Monthly Archives: August 2018

File photo of Jaish chief Masood Azhar .

Washington, February 16

The US on Friday asked Pakistan to “freeze without delay” the funds and other financial assets of the UNSC-designated terrorist networks and their leaders.

It also said it fully supports “actions to prevent” the outlawed Jaish-e-Mohammed “from conducting future attacks”.

The Pakistan-based JeM has claimed responsibility for the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Thursday that left at least 42 CRPF soldiers dead and five others critically injured.

A State Department spokesperson told PTI, “Pakistan outlawed Jaish-e-Mohammed in 2002.  However, the group still operates in Pakistan. The US designated JeM as a foreign terrorist organization in December 2001, and we fully support actions to prevent them from conducting future attacks.”

In addition, the UNSC designated JeM on its 1267 ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qa’ida Sanctions List in 2001, the official noted.

“We expect Pakistan to uphold its responsibilities pursuant to UN Security Council resolutions to deny safe haven and support for terrorists and to freeze without delay the funds and other financial assets or economic resources of individuals and entities on the UNSC 1267 sanctions list,” the spokesperson said in response to a question.

The official, however, did not divulge if the US has taken up the issue with the Pakistani leadership directly after the Pulwama terrorist attack.

In various statements and on social media, the Trump administration has asked Pakistan to deny safe haven and end support to terrorist organisations.

The spokesperson also refrained from making any comment over China blocking India’s move to designate Jaish chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist.

“Our views on Masood Azhar and Jaish-e-Mohammed are well known. The JeM has been responsible for numerous terrorist attacks and is a threat to regional stability,” the spokesperson said.

“UN Sanctions Committee deliberations are confidential, and as such we do not comment on specific matters,” the official said. PTI

New Delhi, February 15

The CRPF on Friday said it won’t “forget and forgive” but will “avenge” the death of 40 of its personnel in one of the worst terror attacks on its troops in Jammu and Kashmir.

The country’s largest paramilitary force put out a tweet from its official handle saying, “We will not forget, we will not forgive.”

“We salute our martyrs of Pulwama attack and stand with the families of our martyr brothers. This heinous attack will be avenged,” it said in the social media post.

The force said that “in memory of the martyrs of the terrorist attack”, all formations of the Central Reserve Police Force observed two minutes of silence and the force flag will fly half mast on Friday.

The toll in the attack has risen to 40 even as a full Court of Inquiry has been ordered by the CRPF headquarters in Delhi.

The over 3-lakh personnel strong paramilitary force is deployed as the lead combat unit against terrorism and insurgency in the Kashmir Valley and has deployed about 60,000 personnel (as part of 60 battalions) in the internal security grid of the state. — PTI

United Nations, February 14

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres “strongly” condemned the terror attack against security personnel in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district, perpetrated by Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed, calling for those behind the attack to be brought to justice.

In one of the deadliest terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir’s three decades of militancy, a Jaish suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into a CRPF bus in Pulwama district, killing at least 39 personnel and leaving many critically wounded.

“We strongly condemn today’s attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district and express our deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and to the Government and people of India,” Guterres’s spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said at the daily press briefing here Thursday.

Responding to a question by PTI on the terror attack, Dujarric said, “We of course wish a speedy recovery to those injured and call for those behind the attack to be brought  to justice.”  When asked about New Delhi’s appeal to the international community to support India’s proposal to list terrorists, including JeM chief Masood Azhar, as a designated terrorist under the UN Security Council’s Sanctions Committee and to ban terrorist organisations operating from territories controlled by Pakistan, Dujarric said the “issue of listing of terror organisations is one that is in the hands of the Security Council”. – PTI

May derail capacity enhancement, modernisation and maintenance under way; major deals coming up

The shortfall in Defence allocation in the interim Budget 2019-20, especially in its capital allocation, has left the Services worried as it threatens to derail the capability enhancement and modernisation underway. This comes at a time of fast-paced developments in the region, and China’s rapid advancements will only leave India further behind in terms of military capabilities.

Significant shortfall

A look at the numbers reveals the shortfall is so significant that, for the Navy and Air Force, the capital allocation does even meet the committed liabilities, that is, payments for deals already contracted. The Army, meanwhile, is looking at a shortfall in its non-salary revenue expenditure.

