सियाचिन गए थे। बता दें कि सियाचिन 24 हजार फीट की ऊंचाई पर स्थित दुनिया का सबसे ऊंचा और मुश्किल बैटल फील्ड है। यहां से चीन और पाकिस्तान पर नजर रखी जाती है।सीतारमण ने शहीदों को श्रद्धांजलि दी…

आर्मी के लिए क्यों अहम है सियाचिन?

The Army said Indian troops resorted to “unprovoked firing” on Friday, targeting the civilian population in Rakhchikri area of Rawalakot. PTI file

Islamabad, September 30

At least three people, including a soldier, have been killed and four others injured in alleged firing by Indian troops across the Line of Control, the Pakistan Army said on Saturday.The Army said Indian troops resorted to “unprovoked firing” on Friday, targeting the civilian population in Rakhchikri area of Rawalakot.As a result of the shelling, two civilians, including a woman, were killed while one person sustained injuries.An army patrol assisting rescue operations in the area also came under fire, resulting in the killing of Naib Subedar Nadeem. Three soldiers were also injured, it said.The Army claimed that Pakistani “troops gave a befitting response to the cross-border firing”. PTI

Our political discourse has inflamed the justified public anger at Pakistan’s misdemeanours, with an eye on electoral gains, thereby making our Pakistan policy hostage to the most strident voices often promoting simplistic responses to complex foreign policy problems.

Right leaders like Trump seeks to reverse the process of global economic integration and freer flow of people across borders.

In his UN General Assembly speech last month, President Trump mentioned the words ‘sovereign’ and ‘sovereignty’ multiple times and spoke of a coalition of nations that embrace sovereignty to promote security, prosperity and peace for themselves and the world. However, his threatening language against North Korea, Iran, Cuba and Venezuela left no doubt that he was not announcing an American withdrawal into its sovereign shell, while letting other countries do as they pleased within theirs. His intent instead was to burnish his ultra-national credentials by emphasising the unbridled sovereign right of the United States to pursue its interests as, of course, defined by his parochial vision. He thus stated that he would always put America first, while paying lip service to the right of other leaders to put their countries first. Ultra-nationalism — extreme advocacy of the interests of a particular nation regardless of its effect on others — today holds sway not only in the US, but also Russia, China and Turkey and has come to increasingly characterise the strategic discourse in India. Extreme right wing parties, with an ultra-nationalist outlook, have gained ground in Europe, most recently in Germany. Trump did not explain how his idea of every country putting its interests first would square with the objective of security, prosperity and peace for the world, more so if every country defined its interests as narrowly as him. There would be no room for a spirit of compromise to promote and sustain a stable world order. How ultra-nationalism poses a threatUltra-nationalism of the Trump brand and the chauvinism accompanying it pose a threat to global stability in more ways than one:1 Space for rational foreign policy choices constricted: Firstly by encouraging bellicose discourse against real or perceived enemies – external and in many cases internal (such as particular religious or ethnic groups and immigrants). In his UNGA speech, Trump threatened North Korea with total destruction. He thus stood the sterling counsel of Theodore Roosevelt “Speak softly and carry a big stick” on its head, not because the Americans do not have the military capability to destroy North Korea, but the dangerous implications of such a move. Even if one were to ignore the possibility of North Korea, faced with complete annihilation, lobbing a nuclear bomb or two in its neighbourhood, such pronouncements would only make Kim Jong-un speed up his nuclear weapons programme. To be sure, leaders, have to make some tough statements to respond to public anger against annoying situations. However, it becomes a different ball game altogether when instead of being regarded as means to channelise public anger into rational approaches, such statements are used by ultra nationalist leaders to fuel  the anger for political gains. Thus, in recent years, our political discourse has inflamed the justified public anger at Pakistan’s misdemeanours, with an eye on electoral gains, thereby making our Pakistan policy hostage to the most strident voices.2 Promotes simplistic responses to complex foreign policy problems: During his campaign, President Trump promised to build a “great, great wall” on the Southern border and have the Mexicans pay for it to check immigration and drugs smuggling. The Mexicans have flatly refused to pay and the President now seeks funding from the Congress in the fond hope that the Mexicans would reimburse the cost later on. Trump also gave a simplistic twist to the US- Russia relations by asserting that under his Presidency, the US would not have the kind of problems with Vladimir Putin that it had under Obama, without giving a cogent explanation for his optimism. No wonder that his Russian agenda has gone completely haywire within his first few months in office. At home, the populist slogans of “Terror and talks cannot go together” and “Biryani vs muscular diplomacy” towards Pakistan have led to unravelling of the 2003 ceasefire and periodic killings on both sides of the LoC/International Border in the J&K sector. Facile and populist slogans invariably lead to unintended consequences. 3 Ultra-nationalist leaders present themselves as the best appraisers and defenders of national interest: Tactical gains are often described as strategic victories to sustain this image, thereby unduly raising public expectations. Trump declared in his inaugural address that under him, it would be ‘America first’, as if it was not so under his predecessors. He has described the recent tactical Pakistani move of securing the release of a Canadian-American family from the Haqqani network as the beginning of a much better relationship with Pakistan and its leaders. Vice-President Pence listed it amongst the President’s accomplishments to conclude that he is “achieving real results on the international stage”! Likewise, the brave surgical strikes mounted by our army after the Uri attack, though a legitimate tactical move to punish Pakistan’s criminal action, were sought to be presented in our ultra-nationalist discourse as the ultimate answer to our Pakistan problem, which they were not. 4 Leaders try to give xenophobic answers to the economic hardships faced by their people: In a world, comprising sovereign nations, each putting its interest first, peace and prosperity can be promoted only within a framework in which the countries concerned see some gain for themselves. Ironically, Trump, who envisaged such a world in his speech, has been quick to rescind certain carefully crafted agreements that provided such a framework. He has pulled the US out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, threatened to withdraw from NAFTA, expressed his intention to withdraw from the Paris agreement on climate change and virtually scuttled the Iran nuclear agreement by refusing to certify that Iran is complying with all its terms. He and the leaders of right/ ultra-right wing parties in Europe seek to reverse the process of global economic integration and freer flow of people across borders by giving protectionist and xenophobic answers to the economic hardships faced by their people and the wave of terrorism that has hit some European countries.The problems of economic downturn, unemployment, terrorism and irresponsible behaviour of states such as Pakistan and North Korea are real, but ultra-nationalism is not the answer to them. Its spread will make the world a more dangerous place to live in.The writer is former High Commissioner to Pakistan and former CIC. 

