Foreign military officials joke that Djibouti’s airspace is so crowded with drones and surveillance aircraft that you need a reservation to fly. Red Sea: Pivotal zone for trade, transportation, and power play. Spanning from Suez Canal to Bab el Mandeb Strait, Red Sea connects Mediterranean Sea to Indian Ocean. Its proximity to key markets and natural resources enhances its importance. Red Sea’s Cocktail of Geopolitics • Saudi Arabia, long coastline along the Red Sea – a pivotal role in shaping regional dynamics. • Egypt, controls the Suez Canal, has strategic leverage over Red Sea’s northern access. • Israel and its military capabilities keep geopolitics of the region well spiced up. • Yemen is facing a humanitarian crisis as its civil war enters the 11th year. The Houthis keep the Red Sea on the boil and world shipping in a tailspin; asymmetric warfare at its best. • Somalia is in internal conflict and pirates prowling the Indian Ocean its byproduct. • Eretria, a closed and repressive country in the world is in a simmering conflict with Ethiopia. A ‘cherry’ to this ‘Horn of Africa’ cocktail is Djibouti – a tiny country sitting astride the strategic Bab el Mandeb. Interestingly, it has many military bases of the different friendly and conflicting/competing nations (USA, China, Japan, Italy and France). Its strategic importance? Well, just location ….. location …. location ….. location. Djibouti is gifted with this strategic geographic location at the intersection of Red Sea and Gulf of Aden ….. with a land area of 23,200 km² roughly equivalent to the size of Delhi NCR. ….. by shrewd polity it has given itself an outsized influence. Djibouti ports handle 95% of landlocked Ethiopia’s trade. Djibouti’s ports also service transshipments between Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The government has longstanding ties to France, which maintains a military presence in the country, as do the US, Japan, Italy, Germany, Spain, and China; playing all sides masterfully. Military Bases in Djibouti: France: 1,500 soldiers performing counter-terrorism missions and guarding nearby sea lanes.
In Djibouti since before its independence in 1977 and have never left. Annual Rent – $30 Million. United States: Camp Lemonnier the primary base for the US Africa Command. Includes 1,000 soldiers from the Special Forces. Drones launched from the base strike the sites of Al-Shabaab group in Somalia and East Africa, and, other extremist organisations. Annual Rent – $63 Million. China: China has a military base 5 km west of Djibouti City. It is affiliated with the Navy and is essential for developing Chinese capabilities on the high seas. China also building ports and railways. Annual Rent – $100 Million. Opening ceremony of China’s military base in Djibouti 2017. Japan’s Maritime Self-Defence Force base located here. Japanese Parliament in 2009 approved Anti Terrorism Law, which allowed such deployments. Annual Rent – $14 Million. Germany/Spain/Italy: Forces from these countries active from within other bases, primarily French and American. The military infrastructure provided is used in a joint framework to prevent piracy and smuggling and ensure safe passage of commercial ships through Bab al-Mandab. Djibouti is also a critical landing point for undersea cables including the cable linking India to Europe and Africa. Lessons from Djibouti • Positional leverage — especially at maritime chokepoints. • Deft diplomatic balancing – hosting so many nations but not becoming their proxy. • Influence is not always about size or firepower – it is also about positioning, perception, and partnerships.
NEW DELHI: Approximately 17 warships and nine submarines of the Indian Navy are currently undergoing various stages of approval, according to sources on Sunday. This is in addition to the existing fleet of 61 warships and submarines, which are at various stages of construction. The newly approved vessels are slated for domestic construction.
According to the sources, “Request for Proposal of the Rs 70,000 crore project 17 B, for construction of seven Next Generation Frigates, along with the project to construct two Multi Purpose Vessels” is likely to be out soon.
“Project 75-India (I) and Project 75 (add-ons) are under advanced stages of the Cost Negotiation being done by the Committee (Cost Negotiation Committee-CNC),” added the source.
Project 75-I is for the construction of six modern submarines, with an estimated cost of Rs 70,000 crore. Project 75 (add-ons) is for the construction of three Scorpene-class submarines, costing approximately Rs 36,000 crore.
