All posts by webadmin

The killing of eight CRPF personnel in Kashmir on Saturday was a grim reminder of the unpredictable ways of terror: the terrorist has the advantage of the element of surprise. The slightest of laxity can give an opportunity to the enemy to strike with disproportionate gains. With the long experience of insurgency behind them, our security forces are well aware of where the weak links might be, and how to secure those. The latest strike, therefore, demands a rigorous review of whether there has been any decline in the daily discipline of following the procedures.What is more disturbing, however, is what followed the shootout. The Army took ‘credit’ for the counter operation that ended in the killing of two terrorists. This was vociferously objected to by officers of the CRPF, who accused the Army of taking away the attackers’ bodies and weapons unauthorisedly. For the common citizen, the death of personnel of any force is equally tragic. None is considered more valiant than the other. The ‘credit’ war, thus, indicates other unhealthy motivations at work. And these may be part of the larger reward and recognition system in place in the forces, particularly in the Kashmir valley.The importance of discipline in any uniformed or armed force for their effectiveness is well understood. In an insurgency such as in Kashmir, security personnel’s discipline or lack of it has serious political implications. The Army has faced serious embarrassment over accusations of fake encounters or the killing of innocent civilians. Besides giving their detractors a moral edge, unprofessional conduct drains away the populace’s support and acceptance. And it would be unfair to blame only the men in the field. The top leadership has to take the responsibility. Every indiscretion they overlook is tacit encouragement for more. Nowhere in the world have armed men amidst civilians earned any laurels, yet the Indian Army has largely acquitted itself well. But maintaining the professional reputation requires constant vigil.

After Pampore attack, CRPF is going Army way, which has armour-plated its buses that ply between Sonamarg and Banihal tunnel.

Ajay Banerjee & Shaurya K Gurung

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 28

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has decided to “armour plate” all its buses in Kashmir. The move comes after the deadly militant attack on its men on Saturday.

Editorial:Shootout and after

Two militants ambushed a bus carrying CRPF troops and killed eight while injuring 22 at Pampore in Kashmir on Saturday. The steel sheets on the bus body provided no protection as these are not meant to stop bullets. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook and Twitter @thetribunechd)The Army has already armour-plated its buses used between Sonamarg and Banihal tunnel. CRPF DG Durga Prasad said, “After the attack on a BSF convoy (at Bijbehara in Anantnag on June 3), we started looking at the type of arrangement the Army has made to use bulletproof material or sheets all along the sides of the buses.”The bulletproofing material can avoid casualties when persons inside the bus come under a hail of bullets. The DG had defended the application of the existing standard operating procedure (SOP), but said, “We need to look at it again on how best we can improve the existing SOPs.”Sources say all Army troops sit by the window while the adjacent seats are kept vacant so as to allow space to duck in case of any militant attack. The troops always wear bulletproof jackets, bulletproof helmets and carry a loaded weapon. Moreover, highway domination teams move ahead of all its convoys.The CRPF is mandated to ensure safety of civilian and VIP vehicle convoys moving on national highways, protect important buildings, including the state Assembly, and provide security for the annual Amarnath pilgrimage. Any change in its existing duties can be effected only after a meeting between the Home Ministry, the Defence Ministry and the Jammu and Kashmir Government. The force was deployed in the state to reduce footprint of the Army.

Such attacks defame Kashmir and deal a blow to Islam. MEHBOOBA MUFTI, J&K chief minister

SRINAGAR: Chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday paid tributes to the eight slain Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel who were killed by militants on Saturday and said such attacks “defame” Kashmir and deal a blow to Islam. “We are only defaming Kashmir and the state by these acts. We also deal a setback to the religion we practice,” Mehbooba said.

WASEEM ANDRABI/HTJ&K chief minister Mehbooba Mufti paying tribute to CRPF men who were killed in a militant ambush in Pampore.

Eight CRPF personnel were killed and 22 others injured when militants attacked a convoy in Pampore on Saturday evening.

Two militants were also killed. A wreath-laying ceremony, attended by Mehbooba and deputy chief minister Nirmal Singh, was held in Srinagar for the personnel.

