Mukesh Ranjan
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, June 11
Intelligence agencies, in a report to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), have alerted about a nefarious design of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), which has created a new terror brigade to wage a “virtual war” against India.
Sources, while confirming that a report has been forwarded to the ministry for “appropriate action”, said the ISI had named the brigade as “Defenders of Pakistan”, which had been assigned the task of carrying out its operations “in the virtual mode by creating social media handles and hashtags”.
“Thousands of handles and hashtags are being created to fuel anti-India sentiments. The ISI is in the process of hiring around 550 tech-savvy persons, who also know how to handle and manage social media platforms,” said a top Intelligence Bureau (IB) official. The official said, “We have reported to the ministry that they have put in place a plan to distribute such hired persons in a dozen odd teams and assign them the task to radicalise Indian youth and draw them towards terrorism in a number of ways.”
The IB officials said the report also mentioned a recent meeting held by the ISI in Rawalpindi, where the plan was chalked out to allot the tasks of waging “1,000 fights” with India by exploiting the cyberspace to further this agenda.
As part of this design, ISI teams have begun their activities, as recently they widely circulated fake videos of police beating Muslim youths in mosques. Security experts are of the view that the ISI has devised the online mode to foment trouble in India.
Jammu, June 11
A soldier was killed and a civilian injured as the Pakistan army shelled villages and forward posts along the Line of Control in Rajouri and Poonch districts on Thursday.
On Thursday night, Pakistan resorted to shelling and firing with small arms on the Army’s forward locations and on civil areas in Tarkundi, Rajdhani and other villages in Manjakot tehsil.
“Naik Gurcharan Singh, hailing from Gurdaspur district, was injured in the shelling in the Gambhir sector. Later, he succumbed to injuries,” said Lt Col Devender Ananad, PRO (Defence).
A resident of Rajdhani village, Namitullah, also received splinter injuries in the shelling. — OC
Tribune News Service
Jammu/Rajouri, June 11
An Army jawan lost his life in the ceasefire violation by Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC) in Manjakot sector of Rajouri district on Wednesday night. A civilian was also injured in Rajdhani village of Manjakot sector.
The deceased was identified as Naik Gurcharan Singh, a resident of Gurdaspur district in Punjab. His body has been shifted to Rajouri hospital for autopsy.
“Pakistan resorted to heavy shelling in civilian areas along the LoC in Manjakot sector on Wednesday night. An army jawan and a civilian were injured in the ceasefire violation. Pakistan has been targeting civilian areas along the LoC for the past few days with its sole aim to push armed militants into Indian territory,” a source said.
“In the early hours of Wednesday, Pakistan targeted the civilian areas in Nowshera sector. Later, it initiated ceasefire violation by firing with small arms and shelling with mortars in Balakote sector of Poonch district. The Army has been retaliating befittingly,” sources said.
The mortal remains of Lance Naik Gurcharan Singh (29), who was killed in unprovoked shelling by Pakistan along the Line of Control in Rajouri district of Jammu & Kashmir, were consigned to flames at his native village here with full military honours on Thursday.
A civilian Namitullah Khan was also injured in the shelling on Wednesday night.
Wrapped in the Tricolour, the body arrived at Harchowal village amid the chants of ‘Gurcharan Singh amar rahe’ and ‘Indian Army Zindabad’.
Gurcharan’s father Salvinder Singh, himself a veteran, said that he was proud of his son for laying down his life for the country.
Soldier’s wife Ranjit Kaur, who is in Punjab police, said she was proud of her husband and would send their son Agamjot Singh to serve in the Indian Army.
He is survived by two children and wife.
A large number of people including officials from the Army, police and district administration attended the funeral. Balwinder Singh, Batala Sub Divisional Magistrate, laid a wreath and paid tribute to the martyred soldier on behalf of the Punjab government.
On June 4, an Army havildar was killed in mortar shelling in Sunderbani sector in Rajouri district.r the past few months, Pakistan army has been desperately trying to push militants into Rajouri and Poonch districts under the cover of heavy artillery, mortar shelling and firing on the Indian army’s forward locations and civil areas. — With inputs from PTI
Ajay Banerjee
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, June 11
Even as diplomatic talks are on between India and China, the Line of Actual Control (LAC) is currently witnessing its biggest-ever military buildup. In fact, this is several times bigger than the 1962 war.
Unlike 1962, the forces on either side are now backed by latest technology such as satellite imagery and UAVs besides long-range guns, contemporary fighter jets and radars.
The Indian assessment is clear — the Army stays at the LAC if People’s Liberation Army (PLA) doesn’t withdraw and restore status quo ante as on April. The cutoff date of status quo ante is April.