“The Services have conveyed their concerns to the Defence Ministry. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is taking up the matter with the Finance Ministry to address it,” a Defence official said.

For instance, the Indian Air Force (IAF), which has signed major deals in the last two years, including for the 36 Rafale jets and S-400 air defence systems, and is beginning to induct platforms like CH-47F Chinook heavy lift helicopters and AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, has committed liabilities of ₹47,400 crore. In contrast, the entire capital allocation is ₹39,300 crore and the projected capital requirement is ₹74,895 crore. Similarly, for the Navy, the committed liabilities for the coming year stand at ₹25,461 crore, while the total capital allocation is ₹22,227 crore.

The Defence allocation in the interim budget was ₹3.18 lakh crore, and Defence pensions stood at 1.12 lakh crore. Of this, allocation for revenue expenditure (net) is ₹2.01 lakh crore and capital expenditure (net) is ₹1.08 lakh crore. The share of the three Services in the overall defence budget stands as follows: Army–54%, Navy–14% and Air Force–22%.

However, the Army, with its large size, has a huge revenue burden compared to the other two Services, and a significant part of it goes for salaries. For the coming year, the Army has a total shortfall of ₹12,000 crore, of which ₹6,300 crore is under the capital head and around ₹5,500 crore is non-salary expenditure.

The Army has also embarked on its biggest reorganisation drive since independence and that would also entail some financial requirement.

Recently, to shorten procurement cycles, the Vice Chiefs of the three Services and Army Commanders were given greater financial powers for emergency procurement of spares and essential items, but the money for them goes from the revenue stream.

Scarce revenue

Similarly, no separate allocation has been made for the project to strengthen perimeter security of military installations. These eat into the already scarce revenue component effecting training and routine maintenance activities. Another concern is the large proportion of vintage equipment in the Army and even the IAF, which is in urgent need of replacement. For instance, last year, the Army had stated that 68% of its equipment is vintage.

The three Services are pushing through several procurements on a priority basis, many of which were to reach a decisive phase in the coming year, but there are no funds left for their conclusion.

Vikram Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 10

To bridge the communication gap between martyrs’ families and society, the sainik welfare department (SWD) conducted a programme for adoption of Veer Naris through various NGOs and social organisations.

The department looks after welfare of ex-servicemen and families of martyrs. It also processes various schemes of the Centre and state government.

“It was felt that there was a communication gap between martyrs’ families and society,” said Brigadier (retired) Harcharan Singh, director, rajya sainik welfare department.

He said the families were left in isolation in spite of the fact the supreme sacrifice of martyrs. “To curb this disturbing trend, the sainik welfare department started a campaign and requested various departments, NGOs and citizens to visit the martyrs’ families and maintain a close liaison with them,” said the Brigadier.

Rajni Kumari, 35, from Arnia, who lost her husband Naik Sarwan Kumar in the Pathankot attack of 2005, said since her husband’s death she had been facing great hardships.

“Earlier also, such efforts were made by different organisations, but nothing happened. No government agency reached out to us,” said Rajini Devi.

Ritu Devi, widow of late Havildar Parveen Singh, also had similar views. Havildar Parveen Singh lost his life while fighting militants in 2003. Ritu Devi of RS Pura said she took to teaching in a private school that helped her survive.

“Except a gift of tea cups costing Rs 150, we never got anything from the government or from any agency. The martyrs’ families are most unfortunate as they lose their members for the nation, but in return they are forgotten by the government as well as people,” said Ritu Devi.

Earlier, Jammu mayor Chander Mohan Gupta, who attended the function, assured all possible assistance to the martyrs’ families. Eight Veer Naris were adopted by members of Inner Wheel Club.

Brigadier Harcharan Singh informed that a regular check will be maintained by the department to see that NGOs adopting Veer Naris conduct regular visits to their houses and address their problems.

“The president of the SWD is Governor Satya Pal Malik to whom every activity is forwarded. NGOs and individuals working for Veer Naris are given appreciation certificates,” said Brigadier Harcharan Singh.

Ambala, February 3

The Ambala police have booked two men for duping youths of Rs 12 lakh on the pretext of getting them employed in the Indian Army. The suspects have been identified as KB Thapa and Narang Thapa, both residents of Nepal.

