Monthly Archives: August 2018

Arun Joshi

Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 6

The beginning of the phased withdrawal of Chinese troops from eastern Ladakh, theatre of a tense standoff between the Indian and Chinese militaries, has put an end to the anxieties of people of the twin Union Territories of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), at least for the time being.

J&K and Ladakh had been apprehending a big trouble on the borders when they watched troops moving up the mountainous roads to meet the challenge of checking the aggressive build-up by the Chinese side and the moves to alter the recognised status of the LAC. They were more worried as Pakistan, too, was seeking to aggravate the trouble on the Line of Control (LoC) with the ill-intention to open a two-front situation with the help of Chinese troops.

Monday morning, however, was abuzz with news that the troop withdrawal had started. This was confirmed by the Ministry of External Affairs that gave details of the telephonic conversation of NSA Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and disclosed that the two sides “agreed to complete the ongoing disengagement process along the LAC expeditiously”.

The reverse movement of the troops from their face-off positions to their sides is seen as a breakthrough achieved by the talks. This has added to their hopes, and all along the Kashmiri leadership had been pleading that the talks alone could deliver a way out of the crisis situation.

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah and the PDP leaders had been advocating talks with China to defuse the situation on borders. He had told the Tribune that a “give-and-take approach should be adopted in dealing with China”.

Similar sentiments were echoed by other groups.

Two natural consequences of today’s forward movement in the maintenance of the bilateral relations between India and China are: one, it has lifted the fear of immediate mishap on the borders. These fears had gone up several notches after the June 15 violent clashes in Galwan Valley.

This conciliatory process between Delhi and Beijing has also reduced the potential of Pakistan to create a bigger trouble on the LoC as the psychological advantage that it had been looking for since the days of the standoff in eastern Ladakh is gone for the moment.

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 7

Almost two decades after it was last updated, the Policy for Design Development and Production of Military Airsystems and Airborne Stores (DDPMAS) is being revised to keep pace with contemporary technical and commercial advancements in the aviation sector.

The policy, brought out by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) sets out the procedure to be followed for design and development, production, modification, licence production and indigenisation of aircraft and aviation systems within the military airworthiness regulatory framework.

Rapid advancements in the Indian aviation sector over the past years with significant expansion in the design, development and production activities, increasing accent on self-reliance and indigenisation with ever increasing public and private sector participation necessitated the current policy.

First issued in 1975 and then revised in 2002, DDPMAS outlines policy level aspect towards ensuring airworthiness of military aviation systems, defines roles, responsibilities and empowerment of all the stakeholders, lays down procedural aspects towards ensuring military airworthiness certification and describes technical airworthiness requirements and associated acceptable means of compliance based on tailored standards.

New chapters on unmanned aerial systems, air launched missiles, research systems, civil certified military airsystems, continuing airworthiness, organisation approvals and exports, have now been added to the policy document.

To facilitate the private industry and boot the Make-in-India policy, organisation approvals for design, production and maintenance have been added. Airworthiness coverage to the private industry, even when no expression of interest or supply order from the government exists, has also been addressed.

Inputs from various stakeholders regarding the impediments and difficulties in following the DDPMAS have been addressed without compromising the philosophy of airworthiness.

While demarcating the requirements for airsystems and airborne stores, the new document also addresses engines, materials, software, identification of parts, test rigs, tools, testers and ground equipment separately.

The revised DDPMAS recognises that the future of military aviation will involve joint ventures and consortiums with design houses of foreign origin, which will entail mutual recognition of design and certification methodologies.

In order to facilitate international understanding, cooperation and success of the ventures leading to acquiring strategic technologies, the DDPMAS has introduced global parlance and internationally followed terminologies with one-to-one-mapping of equivalent regulatory articles wherever applicable to Indian processes and procedures.

Satya Prakash

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 7 

The Supreme Court on Tuesday gave one more month to the Centre to implement its February 17, 2020 verdict for permanent commission to women officers in the Army.

A Bench headed by Justice DY Chandrachud asked the government to ensure complete compliance with its order even as the Ministry of Defence said the decision making was at the final stage and only the formal order remained to be issued.

The top court’s orders will be complied with in letter and spirit, the government told the court, which agreed to give one additional month in view of COVID-19 pandemic.

The Centre had sought six more months to implement the top court’s order for grant of permanent Commission to women officers and make provision for command posts for eligible women officers in the Army.

Noting that “the right to equality is a right to rationality,” the Supreme Court had on February 17 paved the way for women in command positions in the Army as it ordered the Government to consider granting permanent commission to all women officers in three months.