“This is a fasting month when people should be seeking forgiveness and expiation for past sins. At this time, such attacks in which bread earners of families are attacked – someone’s father or someone’s son – is condemnable. Nothing is achieved by these attacks,” she said.

Mehbooba also spoke about how such attacks have a negative impact on tourism and industrial development in the Valley, adding that investors often back out when they hear of such incidents.

“India is attracting lot of investments in infrastructure development and healthcare but when it comes to Jammu and Kashmir, the investors shy away because of these incidents.

The worst sufferers of these attacks are people of Jammu and Kashmir,” she said. Speaking to the media, director general of police K Rajendra Kumar said, “It is a desperate act by the militants. The attacks over the past few days – at Anantnag, Bijbehara and Pampore – are desperate acts,” Kumar said, adding that these attacks are retaliation to the neutralisation of many militants over the last six months.

On Saturday night, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also offered his condolences in a series of tweets: “I salute the courage of the CRPF personnel martyred today in J&K. They served the nation with utmost dedication. Pained by their demise. My thoughts are with the families of those martyred today. May those injured recover soon.”

Speaking to reporters in Hyderabad, union minister Kiren Rijiju described the killing of CRPF troopers as a “desperate attempt to create problems for the country”.

“We pay homage to the departed martyrs and send our condolences to the bereaved family members,” Rijiju was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

HANDIGARH: Havildar Sampuran Singh (retd), a Vir Chakra awardee of the Indo-Pak 1971 war in Poonch sector, inaugurated a new canteen outlet at Field Area Family Accommodation Complex in Sector 29, Chandigarh.

HT PHOTOHavildar Sampuran Singh inaugurating an army canteen in Sector 29, Chandigarh, on Friday.

This extension counter will fulfill long cherished demand of the field area families residing in Sector 29 complex and vicinity. This will also enable the provision of canteen services at the door steps of the families and dependents of the soldiers who are deployed in field areas.
The new facility is in sync with the four corner stones of welfare, namely ‘Sahuliyat, Sambandh, Sehat and Samman’, said Lt Gen KJ Singh, Army Commander, Western Command. Lt Gen Gurdeep Singh, Chief of Staff, senior army officers, veterans and residents of Field Area Family Accommodation Complex was also present on the occasion.

Maj Gen Satbir Singh was the chief guest.

Large number of Ex-servicemen & Veer Naries attended the Rally.

Maj Gen Satbir sigh briefed the ESM at the Rally about the Outcome of detailed discussion held with RM on 15 Jun 2016 regarding OROP 

OPEN THE BLOG LINK   voice  of  esm  punjab   BELOW FOR DETAILS ABOUT RALLY

http://voiceofesmpunjab.blogspot.in/

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 10

Two persons, including a Navy man, have died following a gas leakage on board the seaborne aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, the country’s biggest warship.The 44,500-tonne warship was undergoing maintenance at the Karwar naval base, bordering Goa, when the incident occurred at 5 pm today. The accident took place when a team of workers was replacing a pipe in the sewage treatment plant located among the lowermost compartments of the 20-storey tall aircraft carrier. Due to inhalation of the toxic fumes, four personnel — two naval sailors and two civilian workers — were evacuated to the Karwar Naval Hospital.Two persons, Rakesh Kumar, shipwright artificer (Class 4), and Mohandas Kolambkar, an employee of Messers Royal Marine, died of toxic gas inhalation. The next of kin of the deceased have been informed. The condition of the other two personnel is stable. The Navy has ordered an inquiry into the incident. Action has been taken to render the compartment and area on the ship safe.This is the first major refit-and-repair of INS Vikramaditya, or the refurbished Admiral Gorshkov, which was inducted in November 2013 under a $2.33 billion deal with Russia.

Islamabad, June 10

Senior Pakistani and American officials on Friday held “candid discussions” on bilateral ties strained after Afghan Taliban chief was killed in a US drone strike in Balochistan and the F-16 fighter jet deal was scuttled due to a row over their financing.