Kharga Corps celebrates 46th Raising Day

Ambala, October 6

The Kharga Corps celebrated its 46th Raising Day here in Ambala Cantonment today. With the prospect of war with Pakistan looming ominously, the corps was raised in October 1971 in Krishna Nagar, West Bengal, with an intention to fight in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh).Pressed into full-fledged action within months of its raising, the corps proved its mettle in battle, capturing important towns of Khulna, Jessore, Jhenida, Magura, Faridpur and great swathes of territory between the Ganges and Padma rivers. Subsequently, the corps shifted westwards and its headquarters is located in Ambala since 1985.Armed to the teeth with a formidable arsenal, the Kharga Corps is equipped with the most modern tanks, artillery gun system, and variety of mission-oriented arsenals. It is one of the most potent corps of the Indian Army.It is called the Kharga Corps because of its unique formation sign. The day was celebrated solemnly with wreath laying by the Corps Commander on the War Memorial in remembrance of martyrs. —TNS

Wg Cdr JS Bhalla (Retd)IT was a foggy winter morning at Halwara. As visibility improved, squadrons launched their aircraft for local flying. It was around 1000 hours  when I heard  “Halwara 10” calling. “Come in 10” was my spontaneous reply without realising that call sign “10” is designated for the Chief of the Air Staff. It took a few seconds for the information to sink in. The aircraft asked for descend, giving ETA 15 minutes. There was no intimation about this movement and it appeared to be a surprise visit of the Chief after the 1965 operation. Gnats and Hunters were carrying out local flying with gusto to complete their task. I handed over the controls to my number two and at a dizzy speed, Stn Cdr Group Captain Dilbagh Singh (later Chief of the Air Staff) was informed about the unscheduled arrival of the then Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Arjan Singh (later MIAF). His sudden arrival had shaken up everyone in the unit. To clear all doubts, I was asked to reconfirm if the Chief  was on board. I held my nerves and asked, “Confirm if Chief onboard.” “Affirmative, Sir,” came the prompt reply. Adding “Sir” to the conversation elevated our spirits and we all swung into action. All aircraft on local flying were asked to fly for endurance, keeping the airspace clear for the Chief’s arrival. All air activity came to a standstill to keep the noise level to the bare minimum for the VVIP to land and unboard the aircraft. The Canberra aircraft made a smooth landing and was directed to VIP dispersal. The Stn Cdr and Command Air Defence Officer were the only two officers present to receive the Chief. Other PSOs were incommunicado carrying out their respective tasks, unaware of the Chief’s visit. Those were mobile-less days, landline was the only mode of communication.        We received a message to assemble in the officers’ mess by 1300 hours. It may be for a pep talk, I thought. The Chief arrived in the mess to address us. “Well, gentlemen, Halwara has played a very crucial role in the 1965  war and the station has earned many gallantry awards which has made me feel proud. I thought of conveying my gratitude to you all in person for your hard work and good show.” The talk carried on for sometime, turning into a friendly discussion. His persona impressed everyone.  Many of us who expected a fault-finding mission were relieved with his narration. His talk boosted our morale, we were happy to hear that our unit had done well and the appreciation came from none other than the Chief.  There was no ceremonial parade, no guard of honour, no lineup of officers, yet the visit had gone well. That was his way of visiting a unit. Not to disturb the normal routine of the unit  may be one of the reasons for keeping his visit a surprise. The memories of the past came alive when the country gave a fitting farewell with full military honours to the MIAF, a hero of World War II and the 1965 war.

