Monthly Archives: August 2018

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh leaves no opportunity to make public announcements that we will give a befitting reply to anyone eyeing our land. Post China’s 2020 aggression in Eastern Ladakh, he also stated in the Parliament that “we have not lost even one inch of territory” – a statement he has been repeating elsewhere. Prime Minister Modi’s remark Na Koi Aaya, Na Koi Ghusa has also been making the rounds on social media.

Articles that talked of losing control of some 1,000 sq km in Ladakh were aggressively repudiated by the mainstream media as well as by the ‘followers’ in TV debates. Concurrently, Rajnath also keeps saying that a “Free Hand” is given to the forces, which is to cover up the political pusillanimity, as would be apparent from the following.

In a recent three-day DGP-IGP Conference held under aegis of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), speakers of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) brought out the following:

Patrolling from the India side is restricted or there has been “no patrolling” in as many as 26 out of 85 Patrolling Points (PPs) starting from Karakoram Pass to Chumar. There is restrictive India patrolling between PPs 5-17, 24-32, 37, 51, 52 and 62.
Other than rapid infrastructure development and buildup of Chinese forces along the LAC, tough weather conditions and terrain were cited as “one of the main reasons” for lack of domination by Indian forces.
China occupies areas that have no Indian presence, which has led to shift of the border under Indian control towards the Indian side and buffer zones in all such pockets resulting in loss of Indian control in these areas.
PLA took advantage of buffer areas during de-escalation talks by placing cameras on highest peaks and is monitoring movement of Indian forces. This situation is seen at Black Top and Helmet Top in Chushul, at Demchok, at Kakjung, at Gogra Hills in Hot Springs and at Despang plains near Chip Chap River.
In December 2021, restrictions were placed on movement of Indian forces beyond Daulet Beg Oldi (DBO) towards KK Pass; it was feared that Chinese cameras would capture the movement leading to a confrontation with Chinese forces (sic).
The disengagement at PP-15 and 16 resulted in loss of pasture lands at Gogra Hills while pasture lands have also been lost in the north bank of Kakjung. This has resulted in loss of livelihood and changes in lifestyle, which has led to migration.
Use of technology, better coordination among forces and development of border villages along the LAC was cited as a way forward.
The above DGP-IGP Conference was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and NSA Ajit Doval.

The government’s official narrative now stands exposed with the disclosures reportedly made by the CAPF officers. The Military remains gagged from speaking the truth and the Army kept busy with rounds of talks with the PLA despite knowing that China would not budge from intrusions made deliberately and now consolidated. Our political class and, to an extent, the mainstream media and intelligentsia have tried to show that everything is hunky dory which is hardly the case.

The resultant lack of trust by the Ladakhis in the Centre may not be visible but it would be naïve to ignore it. Similarly, what would our neighbours like Bhutan, Nepal and Myanmar be thinking of our inability to stand up to China?

With no ministry responsible for information warfare (IW), our IW appears solely focused on psyching indigenous population. An erudite scholar says that the omnipotent NSA is controlling the show notwithstanding the fact that we require a host of domain specialists, like psychologists, theme generators, mis-information handlers, social media specialists, evaluators in addition to technical hands – he seems to be all rolled into one. No wonder our effort is a ‘knee-jerk response’ and disjointed.

It is no secret that the MHA refuses to place the CAPF deployed in the show window of Ladakh under operational command of the Army and the government is sparing no effort to place the police forces above the military. Moreover, the 20-day national lockdown in 2020 denied movement of army’s reserve formations for exercising in Ladakh and China seized the opportunity.

In addition to losing control of some 1000 sq km territory, we also vacated the Kailash Range in our own territory apparently because of a Chinese threat conveyed through politico-diplomatic channels. To top this, stopping all movement from DBO towards KK Pass is pure “cowardice” – crow-flight distance between DBO and KK Pass is 17 km, road distance being 18 km. If we had the political will, we should have not only refused to vacate Kailash Range but also occupied KK Pass telling China to vacate the 20-km deep intrusion at Y-Junction in Depsang, as well as withdraw from the Indian side of Demchok.

Our border infrastructure has years to catch up not only in terms of end connectivity, but also the condition of BRO roads that are handed over to States. In a cabinet meeting under the then PM Indira Gandhi, a proposal was made to hand over the border roads to the States for maintenance. To this, the then COAS General Sam Manekshaw said yes prime minister but where will those roads be after 3-5 years. The matter was dropped. With reference to the recent clash at Yangtse in Tawang region of Arunachal Pradesh, an Australian think tank has shown that end connectivity to our posts in Yangtse are not conducive to support open conflict.

