Monthly Archives: October 2022

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 12

Pakistan is “not seeking hostility with India for the next 100 years”, said an official in Islamabad while offering a sneak preview to the media of its first-ever security policy.

“Economic security will be the central theme of the new national security policy…. But geo-economics does not necessarily mean we overlook our geo-strategic and geo-political interests,” Pakistani media quoted the official as commenting on the unclassified 50 pages of the policy which will be unveiled by Pakistan PM Imran Khan on Friday. Another 50 pages of the policy will remain classified.

Don’t want hostility with delhi for 100 yrs

Economic security will be the central theme of the new national security policy. We are not seeking hostility with India for the next 100 years. The new policy seeks peace with immediate neighbours. —Pakistan media quoting an official

Kashmir will be a “vital national policy” issue for Pakistan, but the new policy seeks peace with immediate neighbours by normalising trade and business ties. “The national security policy for 2022 to 2026 seeks a shift in Pakistan’s approach from geo-strategic to geo-economics,” said the official in a background briefing for journalists. But, he clarified there was no prospect of rapprochement with India under the current government in New Delhi.

China’s exports to India from January to December rose 46.2 per cent to USD 97.52 billion, while India’s exports to China grew by 34.2 per cent to USD 28.14 billion

Beijing, January 14

The India-China bilateral trade touched a record high of over USD 125 billion in 2021, crossing the USD 100 billion-mark in a year when the relations hit a new low due to the prolonged standoff by the militaries in eastern Ladakh, while India’s trade deficit too mounted to over USD 69 billion, according to official data released on Friday.

The total trade between China and India in 2021 stood at USD 125.66 billion, up 43.3 per cent from 2020, state-run Global Times reported, quoting data from the General Administration of Customs.

China’s exports to India from January to December rose 46.2 per cent to USD 97.52 billion, while India’s exports to China grew by 34.2 per cent to USD 28.14 billion.

The trade deficit for India grew to USD 69.38 billion in 2021.

India has been highlighting its concerns over the growing trade deficit with China for over a decade and calling on Beijing to open its markets for India’s IT and pharmaceutical products.

Observers say much of China’s exports increase this year to India was attributed to the import of medical products and raw materials for India’s burgeoning pharmaceutical industry due to the massive second wave of COVID-19 and recurring bouts of the virus in the country.

The landmark increase of the bilateral trade crossing USD 100 billion went without much fanfare as the relations remained frosty over the lingering military standoff in eastern Ladakh.

The border standoff between the armies of India and China erupted on May 5 last year following a violent clash in the Pangong lake areas and both sides have gradually enhanced their deployment by rushing in tens of thousands of soldiers as well as heavy weaponry.

As a result of a series of military and diplomatic talks, the two sides completed the disengagement process in the Gogra area in August and in the north and south banks of the Pangong lake in February.

The two sides held the 14 round of Corps Commander-level talks on January 12 to resolve the standoff in the remaining areas and agreed to hold a new round of talks soon.

Each side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the mountainous sector.

ਵੀਂ ਦਿੱਲੀ, 10 ਜਨਵਰੀ

ਮੁੱਖ ਅੰਸ਼

• ਭਾਰਤ ਨੂੰ ਉਸਾਰੂ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ ਹੋਣ ਦੀ ਆਸ
• ਹੌਟ ਸਪਰਿੰਗ ਇਲਾਕਿਆਂ ’ਚੋਂ ਫ਼ੌਜ ਦੀ ਵਾਪਸੀ ’ਤੇ ਧਿਆਨ ਕੀਤਾ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ ਕੇਂਦਰਿਤ

