Monthly Archives: August 2018

New Delhi: Pakistan is not happy with the Taliban. A report by prominent Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir published in The News, a daily newspaper, says that Pakistani security officials have approached the Afghan Taliban leadership in Doha and made it very clear to them that their refusal to participate in the Istanbul Conference was a big blow to the Afghan Peace Process and if they do not show some flexibility they will have to face the consequences.
“Enough is enough” message has been given to the Talibani leadership and the same message was conveyed to the Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani by the Pakistani delegation last week in Kabul.
According to Pakistani sources, the news has emanated from an “off the record” briefing by Pakistan’s army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa at an “Iftar” party hosted by him for a bunch of “trusted” media persons at the military headquarters in Rawalpindi. Bajwa shared a lot of “information” with them but asked the journalists not to attribute the news to army sources.
The report says that the Taliban thinks that India started engaging with Pakistan recently just because India does not want Islamabad to object to its new role in Afghanistan.
This information was “leaked” by the Pakistani army chief Bajwa at a time when a lot of key changes are taking place in Afghanistan, which have crucial bearing on Pakistan’s national security and strategic interests in the long run.
Bajwa is worried because he does not trust the Taliban and he would not like them moving closer to India. Pakistani security agencies found some links between Afghan Taliban and groups related to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), “They are two faces of the same coin.” The PTT is staunchly opposed to the Pakistani establishment.
The India Factor
Bajwa saw the ground situation changing last year when US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad said that India should discuss its concerns on terrorism directly with the Taliban. The US envoy had discussed how India could play a “more active role” in the Afghan reconciliation process during his talks in Delhi.
Khalilzad told Indian media that it is for India to decide its role, but engagement between India and all the key players in Afghanistan, not only in terms of the government but also in terms of political forces, society and the Afghan body politic, is appropriate given India’s regional and global position. India is an important force in Afghanistan and it would be appropriate for the India-Taliban engagement to take place.
This was followed by a Taliban statement saying the group would like to have a positive relationship with India and welcomed New Delhi’s cooperation in Afghanistan. The Taliban also said that it does not support Pakistan’s ‘holy war’ against India and that Kashmir was India’s internal matter.
Taliban’s spokesperson Mohammad Suhail Shaheen told an Indian audience through a webinar speech last year in April, that the group wants to build ties with India and even was willing to enact a law against foreign terror groups conducting operations against any other country.
“Linking the issue of Kashmir with that of Afghanistan by some parties will not aid in improving the crisis at hand because the issue of Afghanistan is not related.
Pakistan’s military establishment feels that Taliban may be looking for an opportunity to break away from Pakistan stranglehold to chart out an independent path by taking on board all sections of Afghan society for a futuristic settlement to the Afghan problem.
The current Taliban leadership is known to be based in Doha. Mullah Baradar, the Taliban chief negotiator in Qatar was held by Pakistan for close to 10 years. Similarly, many other senior leaders would want to break free. In the past Taliban leaders have shown an inclination to chalk out an independent path without the baggage of Pakistani patronage leading to factional fights.
While some experts believe that Taliban wants to change its image which has been that of a pawn of Pakistan, others believe that it is merely a ploy by the Taliban to project a better image.
Afghanistan was the focus at the Heart of Asia Conference held in Tajikistan on 30 March and India was represented by the External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said, “India has been supportive of all the efforts being made to accelerate the dialogue between the Afghan government and the Taliban, including intra-Afghan negotiations”. He also declared India’s support for a regional process to be convened under the aegis of the United Nations.
According to experts, India wants to safeguard its interests and investments in Afghanistan which run into billions. This calls for good relations with the upcoming leadership in Kabul, irrespective of who rules. This would also help to avert any future threats from its economic and political foes, both Islamabad and Beijing.
India’s soft power is likely to have some influence over the Afghan government. If the Taliban comes to power, it may consider a positive political approach to New Delhi as India can play an important role in the development of Afghanistan.