“An absolute bar on women seeking criteria or command appointments would not comport with the guarantee of equality under Article 14. Implicit in the guarantee of equality is that where the action of the state does differentiate between two classes of persons, it does not differentiate them in an unreasonable or irrational manner. In this sense, even at its bare minimum, the right to equality is a right to rationality,” a Justice Chandrachud-led Bench had said.

The Bench, however, had said, “Whether a particular candidate should or should not be granted a criteria or command assignment is a matter for the competent authority to consider having regard to all the exigencies of service, performance and organisational requirements.”

Noting that courts were conscious of the limitations, which issues of national security and policy imposed on the judicial evolution of doctrine in matters relating to the Armed forces, the Bench had made it clear that deployment of women officers in combat roles was a matter of policy as held by the Delhi High Court.

The top court said permanent commission can be given to women officers in the Army irrespective of their tenure of service. It also directed the Centre to grant permanent commission within three months to all women officers in the Army who opt for it.

It had termed as “disturbing” the government’s argument of physiological limitations and social norms for denying command posts to women officers and called for a change of mindset on the part of the government to put an end to gender bias in the armed forces.

Highlighting the laurels achieved by women officers, the Bench had said, “Their track record of service to the nation is beyond reproach. To cast aspersion on their abilities on the ground of gender is an affront not only to their dignity as women but to the dignity of the members of the Indian Army – men and women – who serve as equal citizens in a common mission.”

It had expressed strong displeasure over the Centre not implementing the 2010 Delhi High Court’s order allowing grant of permanent commission to women officers despite there being no stay on it, saying the government showed scant regard in implementing the directions for a decade.

Describing the engagement of women officers in the Army as an “evolutionary process” it had said the Centre should have implemented the high court verdict as there was no stay on it.

The top court’s order was based on the Centre’s policy decision conveyed to it on February 25, 2019 to grant of Permanent Commission to Short Service Commission women officers in all the 10 streams where women had been granted SSC in the Army.

“The decision of the Union Government to extend the grant of PC to other corps in the support arms and services recognizes that the physiological features of a woman have no significance to her equal entitlements under the Constitution,” it had said.

“Seventy years after the birth of a post-colonial independent state, there is still a need for change in attitudes and mindsets to recognise the commitment to the values of the Constitution,” it had said.

The overhaul of the fleet has been delayed for years

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, July 7

A day after India participated in a meeting of regional countries on promoting peace in Afghanistan and Pakistan held a Foreign Secretary-level trilateral with Afghanistan and China.

India had participated via video conference in a conference that had about 20 regional countries deliberating on promoting unity and stability in Afghanistan. Delivering his address, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani singled out Prime Minister Narendra Modi for providing Covid-related assistance to Afghanistan and for initiating the SAARC leaders’ meeting for coordinated efforts in the region.

A day later, the third China-Afghanistan-Pakistan trilateral saw Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Luo Zhaohui (former Chinese envoy to India), Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Mirwais Nab and Pakistan Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood discuss in greater depth the unfolding peace process including issues of release of prisoners and the return of refugees.

Both China and Pakistan appreciated the efforts by the Ghani government and “relevant parties” (Taliban) in expediting the exchange of the prisoners to pave the way for the start of the intra-Afghan negotiations. They also agreed that the return of Afghan refugees should be part of the peace and reconciliation process. India has virtually no role on both these issues.

The trilateral joint statement pointedly supported the World Health Organisation’s “leading role” in coordinating global COVID-19 response. China in turn has promised a constructive role in implementing the Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS).

Significantly, the three sides agreed to continue to strengthen counter-terrorism and security cooperation. They also resolved to combat the “East Turkistan Islamic Movement”, and all other terrorist forces and networks posing threats to the common security of the three countries.

We’re not going to stand by and let China or anyone else take the reins in terms of being the most powerful, dominant force, whether it’s in that region or over here,’ White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said

Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 3

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s surprise early Friday visit to Ladakh marked a historic first as he sent out an unequivocal message directed at China with a declaration that the “era of expansionism is over” and that the Indian soldiers have demonstrated to the world the country’s strength by displaying their “fire and fury”.

Edit: Russia on board

The PM’s visit came amid a prolonged standoff between Indian and Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh, especially after the June 15 violent clashes in the Galwan valley that left 20 Indian soldiers dead.

In an address to troops, Modi paid tributes to the fallen soldiers and said tales of the bravery and valour of the armed forces were echoing in every part of the country.

‘Enemies tasted fire and fury of our soldiers’

The bravery of 14 Corps will be talked about everywhere.

Tales of your bravery and valour are echoing in every house across the country.

