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Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 24

The Army is now training its soldiers to make technology-driven decisions. For this, necessary changes are being made to training modules by incorporating technologies to be used in future.

Army Chief General Manoj Pande today said, “In order to enhance the technical threshold of soldiers and to align with technological requirements, training establishments have modified syllabi.”

Aim to empower troops

Empowering the soldier remains at the core of all pursuits of technology infusion. — General Manoj Pande, Army chief

2 soldiers injured in Bandipora gunfight

Srinagar: Two soldiers were injured in an encounter with militants in Bandipora on Wednesday. Helicopters had been pressed into service to aid security operations in the area, said officials.

He was speaking at a day-long seminar organised by the Army and the Army-funded think-tank — the Centre for Land Warfare Studies — to study the needs of the soldiers. The theme of the seminar is ‘The Year of Technology Absorption — Empowering the Soldier’.

The Army Chief said simulation and virtual reality training modules had been already incorporated into the force. Equipment manufacturers for the niche technology now have to comply with a clause to train the soldiers.

In order to bring in domain-specific competencies, cyber specialists and linguists were being commissioned in the Territorial Army, he said. “Empowering the soldier remains at the core of all pursuits of technology infusion. Apart from training, soldiers are being encouraged to take ownership of the technology they use,” said General Pande. The Army Chief explained that consequent to technology adoption, it was imperative to tailor doctrines and strategies to the prevalent operational needs. This will include employment of tactics that accrue from new technologies.

The success of 13 JAK RIF was a testament to the unwavering dedication of its officers and jawans.

LT Gen YK joshi (Retd)

Former Northern Army Commander

THE Kargil War, fought in the summer of 1999, remains a defining moment for the Indian Army. This conflict was unlike any other, set amidst treacherous high-altitude terrain ranging from 14,000 to 18,000 ft. The challenges weren’t just military; they included battling the unforgiving weather, climate and geography. Yet, for the fearless troops, these obstacles were mere preludes to achieving their mission: evicting Pakistani infiltrators who had crossed the Line of Control and seized strategic positions.

I count myself singularly fortunate to have commanded 13 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles (13 JAK RIF) during this pivotal period. As the officiating Commanding Officer, I witnessed the battalion play a crucial role in shaping

It feels like yesterday when, on June 9, 1999, I embarked on an IL-76 IAF transport aircraft from Chandigarh, leading the advance party of my battalion back to Srinagar and onward to Ladakh. It was a moment filled with uncertainty, in stark contrast to the peace we had enjoyed at Shahjahanpur (UP) just four months earlier following a demanding tenure in Sopore conducting counter-terrorist operations.

Upon reuniting with the battalion on June 10 at Gumri, near Zoji La, events unfolded rapidly. On June 11, we were placed under the command of 56 Mountain Brigade as reserve to

2 Rajputana Rifles for the capture of Tololing. By June 12, we had concentrated at Drass, where the grim reality of our surroundings hit me hard. A board erected by the Border Roads Organisation on the roadside greeted us with a chilling reminder: “Drass, the second coldest inhabited place in the world, at minus 60°C.”

Surveying the landscape, I saw towering mountains devoid of vegetation, a stark reminder of the formidable challenge ahead. The air was pierced by intermittent artillery shelling, with explosions rattling the nearby national highway. Amidst the chaos, vehicles raced to safety, while an ambulance hurriedly transported injured soldiers to the field hospital. In the distance, the sound of machine-gun fire echoed.

In the wee hours of June 13, amidst all this uncertainty, 13 JAK RIF received orders to advance towards Tololing. The terrain was hostile, with narrow spur lines serving as the only path forward. The sheer cliffs made every step perilous, with the ever-present threat of enemy fire. Yet, guided by our training and resolve, we pressed on. After a gruelling climb of 16-17 hours, dodging artillery shells and navigating through enemy-laid minefields, we linked up with Col Khushal Thakur, Commanding Officer of 18 Grenadiers.