LAC resolution to be peaceful: India
India on Thursday said a series of diplomatic and military engagements with China have underlined the need to arrive at an early resolution of disputes on the LAC. In recent weeks, India and China have maintained communications through established diplomatic and military channels to address the situation in areas along the India-China border. tns
Over the past three decades, India has gradually built up troops and bases close to the 3,488-km LAC, allowing quick addition of soldiers and equipment. It is the PLA that has mobilised troops, guns, tanks, fighter jets at a rapid pace at its bases located across the Indian territory in HP, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. India has reportedly moved its rear formations up the Himalayas. Some 1.50 lakh troops are mandated for the China front under normal circumstances. However, in emergencies, the numbers can be ramped up. The Army is 13 lakh strong.
In Ladakh, one half of the 14 Crops is mandated to face China. In Himachal and Uttarakhand, specific brigades exist. In Sikkim, the 33 Corps is positioned. Arunachal is divided among two Corps — the Tezpur-based 4 Corps that looks after the western part and the Dimapur-based 3 Corps. Besides, a division of the Mountain Strike Corps exists.
The IAF, besides the fighter jets, has special operations planes and heavy-lift aircraft apart from hundreds of helicopters to quickly move troops.
In the areas facing Sikkim, China has upgraded its facilities at Shigatse, to house greater number of fighter jets and attack platforms. Similarly, Chinese bases to the north and east of Arunachal Pradesh have facilities to launch attack platforms.
The Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson’s remarks came a day after officials in New Delhi suggested that Indian & Chinese forces have undertaken a ‘limited disengagement’ in few areas.
The Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson’s remarks came a day after officials in New Delhi suggested that armies of India and China have undertaken a “limited disengagement” in few areas in eastern Ladakh in a demonstration of their intent to end the border standoff peacefully ahead of another round of military talks on Wednesday.
Asked about the reports of the troops on both sides disengaging and moving back to their previous positions, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a media briefing here that both sides are taking steps to ease the situation along the borders.
“Recently the diplomatic and military channels of China and India held effective communication on the situation along the border and reached positive consensus,” she said.
“The two sides are following this consensus to take actions to ease the situation along the borders, the spokesperson said.
Military sources in New Delhi said the two armies have begun “disengagement” around patrolling points 14 and 15 in Galwan Valley and another in the Hot Spring area, adding the Chinese side has even moved back up to 1.5 km in two areas.
Indian and Chinese troops have been engaged since May 5 following a violent clash in Pangong Tso.
The trigger for the face-off was China’s stiff opposition to India laying a key road in the Finger area around the Pangong Tso Lake besides construction of another road connecting the Darbuk-Shayok-Daulat Beg Oldie road in Galwan Valley.
During their military-level talks on June 6, India and China agreed to follow the broad decisions taken by their leaders in the Wuhan summit in 2018 to ensure peace and tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control.
On June 6, Lt General Harinder Singh, the general officer commanding of Leh-based 14 Corps, and Commander of the Tibet Military District Maj Gen Liu Lin held an extensive meeting.
The India-China border dispute covers the 3,488-km-long LAC. China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of southern Tibet while India contests it.
Also read: The new reality of China-centric bipolar world order, and reasons behind Ladakh standoff
Army has proposed to change the way volunteers are selected and trained for special forces under Parachute Regiment, wants a maximum of 500 personnel trained in every course.
Top defence sources said it is being proposed that there should be a centralised training-based selection process of volunteers at the Special Forces Training School (SFTS) at Nahan in Himachal Pradesh. The school may also shift to Bakloh in the same state.
Currently, this rigorous training-based selection process, called probation, is conducted by different units of the Parachute Regiment.
The Parachute Regiment, under which come the special forces and airborne battalions, comprises specially trained personnel who volunteer from all arms and services of the Army. Officers and all other ranks can volunteer to join the regiment and the special forces.
The volunteers are put through a difficult probation of three months, and are inducted into the regiment or the special forces once they qualify.
Also read: Army reviewing policy to assign aides-de-camp to governors, cites shortage of young officers
According to sources, the current selection to the Parachute Regiment is conducted by the units in line with their operational requirements based on fixed theatres.
“So if a person is selected for operating in the deserts, he usually continues to operate in that theatre. But with changing operational requirements, each special forces unit may be needed to perform its role in more than one theatre,” a top defence source explained.
The source added that there is a requirement to multitask and also work in conjunction with other special forces units, and thus the need to expand the spectrum of training.
“Each soldier, after his probation, should expect and be prepared for operations in any terrain and operational environment,” the source said.
“The new system will standardise the selection and training procedures.”
A second source said the need to revisit the selection process also arose to address the shortfall of volunteers with the expansion of Parachute Regiment and special forces.
Also read: Covid blurs distinction between war and peace as soldiers worldwide fight the third army
According to the current process, officers who volunteer first go to the Parachute Regimental Training Centre (PRTC) in Bengaluru and are subsequently sent to the Parachute Regiment units for the probation period. However, other ranks directly go to the units for the probation.
No one organisation conducts the probation, instead it is handled by the special forces unit taking in the volunteers.
“Each special forces unit prides itself in certain traditions and ethos … the probation is to ensure that the soldier is mentally adapted to these and willing to accept them,” said the first source quoted.
