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A view of the shrine of Sikh leader Guru Nanak Dev in Kartarpur, Pakistan. PTI file

Lahore, December 3

Pakistan has established an immigration centre at the Kartarpur border following the groundbreaking of the landmark corridor for Sikh pilgrims.

The corridor will connect Sikh faith’s founder Guru Nanak Dev’s final resting place in Pakistan’s Kartarpur to the Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Punjab’s Gurdaspur district in India, fulfilling a long-pending demand of the Sikh community.

Since the border crossing could be an easy target for “terrorists, human traffickers and drug dealers”, a strong mechanism was required to keep the situation under control on both sides of the border, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Deputy Director (Punjab) Mufakhar Adeel said.

“The FIA has set up an immigration office at Kartarpur border in Narowal (some 120 kms from Lahore) in connection with the opening of Kartarpur corridor,” Adeel told Dawn news.

“The FIA officers will play the role of boarding officers and check the documents of Sikh pilgrims and identify them through biometric technology. Sikh pilgrims having visas will be allowed to enter the city while those with permits will be given access to Gurudwara Darbar Sahib only,” he said.

On November 28, Prime Minister Imran Khan laid the foundation stone of the Kartarpur corridor.

On November 26, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh laid the foundation stone for the Kartarpur Sahib corridor in Gurdaspur.

Khan said that his government and the army wanted a “civilised relationship” with India, declaring that Islamabad would move two steps forward if New Delhi took one step.

Khan cited examples of France and Germany which fought many wars but eventually came closer for the welfare of their people.

Pakistan assured that it will keep improving the Kartarpur corridor and provide maximum facilities to the pilgrims when they visit in November, 2019 to celebrate Guru Nanak’s 550th birth anniversary.

The much-awaited corridor will connect Darbar Sahib in Pakistan’s Kartarpur  with Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India’s Gurdaspur district and facilitate visa-free movement of Indian Sikh pilgrims, who will have to just obtain a permit to visit Kartarpur Sahib, which was established in 1522 by Guru Nanak Dev.

The corridor is expected to be completed within six months. — PTI

Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 1

To celebrate New Year, Indian and Chinese armies held two ceremonial border personnel meetings (BPMs) at Chushul-Moldo and Daulat Beg Oldi-TWD meeting points in eastern Ladakh.

The meetings were organised on the invitation of the People’s Liberation Army, China.

The Indian delegation was led by Maj Gen Sanjiv Rai and Col SS Lamba and the Chinese delegation by Senior Col Liu Hou Jie and Col Song Zhang Li. Giving details, a Northern Command spokesman said the ceremonial meetings commenced with the delegation members saluting the national flags. “This was followed by the ceremonial address comprising of exchange of greetings, wishes and vote of thanks. The address reflected the mutual desire of maintaining and improving relations at functional level at the border,” he said.

Thereafter, a programme showcasing Chinese culture and traditions was organised, the spokesman added.

The ceremonial BPMs were held in the backdrop of successful conduct of exercise at Chengdu in China wherein troops of both the countries interacted, participated in joint exercises and shared experiences. The spokesman said both the delegations interacted in a free, congenial and cordial environment. “The delegations parted amid feeling of friendship and commitment towards enhancing the existing cordial relations and maintaining peace along the border. Both sides also sought to build on the mutual feeling to maintain peace and tranquillity along the border,” he said.

In what is being seen as an effort to counter China’s growing influence in Myanmar, India has decided to ship 6 Kiran Jet trainers to Myanmar. Top government sources confirm the decision has already been taken.

India and Myanmar have close military ties and there have been times when the Myanmar Army has helped India with insurgents deep inside their territory. According to media reports, an IAF team will also be stationed in Myanmar for 2 years to service the planes and to help the Myanmar pilots with training.

Earlier, India had gifted used Mi25 helicopters to Afghanistan.

India, however, finds it impossible to counter China’s soft power approach in Southeast Asia. So far Beijing has provided development grants to Naypyidaw for education, economy, technology, and communication infrastructure.

China is currently in talks with Myanmar to develop a strategic deep-sea port in Kyaukphyu, western Rakhine state.

Kiran is a two-seat intermediate jet trainer developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and has been used by the Indian Air Force for intermediate level training of pilots.

Myanmar features prominently in PM Narendra Modi’s Act East Policy and New Delhi is keen on accelerating the ongoing infrastructural projects in Myanmar to boost bilateral ties between both the countries. India is also planning to cooperate in areas such as security, economy and culture.

India has already started the construction of the 109-km road project as part of the USD 484-million Kaladan Multimodal project and it is expected to be operational only by 2019-2020.

Jammu, December 26

A soldier was shot dead following a verbal spat by his colleague in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district, police said.

“Havildar Rajesh was fired upon by his colleague inside an army camp in Bhaderwah area late on Tuesday. The injured was shifted to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries,” a police officer said.

The incident reportedly followed a verbal spat between the two.

“Police have sought custody of the accused soldier. The army has also ordered an internal inquiry,” the officer added. IANS

Tribune Web Desk
Chandigarh, December 26

The Indo-Tibetan Border Police personnel on Wednesday rescued 11 people, including five trekkers from Delhi, a guide and five porters, from Munsiari, Uttarakhand.

They were stranded in Munsiari since December 24 when they lost contact due to snowfall in Khaliya Top in Bhainstal area.

They were rescued by the 14 Battalion of ITBP personnel. All the rescued persons are in good health.

Martyr Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad

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Suggest budget constraints should not be only guiding principle

Ajay Banerjee
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, November 21

Retired Generals of the Army have advised that forthcoming restructuring of the forces should not lose focus of the two-front simultaneous war scenario and also budget constraints should not be the only guiding principle to re-cast the Army.

These opinions emerged after Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat met former chiefs and senior officers to discuss the nuances of restructuring the force over a two-hour session in Delhi on Sunday.

Details emerging now indicate that the veterans — former chiefs and Lieut Generals — were informed about the forthcoming changes. Among the invitees were those retired officers who are regular on TV shows and write columns in newspapers.

Despite being retired the Generals keep in touch with their regiments for life, hence are important in conveying the “right message”.

The veterans were informed about four major in-house studies being carried out. The most important is “Reorganisation and Rightsizing of the Indian Army”, which reviews operational structures to make them efficient and future-ready by taking into account the operational situation on Western and Northern Borders. This will include creation of integrated battle groups (IBGs) fully equipped with elements of warfare.

In an interview to the Tribune on November 5, General Rawat had said how these IBGs were planned to be pre-positioned facing the western (Pakistan) and northern (China) borders.

The second study is on “Reorganisation of the Army Headquarters”, aimed at integrating various wings. The third study is on “Cadre Review of Officers”, which focuses on incorporating the proposed reorganisation and restructuring and plans to have a balanced cadre to meet the aspirations of officers. This will include longer tenures as Brigadier, Maj General and Lt General and faster promotion from Colonel to Brigadier.

The fourth study is on “Review of Terms of Engagement of Rank and File”, aimed at having a younger profile of officers. The retired Generals have been told that the IBGs are being “Test-beded” — a term in military parlance for trying out a new concept in the field under real conditions.

Army plans two types of integrated battle groups (IBGs) — smaller for mountains (China border) and bigger for plains (Pakistan border). Each border may have around 8-10 IBGs.

Each IBG may have 8,000-10,000 troops and comprise 4-6 infantry and armoured battalions, 2-3 artillery regiments, an engineers’ unit, integrated signals unit and dedicated integral logistics.

Brigadiers may command smaller IBGs and Major Generals the bigger ones. Both will be under the Corps Commander of the area.