A Border Security Force (BSF) officer was killed in Kashmir on Tuesday as forces foiled a militant attempt to storm a paramilitary base close to the high-security Srinagar airport, sparking an hours-long gun-battle that left all three radicals dead.

Three others security personnel also sustained injuries in the early morning attack, claimed by the Pakistan-based outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), blamed for similar strikes at Indian security bases including one at Uri in September last year that killed 18 soldiers.

4:15 am Firing starts at BSF camp from Gagoo near airport

Police says quick response teams of BSF responded

4:20 am Police says first militant killed as he enters the camp

4:25am Locals hear sound of blasts

Airport officials start emergency siren

4:30am One militant enters the subordinate officers (SOS) mess and another enters the administrative block

5:00 am CRPF and J&K police also join the BSF in the gunfight

Locals hear dozens of vehicles entering the camp

5:05 am Authorities deploy hundreds of forces which surround the airport

7:55 am JeM claims responsibility

10:30am Second militant firing for SOS mess killed. Police also confirm the death of a BSF personnel injured while militants were entering

2:00 pm Third militant also killed

“All the three militants have been killed. An assistant sub-inspector of BSF also died in the initial assault,” Jammu and Kashmir police chief SP Vaid said.

Tuesday’s attack was the latest in Kashmir which has seen a spurt in militancy, often blamed on Pakistan-based outfits by India. Last month, India described Pakistan as “terroristan” in a fiery attack on Islamabad’s proxy war in Kashmir.

The attack also came amid heightened tensions along the Line of Control (LoC), the de factor border with Pakistan.

India summoned Pakistan’s deputy high commissioner and issued a demarche over the death of three minors in “unprovoked firing” by Pakistani forces in the Poonch sector on Monday.

“503 such violations (of 2003 ceasefire understanding) have been carried out by Pakistan forces so far during 2017,” the external affairs ministry said in a statement in Delhi.

The opposition Congress accused the BJP-led NDA government of compromising national security.

Party spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said Prime Minister Narendra Modi ran a high-decibel campaign in the run-up to the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, depicted by “56-inches chest and red eyes sloganeering” to deal with terror and security threats.

“But after 40 months, our internal security situation stands gravely in peril,” he alleged.

Inspector general of police (Kashmir range) Muneer Khan admitted that “six to seven” militants of a group which infiltrated between July and August were still at large and were potential threats.

Police sources said the three slain militants were from the JeM’s ‘Afzal Guru squad’, raised by the outfit to avenge the hanging of the 2001 parliament attack convict.

On August 26, at least eight security personnel were killed in a similar attack by the JeM in Pulwama.

The attack at the BSF’s 182 battalion camp was at a highly sanitised area where an Indian Air Force base, a CRPF camp and an NIA office are located, besides the Srinagar airport.

Flights at the airport, which shares a compound wall with the base, resumed after being suspended briefly, officials said.

Sources said the militants entered the camp in army fatigue and were carrying automatic weapons and grenades.

Khan said the militants, who intruded into the camp around 4am after cutting through the concertina wires and fence, entered two separate buildings — the administrative block and subordinate officers mess. He said one militant was killed at the gate while two managed to get inside the camp where they were shot dead later.

(With inputs from HTC Delhi and agencies)