New Delhi: As the second Covid wave ravages the country, the soldiers are sitting tight in Ladakh while monitoring Chinese activity through physical means besides drones and satellite imagery even as various infrastructure development activities are on to cater to enhanced troop levels and future exigencies.
The Army’s Northern Command has put in place a series of protocols to ensure the virus doesn’t hit operational capabilities. This comes even as the Chinese troops maintain a considerable amount of strength in depth areas after the disengagement from the Pangong Tso including armoured columns.
The second wave of Covid has meant that there is unlikely to be any Corps Commander level talks between India and China over the next couple of months, said sources in the defence and security establishment. The 11th round of talks was held on 9 April.
Junior officers and local formations, however, remain in communication with their Chinese counterparts through the hotline.
Currently, China is seeking de-escalation first rather than disengagement from the four friction points including Depsang, Gogra and Hot Springs. Moreover, China also wants easing of the economic offensive by India since the deadly Galwan clash last year, which affected the operations of certain Chinese businesses in India.
Sources said this was indicated during the diplomatic talks that have been held and not at the military level.
Infrastructure Development A Key Focus
Explaining how the troops are coping in wake of the second Covid wave, a source said, “We have to prevent ourselves from the second wave. While there is almost 100 per cent vaccination coverage among the soldiers in Ladakh, we are sitting tight because we can’t afford any chances on this front.”
The steps taken on the front to hold on include cancellation of all non-emergency leaves, only necessary troop rotation, limited movement and non-physical interaction as much as possible.
However, the sources said the infrastructure development activities in the region are currently on despite the Covid situation. “Summer is the period when we get to carry out our infrastructure activities. This also includes habitat and other logistics work for the enhanced troop level in the region. There are also channels of transportation that need to be fixed and also made,” a source said.
On 12 April, the new summer plan for China, was observed that there is a significant increase in both its defensive and combat capability than previous summers even as India pulled back many formations sent in during the peak of the crisis last year.
Another source explained that while Chinese troops have disengaged from the Pangong Tso side as well as the Galwan Valley, they are much closer to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) than they were before April 2020.
This means that the Chinese will take a shorter time than before to return. India, accordingly needs to have infrastructure in place to ensure that the Indians too can do the same.
For example, the Chinese moved back their soldiers from the southern banks of Pangong Tso to a place called Rutog, which is about 70 kilometres from the LAC. The Chinese had built additional accommodation centres and even installed a surface-to-air missile system in this area.
China Study Group Has Not Yet Met Due To Covid Crisis
Asked about possible movement in the Corps Commander level talks since the last round earlier this month, the sources said the Covid outbreak meant that things have gotten delayed. It is learnt that the China Study Group — the central and sole advisor to the government on policies related to China — has not formally met because the attention currently is on steps to be taken to counter the second wave of Covid.
“The next round of talks could take time. It could be held after a month or two. However, the local commanders are maintaining contact through the hotline on a regular basis,” a source cited above said.
In Ladakh the troops are maintaining constant surveillance through unmanned aerial vehicles and other ways, the sources said.
Asked about the recent statement by the Chinese military that India should cherish the “current positive trend” of de-escalation and cooling down of tensions in the border area, other sources said this needs to be seen in a different light.
“Cherish does not mean that there will be no movement further. It means that both sides have achieved something and hopefully more positive news will come,” said a third source.

Veterans officers of the Armed Forces Medical Services requested to register themselves on e-Sehat portal

Photo for representation. Reuters

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 1

With the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic overwhelming the medical infrastructure in the country, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) today appealed to retired armed forces doctors to render their service through online platforms.

“The country has been experiencing the second surge of COVID-19 pandemic since the past one month which needs an accelerated optimised time-bound synergic effort at a national level with the aim of reducing mortality and morbidity,” a memo issued today by the Directorate General Armed Forces Medical Services in the MoD states.

Pointing out that the nation as a whole, including the Armed Forces, have been contributing their might in efforts to contain the pandemic and provide all possible assistance to the countrymen, the memo adds that the veterans constitute a large group of the Armed Forces family who have served the nation with honour and are motivated, highly trained professionals who still have a lot to offer for a national cause.

“Hence all veterans officers of the Armed Forces Medical Services are requested to register themselves on e-Sehat portal wherein they can offer their guidance, counselling and advice to many of their fellow countrymen and help provide succour in this hour of need,” the memo states.

According to reports, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, conveyed to the Prime Minister in a briefing earlier this week that Armed Forces doctors who retired and those who took pre-mature retirement in the last two years are also being recalled to serve in COVID-19 care facilities located in proximity of their residences. In addition, doctors on staff appointments at formation headquarters are being deployed in hospitals.

e-Sehat is a cloud based platform for real time and live two-way interaction between a patient and a health-care professional, including specialists, using audio-visual telecommunications and auto-synchronizing medical diagnostic data through specialised IoT enabled medical diagnostic devices. 