ਭਾਰਤ ਅਤੇ ਚੀਨ ਦੇ ਫ਼ੌਜੀ ਅਧਿਕਾਰੀਆਂ ਵਿਚਕਾਰ 14ਵੇਂ ਗੇੜ ਦੀ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ 12 ਜਨਵਰੀ ਨੂੰ ਹੋਵੇਗੀ। ਪੂਰਬੀ ਲੱਦਾਖ ’ਚ ਤਣਾਅ ਵਾਲੇ ਇਲਾਕਿਆਂ ’ਚੋਂ ਫ਼ੌਜਾਂ ਦੀ ਵਾਪਸੀ ਅਤੇ ਹੋਰ ਬਕਾਇਆ ਮੁੱਦਿਆਂ ’ਤੇ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ ਹੋਵੇਗੀ। ਭਾਰਤ ਨੇ ਆਸ ਜਤਾਈ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਚੀਨ ਨਾਲ ਉਸਾਰੂ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ ਹੋਵੇਗੀ। ਸੂਤਰਾਂ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਇਹ ਵਾਰਤਾ ਅਸਲ ਕੰਟਰੋਲ ਰੇਖਾ ’ਤੇ ਚੀਨ ਵਾਲੇ ਪਾਸੇ ਚੁਸ਼ੂਲ-ਮੋਲਡੋ ਸਥਾਨ ’ਤੇ ਹੋਵੇਗੀ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਦੋਵੇਂ ਮੁਲਕਾਂ ਦੇ ਸੀਨੀਅਰ ਫ਼ੌਜੀ ਕਮਾਂਡਰਾਂ ਵਿਚਕਾਰ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ ਸਵੇਰੇ ਸਾਢੇ 9 ਵਜੇ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਹੋਵੇਗੀ। ਜਾਣਕਾਰੀ ਮੁਤਾਬਕ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ ਹੌਟ ਸਪਰਿੰਗ ਇਲਾਕਿਆਂ ’ਚੋਂ ਫ਼ੌਜ ਦੀ ਵਾਪਸੀ ’ਤੇ ਕੇਂਦਰਤ ਰਹੇਗੀ। ਭਾਰਤ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਦੇਪਸਾਂਗ ਬਲਜ ਅਤੇ ਡੇਮਚੋਕ ਦੇ ਮੁੱਦਿਆਂ ਦੇ ਹੱਲ ਸਮੇਤ ਹੋਰ ਤਣਾਅ ਵਾਲੇ ਇਲਾਕਿਆਂ ’ਚੋਂ ਫ਼ੌਜਾਂ ਦੀ ਫੌਰੀ ਵਾਪਸੀ ਲਈ ਦਬਾਅ ਬਣਾਏ ਜਾਣ ਦੀ ਸੰਭਾਵਨਾ ਹੈ। 13ਵੇਂ ਗੇੜ ਦੀ ਵਾਰਤਾ ਪਿਛਲੇ ਸਾਲ 10 ਅਕਤੂਬਰ ਨੂੰ ਹੋਈ ਸੀ ਜਿਸ ’ਚ ਕੋਈ ਹੱਲ ਨਹੀਂ ਨਿਕਲ ਸਕਿਆ ਸੀ। ਭਾਰਤੀ ਫ਼ੌਜ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਉਸਾਰੂ ਸੁਝਾਅ ਦਿੱਤੇ ਸਨ ਪਰ ਚੀਨ ਨੇ ਨਾ ਤਾਂ ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਮੰਨਿਆ ਅਤੇ ਨਾ ਹੀ ਉਹ ਕੋਈ ਪੁਖ਼ਤਾ ਤਜਵੀਜ਼ਾਂ ਦੇ ਸਕਿਆ। ਪੂਰਬੀ ਲੱਦਾਖ ’ਚ ਅਸਲ ਕੰਟਰੋਲ ਰੇਖਾ ’ਤੇ ਇਸ ਸਮੇਂ ਭਾਰਤ ਅ

ndia’s first indigenous aircraft carrier Vikrant heads out for the next set of sea trials. PTI

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, Januaru 9

Indigenously made sea-going aircraft carrier Vikrantset out on its third set of sea trials on Sunday.

The Indian Navy said the carrier has now sailed out to “undertake complex manoeuvres to establish specific readings of how the ship performs under various conditions”. In addition, various sensor suites of the ship would also be tested, the Navy said.

