Monthly Archives: August 2018

Balancing motherhood, military duty and competitive athletics is no easy feat, but for Indian Air Force Squadron Leader Neha Devi from Jammu, it has become a way of life.

Neha Devi’s journey reflects discipline, determination and belief beyond limits. She joined the Air Force Academy in July 2013 nearly 10 kilograms overweight. Within a year, she transformed herself and was commissioned in June 2014 — fitter, stronger and sharper.

Defence spokesperson Lt Col Suneel Bartwal said that by 2017, structured running and strength training had become part of her routine. In 2021, she ran her first half marathon in Delhi and secured third position in her age category, continuing to feature among the top finishers in the years that followed.

In 2023, she finished sixth overall in the Station Cross Country (10 km) and third overall in the Station Unity Run (21 km), being the only female participant in both events.

Bartwal said, “In January 2024, she became pregnant. What motivated her deeply was the realisation that many women hesitate to strength train or exercise during pregnancy due to fear or social conditioning. She wanted to change that narrative. Under medical supervision, she continued controlled workouts. At four months pregnant, she secured second position in the TCS 10K (virtual). In September 2024, she delivered a healthy baby girl via C-section.”

“Recovery was slow and painful — walk to jog, jog to run. But her mission was clear: motherhood should not limit a woman’s potential. While breastfeeding her daughter, exclusively for six months and continuing thereafter, she made it a daily commitment to dedicate 40-60 minutes to gym sessions or home workouts. Balancing night feeds, official duties and recovery, she rebuilt herself patiently,” Bartwal said.

On January 24 this year, during a 24-hour stadium run in New Delhi, she completed her first 100-km run in 9 hours 52 minutes, missing national qualification by just 22 minutes.

Within days, she competed in the Indian Navy Half Marathon, finishing first among the three services and fourth overall in the Women’s Open category with a time of 1 hour 32 minutes 50 seconds — missing the podium by just 43 seconds.

Northern Command GOC reviews security amid infiltration attempts

Following the elimination of hardcore terrorists in recent operations in Kishtwar district, the Army has intensified counter-terror operations in the Rajouri and Poonch districts along the Line of Control (LoC), where several infiltration bids and drone sightings have been reported in the recent past.

To review the ongoing operations, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Army’s Northern Command, Lt Gen Pratik Sharma, on Thursday visited Shahsitar in Poonch and Hanjanwali in the Rajouri sector. He reviewed the prevailing security situation.

The Army Commander was briefed about the intelligence grid and focused operational capability enhancement measures, vital for sustained operations in a complex security landscape. The Army Commander commended the troops for their high state of morale, professionalism and steadfast dedication under challenging conditions,” an official said.

There have been several failed attempts by terrorists from across the border to infiltrate the Indian side in these twin districts in recent weeks.

On Wednesday, acting on credible intelligence, Army personnel stationed at Bhimber Gali detected suspicious movement and opened fire at terrorists attempting to sneak across the LoC.

Acting on credible intelligence inputs and persistent surveillance, movement of terrorists was detected in the general area of Bhimber Gali along the Line of Control during the early hours of March 4. Responding with decisive force and showcasing superior tactical execution, alert troops of White Knight Corps engaged swiftly, foiling the infiltration attempt and denying any breach of the LoC,” an Army spokesperson said.

Earlier, on February 19, the Army foiled an infiltration attempt in the Sunderbani sector of Rajouri. During searches in the area, troops seized an AK-47 rifle, two magazines, along with ration and clothing. Bloodstains were also found at the site, suggesting that the infiltrating terrorists might have been injured.

On March 1, troops opened fire at a Pakistani drone after it entered the Indian side from across the LoC in Poonch. Earlier, on February 27, troops had fired at another drone in the same area.

Meanwhile, the Army is recruiting 800 porters in Rajouri and Poonch for its newly raised Porter Company.

According to an official, the 279 Porter Company is being raised for 179 days from April 1 to September 26 under the authority of the Ministry of Defence. A recruitment rally to enrol 600 porters and 200 reserve porters for the Army Porter Company will be held at various locations in Rajouri and Poonch from March 12 to 19.

The drive will be conducted at brigade headquarters in Poonch and Rajouri from March 12 to 13; at Balnoi and Nowshera from March 14 to 15; at Bhimber Gali from March 16 to 17; and at Mendhar and Manjakote from March 18 to 19. Porters serve as vital logistical support, often acting as a lifeline in the region’s treacherous and high-altitude areas.

The Indian Navy, reacting to the sinking of the Iranian warship IRIS Dena, said on Thursday a surveillance plane was deployed immediately while an Indian warship had reached the site by 4 pm yesterday. Also, a specialised survey vessel was on its way, the Navy said.