With the spike in COVID-19 infections across the country creating unprecedented workload on hospitals, the armed forces augmented their medical facilities and assisted the civilian administration by opening their medical facilities to treat civilians, establishing and running quarantine and treatment centres and transporting essential supplies across the country.

As part of augmenting the present capacity, the MoD recently extended the term of engagement of short service commissioned doctors serving in the Armed Forces till December 31, 2021. This implies that 238 doctors, who would have otherwise been released, will continue in service till the end of the year. In addition, additional doctors have also been hired by the Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme.

The 12th round of Corps Commander level talks could take a couple of months since the current focus is on Covid even as forces maintain continuous vigil at the LAC.

ile image of Indian soldiers in Ladakh | Representational image |

New Delhi: As the second Covid wave ravages the country, the soldiers are sitting tight in Ladakh while monitoring Chinese activity through physical means besides drones and satellite imagery even as various infrastructure development activities are on to cater to enhanced troop levels and future exigencies, ThePrint has learnt.

The Army’s Northern Command has put in place a series of protocols to ensure the virus doesn’t hit operational capabilities.

This comes even as the Chinese troops maintain a considerable amount of strength in depth areas after the disengagement from the Pangong Tso including armoured columns.

The second wave of Covid has meant that there is unlikely to be any Corps Commander level talks between India and China over the next couple of months, said sources in the defence and security establishment. The 11th round of talks was held on 9 April.

Currently, China is seeking de-escalation first rather than disengagement from the four friction points including Depsang, Gogra and Hot Springs. Moreover, ThePrint has learnt that China also wants easing of the economic offensive by India since the deadly Galwan clash last year, which affected the operations of certain Chinese businesses in India.

Sources said this was indicated during the diplomatic talks that have been held and not at the military level.

Also read: ‘Inconsistent with facts’ — China on Gen Rawat’s remark on PLA’s attempt to change status quo

Infrastructure development a key focus

Explaining how the troops are coping in wake of the second Covid wave, a source said, “We have to prevent ourselves from the second wave. While there is almost 100 per cent vaccination coverage among the soldiers in Ladakh, we are sitting tight because we can’t afford any chances on this front.”

The steps taken on the front to hold on include cancellation of all non-emergency leaves, only necessary troop rotation, limited movement and non-physical interaction as much as possible.

However, the sources said the infrastructure development activities in the region are currently on despite the Covid situation. “Summer is the period when we get to carry out our infrastructure activities. This also includes habitat and other logistics work for the enhanced troop level in the region. There are also channels of transportation that need to be fixed and also made,” a source said.

On 12 April, ThePrint had reported the new summer plan for China, mentioning that there is a significant increase in both its defensive and combat capability than previous summers even as India pulled back many formations sent in during the peak of the crisis last year.

Another source explained that while Chinese troops have disengaged from the Pangong Tso side as well as the Galwan Valley, they are much closer to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) than they were before April 2020.

This means that the Chinese will take a shorter time than before to return. India, accordingly needs to have infrastructure in place to ensure that the Indians too can do the same.

For example, the Chinese moved back their soldiers from the southern banks of Pangong Tso to a place called Rutog, which is about 70 kilometres from the LAC. The Chinese had built additional accommodation centres and even installed a surface-to-air missile system in this area.

China Study Group has not yet met due to Covid crisis

Asked about possible movement in the Corps Commander level talks since the last round earlier this month, the sources said the Covid outbreak meant that things have gotten delayed.

It is learnt that the China Study Group — the central and sole advisor to the government on policies related to China — has not formally met because the attention currently is on steps to be taken to counter the second wave of Covid.

“The next round of talks could take time. It could be held after a month or two. However, the local commanders are maintaining contact through the hotline on a regular basis,” a source cited above said.

In Ladakh the troops are maintaining constant surveillance through unmanned aerial vehicles and other ways, the sources said.

Asked about the recent statement by the Chinese military that India should cherish the “current positive trend” of de-escalation and cooling down of tensions in the border area, other sources said this needs to be seen in a different light.

“Cherish does not mean that there will be no movement further. It means that both sides have achieved something and hopefully more positive news will come,” said a third source.