Assuming responsibility from 18 Grenadiers, we moved forward, capturing Rocky Knob and Point 5140. The success at Rocky Knob, led by Major SV Bhaskar, bolstered our morale, paving the way for the subsequent assault on Point 5140. Led by Capt Sanjeev Jamwal and Capt Vikram Batra, Bravo and Delta companies overcame immense odds, culminating in the iconic moment when Capt Batra signalled our triumph with the words, “Yeh dil maange more”, as the Tricolour fluttered proudly atop Point 5140 on the morning of June 20.

Buoyed by our success, our next objective was the capture of Point 4875, a strategic vantage point overlooking a significant stretch of the national highway. Despite stiff enemy resistance, the battalion launched its assault on July 4, with the Charlie Company under Major Gurpreet Singh and the Alpha Company under Major Bhaskar leading the charge. After three days of relentless fighting, we secured Point 4875, albeit at a heavy cost. Capt Batra’s valour paved the way for our victory, earning him the Param Vir Chakra posthumously. Point 4875 was renamed ‘Batra Top’ in his honour.

The ferocity of the battle for Point 4875 earned it the moniker, ‘The bloodiest battle of the war’, with Param Vir Chakras awarded to Capt Batra and Rifleman Sanjay Kumar. The unwavering courage and sacrifice of 13 JAK RIF during this conflict, epitomised by 37 gallantry awards — including two Param Vir Chakras, eight Vir Chakras and 14 Sena Medals — will forever be etched in the annals of Army history.

Two brave officers and 14 jawans laid down their lives for the honour of the nation. Their courage and selflessness will never be forgotten. My homage and utmost respect to these gutsy soldiers, who will always be remembered.

The success of 13 JAK RIF was a testament to the unwavering dedication of its officers and jawans, who embodied the regimental motto, ‘Prashastha Ranveerta’ (Victory in battle is appreciated). From young company commanders to seasoned veterans, each played a vital role in the battalion’s triumph. The coordinated efforts of individuals like Major Bhaskar, Vikas Vohra, Gurpreet Singh, Rajeev Kapoor, Ajay Jasrotia, Anirban Chatterjee, Naveen Anaberu, Sandeep Tiwari and Capt Rajesh Adhau were instrumental in ensuring success amidst the chaos of war. Many, however, went unrecognised in the melee and fog of war. Every soldier of the battalion played a very important role in his own way in the execution of one of the most complicated operations ever.

As I reflect on the war, our achievements are a source of great pride, which is tempered by the sorrow of losing comrades. These moments of triumph and tragedy will forever be etched in my memory, a testimony to the resilience of the Army.

In conclusion, the saga of 13 JAK RIF in the Kargil War serves as a poignant reminder of the valour and indomitable spirit of the Indian armed forces, whose sacrifices safeguard the integrity and sovereignty of our nation.

The author was the officiating Commanding Officer of 13 Jammu & Kashmir Rifles during the Kargil War

Moscow, April 24

A top Russian military official arrested on suspicion of accepting a bribe was sent to pre-trial detention on Wednesday after appearing before a court in central Moscow, court officials said in a statement.

Timur Ivanov, 48, one of Russia’s 12 deputy defence ministers, was arrested Tuesday evening, Russia’s Investigative Committee said in a statement. It gave no further information, apart from specifying that Ivanov is suspected of taking an especially large bribe — a criminal offense punishable by up to

According to a statement from the court, investigators told Moscow’s Basmany court on Wednesday that Ivanov had conspired with third parties to receive a bribe in the form of unspecified property services “during contracting and subcontracting work for the needs of the Ministry of Defence”. — AP

The corridor cannot be permitted to become the soft underbelly of India’s strategic northern frontiers.

