8th MLF STARTS WITH A BANG : INAGURATED BY GOVER PUNJAB AND ADMINISTRATOR CHANDIGARH TODAY 30 NOV 2024
The Governor of Punjab and Administrator of Chandigarh, Gulab Chand Kataria, will inaugurate the 8th edition of the Military Literature Festival (MLF), scheduled to be held in Chandigarh on November 30 and December 1. Punjab CM Bhagwant Singh Mann is…
The Governor of Punjab and Administrator of Chandigarh, Gulab Chand Kataria, will inaugurate the 8th edition of the Military Literature Festival (MLF), scheduled to be held in Chandigarh on November 30 and December 1. Punjab CM Bhagwant Singh Mann is expected to preside over the concluding session.
Briefing the media here today, Lt Gen TS Shergill (retd), chairman of the MLF committee, said the theme for this year was ‘Wars under the nuclear umbrella’. Contrary to what was once envisioned, he said nuclear weapons had failed to prevent the outbreak of wars and conflicts in several parts of the world as was being witnessed.
The implications of Russia-China-North Korea-Iran axis on India and the Russia-Ukraine war, domains of modern warfare with regard to India, Pakistan and China, India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor and grey zone warfare in Gaza are among the topics that would be discussed during technical sessions.
session was moderated by Maj Gen (Retd) Mandeep Singh, who laid out the scope and ambition of world powers to grab land, energy and defence resources for their nations for the next two decades.
CHANDIGARH: At the 8th edition of the Military Literature Festival (MLF) in Chandigarh, Member of Parliament and senior Congress leader Manish Tewari said on Saturday that the axis of Russia-China-North Korea-Iran has jeopardized the nuclear order put out under the Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty (NPT) mechanism, posing a threat to international peace and stability.
In the backdrop of current geo political developments with ongoing Russian-Ukraine war, Israel-Hamas conflict, India is on its own, Tewari said here mincing no words, while adding that a calibrated approach was required to wade through the irrevocably changing global security situation.
Tewari was sharing his mind here at the inaugural session of the Festival in Chandigarh, as part of a group discussion on ‘Implications for India vis-a-vis the West in backdrop of Axis of Russia-China-North Korea-Iran pivot of geography.’
The session was moderated by Maj Gen (Retd) Mandeep Singh, who laid out the scope and ambition of world powers to grab land, energy and defence resources for their nations for the next two decades.
“We as a nation need to evolve a comprehensive security doctrine to negotiate this situation and tide above efforts to constrain us globally where on one side China and Russia are both getting closer to Pakistan,” Tewari said.
He added, “Our security and energy needs make us dependent on Russia while we need to be cognisant of the fact that Russia is not putting all its eggs in one basket (India) and is hedging its bet by trying to forge a relationship with Pakistan, our immediate and persistent security threat.”
Referring to the Trump election, Tewari said, “if Trump as a US President gets his way to enforce his isolationist tendencies and unravel the US role from global responsibility it has so proudly overtaken since the World War II, the world would be in a greater turmoil for which Indian security establishment and policy planners need to deliberate upon very seriously.”
Referring to Russian invasion of Ukraine, Tewari said, “it won’t be a surprise if the US knew about invasion a year or half before. Did US let Russia invade Ukraine to force Russia to have another Afganistan. The fact that Putin visited only India just before the invasion must not be lost on anyone,” he added.
The 8th Military Literature Festival in Punjab, inaugurated by Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, promotes youth engagement in defence services and highlights military history, gender inclusivity, and India’s defence advancements. It aims to inspire patriotism while showcasing India’s progress under ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’. Various discussions address global and military challenges.
he 8th Military Literature Festival kicked off in Punjab with an inaugural address by Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, who highlighted the role of literature in motivating young individuals towards a career in the defence services. He emphasized the inspiring legacy of Punjab’s contribution to India’s military history.
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The festival underscores India’s military heritage and the increasing participation of women in armed forces, marking progress toward gender equality. It also aligns with the theme ‘Wars Under the Nuclear Umbrella’ to discuss current global challenges and India’s military preparedness.
Governor Kataria also focused on India’s self-reliance in defence, noting the country’s emergence as a key exporter of military technology, and urged festival expansion to villages to amplify stories of courage and patriotism. The event features an exhibition by the Western Command, showcasing India’s defence prowess.
(With inputs from agencies.)
We need cohesion amongst our different arms of security establishment to avert the tendency of monopolising intelligence sharing, former Punjab Special Chief Secretary KBS Sidhu suggested.