A distress call was received at the maritime rescue and coordination centre in Colombo in the early hours of March 4. The Iranian ship was operating 20 nautical miles (38 km) West of Galle when it was hit by a torpedo fired from a US submarine in the search and rescue region under Sri Lankan responsibility.

The Navy promptly launched its SAR efforts commencing with a long-range maritime patrol aircraft at 10 am on March 4 to augment the search efforts led by Sri Lanka.

Another aircraft with air droppable life rafts was also kept on standby for immediate deployment. INS Tarangini, which was operating in the vicinity, was deployed for aiding the rescue efforts and arrived in search area by 4 pm on March 4. By this time, SAR had been undertaken by the Sri Lankan navy and other agencies.

Meanwhile, INS Ikshak has also sailed from Kochi to augment search efforts and continues to remain in the area to search for missing personnel as a humanitarian measure. INS Ikshak is a survey vessel (large) class ship, it features advanced hydrographic survey equipment, including ROVs and side-scan sonars, for mapping ocean depths and supporting humanitarian. Coordination with the Sri Lankan side on search and rescue efforts was ongoing, the Navy said.

A day after a US submarine sank an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka — not far from Indian waters — the foreign minister of Iran, Sayed Abbas Araghchi, warned that the US would “pay bitterly” for targeting a ship in international waters.

India on its part debunked claims being made on social media that the US Navy was using Indian ports to launch attacks on Iran.

A clip being shared on social media about a US-based channel named ‘OAN’ hosting a show in which a participant identified as Doug MacGregor, a former adviser to the US Secretary of Defence, is seen making claims that Indian ports were being used by the US navy.

The Ministry of External Affairs put out a post on X said “these claims are fake and false. We caution you against such baseless and fabricated comments”.

Meanwhile, Araghchi put out a post on social media platform X on Thursday saying “the US has perpetrated an atrocity at sea, 2,000 miles away from Iran’s shores.”

The Frigate IRIS Dena, a guest of India’s Navy carrying almost 130 sailors, was struck in international waters without warning, said the Iran foreign minister adding “Mark my words: The US will come to bitterly regret the precedent it has set.”

Yesterday, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth confirmed that a US submarine fired a torpedo and had sunk an Iranian navy vessel off Sri Lanka.

Former Indian Navy Chief Admiral Arun Prakash (retd) says: “India had no responsibility for the Iranian ship after it had left Vishakhapatnam and it was in international waters…however, being a partner and friend, the US should have thought about India’s position”. The Admiral was hinting that the US should have avoided the hit on the ship close to India.

The Iranian ship was aware of the risk, it could have sought a safe harbour in India, Admiral Parkash added.

Rear Admiral MD Suresh (retd), a former Chief of Staff of the Southern Naval Command, argued Laws of Armed Conflict permit such actions, as carried out by the US.

On why Sri Lanka stepped up rescue efforts and India did not, Rear Admiral Suresh said oceans are distributed among maritime nations, and their respective abilities, into search and rescue regions. Sri Lanka has an effective search and rescue organisation. The Lankans handled it all on their own as they could, and did not need assistance.

The West Asia conflict has reached close to Indian coast. The strike today at sea was almost 4000 km away from Iran, significantly expanding the radius of the war. Already, fearing Iranian missile strikes, several US warships have moved eastward towards India. These ships are in international waters. India has denied that any US navy assets were using Indian ports.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Friday that three Australian defence personnel were on board a United States submarine that sank an Iranian warship with a torpedo in the Indian Ocean, but stressed they did not take part in the attack.

The strike, which occurred off the southern coast of Sri Lanka this week, marked the first time since World War Two that the United States has sunk an enemy vessel with a torpedo. Sri Lankan authorities recovered the bodies of 87 sailors.

Albanese told Sky News the Australians were on board as part of training linked to the AUKUS defence pact between Australia, the US and Britain, designed to help Australia acquire and build nuclear-powered submarines.

No Australian personnel have participated in any offensive action against Iran, Albanese said.

“These are long-standing third country arrangements that have been in place for a long period of time,” Albanese said.

Australia, a close US ally, has ruled out any military role in the conflict, but has said it would support efforts aimed at preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.

The conflict in the Middle East escalated on Thursday, with with US and Israeli jets hitting multiple areas across Iran, while Gulf cities came under renewed bombardment. —with agencies

India gets 30-day waiver from US to buy Russian oil amid Iran war

March 6, 2026 8:15 am

Amid the escalating conflict with Iran, the US said it is issuing a temporary 30-day waiver to allow Indian refiners to purchase Russian oil.

President Trump’s energy agenda has resulted in oil and gas production reaching the highest levels ever recorded.

To enable oil to keep flowing into the global market, the Treasury Department is issuing a temporary 30-day waiver to allow Indian refiners to purchase Russian oil.…