Also read: Army cap on premature retirement to continue as Covid has hit recruitment since last year

SPCCC was reopened on April 26 with 500 bed facilities but no arrangements were made for treating the critical patients

Photo for representation. PTI

Mukesh Ranjan

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 1

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has directed the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoH&FW) to provide and install 150 ventilators at the ITBP-run Sardar Patel Covid Care Centre (SPCCC) in the national capital’s Chhatarpur area.

In this regard Adviser to the Prime Minister Bhaskar Khulbe today wrote a letter to Joint Secretary in the MoH&FW Mandeep Bhandari asking him to provide 150 ventilators for the critical care of COVID-19 patients admitted to the SPCCC.

Incidentally, the PMO intervention came after a request made by Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Director General SS Deswal seeking allocation of 150 ventilators for addressing the needs of critical patients admitted to the SPCCC.

In his letter to the joint secretary, Khulbe said, “As discussed with you, 150 ventilators provided under PM CARES Trust Fund, and embedded with GPS enabled devices, may be provided from the available stock on loan basis for a period of six months now, which if necessary, may be extended further on review.”

“I also request you to organise immediate installation of these ventilators by the selected vendor(s). Simultaneously, please advise the SPCCC for the site preparation,” he added.

The Adviser in the PMO has also asked the MoH&FW official for organising necessary training for use of these ventilators and this could be done by the selected vendors.

In view of the alarming number of COVID-19 positive cases in Delhi, the SPCCC was reopened on April 26 with 500 bed facilities but no arrangements were made for treating the critical patients

NEW DELHI: The 15-lakh strong armed forces were on Friday granted special emergency financial powers by defence minister Rajnath Singh to speed up their ongoing efforts in the battle against the deadly second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Singh invoked “special provisions” to grant the financial powers to formation commanders around the country to establish and operate quarantine facilities and hospitals as well as undertake procurement of equipment and stores, apart from provisioning of various services and works required to support the ongoing efforts against the pandemic.
Under the powers, the Army, Navy and IAF vice chiefs, chief of integrated defence staff, general officer commanding-in chiefs and equivalents have been given full powers. “Corps commanders/area commanders, in turn, have been delegated powers up to Rs 50 lakh per case, while division/sub area commanders and equivalents have been delegated powers up to Rs 20 lakh per case,” said an official.
These powers have been devolved initially for a period of three months from May 1 to July 31. These are in addition to the emergency powers delegated to the medical officers of the armed forces last week,” he added.

May 5 will mark one year since the military standoff began between India and China in eastern Ladakh
As India’s Covid-19 crisis gets worse, it has come to light that China has quietly hardened its positions in eastern Ladakh. Top sources tell India Today TV that far from winding down winter deployments, the Chinese Army has reinforced its presence in eastern Ladakh depth areas with permanent accommodations and depots — an aggressive stance amidst continuing talks.
While the pullback by Indian and Chinese troops from the Pangong Tso sectors in February had created an atmosphere of hope for a slow but steady disengagement, the new permanent Chinese accommodations built between Kangxiwar, just north of Aksai Chin, and Rudok in Tibet’s Ladakh frontier has caused alarm.
Ground intelligence and imagery with the Indian security establishment has led to an assessment that has echoed through the standoff periodically: that the PLA is here for the long haul.
India Today TV brings out these fresh facts on a day when Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a message of sympathy to Indian PM Narendra Modi over the Covid-19 deaths in the country, saying, “The Chinese side stands ready to strengthen cooperation with the Indian side in fighting the pandemic and provide support and help in this regard. I believe that under the leadership of the Indian Government, the Indian people will surely prevail over the pandemic.”
Contrasting the diplomatic outreach from the Chinese government aside, the Chinese Army has quietly reinforced positions located to support the friction areas if necessary.
India Today TV learns that imagery shows that China’s winter deployment positions have been reinforced with permanent structures, accommodations and military buildings in a long arc through the Aksai Chin bulge, comprising depth areas from the friction points of the India-China standoff.
These include Xaidulla in the southwestern part of Xinjiang Autonomous Region, a strengthened Chinese radar site at Piue which is just across from Ladakh’s Chip Chap valley, and the military outpost at Kyrmmgo Traggar across the LAC from Hot Springs and Gogra Post.
The 10,000 permanent Chinese troops positioned at Kangxiwar and Rudok have been reinforced with 10,000 additional temporary troops according to one intelligence estimate.
“They have disengaged, but not reduced troop strength — a clear sign that they intend to be here for the long haul,” a military source told India Today TV.
A map of the spring 2021 reinforcement has also strengthened the view that China is in no mood to dial down its aggressive posture across from the Depsang and Daulat Beg Oldie areas of northern Ladakh.
India Today TV has reported on how China has slowly built up in these sectors as well.
Interestingly, the depth areas of Spanggur Tso, south of the Pangong lake have also been reinforced with permanent accommodations. This is adjacent to the sector where India had obtained a tactical advantage in the Kailash Range last August, forcing China into a stalemate.
While some of these needed to be abandoned as part of the February pullback, the Indian Army is understood to still hold similarly advantageous positions in other sectors at this time.
The celebrated February disengagement is also revealing the reality of Chinese intent. While Chinese troops and positions have moved beyond Finger 8 in the north Pangong sector, a bulk of the forces remains in the rear areas with elements of the 4th, 6th and 11th Motorised Divisions still present in those areas.
It must be said that there has been no reinforcement or strengthening of Chinese positions on the frontlines in any of the sectors, though that isn’t surprising given that such a move would be seen as immediately belligerent.
China’s quiet but aggressive reinforcement in depth areas, fully within view of the Indian military and intelligence agencies, comes just weeks after China showed surprising inflexibility during the last round of talks on April 9, at which time it virtually outright refused to discuss any pullback from the Gogra Post and Hot Springs friction points of the standoff area.
May 5 will mark one year since the military standoff began between the nuclear neighbours in eastern Ladakh, starting with a conflagration on the banks of the Pangong lake, and quickly spreading to other areas, most notably the Galwan Valley, Gogra Post and Hot Springs.

