1. (GOG) GUARDIANS OF GOVERNANCE TRAINING IN PROGRESS @ MOHALI ,PB
2. GOG TRAINING AT GURDASPUR:VISIT BY SR VICE CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN 03 FEBRUARY 18
3. CAPT, 3 JAWANS KILLED IN RAJOURI LOC FIRING MISSILES FIRED BY PAK; SOLDIER INJURED IN POONCH TOO
4. GURGAON CAPTAIN, 3 SOLDIERS KILLED IN FIRING ALONG LOC CASUALTIES ‘UNPROVOKED’ ATTACK BY PAKISTAN, SAYS ARMY
5. NEW DELHI COULD BUY 3,000 ANTI-TANK GUIDED SPIKE MISSILES FROM ISRAEL
6. FORMER ARMY OFFICER’S BODY LIES UNCLAIMED IN PUNE MORGUE
7. WILL DEEPEN TIES TO FIGHT SINO SEA CHALLENGES: US AIR CHIEF EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER CHINA’S RISING INFLUENCE IN INDO-PACIFIC REGION
8. 27 YEARS LATER, PAC MAY FINALISE BOFORS REPORT IN BUDGET SESSION
9. DECADE ON, CASE AGAINST NAVY CAPT DROPPED CBI CLEAN CHIT TO DISMISSED OFFICER KASHYAP KUMAR
10. CBI closes case against sacked captain in naval war-room leak
11. GAMES UNDER A NUCLEAR SHADOW BY SANDEEP DIKSHIT
12. A NEW BEGINNING TEST OF JUDICIAL STATESMANSHIP
13. CHINA TIES: PAST IS PROLOGUE INDIA SHOULD HOP ON THE BRI BANDWAGON BY MK BHADRAKUMAR
14. GUARDIAN OF GOVERNANCE WOULD WORK AS EYES AND EARS OF STATE GOVERNMENT,” SAID SHERGILL.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. File photo

Muzaffarpur, February 11  Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday said the organisation has the ability to prepare an “army” to fight for the country within three days, if such a situation arises.The RSS chief said this while addressing the workers at Zila school ground on the last day of his six-day visit of Muzaffarpur.“Sangh will prepare military personnel within three days which the Army would do in 6-7 months. This is our capability. Swayamsewak will be ready to take on the front if the country faces such a situation and Constitution permits to do so),” Bhagwat said.Sangh is neither a military nor a para military organisation, rather it is like a “parivarik sangathan” (family organisation) where discipline is practised like the Army, he said adding that workers are always happily ready to make supreme sacrifice for their country.Bhagwat exhorted the RSS workers to set an example of good conduct in their personal, family and social life. — PTI

Western Army Commander Lt Gen Surinder Singh visits the forward areas and interacts with commanders and troops on Friday. Tribune photo

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, February 9

Lt Gen Surinder Singh AVSM, VSM, Western Army Commander, visited the forward areas of Samba and Pathankot sectors on February 8 and 9. Army authorities said today that the General was briefed by Lt Gen YVK Mohan, GOC Rising Star Corps, on prevailing situation in Jammu and Pathankot region and security arrangements.The Army Commander reviewed the preparedness of the Army in the region and stressed on foolproof security measures. He appreciated the coordinated measures being taken by Army in the border areas.The Army Commander stressed on need of high alertness and operational preparedness in view of the prevailing situation on the Indo-Pak border. He also interacted with commanders and troops during his visit.

1. CAPT KUNDU WAS TO BE BACK HOME ON B’DAY, FEB 10
2. FAMILIES BID FAREWELL TO BRAVEHEARTS KILLED IN PAK SHELLING
3. LOC FLARES UP TO ALARMING HIGH USE OF MISSILES BY PAK TROOPS POINTS TO SERIOUS ESCALATION AS GOVT, ARMY VOW REVENGE
4. LAST SALUTE TO RIFLEMAN SHUBAM LEAVES KATHUA HAMLET SHATTERED
5. INDO-PAK BORDER HEATS UP THE HUMAN COST OF “MATCHING RESPONSE
6. ARMY SHALL GIVE PROPER REPLY TO PAK: RAJNATH ON CEASEFIRE VIOLATION
7. WILL CONTINUE GIVING BEFITTING REPLY: ARMY VICE CHIEF ON CEASEFIRE VIOLATION BY PAK
8. AMARINDER MOOTS SELF-PAYMENT OF INCOME TAX BY ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES
9. WOMEN IN JAG: DELHI HC QUESTIONS ARMY STANCE
10. MOD’S RS 39,000-CR PLAN FOR MODERNISATION NIXED
11. THE VERY CRUDE OIL WAR BY SUSHMA RAMACHANDRAN
12. WHERE ARE THE POOR IN THE BUDGET? BY ASHWINI DESHPANDE
13. JAITLEY TAX ON BOURSES INVESTORS MUST CONTRIBUTE TO NATION BUILDING
14. EX-ARMY CHIEF, FORMER CJI TO GET GNDU HONORARY DEGREES