During the maiden sea trials in August last year, the propulsion, navigational suite and basic operations were established. A second sea trial later in October-November witnessed the ship being put through its paces in terms of various machinery trials and flight trials. The ship in fact was out for 10 days proving its sustenance.https://f9596067f6b7b58b84109ab235b9fdd8.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html

Rs23,000 cr Warship’s cost

2,300 compartments designed for crew of 1,700 persons

28 knots top speed

18 knots cruising speed

The 44,000 tonne “indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC)” is being made at state-owned Cochin Shipyard Limited at Kochi, Kerala. The aviation complex that allows fighter jets to operate from the deck of the carrier is still to be tested using the Russian MiG 29K jets. The fight trials are slated in after March 2022 when the warship will be handed to the Indian Navy.

The sea trials are happening in the backdrop of India-China race to expand their naval strength. China has two operational and two under-construction aircraft carriers and plans half a dozen carriers by 2030.

Previously, Generals would write notes of protestation against this or that event which they regarded as political, likely to adversely influence the homogeneity and secular credentials of the armed forces. That seems to be changing. Now, Navy, and Air Force Chiefs have written letters to the President and PM following hate speeches at Dharam Sansad. Not a single Army Chief, according to Admiral Arun Prakash, was willing to sign on the letter.

SHRILL VOICES: Religious congregations with rhetoric having implications for the secular fabric of the country needs to be condemned. PTI

Maj Gen Ashok K Mehta (retd)

Military Commentator

THE new year began with a communally corrosive hangover following disruptions in churches and calls from a Dharma Sansad (religious parliament) for genocide. Another disturbing carryover is the discernible politicisation of the military underway.

I joined the Army when Gen Thimayya (Timmy) was the COAS — a period that led up to the 1962 debacle when Prime Minister Nehru and Defence Minister VK Krishna Menon sought pliable Generals. I listened to Timmy’s address to officers in Srinagar that all was well in the Army following his resignation after his brush with Nehru and Menon, its withdrawal on Nehru’s urgings and subsequent unfounded rumours of a coup. It was not a happy start for independent India’s military with Menon also gunning for the outspoken Maj Gen Sam Manekshaw. Bar this short-lived but reputation-scarred decade, the military has remained firmly under civilian control and apolitical. No other Army Chief has ruffled feathers except the flamboyant and intellectually rich Gen Sundarji while Gen VK Singh created a storm in a teacup.

Fast-forward to late Gen Bipin Rawat. When he was appointed India’s first CDS, he was already beholden to the BJP government for superseding two senior Generals in making him the Army Chief. It is the incumbent government that created conditions for the negative political reorientation of the services. During Vajpayee’s rule, Defence Ministers George Fernandes (who sacked Navy Chief Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat) and Jaswant Singh (Army Major) would never have allowed the military to deviate from its compass bearing of being apolitical, professional and secular. There was no straying off course.

Prime Minister Modi’s grandstanding as the strong political leader of the armed forces commenced with the modest but politically exaggerated cross-border Uri surgical strikes. For the first time in the history of elections were pictures of Director General Military Operations, the strapping Sikh Lt Gen Ranbir Singh emblazoned on banners and posters alongside pictures of Modi and Amit Shah for the UP elections despite the Election Commission forbidding involving the military.

Three years later, Balakot air strikes ensured the BJP’s 303-seat victory in the General Elections; Balakot and the politics that engulfed it became folklore. The soldier was inveigled into domestic politics. The entrapment of the military and veterans began with an imperfect One Rank, One Pension which is locked in court. Tying rakhis to soldiers, carrying Diwali sweets for frontline troops and making much of them through symbolism won over soldiers. Troops reciprocated carrying yoga mats, constructing over-bridges and clearing garbage from mountains, thereby enabling officers to ingratiate themselves with the political class. The 60-year-old autonomous Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses was prefixed with the name of former Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and for some time, carried Modi’s pictures on flyers.