China’s infrastructure including the two bridges over Pangong Tso are clearly for offensive purposes. In addition, Beijing has announced a second highway through Aksai Chin to be completed by 2035 which would touch Galwan and Gogra-Hot Spring. Our government has chosen to ignore the Chinese intrusions and is appeasing China by giving it much more benefit in bilateral trade than it was before 2020. The hope would be that China will not aggravate the situation before or during India’s general elections in the summer of 2024.

Chinese President Xi Jinping would love out pusillanimity but Xi is in a hurry, hungry for territory-water-minerals and faces an ageing population, which implies that a clash is inevitable. Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy tweeted last year that Xi distributed maps showing Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh part of China and J&K as part of Pakistan during the SCO Summit in Uzbekistan in September 2022, which was attended by PM Modi. This was a deliberate act indicating Xi’s resolve.

Finally, a hilarious comment on social media reads that next time Rajnath says “not even one inch of territory is lost” with reference to Ladakh, he is probably wearing diapers under his pyjama.

The author is an Indian Army veteran. Views expressed are personal.

Lt Gen Prakash Katoch
A well known special forces officer of Indian Army, Lieutenant General Prakash Katoch (R) is equally adept at writing expert and opinionated pieces on Defence Policies and Security. His Articles and Reviews are regulary. Lt Gen Prakash Katoch
Forward articles to editor@news4masses.com
Contact us: mail@news4masses.com

Afghanistan has witnessed severe restrictions and rapid reversal of women’s rights, impacting their future in terms of education, employment, healthcare and freedom of movement. Although the war has ended, violence has not. Afghanistan’s $8-billion budget used to come from the West; this has stopped and its assets worth $9 billion are frozen. Sanctions have had a devastating effect on the Afghan people.

Maj Gen Ashok K Mehta (retd)

Military Commentator

ALMOST a year and a half after the Taliban retook Afghanistan by the use of force, with the international community abandoning it, the question remains: whither Afghanistan? David Loyn, author of two seminal books on Afghanistan, including The Long War, provided part of the answer: disengage to put pressure on them, and later oust them from power to restore democracy and revive the gains of previous 20 years.

Loyn’s unconventional solution elicited a cautious response from former Ambassador to Kabul Gautam Mukhopadhaya. Advising patience, he said, “Remember, last time it took five years, 9/11 and Northern Alliance to get rid of them. These conditions will not be easy to recreate.”

Another western intervention in the graveyard of empires is unlikely, Loyn remarked. This exchange took place last week at the India International Centre, New Delhi. And so the country, mired in 43 years of conflict, will plod on under conditions of dire human and women’s rights violations, and abject misgovernance under a fractured but more puritanical version of the Taliban.

Fifteen countries have established relations without recognising the Islamic Emirate, with China the most visible power. Although the war has ended, violence has not. The security situation is bad and confused, with 21 terrorist and a few resistance groups contesting for space that the Taliban, without any organised army, police, intelligence and institutions, are unable and unwilling to handle. The most violent and feared is Islamic State Khorasan (IS-K), which has targeted the Russian and Pakistani Embassies and spread terror among Hazara Shias. The IS (K) has conducted attacks in Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. The Al-Qaeda is embedded even after Ayman al-Zawahiri was taken out by the US from a safe house linked with Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani. The Pakistan Taliban, after their on-off ceasefires with Pakistan, are well settled. The Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish have established bases below the radar. Public floggings, revenge attacks on the old regime, disappearances and suicide attacks are common. Law and order is in a shambles.https://889a50799715e398a7f5ab92bb64ee62.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-40/html/container.html

The National Resistance Front (NRF) is evolving in the north astride Panjshir Valley, the Tajik bastion. Youthful and literate Ahmad Massoud, son of late ‘Lion of Panjshir’ Ahmad Shah Massoud, is in Tajikistan, mentoring the resistance. In August 2022, the first Herat Security Dialogue was held in Dushanbe with attendees from the US, Europe, India, Pakistan and others. The NRF has extended its influence beyond Panjshir to Badakhshan, Takhar, Samangan, Nuristan and Bamyan. Its fighting strength has grown from 500 cadres to 6,000. Massoud says they do not control these districts as they cannot hold them, a strategy Taliban followed initially. Massoud admitted it has no foreign funding or support yet, but is hoping the international community may change its mind, watching Taliban excesses grow. Massoud said only external and internal pressure will force change in Afghanistan. The NRF has a ‘national’ label and in time could claim pan-Afghanistan support in alliance with other resistance groups.