Another project, with a construction cost of approximately Rs 36,000 crore, belonging to the eight Next Generation Corvettes (NGC), is in the pipeline. These will result in a cumulative cost of over Rs 240,000 crore once approved.
The Indian Navy’s planning is based on capability and capacity building, rather than threat perception, which may change over time, according to Commodore Anil Jai Singh (Retd), a defence analyst.
“The addition of warships and submarines is for the replacement of the old platforms with those equipped with modern and improved technologies. These additions are also to cater for renewals,” Commodore Singh added.
The addition of new capital ships and boats is significant, as the Chinese PLA Navy, with 355 warships and submarines, has become the largest navy in the world, with an increased presence in maritime bodies around the globe, including the Indian Ocean. India Navy’s total fleet strength is over 130.https://5df95abb9f82273544c629f59baf552f.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-45/html/container.html?n=0
Additionally, there are concerns that Indian Navy platforms are reaching obsolescence; therefore, the new additions, as noted by Commodore Singh, should not only replace the older ones but also increase the overall numbers.
The submarine’s underwater fighting capabilities, even after the addition of six indigenously manufactured Scorpene-class submarines, are plagued by obsolete boats (submarines). Although new boats have been added and new projects are in the pipeline, the Indian Navy’s submarine arm has been plagued by obsolescence and is currently operating 12 vintage submarines.
Another glaring absence among the projects under construction and those in the pipeline is the destroyers, emphasised Singh.
The Indian Navy commissioned the Delhi Class destroyers in 1997 and they in the age group of 25 years and with major overhaul and repairs these can be kept operational for another 10-15 years but, “Unless the Project for their replacements are planned today, having a gestation period of more than 7-8 years we may see decline in their numbers in future thus bringing the gaps.”
The destroyers are versatile ships capable of carrying out offensive and defensive operations on the surface, sub-surface, and in the air. The Indian Navy aims to have a 175-ship fleet by 2035.
The recent decision of the Delhi High Court, upholding the dismissal of Lt Samuel Kamalesan, has ignited a debate on the role of religion in the Indian Army. Lt Kamalesan refused to participate in regimental religious parades, stating his religious f…
Read more at: https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/in-the-indian-army-faith-fosters-a-higher-cause-3613282
Baffling as it may seem, a Pakistani soldier who was refused a grave during the 1999 Kargil Waris now being showered with glory in the Islamic Republic. Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir, along with the entire military brass, on Saturday paid tribute to Kargil “hero” Captain Karnal Sher Khan on the 26th anniversary of his martyrdom. While Pakistan initially disowned Sher Khan and refused to take his body from Indian soil, it was an Indian Army officer whose letter, tucked in the Pakistani soldier’s pocket, revealed his heroics.
The letter played a crucial role in Sher Khan being awarded the Nishan-e-Haider in 2000, posthumously.
Brigadier MPS Bajwa, now retired, was leading Indian forces to retake Tiger Hill from Pakistani occupation during the Kargil War of 1999. He was so moved by the 29-year-old Khan’s courage that he wrote a letter to the Pakistani government and placed it in the fallen soldier’s pocket before his body was returned.
The gesture by Brigadier Bajwa (retired) stands in stark contrast to Pakistan’s initial refusal to claim Khan’s body, in an apparent attempt to conceal its military involvement in the Kargil War, as noted in a 1999 Indian press release.
During the Kargil War, just like in 1947 and 1965, Pakistan initially denied its army’s involvement, claiming, instead, that the intruders were “mujahideen”.
On Saturday, the Pakistani Army and the government marked the 26th martyrdom anniversary of Captain Karnal Sher Khan with military honours at his tomb in Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Field Marshal Munir, alongside senior military officials and Sher Khan’s family, paid tribute to the Kargil war hero who was posthumously awarded the Nishan-e-Haider.
“During the Kargil conflict in 1999, Captain Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed, a symbol of unwavering courage and patriotism, sacrificed his life while defending the motherland with unparalleled valour. He remains an eternal source of inspiration for the Armed Forces and the nation,” Pakistan’s DG-ISPR posted on X on Munir’s visit to Khan’s village.