Unobtrusively, SOPs were changed to apparently Hinduise, even saffronise the secular fighting forces. At the Artillery Regimental Centre in Deolali, arti was recited on parade with soldiers clapping. Enshrined on a prominent boulder on the parade ground was the symbol Om. Arti and Om celebrate the majority religion. For the first time, arti was sung on parade. In other regimental centres, the parade would end with singing the regimental anthem. The ceremony now ends with Bharat Mata Ki Jai. When Gen Naravane took over as the COAS, he said at his first press conference that he will be guided by the Constitution of India. He has not issued any reprimand.

Rawat at the helm was seen to be compliant with the government agenda. He associated with some events that were clearly political and supportive of the Central and state governments. He even skipped a Navy Day event for this. The political tamasha at the Purvanchal Expressway where the three services were key participants marked the height of brazenness. It seems Modi does not worry about the military correctness of involving soldiers in political events. The then Army Chief Gen Tappy Raina, when requested by Defence Minister Bansi Lal to provide water trucks for a political rally, refused to oblige. The Army’s evaluation of good order and military discipline is extremely strict and any violation falls in its net. Last year, a Lieutenant General Corps Commander, responsible for a quarter million men, had the temerity of tweeting ‘Happy birthday PM Modi’ and got away with wholesale sycophancy.

Another symbol of politicisation is acquiescence. Previously, Generals would write notes of protestation against this or that event which they regarded as being political, likely to adversely influence the homogeneity and secular credentials of the armed forces. That seems to be changing. Now, Navy and Air Force Chiefs have written letters to the President and Prime Minister for protection and preservation of communal harmony in the military following hate speeches at Dharam Sansad. Not a single Army Chief, according to Admiral Arun Prakash, was willing to sign on to the letter. Neither the President who is the supreme commander of the armed forces, nor the Prime Minister who is the operational executive, nor even the Home Minister has said a word condemning the organised event.

The ruling dispensation has excelled in high tokenism and higher symbolism towards defence and national security, even if it will not walk the talk in funding the military’s modernisation programmes. In its seven years, the average GDP share for defence has declined to around 1.6 per cent. Monies for modernisation are getting less than even committed liabilities — this after the LAC has become LoC. Gen Rawat’s biggest contribution to the armed forces would have been in arresting and rolling back the tide of politicisation begun in 2016 that will certainly damage the ethos, integrity and traditions of the armed forces, which in turn, will make dysfunctional his transformational defence reforms.

Celebrating atmanirbharta, the post-Independence privilege of importing Scotch in canteens has been banned. But the PM’s convoy has been upgraded from BMW to the Rs 12-crore Maybach Mercedes Benz.

He has ‘mild symptoms’ and is under home quarantine

New Delhi, January 10

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said he has tested positive for Covid-19.

In a tweet, he said he has “mild symptoms” and is under home quarantine.

“I have tested positive for Corona today with mild symptoms. I am under home quarantine. I request everyone who have recently come in my contact to isolate themselves and get tested,” Singh said. PTI

China not doing enough to defuse border tension

The 14th round of Corps Commander-level talks between India and China, held weeks after Beijing implemented a new border law and renamed 15 places in Arunachal Pradesh on its map, ended without any breakthrough on disengagement from Hot Springs in eastern Ladakh. The two countries have been locked in a tense border standoff for the past about 20 months. The 13th round, held in October last year, had ended in a stalemate as the Indian Army’s ‘constructive suggestions’ regarding the friction points were dubbed ‘unreasonable and unrealistic’ by the Chinese. Chief of Army Staff Gen MM Naravane made it clear on Wednesday that the threat in eastern Ladakh had ‘by no means reduced’ and the Army would continue to deal with the Chinese military in a firm manner. He also asserted that if a war was thrust upon India, the country would come out victorious. His confidence speaks volumes about India’s battle-readiness and operational preparedness against a formidable foe.

China’s systematic build-up of infrastructure along the LAC has elicited a strong response from India, which has been raising structures of its own to fortify its defences and facilitate faster movement of troops. At the same time, New Delhi’s eagerness to settle differences through dialogue underlines its commitment to peace and stability in the region. However, China’s aggressive posturing and its cartographic interventions — described by India as a ‘ridiculous exercise’ to support untenable territorial claims — are proving to be major stumbling blocks.