President Abdulla Yameen. Reuters file

Smita Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 6

India is mulling over possible options as it watches closely the sliding situation in the neighbouring Maldives. A day after issuing a travel advisory for citizens against “non-essential travel” to the Maldives, India, which said it was “disturbed” over the situation in the archipelago nation, reiterated its concern over the internal turmoil “following the refusal of the  government to abide by the unanimous ruling of the full Bench of the Supreme Court.” The SC Chief Justice and another senior judge were arrested today in dramatic developments after Emergency was declared by the government of President Abdulla Yameen. The SC had on February 1 ordered the release of political prisoners, including former President Nasheed, living in exile, as well as re-instatement of 12 disqualified MPs.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)“The government continues to carefully monitor the situation,” the Indian Government said. Sources dismissed media reports suggesting Indian aircraft and submarines had been put on standby after former President Nasheed’s sought India’s intervention. Nasheed tweeted: “On behalf of the Maldivian people we humbly request:1. India to send envoy, backed by its military, to release judges & political detainees including President Gayoom. We request a physical presence. 2. The US to stop all financial transactions of Maldives regime leaders going through US banks (sic).” Sources said the Defence Attache at Maldives Embassy in Delhi held conversations with officials in Directorate General of Military Intelligence and the latter denied such reports. India is looking at the option of restricting exports to Maldives under the 1981 trade agreement that offers Delhi certain privileges. But this could hurt the people on the ground the most. President Yameen remains defiant. In address to nation, he said: “There is no enforcement of a curfew and general movement, services and businesses are not affected. Nor is travel in and out of or within the country affected.”

Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa with US Air Force Chief Gen David L Goldfein in New Delhi. File photo

New Delhi, February 4

The Indian and the US air forces will significantly step up operational cooperation to complement the strategic interests of the two countries in the Indo-Pacific region, Chief of US Air Force General David L Goldfein has said, while expressing concern over China’s rising military influence over the area.Calling India a “central strategic partner” of the US in pursuing common interests in the region, he said two of the world’s largest air forces were going to jointly shift the focus on the Indo-Pacific region while asserting that the rules-based order must be preserved in the critical sea lanes.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)Goldfein, who held extensive talks with Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa and the top brass of the defence set-up during his three-day India visit that ended yesterday, said the “Quadrilateral” coalition among the US, India, Japan and Australia would provide for deeper cooperation between the Indian and American air forces.Asked if cooperation between the two forces would deepen in the wake of the four countries joining hands with an aim at containing China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific region, he replied, “I do (think so) and that is a big part of my visit and in my discussions here”.In June last year, two Lancer heavy strategic bombers of the US Air Force had conducted flights over the South China Sea, sending a clear message to China against its military build-up in the disputed area. Three US aircraft carriers — the USS Nimitz, USS Ronald Reagan and USS Theodore Roosevelt — have also been operating in the Indo-Pacific region.“We have common interests in preserving the rules-based order. So while we look for opportunities for partnerships, it is actually appropriate also for us to be critical for those who are trying to change that in ways that may not benefit the region,” he told PTI in an interview here.In November, India, the US, Australia and Japan gave shape to the long-pending “Quad” to develop a new strategy to keep the critical sea routes in the Indo-Pacific free of Chinese influence.Referring to “Quad” or “quadrilateral coalition”, the US Air Force Chief said there was a natural convergence among four countries to work towards preserving the rules-based order, adding cooperation between Indian and US air forces would increase at several levels. — PTI

Lt Gen AK Bhatt takes over as the Corps Commander of Chinar Corps from Lt Gen JS Sandhu. Tribune photo

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, February 1

Lt Gen AK Bhatt has taken over as the 47th Corps Commander of the Army’s Srinagar-based sensitive and strategic 15 Corps, also called the Chinar Corps, an Army spokesman said.Today, Lt General Bhatt took over from Lt Gen JS Sandhu, who was given a befitting farewell at the Badami Bagh Cantonment here. Lt General Sandhu is proceeding to New Delhi to assume charge of the Military Secretary, the Srinagar-based Army spokesman said.Before taking over as the Chinar Corps chief, Lt General Bhatt was the Director General of Military Operations and was in charge of all Army operations, including on the Line of Control.The Army spokesman said that Lt Gen AK Bhatt was commissioned into the 9th Gorkha Rifles (Chindits) and has had an illustrious military career spanning 36 years during which he has held varied prestigious command, staff and instructional appointments.“The General Officer Commanding has an incisive understanding of J&K as he has served here thrice before,” the spokesman said.A graduate of Staff College, Camberley, UK, Lt General Bhatt has also held several appointments at the Army Headquarters and had an instructional appointment at Commando School, Belgaum. The General Officer Commanding of the 15 Corps has also represented the country as the Deputy Force Provost Marshal in Lebanon.On assuming charge, Lt General Bhatt conveyed his greetings to the ‘awaam’ of Kashmir and the entire Chinar Corps fraternity.Lt General Sandhu’s tenure will be defined by the successful execution of ‘Operation All-Out’ launched by the security forces in the Valley. During the operation, a large number of militants were eliminated in the Valley.

Photo for representation only. Source: iStock

New Delhi, January 31

An Indian Air Force Group Captain, equal to Colonel in the Army, has been detained by the IAF’s counter-intelligence unit for possible espionage and exchange of classified documents,  routed through  a  woman.The officer, an  instructor but not in the flying  branch, struck friendship with the woman on Facebook and then took to WhatsApp over which he passed on certain classified  documents.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)Posted at the IAF headquarters in New Delhi, the officer had access to certain levels of plans and documents. Sources suspect he may have been ‘honey-trapped’ after his ties with his woman friend grew deeper. The identity of the woman is not clear. The IAF suspects more people may be involved in the ring.Armed forces officers can have a social media presence but are barred from posting their pictures in uniform, revealing  their place of posting or any official material, information on visits or plans regarding operations.Each letter or document in the armed forces is graded for security as confidential, secret, classified and top secret. — TNS