General Dynamics Mobile Protected Firepower MPF Vehicle
The Indian army has issued a new RFI (Request For Information) to acquire 350 light tanks weighing less than 25 tons. This request comes after the clash with the Chinese army near the disputed Pangong Lake in Ladakh and the Tibet Autonomous Region, and near the border between Sikkim and the Tibet Autonomous Region.
According to the Request For Information (RFI), the Indian army would like to have a light tank featuring a multiple, modular and upgradable weapon system with the capability to destroy and offer countermeasures to varied threats.
The new light tank should also feature multiple weapons for anti-aircraft and ground role with different calibre assisted with remote control weapon station. For ammunition, the tank should employ modern advance multipurpose ‘smart munitions’ with a gun able to fire anti-tank guided missiles. The tank should have an auxiliary power unit, preheated, environment control unit and anti-drone capability, UAV jammers, net-enabled.

South Korean K-21 105 light tank and BAE Systems light tank 
Currently, the Indian army operates Russian-made main battle tank T-90S called Bhishma and T-72M1 nicknamed Ajeya. Modern heavy tanks are not designed to be deployed in mountainous regions with narrow roads and crossing points not able to support a combat vehicle with a weight of 50 tons.
China has developed the Type 15 a lightweight tank that has a maximum weight of 36 tons and offers the mobility and the firepower of a standard Main Battle Tank (MBT). In fact, the Type 15 also called VT5 is armed with one 105 mm rifled gun with a thermal sleeve and fume extractor which has a maximum firing range of 3,000 m. The gun is able to fire anti-tank missiles fitted with a tandem HEAT (High Explosive Anti-Tank) warhead able to destroy armoured or tanks protected with reactive armour (ERA). The missile has a maximum firing range of 5,000 m.
Currently, three companies have developed the concept of light tanks using tracked chassis including BAE Systems, General Dynamics, and Elbit Systems. U.S. Army has launched the MPF (Mobile Protected Firepower) program to have a new light tank for the airborne troops. Two prototypes of light tanks have already delivered to the US military for testing.
General Dynamics has developed a new light tank that weighs less than 30 tons. The light tank can be armed with a 120 or a 105 mm cannon and will have armour similar to a standard MBT. In October 2015 during the AUSA defence exhibition in Washington D.C., BAE Systems has unveiled a new concept of a light tank called Expeditionary Light Tank that could be airdropped from a C-130 aircraft. The company’s solution was based on the purpose-built M8 Armoured Gun System, modernized with mature technologies from the CV90 family of infantry fighting vehicles and the Bradley Fighting Vehicle.
Recently, the Philippines has awarded the contract for the Philippine Army’s Light Tank and Wheeled Armoured Personnel Carrier Acquisition Projects to the Israeli company Elbit Systems. The new light tank for the Philippines is the Sabra which is based on the ASCOD-2 tracked chassis.
In Europe, the Turkish company FNSS has designed the Kaplan fitted with a two-man turret armed with a standard NATO 105mm rifled gun which can fire both AP (Armor Piercing) and HE (High Explosive) ammunitions. The South Korean company Hanwha has also developed a light tank concept of light based on the K-21 IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle) fitted with a two-man turret CT-CV 105HP designed by the Belgian company John Cockerill.