Pakistan, once the major-domo in Afghanistan, finds its Afghanistan policy imploding as the Taliban are exercising strategic autonomy. When the Taliban captured Kabul, it was Pakistan which jubilated by saying: “The shackles of slavery have been broken.” The Pashtun distrust of the Punjabis has come alive since Islamabad appears to have failed in retaining its long-touted strategic depth; getting India banished from Afghanistan, obtaining expulsion of Pakistan Taliban and getting recognition of Durand Line. The Taliban have warned Pakistan of meeting the same fate of the 1971 war against India were it to indulge in any misadventure. The Taliban have welcomed India with open arms.

India, which has invested $3 billion in Afghanistan, is a late returnee to Kabul. Its engagement with Taliban is more tactical than strategic and designed to keep an eye on China and Pakistan. The Taliban are keen to see India resume the 20 remaining development projects, but there are glitches. New Delhi’s focus is keeping Chabahar Port operational and the International North-South Transport Corridor open for access to Russia/Europe and Central Asian Republics (CAR). India has lost immense goodwill among Afghans by denying visas to friends and allies. Against 60,000 requests, only 200 visas were given to Sikhs and Hindus who were evacuated under ‘Operation Devi Shakti’.https://889a50799715e398a7f5ab92bb64ee62.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-40/html/container.html

Typically, China in Kabul pretends to do a lot without doing anything. Chinese Ambassador to Afghanistan Wang Yu is proficient in signing contracts without attaching funds to them. The recent $540-million contract for oil exploration in Amu Darya over three years may meet the same fate as its earlier mega deal at Aynak for copper. Beijing wants to keep the West out of Afghanistan and CAR, but this may change after Ukraine. It is trying to rope in Afghanistan into China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), but after the recent suicide attack against Chinese in Kabul’s Longan Hotel, Beijing may rethink its plans about Afghanistan’s economic uplift. It has received no assurances on Uyghur ETIM (East Turkestan Islamic Movement) operations in Xinjiang.

Afghanistan witnessed severe restrictions and rapid reversal of women’s rights, impacting their future in terms of education (no schooling beyond six years of age) employment, healthcare and freedom of movement. Afghanistan’s $8-billion budget used to come from the US and the West; this has stopped and its assets worth $9 billion are frozen. The UN has provided humanitarian aid worth $1.2 billion, while the US has added $1 billion. Taliban’s budget for last year was $2.3 billion, but it officially generated only $600 million. Its illicit financial activities included cash from opium trade taxation and hawala. Sanctions have had a devastating effect on ordinary Afghans rather than on 10 ministers and other entities subjected to them.

There is no happy ending to the Afghan story. Taliban 2.0 are unlikely to change as Afghans will continue to flee the country. Will the NRF and other resistance groups, with external help, be able to do a Northern Alliance? Or will the country divide as per the Blackwill solution: north to Tajiks, east to Hazaras and Uzbeks and south to Pashtuns? Or will Afghanistan, a failed state, simply wither away?

Tribune News Service

Sandeep Dikshit

New Delhi, January 27

India has issued notice to Pakistan for modification of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) due to its “intransigence” on a solution to the disputes over the Kishenganga and Ratle Hydro Electric Projects (HEPs).

The Indian intention was conveyed via a notice sent on January 25 through respective Commissioners for Indus Waters as per Article XII (3) of IWT, sources said here.

“The objective of the notice for modification is to provide Pakistan an opportunity to enter into intergovernmental negotiations within 90 days to rectify the material breach of IWT. This process would also update IWT to incorporate the lessons learned over the last 62 years,” said sources. They did not elaborate on what were “the lessons learned” or how the “material breach of IWT” would be rectified.

The Indian side says it was forced to make the move after Pakistan took unilateral action for examining its objections to India’s HEPs. In 2015, Pakistan first requested for appointment of a neutral expert to examine its technical objections to India’s Kishenganga and Ratle Hydro Electric Projects. In 2016, it unilaterally retracted this request and proposed that a Court of Arbitration adjudicate on its objections.

“This unilateral action by Pakistan is in contravention of the graded mechanism of dispute settlement envisaged by Article IX of IWT. Accordingly, India made a separate request for the matter to be referred to a neutral expert,” said sources.

“The initiation of two simultaneous processes on the same questions and the potential of their inconsistent or contradictory outcomes creates an unprecedented and legally untenable situation, which risks endangering IWT itself. The World Bank acknowledged this itself in 2016, and took a decision to “pause” the initiation of two parallel processes and request India and Pakistan to seek an amicable way out,” they added.