Officers who volunteer directly from the Army training academies — such as the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun and the Officers Training Academy in Chennai — or after a few years of service undergo an initial month-long training at the PRTC in Bengaluru.
The Military Secretary’s Branch assigns volunteers to airborne or special forces units during the phase 1 probation based on a battalion’s officer strength.
On clearing phase 1, officers move to the phase 2 of probation for three months.
In case of jawans, new recruits go to the PRTC and undergo the entire process. Those who volunteer from other regiments directly go to the units they are detailed for, and undergo the three-month probation there.
The Parachute Regiment units are allotted by infantry directorate based on deficiencies.
Most Army personnel volunteer for the special forces within the first two years of their career.
Also read: Online courses, non-contact sports — how military training is taking on Covid challenge
The Army has proposed that volunteers for the special forces and the Parachute Regiment be given a two-month notice before the selection process begins, after which a week-long preparatory phase of orientation will take place.
Once the orientation is done, the first phase of training will include a four-week selection and screening process at Special Forces Training School.
After screening, they will be allotted to Parachute or special forces battalions through a board of officers.
Once allotted a battalion, volunteers will undergo phase 2 of probation — three months of training in basic skills. This will be different for special forces and airborne volunteers.
Subsequently, the selected group will go through a third level of training, which will include four weeks of the para basic course at the Parachute Training School in Agra.
The proposal says four courses can be held throughout the year — in March, June, September and December — with a maximum of 500 volunteers per course, including officers.
Also read: 5 Special Forces men, 5 terrorists: How a deadly hand-to-hand fight at the LoC unfolded
The talks between GOC (General Officer Commanding), 3 Division, and his Chinese counterpart came a day after both sides carried out “small disengagement” steps in multiple locations as part of confidence building measures.
The talks happened on a day the Chinese foreign ministry said that troops have started implementing the “positive consensus” reached by senior military officials of the two countries on 6 June aimed at “easing” the situation along the borders.
“The Div Commander level talks happened as per schedule. They carried forward the talks held by the 14 Corps Commander on Saturday,” a source said, without elaborating.
He said the talks were “longish” as they went on for about four hours.
Sources said multiple rounds of talks, both at military and diplomatic levels, will happen in the coming days.
They accepted that Pangong Lake remains a point of contention.
As reported by ThePrint on earlier, India has demanded that the Chinese maintain the status quo as of early April this year along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
This means the Chinese would have to pull back the troop build-up along the LAC in the Galwan Valley, and retreat from the transgressions in the larger Hot Springs area and the Finger area of the Pangong Lake.
The main point of contention is ‘Finger 4’ area along the Pangong Lake, where the Chinese have come in and built structures to stop Indian patrol teams from going ahead.
Indians claim the LAC begins from Finger 8 of the Pangong Lake, a claim disputed by the Chinese.
ThePrint had earlier reported that that while “no transgressions have taken place in the Galwan Valley”, Chinese troops have come in at least 3 km into Indian territory in the larger Hot Spring Area — Patrol Point 14, 15 and Gogra Post (also known as PP 17) — besides in the Finger areas of Pangong Lake.
Nowhere have the Chinese crossed the Chinese Claim Line (CCL). In the strategic Galwan Valley, the CCL and the LAC are the same according to the understanding between the two sides at the local level, though no formal maps have been exchanged.
However, in the larger Hot Springs area and the Pangong river side, the CCL extends into the Indian territory and this is where the Chinese have come in.
Also read: CPEC is China-Pakistan corruption corridor. This challenges Indian security in new ways
PUNJAB EXPRESS BUREAU New Delhi, June 10 Indian and Chinese armies on Wednesday held Major General-level talks with an aim to end the military standoff in Pangong Tso and a number of other areas in eastern Ladakh, people familiar with the development said. In the over fourand-half-hour meeting, the Indian delegation pressed for restoration of status quo ante and immediate withdrawal of sizeable number of Chinese troops from all the standoff points, they said. The Major Generallevel dialogue took place in a “positive atmosphere” with an aim to further ease tension between the two sides, they said. The talks came a day after the two armies began a limited disengagement in a few areas in Galwan Valley and Hot Spring in a demonstration of their intent to end the row peacefully. However, both sides remained engaged in aggressive posturing in areas such as Pangong Tso, Daulat Beg Oldie and Demchok. Military sources on Tuesday said the two armies began “disengagement” around patrolling points 14 and 15 in Galwan Valley and another in the Hot Spring area, adding the Chinese side has even moved back up to 1.5 km in the two areas. Indian and Chinese troops have been engaged since May 5 following a violent clash in Pangong Tso. In their first serious efforts to end the row, Lt General Harinder Singh, the general officer commanding of Lehbased 14 Corps, and Commander of the Tibet Military District Maj Gen Liu Lin held an extensive meeting on June 6. China said on Wednesday that Indian and Chinese troops have started implementing the “positive consensus” reached by the senior military officials of the two countries on June 6 aimed at “easing” the situation along the borders.