During the 1999 Kargil War, Karnal Sher Khan of the Pakistani Army served as a Captain with the 12th Northern Light Infantry. At 17,000 feet in Gultari, Khan was leading his unit when the Indian Army launched a fierce counterattack to take over Tiger Hill, a strategic post.
Two Indian Army battalions, with machine guns and artillery support, launched a fierce assault to claim the strategic heights, to push back the intruders in what came to be one of the bloodiest battles of the Kargil War.
Captain Sher Khan’s unit was heavily outnumbered.
After being fatally wounded in machine-gun fire during close combat, Khan lost his life on July 5.
His bravery earned him the Nishan-e-Haider, Pakistan’s highest military honour, posthumously.
After the Indian Army captured Tiger Hill, Captain Sher Khan’s body was recovered and identified through documents he was carrying. But it wasn’t until Indian Brigadier Bajwa acknowledged his bravery that Pakistan recognised him and posthumously awarded him the Nishan-e-Haider.
“Yes, Captain Karnal Sher Khan of 9 NLI (Pakistan) fought against my unit (8 SIKH) at Tiger Hill, but Pakistan refused to take his body. The appreciation of his bravery was written by me and paper inserted in his pocket. Subsequently he was given the highest gallantry award,” Brigadier Bajwa (retired) wrote on X in 2019.
Pakistan, in fact, had initially refused to accept his body, revealed an Indian press release from 1999.
“The callousness and inhumanity with which they [the Pakistani forces] are persisting in this fiction is demonstrated in the current matter concerning the bodies of two officers of the Pakistan Army who had died in action on the Indian side of the Line of Control in Kargil. The body of Captain Imtiaz Malik of 165 Mortar Regiment was found at Point 4875 in the Mushkoh sub-sector. The body of Captain Karnal Sher of 12 Northern Light Infantry was found on Tiger Hill in the Dras sub-sector. The identities of these two officers were established by correspondence found on their persons. Both bodies are in the possession of the Indian Army authorities,” the Indian Government said on July 15, 1999.
“The above information was conveyed to the Pakistani government on July 12. We informed the Pakistani authorities that we would like to hand over the bodies to them. We did not receive any response,” the Indian government added in the press release.
India’s Brigadier MPS Bajwa, who was struck by Khan’s bravery, wrote a citation praising his gallantry and placed it in his pocket, ensuring his valour was recognised.
Later after the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) told New Delhi on July 13 that Islamabad had asked the humanitarian-support body to talk to its Indian counterpart over the bodies of the two officers about which they had heard.
Only after international scrutiny and reports of Pakistan disowning its heroes spread beyond borders did Islamabad accept Captain Karnal Sher Khan’s body, before posthumously awarding him the Nishan-e-Haider in 2000.
Twenty-five-years ago, Captain Karnal Sher Khan’s own country refused to accept his body in its bid to conceal military involvement in the Kargil War. Now, decades later, Army Chief Asim Munir is glorifying his sacrifice, at a time when he’s seen consolidating power, more so through self-promotion and strategic appearances. If not pure perception-building, this revival of Sher Khan’s legacy, one even an Indian officer acknowledged, certainly serves a timely purpose.
– Ends
Most of us are aware of the post called Galwan, but few know the details of its establishment in 1962. New Delhi was eager to establish a forward post opposite the Chinese post of Samzungling. However, Lieutenant General Daulet Singh, who led the Shimla-based Western Command responsible for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, was not happy with the decision to establish a post so isolated, deep in a valley with no land route.
In mid-June 1962, the orders were made clear to establish a post. The orders reached the 114 Brigade based in Leh. Brigadier Rawind Singh Grewal, MC, had two regular infantry battalions and two J&K Militia battalions under his command. The 14 J&K Militia was looking after the Northern Sector and the 7 J&K Militia was looking after the Southern Sector.