File photo of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh | PTIText Size: A- A+

New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday granted emergency financial powers to the armed forces that will allow formation commanders to make urgent procurement to set up health facilities for COVID-19 patients.

Under these powers, vice chiefs of armed forces will be able to clear procurement proposals, officials said.

Singh’s office said he invoked special provisions and granted emergency financial powers to the armed forces to empower them to speed up efforts in the nationwide fight against COVID-19.

“These powers will help Formation Commanders to establish and operate quarantine facilities/ hospitals and to undertake procurement/ repair of eqpt/ items/ material/ stores, besides provisioning of various services and works required to support the ongoing effort against COVID,” his office tweeted.

Also read: Military hospitals could now treat civilians as Rajnath seeks armed forces’ aid in Covid fight

Currently, only 0.05 per cent (or 1 out of 2,000) retirement requests are being processed, only on compassionate grounds. This is likely to continue until 2022.

A contingent of the Indian Army showcase their skills on Army Day, in Delhi | Suraj Singh Bisht |

New Delhi: The Army has decided to continue with its policy of restricting premature retirements for soldiers this year too, in view of less recruitment last year because of the pandemic, ThePrint has learnt.

Last year, the Army had promulgated the policy of capping premature retirements for its personnel after the pandemic hit the force’s recruitment drives.

Sources in Army headquarters said only 0.05 per cent (or 1 out of 2000) retirement requests are currently being processed, only on compassionate grounds. This is likely to continue until 2022.

In August 2020, ThePrint had reported that the Regiment of Artillery was among the Army branches that stopped all premature retirements of its personnel from 1 September. The move came due to the pandemic that had delayed planned fresh recruitment, training and induction of recruits.

“Approximately 50,000-60,000 Army personnel proceed on superannuation every year, of which premature retirements could range from 6-8 per cent. The move to curtail premature retirements for sometime will go a long way in increasing the gap between the recruits coming in and those retiring,” said a source.

A second source explained that the annual recruitment rallies held across the country by the Army aim for these figures and the intake and outflow are balanced.

“Due to the pandemic, many of the rallies had to be postponed or cancelled, thereby leading to a reduction in recruitment, while the number of personnel superannuating remains more or less constant,” the source said. “This creates a deficiency in the forces. Controlling premature retirements helps in reducing this deficit partially.”

Earlier this week, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and told him that all armed forces medical personnel who had retired or taken premature retirement in the last two years are being recalled to serve in Covid facilities near their residence.

Other medical officers who retired earlier had also been requested to make their services available for consultation through medical emergency helplines, Gen Rawat told the PM.

Also read: Tejas aircraft tech comes in aid of oxygen-starved Indian cities. This is how it works

Other steps taken by Army to manage pandemic

In the wake of the massive Covid wave, among other offices, the Army headquarters had earlier this month issued orders stating that physical attendance in command and formation headquarters should be 15 per cent at most till further orders, while those on essential duties will continue with existing Covid protocols.

The Army had also cancelled major physical meetings until 5 May, promoting use of video and telephonic conferences.

The orders also said ongoing training courses will continue, but no new courses will start before 10 May. All collective training and field firing were cancelled till 10 May. The dates could be extended depending on the pandemic situation.

The Army also ordered cancellation of temporary duties and leave. The orders said in military bases, all non-essential stores in shopping complexes, parks and cinemas would be shut down while all welfare, social and religious gatherings would be cancelled. Regulated entry in essential stores and canteens would continue.

ThePrint reported earlier that 99 per cent of the 13-lakh strong Army had received the first vaccine dose while only 18 per cent of all personnel are left to receive the second vaccine dose.

On Thursday, Army chief General M.M. Naravane met PM Modi to discuss various initiatives taken by the Army to help in the pandemic management.

Also read: India looks to lease mid-air refueller from French Air Force for training, more could follow