Monthly Archives: August 2018

The two ministers also witness multiple aircraft operations on the emergency landing facility of NH-295

An-32 military transport aircraft and Mi-17v5 helicopter of the IAF also landed at the ELF, showing its complete operational readiness to act as an auxiliary military airbase. Photo credit: Twitter/@rajnathsingh

Barmer, September 9

Union ministers Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gadkari inaugurated an emergency landing strip at Satta-Gandhav stretch on National Highway 925 here on Thursday for Indian Air Force (IAF) planes.

A Hercules C-130J plane of the IAF, carrying the two ministers and Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat, conducted a mock emergency landing on the national highway on Thursday. NH-925 is India’s first national highway to be used for emergency landing of IAF aircraft.

The two ministers also witnessed multiple aircraft operations on the emergency landing facility (ELF) of NH-295 on Thursday.

Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jet also conducted a mock emergency landing at the ELF in front of the two ministers.

An-32 military transport aircraft and Mi-17v5 helicopter of the IAF also landed at the ELF, showing its complete operational readiness to act as an auxiliary military airbase.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has developed the 3-km section of Satta-Gandhav stretch of NH-925 as an ELF for the IAF. In October 2017, fighter jets and transport planes of the IAF had conducted mock landings on the Lucknow-Agra Expressway to show that such highways can be used by the IAF planes for landing in case of an emergency.

The Lucknow-Agra Expressway, which is not a national highway, comes under the Uttar Pradesh government.

Officials told PTI a total of 27 other highways, apart from the one in Barmer, are being currently studied jointly by the IAF and the NHAI to see if emergency landing strips can be developed on them.

The emergency landing strip, which was inaugurated on Thursday, is part of newly developed two-lane paved shoulder of Gagariya-Bakhasar and Satta-Gandhav section having total length of 196.97 km and costing Rs 765.52 crore under the Bharatmala Pariyojana.

This highway project will improve connectivity between villages of Barmer and Jalore districts located on the international border.

Apart from the emergency landing strip, three helipads (size 100×30 metres each) have been constructed in Kundanpura, Singhania and Bakhasar villages under this project, according to the requirements of the IAF and the Indian Army. PTI

Malhotra, who essayed Captain Batra’s role in a recent biopic, pens an emotional note on the war hero’s birth anniversary

Sidharth Malhotra essayed Captain Batra’s role in a recent biopic.

Mumbai, September 9

Bollywood actor Sidharth Malhotra on Thursday paid tribute to Captain Vikram Batra on his 47th birth anniversary saying the Kargil war hero would “forever” stay in the hearts of people.

Malhotra, who essayed Captain Batra’s role in a recent biopic, penned an emotional note on the war hero’s birth anniversary.

“They say that those who touch our lives stay in our hearts forever. And Captain Vikram Batra, you have touched our lives immensely with your valour, wisdom, charm & love for the nation. You will stay in our hearts forever…In your loving memory, Jai Hind,” he wrote, alongside a collage photo of Captain Batra.

Known for his bravery, Captain Batra died fighting Pakistani forces during the Kargil war in 1999 at the age of 24.

He was given the highest wartime gallantry award Param Vir Chakra posthumously.

‘Shershaah’, based on the life of Captain Batra with Malholtra in the lead role, released on Amazon Prime Video on August 12.

The film, which takes its title from the war hero’s code name, is directed by Vishnu Varadhan. Actor Kiara Advani was seen in the role of Captain Batra’s fiancee Dimple Cheema in the movie. PTI

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen. Bipin Rawat. File photo

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 8

The formation of much-awaited “theatre command” structure for the armed forces has gained ground with a senior military commander being tasked to set up the administrative and logistics structure of the theatre command on the western front.

A theatre command aims at amalgamating available military resources under a single command authority for a specified area. The government has mandated Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Bipin Rawat to create the theatre commands.

The CDS has tasked the commander of the Indian Army’s South-Western command at Jaipur to set up the structures of the western theatre command that would look after the borders with the western neighbour.

The existing area of the Army’s Northern Command has been kept out of theaterisation ambit. The IAF’s deployment in J&K and Ladakh will also not be altered. The full amalgamation of three armed forces into a “theatre command” would take at least two years, official sources said.

“The thinking process is still on. The Jaipur-based Commander will come with the plan on which all units of the Army, IAF and the Navy will be integrated under the western theatre. Once that plan is ready and the structures are in place, a theatre commander will be appointed and be given the ‘operational command and control’ of the units which come under the western theatre. The existing ‘area commands’ of the Army, IAF and the Navy would cede their ‘operational powers’ to the theatre commander. Gradually, all roles of the existing commands will go to the theatre commander. The existing commands will function as advisory to the theatre commander,” sources added.

Taliban have hinted they’ll be reasonable in addressing concerns: Shringla

• 0

A member of the Taliban force stands guard at a Kabul street. Reuters

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 4

Both India and the US are closely watching Pakistan’s actions in Afghanistan, said Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla as ISI chief Lt Gen Faiz Hamid arrived in Kabul amid reports of heavy fighting in Panjshir valley and continued secrecy over government formation in Afghanistan.

Zabiullah Mujahid, Taliban spokesperson

Govt next week

Announcement on new government and cabinet will be made next week. 

“Obviously, like us, they’re (the US) also watching carefully. We have to watch Pakistan’s actions with a fine tooth comb,” Shringla said on Saturday at the end of his visit to Washington. “The Taliban have indicated they would be reasonable in addressing New Delhi’s concerns,” he added in reference to an MEA team’s August 31 meeting with the Taliban Leadership Council’s Sher Mohammed Stanikzai in Doha.

Antony Blinken, US Secy of State

Hope Taliban will keep their word

The expectation is to see a government that makes good on commitments that the Taliban have made, particularly on freedom of travel, not allowing Afghanistan to be used as a launching ground for terrorism & upholding basic rights of people, including women & minorities.

“Our engagement has been limited. Whatever conversation we’ve had so far, the Taliban seem to indicate they will be reasonable in addressing India’s concerns,” Shringla said. “The situation is very fluid and you have to see whether the assurances that have been made publicly are actually maintained on the ground, and how things work out,” he explained, dispelling the impression that a wait and watch policy meant doing nothing. Government formation in Afghanistan remains a work-in-progress. There has been no public debate on its structure or constituents but for statements from Taliban leaders that Mullah Haibatullah and Mullah Baradar would hold the top two positions. The ISI chief’s visit is being seen against the backdrop of a stalemate in government formation. Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid on Saturday said the formation of a new government had been put off to next week.

The Taliban sought to batten down resistance from the Panjshir Valley by moving heavy weaponry up the surrounding hills and is trying to enter Shotul district, the mouth of Panjshir Valley, where it has reportedly placed containers to restrict access. “We are doing what’s humanly possible with what we have. Pray for us,’’ said a social media handle of the National Resistance Front or Resistance 2.

In Kabul, women rights activists and journalists protested for the second day and the Taliban used force to disperse the crowd.

Celebratory fire kills 17

At least 17 persons were killed in celebratory gunfire in Kabul, news agencies said on Saturday, after Taliban sources said their fighters had seized control of Panjshir, the last province in Afghanistan holding out against the Islamist group.