Despite repeated efforts by India to find a mutually agreeable way forward, Pakistan refused to discuss the issue during the five meetings of the Permanent Indus Commission from 2017 to 2022. At Pakistan’s continuing insistence, the World Bank has recently initiated actions on both the neutral expert and Court of Arbitration processes. Such parallel consideration of the same issues is not covered under any provision of IWT. Faced with such violation of IWT provisions, India has been compelled to issue notice of modification, said sources.

Sources maintained, “India has always been a steadfast supporter and a responsible partner in implementing IWT in letter and spirit. However, Pakistan’s actions have adversely impinged on the provisions of IWT and their implementation forced India to issue an appropriate notice for modification of IWT.”

PTI

London, January 27

A British Sikh engineer behind an energy-efficient manual washing machine for low-income groups around the world, inspired by his volunteering work in India, has won Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Points of Light Award.

Navjot Sawhney, who set up his Washing Machine Project around four years ago, was honoured for his hand-cranked machine invention which can be operated in regions without electricity.

Sawhney described the experience of winning the award from Sunak, announced earlier this month, as “surreal” after the British Indian leader praised his “ingenuity and compassion”.

“You have used your professional skills as an engineer to help thousands of people around the world who don’t have access to electric washing machines,” Sunak wrote in a personal letter to Sawhney.

“Your innovative, hand-cranked washing machines are giving families the dignity of clean clothes and the time you are saving them is empowering many women who have been held back from education and employment,” he said.

“I know that your machines are also helping Ukrainian families who have been forced to flee their homes and are currently living in humanitarian aid centres. Your ingenuity, compassion and dedication to improving the lives of others is an inspiration to us all,” he added.

Previously employed by Dyson, the technology firm well known for vacuum cleaners, Sawhney wanted to use his skills to improve the quality of life for disadvantaged communities

It was while volunteering in southern India with “Engineers Without Borders” that he saw the disproportionate burden placed on women to carry out handwashing, inspiring him to design a manual, off-grid and fully sustainable machine which saves 50 per cent on water compared to handwashing, and 75 per cent on time.

He named his first machines after his neighbour Divya and the Washing Machine Project was created to manufacture the “Divya” devices on a wider scale, with over 300 machines so far distributed worldwide to places including refugee camps, schools and orphanages.

“Winning the Points of Light award and getting recognised by the Prime Minister is a phenomenal privilege,” said London-born Sawhney

“The Washing Machine Project’s mission is to alleviate the burden of unpaid labour, mainly on women and children. I’m so proud that giving back the dignity of clean clothes to those who hand wash them is getting the recognition it deserves.

“Thank you to our team, volunteers, partners and beneficiaries who work tirelessly daily to make our mission a success,” he said.

According to Downing Street, his hand-cranked washing machines have benefitted over 1,000 families without access to an electric machine in underdeveloped countries or refugee camps, including humanitarian aid centres in Poland for Ukrainian refugees.

The Washing Machine Project’s Go Fund Me crowdfunding campaign has raised over 91,000 pounds since July 2021.

Points of Light are outstanding individual volunteers and people seen as making a change in their community and are regularly honoured by the British Prime Minister to recognise their inspirational work.

Happy Republic Day.First initiative by Corporate at Pathankot. Novelty Mall Pathankot Honoring ESM on Republic Day.After Unfurling the National Flag,Lavish Tea and Lunch was also organized for 125 ESM.Novelity Mall Pathankot.

Brig HPS Bedi VSM ,wase invited as the guest of Honour for the Republic Day celebration of NIFT, Panchkula. Humbled by the hospitality of the Director and the Faculty. Amazing performance by the design students whom I am convinced are the true wealth of our nation. Happy Republic Day 🇮🇳.

PTI

New Delhi, January 26

India’s military prowess infused with a spirit of “aatmanirbharta” and diverse and vibrant cultural heritage were showcased on the Kartavya Path as the nation celebrated its 74th Republic Day on Thursday.

‘Nari Shakti’ was predominantly the theme of the celebrations with President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a host of other dignitaries joining people and members of the armed forces in marking the august occasion.

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi was the chief guest at the ceremonial event.

A combined band and marching contingent of the Egyptian Armed Forces also took part in the parade that started at around 10.30am and ended close to noon after a fly-past

The Egyptian contingent included 144 soldiers representing the main branches of the Egyptian Armed Forces and it was led by Col Mahmoud Mohamed Abdelfattah Elkharasawy.

The ceremony commenced with Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting the National War Memorial and paying tributes to the fallen heroes by laying a wreath.