Bharat Mata’s enemies have seen your fire and fury.—  Narendra Modi, Prime Minister

Hailing the bravery of soldiers as “unparalleled”, the PM said the “enemies of India had seen fire and fury of our forces”. Simultaneously, he reminded China, without naming it, the “era of expansionism is over”, in a clear declaration that any misadventure of transgressing the Indian territory would not be tolerated. He asserted bravery was a prerequisite for peace and that the weak could never accomplish it.

The PM’s visit to Nimu began with a strategic review of the situation in eastern Ladakh. XIV Corps Commander Lt Gen Harinder Singh gave the PM a first-hand account of the three rounds of Commander-level talks held with Chinese counterpart Major General Liu Lin in Chushul and Moldo over the past one month.

Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat and Army Chief Gen MM Naravane, who accompanied the PM from Delhi, were part of the review meeting. PM’s tone was passionate and full of messages, particularly to China and Pakistan that border Ladakh. While reflecting on the Galwan valley clashes, the PM said “due to the exemplary bravery of our armed forces in the recent weeks, the world has taken note of India’s strength”.

He sought to dispel any false notion about the country, saying India’s commitment to peace should not be seen as a weakness. He invoked Lord Krishna, saying: “We are the same people who pray to the flute-playing Lord Krishna, but we are also those who idolise the same Lord Krishna who carries the ‘Sudarshana Chakra’.”

The PM later visited a military hospital in Leh where he interacted with soldiers injured in the clashes.

Chinese troops have created a war-like situation because of their actions in the Galwan valley, Hot Springs, Pangong Tso and other areas in eastern Ladakh. These are seen as part of Beijing’s expansionist designs as it has not retreated to the April 2020 position despite military and diplomatic talks.

China under Xi agressive towards India: US report

China under Xi Jinping has stepped up its ‘aggressive’ foreign policy towards India and ‘resisted’ efforts to clarify the LAC that prevented a lasting peace from being realised, says a US Congress-appointed commission report. “Since 2013, China has engaged in five major altercations with India along the LAC,” it said. PTI

No power infra import

Power Minister RK Singh on Friday said India will not import electricity equipment from China, amid the ongoing border standoff. Equipment import from China and Pakistan would not be permitted, he said, while asking state discoms not to place orders for supply of equipment with Chinese firms. PTI

Delhi gets Japan backing

In a strong support to India over the LAC standoff, Japan on Friday said it opposed ‘any unilateral’ attempts to change the status quo in the region. After a meeting with FS Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Japanese Ambassador Satoshi Suzuki said they hoped for peaceful resolution of the row through talks. PTI

Ajay Banerjee
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, July 7

A 3-km buffer zone between troops of India and China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh has raised fresh questions even as it is being implemented as a temporary measure.

Buffer zone dynamics

• A 3-km buffer zone (1.5 km by each side) is being worked out along the LAC in Galwan, Hot Springs and Pangong Tso
• For now, no patrolling will be carried out by either army in the buffer zone
• Patrolling will be allowed to both sides after the 3-step disengagement process is complete, which may take months

A buffer zone of 1.5 km on each side bars patrolling by troops, meaning the Indian Army for now will not patrol the areas along the LAC which it once did. According to the agreement, patrolling will be allowed only when the entire three-step disengagement process is completed, and that might take many months. By then, winter will set in and snow will make it impossible to patrol some of the routes like Patrolling Point (PP)-14, PP-15 and PP-17A.

Mistrust continues to persist as the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China, at successive meetings conducted by Lt General-level commanders, has agreed to only the first step of pulling back troops from the friction areas along the LAC. The first step will be reviewed after two weeks. The PLA is yet to agree to a timeline for the second step, which includes pulling back the war-like stores — long-range guns, rockets, tanks — from the LAC. For that another round of meetings is to be conducted, meaning as of now there is no deadline for the second and third steps of the disengagement process.

Some of the disputes at Galwan and the Gogra-Hot Springs area are due to fresh claims being made by China. Earlier, there was no dispute about the LAC alignment in Galwan, as India “accepted” the Chinese claim line proposed in 1960 by its premier Zhou Enlai. China’s claim in June on the entire Galwan valley has been debunked by India. The LAC alignment at Gogra- Hot Springs is disputed and India does not accept China’s claims. At Pangong Tso, China is exercising claim over Finger-4, while India claims several kilometres east of it till Finger- 8. The LAC was drawn at Finger-8 as per China’s own claim in 1960.

An official said an ideal situation would be to have a buffer zone as per the April 2020 position. Another official recalled that the 2014 standoff at Chumur in south-eastern Ladakh had ended with a no-patrolling zone. It was created temporarily for a few weeks to reduce friction.