Monthly Archives: August 2018

Islamabad, June 28

Pakistan will hold general elections in Gilgit-Baltistan on August 18, the government has announced after the country’s top court allowed holding of polls in the region, notwithstanding India’s strong protest to Islamabad for its efforts to bring “material change” to the territories under its “illegal and forcible” occupation.

The Pakistan Supreme Court on April 30 allowed the government to amend a 2018 administrative order to conduct general elections in the region.

President Arif Alvi on Saturday approved August 18, 2020, as the poll day for general elections to the Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Legislative Assembly, according to a statement from the President House.

The GB Election Commission will hold the elections in 24 constituencies, according to the statement.

The Gilgit-Baltistan order of 2018 provided for administrative changes, including authorising the Prime Minister of Pakistan to legislate on an array of subjects.

India last month issued a demarche to a senior Pakistani diplomat in New Delhi and lodged a strong protest over the apex court ruling.

India also clearly conveyed to Pakistan that the entire Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, including the areas of Gilgit and Baltistan, are an integral part of the country.

The Ministry of External Affairs said the government of Pakistan or its judiciary has no locus standi on territories “illegally and forcibly” occupied by it.

President Alvi last month promulgated an order to form a caretaker government and for extension of the Elections Act 2017 of Pakistan to Gilgit-Baltistan.

The GB Legislative Assembly was dissolved on completion of its term on June 24.

The federal government has appointed Mir Afzal, a former Deputy Inspector General of Police, as the “caretaker Chief Minister”. PTI

Tribune News Service
Amritsar, June 29

The Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) commemorated the 181st martyrdom of Maharaja Ranjit Singh at Gurdwara Dera Sahib in Lahore.

An akhand path for the occasion was initiated on June 27 and the bhog was performed today amid “Gurbani Kirtan” followed by “ardas”.

Due to the pandemic, the occasion was held in a subdued manner in the presence of local sangat only. Normally, devotees from all parts of the world come to attend the occasion.

The SGPC, which follows the amended Nanakshahi Calendar, had observed the occasion on June 28.

Meanwhile, head priest of Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib appealed that the doors of the shrine had been opened and the devotees could come to pay obeisance.

Tribune News Service

Shimla, June 29

In the wake of the recent face-off between the Indian Army and the People’s Liberation Army of China at Galwan valley in Leh, Himachal Governor Bandaru Dattatreya on Monday urged Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to increase deployment of the Indian Army to an Independent Mountain Division.

The Governor said that at present, only one independent brigade of the Indian Army had been deployed at Pooh in tribal Kinnaur district along the border.

In the letter to the Defence Minister, Dattatreya said as two of the state-tribal districts —Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti — share 260 km boundary with Tibet and China and means of communication and road transport in these remote border areas need to be strengthened.

The Governor, who held a series of meetings with the police, Army and other agencies, wrote: “As you are aware that Himachal Pradesh is strategically located vis-a-vis Tibet and China borders, the twin tribal districts – Lahaul and Spiti and Kinnaur share 260 km boundary with Tibet and China, and adequate arrangements may be made to tackle drones from the Chinese side as and when required.”

Laying stress on the urgent need of an airstrip in Spiti area, the Governor said the airstrip would act as an advanced landing ground for a prompt deployment of forces in the border areas at the time of need.

The Governor also underlined the need for better interaction between people and the central intelligence agencies, the Indian Army and the ITBP to instil a sense of security and confidence among the people living in the border areas.

“The Atal Tunnel under the Rohtang pass is 3,978 metres and connects Manali in Kullu district with Keylong in Lahaul & Spiti. The tunnel is likely to be completed in the near future and commissioning of the tunnel will allow year-round traffic on the Manali-Leh axis,” adding that on account of its strategic importance, adequate arrangements for intelligence, security and maintenance of this axis round the year needed to be made in advance.

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 29

Behind an unprecedented military buildup along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh to confront a belligerent China is the IAF’s never-before-seen heavy lift capability. The induction of assets like C-17 Globemaster, C-130 Super Hercules and CH-47 Chinook over the past few years has enormously enhanced the IAF’s ability to ferry troops and equipment.

With no immediate signs of de-escalation, IAF sorties to the Himalayan frontier continue unabated, bringing in military equipment and supplies. The most significant aspect of the air effort, perhaps, is airlifting of India’s newest and most powerful tank, the T-90, which now spearhead the Army’s strike formations, from the plains to Ladakh.

Airlifting the T-90 was possible due to the payload capacity of C-17. A T-90 weighs about 46 tonnes, which is more than the capacity of the IL-76, which can airlift about 45 tonnes, says an IAF officer. Another six IL-78 midair refueling tankers based at Agra, which are same as IL-76, can also be used in the conventional transport role. The IAF’s workhorse is 104 AN-32 medium lift aircraft.

The Army had three regiments of the older T-72 tanks, which weigh around 40 tonne, deployed in this sector. Many of these tanks, along with BMP-2 mechanised combat vehicles, have been airlifted to Ladakh by IL-76 since 1990s. Given the weight and length of the tractor-trailer, it is not practical to negotiate the high mountain passes, hairpin bends and narrow stretches that lie on the road link from the mainland to Ladakh.

Terror alert in J&K, Delhi and Bihar

New Delhi: Amid continuing India-China border tension and recent firing by Nepal Police along borders in Bihar, intelligence agencies have sounded an alert of possible terror attacks in J&K, Delhi and Bihar. Patrolling has been increased in border areas. TNS

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 29

Calling for a firm stand against Beijing’s nefarious designs to grab Indian territory in eastern Ladakh, the CM at a press conference said the People’s Liberation Army had intruded into the Indian territory and erected a tent in the Galwan valley on the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control, resulting in the death of 20 Indian soldiers following a clash.

With this, Capt Amarinder sought to refute PM’s statement at a recent all-party meeting that China had not occupied any Indian territory.

Questioning donations by Chinese firms at a time when the hostile neighbour was involved in aggression at the border, Capt Amarinder said: “In such a situation, I urge the Prime Minister to return every single Chinese penny.” He named some of the Chinese companies that had contributed to the PM Cares Fund.

The CM said the Punjab Government was reviewing possible Chinese stake in mobile firm Lava. The state government has tied up with the company to supply 1.6 lakh smartphones to girls studying in government senior secondary schools in the first phase of ‘Captain Smart Connect Scheme’.

New Delhi, June 29

India is likely to receive the first batch of six Rafale jets by July-end and the planes will be based at Ambala, a base geographically positioned to counter threats from both western and northern fronts.

On June 2, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had held a telephonic conversation with his French counterpart Florence Parly and it was conveyed to India that the jets would be delivered as scheduled despite the Covid pandemic.

The planes are expected to significantly boost India’s combat capability.

The scalp missile fitted onto the jets provides a range of 560 km to hit ground targets. It can also fire the Meteor air-to-air missile. — TNS