According to tradition, the national flag was unfurled followed by the national anthem with a booming 21-gun salute. However, the ceremonial salute this year was given with 105-mm Indian field guns, which replaced the vintage 25-pounder guns, reflecting upon the growing “aatmanirbharta” in defence.

Shallow fog lowered visibility at the Kartavya Path on Thursday as spectators strained their eyes to watch aerial manoeuvres by a battery of 50 aircraft that flew in different formations.

The military assets which were displayed during the parade included made-in-India equipment, showing the spirit of “aatmanirbhar bharat”, officials said.

The main battle tank Arjun, the Nag Missile System and the K-9 Vajra were also showcased

With ‘Nari Shakti’ being the theme, the Akash weapon system display had Lt Chetana Sharma at the forefront.

The marching contingents from the Army included one each from the mechanised infantry, the Dogra Regiment, the Punjab Regiment, the Maratha Light Infantry, the Bihar Regiment and the Gorkha Brigade. A camel band from the Border Security Force also took part in the parade.

The Republic Day celebrations were held on the revamped Central Vista avenue and were the first at the ceremonial boulevard after Rajpath was renamed Kartavya Path last year.

Lt Commander Disha Amrith, a woman naval air operations official posted at a strategic base, led the Indian Navy’s contingent of 144 young sailors.

The naval tableau, designed on the theme ‘Indian Navy – Combat Ready, Credible, Cohesive and Future Proof’, showcased the multi-dimensional capabilities of the force, ‘Nari Shakti’ and key indigenously designed and built assets under “aatmanirbhar bharat”, officials said.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation showcased one tableau and equipment. The theme of the tableau was ‘Securing Nation with Effective Surveillance, Communication and Neutralising

PTI

Washington, January 26

Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has claimed that India, which has charted an independent course on foreign policy, was forced to change its strategic posture and join the four-nation Quad grouping due to China’s aggressive actions.

India and China are locked in a lingering border standoff in eastern Ladakh for over 31 months.

The bilateral relationship came under severe strain following the deadly clash in Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh in June, 2020.

India has maintained that the bilateral relationship cannot be normal unless there is peace in the border area.

In his latest book ‘Never Give an Inch: Fighting for the America I Love’ that hit the stores on Tuesday, Pompeo called India the “wild card” in Quad because it was a nation founded on socialist ideology and spent the Cold War aligning with neither the US nor the erstwhile USSR.

“The country (India) has always charted its own course without a true alliance system, and that is still mostly the case. But China’s actions have caused India to change its strategic posture in the last few years,” Pompeo wrote in his latest book.

Pompeo, 59, who is widely speculated to run for the Presidential elections in 2024, explains how the Donald Trump administration succeeded in bringing India on board the Quad grouping.https://97ed9c14e1813e6a8b421bfcdc0d0b3f.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-40/html/container.html

The US, Japan, India and Australia had in 2017 given shape to the long-pending proposal of setting up the Quad or the Quadrilateral coalition to counter China’s aggressive behaviour in the resource-rich Indo-Pacific region.

“China forged a close partnership with Pakistan — India’s arch rival — as one of the first steps in its Belt and Road Initiative.

“In June 2020, Chinese soldiers clubbed twenty Indian soldiers to death in a border skirmish. That bloody incident caused the Indian public to demand a change in their country’s relationship with China,” Pompeo writes.

“India banned TikTok and dozens of Chinese apps as part of its response. And a Chinese virus was killing hundreds of thousands of Indian citizens. I was sometimes asked why India had moved away from China, and my answer came straight from what I heard from Indian leadership: ‘Wouldn’t you?’ times were changing — and creating an opportunity for us to try something new and pull the US and India more closely together than ever,” Pompeo writes.

In his book, Pompeo describes the former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as a global leader of extraordinary courage and vision.

“He is regarded as the father of the Quad, demonstrating his foresight in viewing the CCP as a threat. He also coined the idea of a “free and open Indo-Pacific” — a concept that has gained lasting currency in diplomatic circles. It’s worth repeating: What a loss it was for the world that this outstanding leader was assassinated in 2022,” Pompeo writes.

Pompeo also praised former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison for displaying courage and standing up against Chinese aggression.

The Japanese and Australian legs of the Quad were strong and getting stronger with our support, he added.

China is engaged in hotly contested territorial disputes in both the South China Sea and the East China Sea.

China claims sovereignty over all of the South China Sea.

Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei and Taiwan have counterclaims.

Beijing has also built up and militarised many of the islands and reefs it controls in the region.

Both areas are stated to be rich in minerals, oil and other natural resources and are also vital to global trade.