Jaideep Saikia

Security & Terrorism Analyst

IN his 1996 book Insurgent Crossfire, Subir Bhaumik wrote: “Two decades after the break-up of Pakistan into two countries and the relative stability achieved by the Indian politico-military effort in the North East, Pakistani talk of entrusting the security of East Pakistan to the ‘China factor’ might, in retrospect, seem to have been without substance. But, to an Indian decision-maker in New Delhi in the late 1960s, the threat raised India’s worst fears of a Chinese sweep through the region, and an eventual link-up with Pakistani forces in East Pakistan… This could have led to the secession of the entire North East.”

Though the pincer threat is no longer present, there are some issues that plague the region, which shares borders with Bhutan and other nations. Geography has compelled Bhutan to lean on India not only for its security, but also for most of its commercial needs. Nevertheless, recent times have seen Beijing reaching out to the Himalayan kingdom. The ‘Three-Step Roadmap’ signed by Bhutan and China is an irritant for India. It is as if Bhutan has betrayed its friend India.

However, PM Modi’s visit to Thimphu last month and the conferment of Bhutan’s highest civilian award, the Order of the Druk Gyalpo, on him indicate that the Himalayan kingdom’s heart is in the right place. Therefore, it is apparent that Thimphu would have consulted New Delhi before it entered into negotiations with China on the ‘Three-Step Roadmap’. Rather, India would have encouraged Bhutan to speed up boundary negotiations with China. It is vital for India’s national security interests. An iron-clad boundary between Bhutan and China would have ensured that there is a veritable strategic buffer between China and India by way of Bhutan, and China’s border with India would, as a result, not be a contiguous one.

PM Modi recently stated that “for New Delhi, ties with Beijing are important and the prolonged situation at the borders should be addressed urgently”. Is he trying to recast the India-China-Bhutan relationship in a new mould?

The Doklam incident of 2017 had caused concern. The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) occupied the plateau and developed military infrastructure right up to the base of the Jampheri Ridge, which overlooks the Siliguri Corridor. The Chinese even constructed a Xiaokang (well-off) village, Pangda, in the area. And, there was apprehension that the Chinese would cross the Torsa Nullah and intrude into Indian territory. But in such an event, the Indian Army, too, would cross it, leading to a full-scale war.

In this age of information warfare, one does not quite need to physically dominate the heights in order to conduct surveillance. Satellites can be launched from PLA bases in the Tibet Autonomous Region and even from Chengdu, the headquarters of the PLA’s Western Theatre Command.

Chinese satellites have a revisit time of four hours and these are far advanced than the Indian ones. These can monitor Indian Army movement in the Siliguri Corridor and thereabouts with greater clarity. Therefore, China’s reasons for attempting to occupy the Jampheri Ridge are two-fold. One is to occupy high ground (elevated positions) throughout the 3,488-km-long India-China boundary, after which it would fortify the border with the land border laws that it enacted on January 1, 2022, and the second is to maintain a posture that would keep the Indian Army perpetually deployed and on its toes.

Indian strategists must also comprehend the need to build new axes to and from the North East via Bangladesh to the rest of India. This would not be too demanding an affair, given the present affable India-Bangladesh relationship. Moreover, it would call the Chinese bluff with regard to the corridor, the severance of which would have isolated the North East.

Another important aspect that needs to be flagged with reference to the corridor is the threat of radicalisation. A study conducted a few years ago found that there was a huge radicalised population among the minorities of Nepal’s Terai region, including areas in Jhapa and Ilam, which are close to the corridor.

It is being said that it’s a matter of time before these radicalised groups invade this region. The loyalties of these elements are being controlled by anti-India forces. A radical group, the Islamic Sangh Nepal (ISN), has emerged as the premier Nepali Muslim outfit; it is said to be under the control of both the ISIS and Pakistan’s ISI. Anti-India subterfuge is being planned by utilising the ISN. The ISN is the primary vehicle for the spread of Salafi Islam in the region.

There are five key mazhabs or schools in Islam: Hanafi, Shafei, Maliki, Hanbali and Zafariya (which is chiefly Shia). The Muslims of India are predominantly from Islam’s Hanafi sect, which is a moderate lot.