Padam Bhandari, a resident of Nepal, alleged that Narang Thapa, who runs a guest house in Nepal, had told him that the recruitment in the Indian Army was on and his friend KB Thapa was a Colonel in the 14th Gorkha regiment, who could arrange a job for him in the Indian Army. Thapa alleged that nearly two-and-a-half-months ago, Narang, along with Prakash Sharma and Ashish, reached Ambala Cantonment, where KB Thapa met them and he introduced himself as a Colonel. He assured them that since he had good connections, he would help them get jobs, for which he would charge Rs 2.50 lakh per candidate.

They were also given a training letter of the Gorkha Regiment and an army uniform kit. Three more youths from their village— Sanju, Robin, and Nirmal— were also called by the suspects.

Padam claimed that on failing to to fulfil their promise, the suspects refused to return money. — TNS

New Delhi, February 21

Personnel of the paramilitary forces deployed in the Kashmir valley for counter-terror operations have now been entitled to take commercial flights to either join duty or go on leave, in the wake of the killing of 40 jawans in a deadly attack on their convoy in Pulwama.

The Ministry of Home Affairs said it “has approved the entitlement of air travel on Delhi-Srinagar, Srinagar-Delhi, Jammu-Srinagar and Srinagar-Jammu sectors to all personnel of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs)”.

This includes, the order said, their journey for joining duty, transfer, tour or going on leave. The decision is expected to benefit personnel in the ranks of constable, head constable and assistant sub-inspector who were otherwise not eligible. Till now, officers in the rank of inspectors and above were given this air travel facility.

Officials said the facility is in addition to the existing air courier services for CAPFs where an entire aircraft is booked. The decision has been taken to help jawans cut down on travel time. — TNS/PTI

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Naina Mishra
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, February 18

Amid the buzz around Punjab Cabinet Minister and member of “The Kapil Sharma Show” Navjot Singh Sidhu being replaced on the popular comedy show, comedian Kapil Sharma refused to confirm it during an interaction with the Press held at Chandigarh University today.

A day after the dastardly suicide attack in Pulwama, in which 40 CRPF jawans were killed, Sidhu had stated, “Nations cannot be blamed just for a handful of people. These people have no country, no religion. They act as deterrents in the peace process. We need to deal with them strictly”.

Clarifying Sidhu’s statement on the Pulwama terror attack, Sharma said, “Sidhu did not support Pakistan by saying that we cannot blame the nation for the dastardly act, what he said was that terrorism has no nation.”

Sharma said the controversy surrounding Sidhu was because of his previous visit to Pakistan and after the recent controversy in the wake of the Pulwama attack, people wanted him out of the show.

Sidhu’s statement drew widespread condemnation from all quarters of the country with hashtags like #BoycottSidhu #BoycottKapilSharmaShow and #BoycottSonyTV trending on Twitter.

Several people took to Twitter to demand that “The Kapil Sharma Show”, on which Sidhu has been a staple for several years now, should sack him for his remarks.

“If the issue of terrorism could be solved by ousting him from the show, we would have requested Sidhu to leave the show. There is always propaganda behind Twitter trends. The youth are directed to different issues through such propaganda-motivated tweets like #BoycottKapilSharma #BoycottSidhu,” he added.

It was learnt that actress Archana Puran Singh will replace Sidhu on the comedy show.

Asked whether Sidhu would be seen on the show, he said, “As he had some commitment, Archana Puran Singh has shot two episodes. It is ultimately the decision of the channel.” Sharma condemned the Pulwama attack.

New Delhi, February 16

The US has come out in categorical support of India’s quest to shut down terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and bring to book the masterminds of the Pulwama attack on a CRPF convoy.

The US said it would offer “all assistance” to India to bring the perpetrators and backers of the attack promptly to justice, as per a Ministry of External Affairs readout of a telephonic talk between NSA Ajit Doval and US counterpart John Bolton on Friday.

The call came from the US, which also backed India’s right to self-defence against acts of terrorism. The two NSAs “vowed” to work together to ensure that Pakistan ceased to be a “safe haven” for JeM and terrorist groups that target India, the US and others in the region.

They resolved to hold Pakistan to account for its obligations under UN resolutions and to remove all obstacles to designating JeM leader Masood Azhar as a global terrorist. — TNS