CHANDIGARH: The Indian constitution and legal framework is well-equipped to tackle security challenges, therefore there is no immediate need to have a notified National Security Policy for India, said experts at the Military Literature Festival (MLF) in Chandigarh on Saturday.
The views were expressed during a group discussion on the topic ‘National Security Policies in Democratic Countries’ at the 8th edition of the festival.
Sharing his thoughts during the discussion, Lt. Gen Surinder Singh (Retd) questioned the need for an advertiser policy framework, asking why a country should lay out its security plans and aims pubicly in the current volatile global security situation.
“While some countries like China aim for securitisation of everything, India needs better coordination amongst all its security agencies to tackle any emergent threat in an efficient manner,” he added.
“Our responses in a critical situation are narrowing each time despite spending millions of crores on security set up,” Singh said, raising the need to audit our measures and take correctives if required.
Laying out the role of Civil Services in ensuring overall defence stability of a nation, former Punjab Special Chief Secretary KBS Sidhu raised the question of whether democratic set up like India is a hindrance to having a National Security Policy as China, Pakistan or other democratic countries have.
“We need cohesion amongst our different arms of security establishment to avert the tendency of monopolising intelligence sharing,” Sidhu suggested.
He added, “India needs to make itself more resilient by ramping up the security infrastructure by investing more in defence.”
Earlier, during the discussion, Lt. Gen (Retd) Praveen Bakshi said that muddy waters of geo-political set up require dynamic approach for which concerted and time bound efforts are required to be taken aggressively for India to have a safe future.
Air Chief Marshal urges NDA cadets to uphold leadership, integrity, and jointmanship in service
Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh on Saturday said National Defence Academy (NDA) cadets must carry forward the vast experience of their training to service academies and bonds they made at the institute in planning and execution of operations.
The Air Chief Marshal was the reviewing officer of the 147th course of the NDA and addressed the Passing Out Parade at the tri-service training institute in Khadakwasla. Speaking on the occasion, he said, “The vast experience of training at the NDA needs to be carried forward to the respective service academies, and the bond created here must be carried towards planning and execution of our operations. I am confident that you will all don the mantle of jointness as proudly as you will don your service uniforms.” He said as young officers, the role of NDA cadets in any future conflict would be pivotal in ensuring that the enemy designs are defeated and that the territorial integrity of a great nation is not compromised.
“High-quality training imparted at the NDA and other academies of the three services will guide you and equip you with the strength and confidence to boldly face these challenges,” he said. He said the NDA is rightly called the cradle of leadership and is undoubtedly one of the finest academies in the world.
“In terms of infrastructure size and quality of training, this academy is unmatched, and you all had the rare distinction of being trained here and being associated with it for the rest of your life,” the Air Chief Marshal said.
“Having chosen to voluntarily join the Armed Forces, you made the brave decision to take the route less travelled,” he said, addressing the cadets. He said as future military leaders, the cadets will be leading a highly motivated and courageous set of soldiers, sailors and air warriors, and trust will be placed in their leadership given the perils of life.
“Therefore, it is your sacred duty to lead from the front only through your immaculate personal conduct, professional competence and unquestionable integrity to win the trust and respect. The NDA is not only a cradle of leadership but also a cradle of jointmanship,” he said.
He asked the cadets never to hesitate to make decisions, be fearless and always trust in their abilities and gut feelings. “Never forget the courage, honour, and sacrifices made by your predecessor. Let their valour be your motivating factor throughout your career. Always remain physically, strong, mentally awake, and morally straight. Be honest in your dealings and have clean thinking so that you always choose the harder right than the easier wrong,” he advised.
As many as 1,265 cadets participated in the parade, of which 357 cadets, including 215 from the Army, 301 from the Air Force and 38 from the Navy, were from the passing out course. The passing-out cadets included 19 from friendly foreign countries (Bhutan, Tajikistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Sudan, Tanzania, Kenya, Zambia and Maldives). The cadets will join their respective pre-commissioning training academies.
A contingent of 47 Female Cadets, presently in their third, fourth and fifth terms of training, also participated in the parade. Cadet Ankit won the President’s gold medal for earning first place in the Overall Order of Merit, Cadet Yuvraj Singh Chauhan was awarded the silver medal for standing second, and Cadet Jodha Thongiaomayum received the bronze medal for standing third. The Golf Squadron bagged the prestigious ‘Chiefs of Staff Banner’ for being the Champion Squadron, which was presented during the parade.