But the transformative moment that Islam is passing through has witnessed the entry of the Hanbali or the Salafists into the region, and there is a possibility of north Bengal turning out to be the epicentre of this radical strain. The Tablighi Jamaat is also reportedly active in this region.

It has been reported that the Chinese are attempting to manoeuvre their way inside Nepal, especially among the Muslim population. For those who had written off the Islamic State, the March 22 attack in Moscow should act as an eye-opener.

Lastly, there is the growth of new social formations in the region. Some Nepalis are entering into wedlock with radical Islamists.

The Siliguri Corridor cannot be permitted to become the soft underbelly of India’s strategic northern frontiers.

45-year-old constable Farhad was on security duty of herbal medical practitioner Baba Surjeet Singh in Dheri Baghbanan

PTI

Peshawar, April 23

A policeman deployed to guard a Sikh medical practitioner was shot dead on Tuesday by unidentified gunmen in Pakistan’s northwestern city of Peshawar, police said.

The victim, identified as 45-year-old constable Farhad, was on security duty of herbal medical practitioner Baba Surjeet Singh in Dheri Baghbanan – a suburban locality of Peshawar district.

Farhad was sitting on a chair outside the shop when unidentified gunmen opened fire at him, killing him on the spot, police said.

The police have cordoned off the area and started the investigation. 

Netanyahu’s Government said Israel ‘moving ahead’ with ground operation, but gave no timeline.

Jerusalem, April 25

Israel’s military is poised to evacuate Palestinian civilians from Rafah and assault Hamas hold-outs in the southern Gaza Strip city, a senior Israeli defence official said on Wednesday, despite international warnings of a humanitarian catastrophe.

A spokesperson for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government said Israel was “moving ahead” with a ground operation, but gave no timeline.

The defence official said Israel’s Defence Ministry had bought 40,000 tents, each with the capacity for 10 to 12 people, to house Palestinians relocated from Rafah in advance of an assault.

Video circulating online appeared to show rows of square white tents going up in Khan Younis, a city some 5 km (3 miles) from Rafah. Reuters could not verify the video but reviewed images from satellite company Maxar Technologies which showed tent camps on Khan Younis land that had been vacant weeks ago.

An Israeli government source said Netanyahu’s war cabinet planned to meet in the coming two weeks to authorise civilian evacuations, expected to take around a month.

The defence official, who requested anonymity, told Reuters that the military could go into action immediately but was awaiting a green light from Netanyahu.

Rafah, which abuts the Egyptian border, is sheltering more than a million Palestinians who fled the half-year-old Israeli offensive through the rest of Gaza and say the prospect of fleeing yet again is terrifying.

“I have to make a decision whether to leave Rafah because my mother and I are afraid an invasion could happen suddenly and we won’t get time to escape,” said Aya, 30, who has been living temporarily in the city with her family in a school.

She said that some families recently moved to a refugee camp in coastal Al-Mawasi, but their tents caught fire when tank shells landed nearby. “Where do we go?”

Hitting hard

Israel, which launched its war to annihilate Hamas after the Islamist group’s October 7 attacks on Israeli towns, says Rafah is home to four Hamas combat battalions reinforced by thousands of retreating fighters, and it must defeat them to achieve victory.

“Hamas was hit hard in the northern sector. It was also hit hard in the centre of the Strip. And soon it will be hit hard in Rafah, too,” Brigadier-General Itzik Cohen, commander of Israel’s 162nd Division operating in Gaza, told Kan public TV.

But Israel’s closest ally Washington has called on it to set aside plans for an assault, and says Israel can combat Hamas fighters there by other means.

“We could not support a Rafah ground operation without an appropriate, credible, executable humanitarian plan precisely because of the complications for delivery of assistance,” David Satterfield, US special envoy for Middle East humanitarian issued, told reporters on Tuesday.