The Army Training Command (ARTRAC) on Thursday announced to train all Indian Army soldiers with working of drones by the year 2027. The announcement was made by Lieutenant General Devendra Sharma, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of ARTRAC, while addressing officers, awardees, and guests at the ARTRAC Investiture Ceremony 2025, held in Shimla on Thursday.
Interacting with the media persons, Lt Gen Sharma said, “Indian Army’s performance in Operation Sindoor had demonstrated remarkable capabilities, especially in the use of drones. Drawing on those insights, ARTRAC has initiated a roadmap that will make drone operation an integral part of every soldier’s training.”
“In Operation Sindoor, the Indian Army showcased exceptional capability, particularly through the deployment of drones. Learning from that, we have decided that by 2027, every Indian soldier will be trained in drone operations. Drones will become the ‘third arm’ of the modern Indian soldier,” he said.
Lt Gen Sharma said that ARTRAC had identified 33 niche technologies—including drones, cyber warfare, battlefield artificial intelligence, and electronic warfare systems—for incorporation into army training. To institutionalise these capabilities, 14 centres of expertise have been established across various training institutions. He said that ARTRAC has set a goal for the complete absorption of these technologies by 2030, backed by an investment of ₹390 crore over the next five years in infrastructure, research and development, and simulation-based training systems.
जिला सोलन के डगशाई कैंट एरिया में तैनात एक लेफ्टिनेंट कर्नल के दस्तावेज जांच में जाली पाए गए हैं। सेना की ओर से उनके खिलाफ धर्मपुर पुलिस थाना में शिकायत दर्ज करवाई गई है। पढ़ें पूरी खबर…
हिमाचल प्रदेश फटाफट: पढ़ें सभी खबरें 60s में
एफआईआर (सांकेतिक तस्वीर) – फोटो : अमर उजाला नेटवर्क
डगशाई कैंट एरिया में तैनात एक लेफ्टिनेंट कर्नल के दस्तावेज जांच में जाली पाए गए हैं। सेना की ओर से लेफ्टिनेंट कर्नल के खिलाफ विभागीय जांच बिठाई गई। इसमें उनके सभी तरह के दस्तावेजों की जांच की गई तो इनमें से कई फर्जी पाए गए। दस्तावेज जाली पाए जाने पर अब सेना की ओर से उनके खिलाफ धर्मपुर पुलिस थाना में शिकायत दर्ज करवाई गई है। शिकायत पर पुलिस ने धोखाधड़ी का केस दर्ज कर लेफ्टिनेंट कर्नल के खिलाफ जांच शुरू कर दी है। सेना के एक अधिकारी जाधव एनएस ने धर्मपुर पुलिस थाना में आरोपी के खिलाफ जाली दस्तावेजों की शिकायत दी है।Trending शिकायत में बताया गया है कि आरोपी के खिलाफ वर्ष 2023 से विभागीय जांच चल रही है। 23 अगस्त, 2023 को आरोपी के कब्जे से 12 बोर की बंदूक और कथित तौर पर सरकारी अधिकारियों की ओर से जारी कई दस्तावेज पाए गए। जांच में लेफ्टिनेंट कर्नल की तस्वीर वाला ड्राइविंग लाइसेंस, राशन कार्ड, आधार कार्ड, पैन कार्ड जाली पाए गए। दस्तावेजों पर तस्वीर तो आरोपी की है, जबकि दस्तावेज किसी अन्य व्यक्ति के नाम पर हैं। सोलन के पुलिस अधीक्षक गौरव सिंह ने बताया कि डगशाई में तैनात एक लेफ्टिनेंट कर्नल के खिलाफ सेना अधिकारी ने जाली दस्तावेजों की शिकायत दी है। इसके आधार पर पुलिस ने आरोपी पर धोखाधड़ी का मामला दर्ज कर लिया है। मामले की पूरी जांच होने के बाद ही पता चल पाएगा आरोपी ने ऐसा किस मकसद से किया।