Even as India expects China to see reason sooner than later, there are indications that Islamabad may prioritise geo-economic interests over geo-strategic rivalry. Pakistan, which is in the throes of a deep financial crisis, is set to unveil its new National Security Policy, which will revolve around economic security. An official has been quoted as saying that Pakistan is not seeking hostility with India ‘for the next 100 years’, holding out hope for the resumption of dialogue and revival of trade ties — even if the Kashmir issue remains unresolved. These are good tidings, but the proof of the pudding, of course, is in the eating.

Police say FIR lodged, matter being investigated

mbala, January 8

A Lieutenant Colonel has filed a case against her in-laws for allegedly causing her physical and mental harassment, police here said on Saturday.

Lieutenant Colonel Nidhi Dhania is presently posted in Light Air Defence Regiment at Ambala Cantt.

She had filed a complaint naming her father-in-law Kuldeep Singh and mother-in-law Sheela as her harassers with Ambala SP Jashndeep Singh Randhawa after which an FIR was lodged, said police.

In her complaint, she alleged that due to the exigencies of her work, she was posted at different stations and was unable to give her best due to continuous harassment by her in-laws.

She said the two made her life a “living hell” and it was only her duty to the nation that made her strong enough to withstand the cruelty, police said.

According to the complaint, Dhania had married Sandeep Kumar on April 18, 2018 in an arranged marriage with consent of both families.

The dowry articles were also provided by her as per her in-laws’ specific demands, she wrote in her complaint.

“My mother-in-law always used to taunt me for not giving them huge gifts in dowry,” she alleged.

She said that her in-laws have lately been pressuring her husband to divorce her and to get married again to a rich girl who can fulfil their demands, despite the fact her husband told her that he loved her and does not want to remarry.

Dhania alleged that her mother-in-law made a condition that either she should give her salary to her or leave her work in the army and become a housewife.

She said her mother-in-law also filed a “false and frivolous” complaint against her before her Commanding Officer in Meerut against her, according to police. 

As a result her seniors and her colleagues started asking her about her personal life which became a subject of ridicule amongst her colleagues, she wrote.

She said when the inquiry was carried out by her CO, the allegations were found to be false and the matter was closed.

She alleged in the complaint that her in-laws also issued a public notice disowning her husband and her.

The matter is being investigated, police said. PTI

20 Army personnel were killed in the operation while fighting Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh on June 15

A view of Galwan Memorial. PTI file

PTI

Leh, January 13

The Ladakh administration granted Rs 5 lakh each as ex-gratia to the kin of 14 soldiers who were killed in Operation Snow Leopard in Galwan Valley along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Union territory, officials said on Thursday.

As many as 20 Army personnel were killed in the operation while fighting Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh on June 15.

According to four orders issued by the Home Department of Ladakh, kin of 14 soldiers who laid down their lives fighting Chinese aggression in Galwan Valley were given Rs five lakh each as ex-gratia.

According to the order, the relief was given to Bikumalla Santhoshi wife of Col Bikumalla Santosh, Jageshwari Bai mother of Sepoy Ganesh Ram, Minu Kumari, wife of Sepoy Aman Kumar, Baby Devi, wife of Sepoy Kundan Kumar, Mamta Orang, mother of Sepoy Rajesh Orang.

Ritee Devi, wife of Havildar Sunil Kumar, Kapra Hansda, mother of Sepoy Ganesh Hansda, Rumpa Roy, wife of Havaldar Bipul Roy, and Prakash Kaur, mother of Sepoy Gurtej Singh, were given the remuneration.

Manju Devi, mother of Sepoy Jai Kishore Singh, Laxmi Mani Soren, wife of Naib Subedar Nuduram Soren, Malati Pradhan, mother of Sepoy Chandrakanta Pradhan, Dharma Devi, mother of Sepoy Chandan Kumar, and Rehka Singh, wife of Naik Deepak Singh, were also given the relief, the order issued by Additional Secretary (Home Department) Tashi Dolma said