“We continue discussions with Israel on what we believe are alternate ways of addressing a challenge which we recognise, which is Hamas military present in Rafah.”

Egypt says it will not allow Gazans to be pushed across the border onto its territory. Cairo had warned Israel against moving on Rafah, which “would lead to massive human massacres, losses (and) widespread destruction”, its State Information Service said.

Three Egyptian security sources said that military and security coordination between Egypt and Israel over any Israeli incursion into Rafah did not mean approval of it.

Egypt welcomed the return of Palestinians northwards from Rafah, believing it to be in the interest of the population despite also serving Israeli plans to besiege Hamas in Rafah, the sources added.

Israel has withdrawn most of its ground troops from southern Gaza this month but kept up air strikes and conducted raids into areas its troops abandoned. Efforts by the United States, Egypt and Qatar to broker an extended ceasefire in time to head off an assault on Rafah have so far failed.

Gaza medical officials say than 34,000 people have been killed in Israel’s military campaign, with thousands more bodies feared buried under rubble.

Hamas killed 1,200 people and abducted 253 on October 7, according to Israeli tallies. Of those hostages, 129 remain in Gaza, Israeli officials say. More than 260 Israeli troops have been killed in ground fighting since October 20, the military says.

HA Hellyer, a senior associate fellow in international security studies at the Royal United Services Institute, said he expected the assault on Rafah “sooner rather than later” because Netanyahu is under pressure to meet his stated objectives of rescuing hostages and killing all the Hamas leaders.

“The invasion of Rafah is unavoidable because of the way he has framed all of this,” he said. But it will not be possible for everyone to leave the city, so “if he sends the military into Rafah, there are going to be a lot of casualties

A Meeting with Mr Manish Tewari will be scheduled soon with all veterans of Chandigarh on any week end or Sunday/holiday to ensure maximum availability of veterans/ESM.

All Veterans are requested to confirm their AVIALBILITY WITH their t points to be included in agenda, like related to various problems of

1, Pay & Pensions,

2.Sparsh issues,

3.CSD issues,

4. ECHS issues,

5.Short Service officers Issues,

6.Toll Tax,

7. Aginiveer,

8 ANY OTHER………

Sanjha Morcha will be inviting all veterans for a meet over a cup of tea and snacks soon. All veterans to kindly confirm their attendence on following mobile numbers ––99988266450 Col CJS Khera ___9915090555,Col Shanjit Bhullar—–.9589143386 Maj Gen Harvijay Singh, SM, Veterans are welcome to send their discussion points on the above contacts or on email —sanjhamorcha303@gmail.com

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 23

Indian Army Chief General Manoj Pande on Tuesday mentioned the need for developing critical technologies saying “if we are import-dependent for critical technologies, we must be very clear that we will always remain behind the technology cycle”.

45 niche technologies

The Army is pursuing 45 niche technologies, which have been identified for military application. — Gen Manoj Pande, Army chief

He shared his thoughts on ‘Relevance of Hard Power in India’s Rise, and how the Indian Army is shaping capabilities through self-reliance’. General Pande was speaking at the All-India Management Association (AIMA) national leadership conclave.

The Army Chief said the current geo-strategic landscape is characterised by change, taking place at unprecedented scale and speed. “Countries will not hesitate to go to war for their national interest,” he added.

Military strength and capabilities are necessary to prevent war — to present a credible deterrence. The Indian Army, he said, has taken unprecedented steps for the potential of disruptive technologies and is looking at four key drivers of Indian Army’s transformation efforts.

The vision for the future is to transform into a modern, agile, adaptive, technology enabled and self-reliant future ready force, capable to deter and win wars in a multi-domain operational environment, across the full spectrum of operations, to protect our national interests, General Pande said.

The transformation has ‘five pillars’ — force restructuring and optimisation, modernisation and technology infusion, improving our systems, processes and functions, human resource management and promoting jointness and integration with other armed forces.

The Army, he said, was pursuing 45 niche technologies, which have been identified for military application.