वीरवार को आरट्रैक के अलंकरण समारोह में आरट्रैक के जनरल ऑफिसर कमांडिंग-इन-चीफ लेफ्टिनेंट जनरल देवेंद्र शर्मा ने कहा कि भारतीय सेना के जवान राइफल की तरह अब ड्रोन चलाने में भी पारंगत होंगे। पढ़ें पूरी खबर…
हिमाचल प्रदेश फटाफट: पढ़ें सभी खबरें 60s में
सेना प्रशिक्षण कमान में आयोजित अलंकरण समारोह के दौरान सेना के अधिकारी – फोटो : अमर उजाला नेटवर्क
भारतीय सेना के जवान राइफल की तरह अब ड्रोन चलाने में भी पारंगत होंगे। ऑपरेशन सिंदूर से मिली सीख के बाद आरट्रैक (आर्मी ट्रेनिंग कमांड) सैनिकों को 2027 तक विशेष ड्रोन प्रशिक्षण देगा। आरट्रैक के जनरल ऑफिसर कमांडिंग-इन-चीफ लेफ्टिनेंट जनरल देवेंद्र शर्मा ने वीरवार को आरट्रैक के अलंकरण समारोह में यह बात कही। कहा कि आरट्रैक ने 33 प्रमुख तकनीकों की पहचान की है, जिन्हें प्रशिक्षण पाठ्यक्रम में शामिल किया जाएगा।Trending Videoshttps://videocdn.amarujala.com/trending-player#mute&is_amp
अर्मेनिया-अजरबैजान, रूस-यूक्रेन और इजराइल-हमास के बीच युद्ध में तकनीक खासकर ड्रोन का निर्णायक उपयोग हुआ है। ऑपरेशन सिंदूर से यह सिद्ध हो गया कि भारतीय सेना भी आधुनिक तकनीक को शीघ्रता से अपना सकती है। आरट्रैक का सेंटर फॉर आर्मी लेसंस लर्न्ड इन अभियानों का अध्ययन कर प्रशिक्षण प्रणाली को लगातार बेहतर कर रहा है। आरट्रैक भारतीय सेना के डिकेड ऑफ ट्रांसफॉर्मेशन में केंद्रीय भूमिका निभा रहा है।विज्ञापनhttps://e1e9ca22900027a6e24bb42a9e2c1adf.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-45/html/container.html?n=0
शर्मा ने कहा कि वर्ष 2024–25 को सेना ने आधुनिक तकनीकी समावेश का वर्ष घोषित किया है। ड्रोन युद्ध, साइबर क्षमताएं, बैटलफील्ड एआई और इलेक्ट्रॉनिक वॉरफेयर को रणनीतिक तौर पर प्रशिक्षण में शामिल किया गया है। इसके लिए प्रशिक्षण संस्थानों में 14 विशेषज्ञता केंद्र स्थापित किए गए हैं। 2030 तक इन सभी तकनीकों को पूरी तरह प्रशिक्षण में शामिल करने का लक्ष्य है। इसके लिए अगले पांच वर्षों में 390 करोड़ रुपये का निवेश होगा।
महिलाओं को हर मोर्चे पर समान अवसर
देवेंद्र शर्मा ने कहा कि आरट्रैक महिलाओं को हर मोर्चे पर समान अवसर देने के लिए वचनबद्ध है। मौजूदा समय में 1571 महिलाएं सेवाएं दे रही हैं, इनमें से कई महिलाएं महत्वपूर्ण पदों पर कार्यरत हैं। लैंगिक संवेदनशीलता प्रशिक्षण को पाठ्यक्रम का हिस्सा बनाया गया है।
12,000 और सैनिक 21 नई तकनीकों में बनेंगे दक्ष
2024–25 में अब तक 18,000 जवानों को 22 तकनीकों में प्रशिक्षित किया गया है, 2025–26 में 12,000 अन्य सैनिकों को 21 नई तकनीकों में प्रशिक्षण देने का लक्ष्य है। आरट्रैक पूरे देश की भागीदारी के सिद्धांत पर कार्य कर रहा है। थिंक टैंक, विश्वविद्यालयों, अनुसंधान संस्थानों और स्टार्टअप के साथ समझौता ज्ञापनों के माध्यम से तकनीक को सेना में शामिल किया जा रहा है।