The government today told the Lok Sabha that patrolling arrangements with China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh were without “prejudice to India’s position or the claim lines” along the boundary. In a written reply to…
The government today told the Lok Sabha that patrolling arrangements with China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh were without “prejudice to India’s position or the claim lines” along the boundary.
In a written reply to a question posed by Congress MP from Attingal in Kerala Adoor Prakash, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, “The terms of the agreements apply mutually to both sides and are without prejudice to India’s positions on the LAC.”
The government had been keeping a constant watch on all developments having a bearing on India’s security and taking all necessary measures to safeguard the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, the ministry said.
India and China had announced patrolling arrangements along the LAC in Depsang and Demchok on October 21, leading to disengagement. “It has been agreed that patrolling activities and grazing will resume… these will stay in force as per the longstanding practice prevailing before friction started in May 2020,” the MEA said. The ministry said the agreement had since been effected and implemented as per the agreed modalities and timelines.
Replying to another question by DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran, the MEA provided details of the meetings held between the Indian and Chinese leadership.
Israeli military strikes killed at least 40 Palestinians overnight and on Friday in the Gaza Strip, many of them in the Nuseirat refugee camp at the centre of the enclave, medics said, after Israeli tanks pulled back from parts of…
Israeli military strikes killed at least 40 Palestinians overnight and on Friday in the Gaza Strip, many of them in the Nuseirat refugee camp at the centre of the enclave, medics said, after Israeli tanks pulled back from parts of the camp.
Medics said they had recovered 19 bodies of Palestinians killed in northern areas of Nuseirat, one of the enclave’s eight long-standing refugee camps. Later on Friday, an Israeli air strike killed at least 10 Palestinians in a house in Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza Strip, medics said.
Others were killed in the northern and southern areas of the Gaza Strip, medics added. There was no fresh statement by the Israeli military on Friday, but on Thursday it said its forces were continuing to “strike terror targets as part of the operational activity in the Gaza Strip”. Israeli tanks had entered northern and western areas of Nuseirat on Thursday. They withdrew from northern areas on Friday but remained active in western parts of the camp.
The Palestinian Civil Emergency Service said teams were unable to respond to distress calls from residents trapped in their homes. Dozens of Palestinians returned on Friday to areas where the army had retreated to check on damage to their homes.
Medics said an Israeli drone on Friday had killed Ahmed Al-Kahlout, head of the Intensive Care Unit at Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahiya, on the northern edge of the Gaza Strip, where the army has been operating since early October.
Israeli tanks enter border village in Lebanon
Four Israeli tanks have entered the western side of the border village of Khiyam, Lebanon’s official news agency said on Friday, following a ceasefire that took effect on Wednesday.
The Italian Admiral’s visit coincides with the visit of the Italian Navy Sail Training Ship ITS Amerigo Vespucci to Mumbai
Vice Admiral Antonio Natale of the Italian Navy met Vice Admiral Sanjay J Singh, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command here, and discussed issues pertaining to enhancing interoperability and cooperation in the maritime domain, the Navy said on Saturday.
The meeting between Natale and Singh took place on Friday.
Vice Admiral Natale is on a visit to Mumbai till December 3.
“Issues pertaining to enhancing interoperability and cooperation in the maritime domain were deliberated,” the Navy said.
Natale also laid a wreath at the Gaurav Stambh, a memorial at the Mumbai naval dockyard, honouring the supreme sacrifices of Indian naval personnel.
The Italian Admiral’s visit coincides with the visit of the Italian Navy Sail Training Ship ITS Amerigo Vespucci to Mumbai.
The ship is on a world tour and departed Italy in July 2023. During its almost two-year voyage, the ship will visit more than 30 ports before returning to Italy in February 2025.
The 101-m, 3410-ton tall ship is commanded by Capt Giuseppe Lai. On arrival at Mumbai, the Commanding Officer called on Rear Admiral Rahul Vilas Gokhale, the Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet, and discussed issues related to the importance of sail training in both navies and the experience gained during their present voyage.
As part of the visit, Villaggio Italia (Italian Village) has been set up near the ships’ berth in Indira Dock, Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT), to showcase Italian art and culture.
India and Italy are ancient civilisations with rich cultural heritages that enjoy a robust people-to-people connection. Additionally, the two nations also enjoy significant bilateral trade and commerce, the Navy said.
The two maritime nations have common interests, resulting in the burgeoning defence cooperation. The ship’s visit and high-level delegation would further the extensive diplomatic relations and mutually benefit both countries in multi-domain collaboration, it added.