A US delegation which included senior Director for Afghanistan and Pakistan at the US National Security Council Peter Lavoy and Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Olson arrived here this morning to hold talks with Pakistan’s civilian and military leaders.

Lavoy called on Adviser to the Prime Minister’s on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry.

“They held candid discussions on bilateral relations, regional security situation and the Afghan peace process” in the wake of the 21 May drone strike in Balochistan that killed Afghan Taliban chief Mullah Akhtar Mansour.

The Adviser conveyed “a strong message” to the US that the drone strike was not only a violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty and breach of the principles of the UN’s Charter, but has also vitiated bilateral ties, Foreign Office said in a statement.

“It was emphasised that any future drone strike in Pakistan will be detrimental to our common desire to strengthen relations,” it said.

The family of the Pakistani driver killed along with Mansour in the US drone strike has also demanded justice.

Aziz said the drone strike had “seriously undermined” the ongoing efforts for Afghan peace and reconciliation process at a time when Pakistan along Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) countries was engaged in serious efforts to revive peace talks between Afghan Government and the Taliban.

The Foreign Secretary recalled that in QCG’s fifth meeting on 18 May 2016, it was decided that peace negotiations remained the only option for a political settlement.

He emphasised that this would require collective efforts on the part of all QCG members to promote lasting peace in Afghanistan.

Besides Pakistan QCG includes Afghanistan, China and the US.

Pak-US ties are sliding down the hill due to difference over handling of peace process in Afghanistan and US’ growing defence ties with India, especially the support for India’s candidacy in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

Pakistan is also unhappy over the scuttling of eight F-16 fighter jet deal by US Congress which blocked funding to it citing Pakistan’s unsatisfactory actions against Haqqani network. But Islamabad believes that the US Congress was prompted to act due to Indian lobbying and pressure.

In response to US queries on safe havens in Pakistan for Taliban, it was emphasised that Pakistan is already pursuing its objective of eliminating all militants and terrorists from its soil in accordance with the National Action Plan, the Foreign Office statement said.

At the same time, Pakistan would have to safeguard its own security through better border management and early repatriation of Afghan refugees.

Pakistan also expects action by Afghan forces against TTP operatives in Afghanistan.

These steps would also help to promote better relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan and reduce mistrust.

Lavoy, while conveying President Obama’s good wishes for the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s speedy recovery, said that President Obama was committed to improving relations with Pakistan, the statement said. — PTI

The jitters: How will Modi dodge this one?

ON Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at the US Congress to address a joint sitting.  Like his predecessors, he will also discover he is walking into a unique institution in one of the most powerful democracies in the world where the legislative branch insists on operating independent of the government.Unlike Parliament, a product of the Westminster model that India follows, the bicameral US Congress is one of the three branches that govern the United States and is fiercely protective of its role ordained by the Constitution.In the run-up to PM Modi’s sojourn on the Capitol Hill, New Delhi had a taste of how US lawmakers can curdle up the entree. Last week, a Ranking Member of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC), Senator Ben Cardin (Democrat representing Maryland State), was in India — and he minced no words in telling what he and his colleagues would ask the Prime Minister — India’s record on human rights violations, religious intolerance and extra-judicial killings.Now it should not have surprised the South Block mandarins coming as it did in the backdrop of a India-specific hearing in May on the bilateral relations, balancing progress and managing expectations, where SFRC Chairman Senator Bob Corker (Republican from Tennessee), while acknowledging the overall cooperation between the two countries remains at an all-time high, went on to say: “We’re not as brutally honest about our relationship with India as we should be, and it benefits neither them nor us.”Making a scathing observation that PM Modi’s promise on economic reforms was high on rhetoric outpacing reforms, Senator Corker expressed frustration over India’s failure to address its status as a country with the largest enslaved population. “How does a country like this have 12 to 14 million slaves. Do they have just zero prosecution abilities, zero law enforcement; I mean how could this happen? On that scale, it’s pretty incredible.”Adding to the rub is the decision of the Tom Lantos Congressional Commission on Human Rights that scheduled a hearing on the eve of the PM’s visit on the Hill. The topic is: “Challenges and Opportunities — The Advancement of Human Rights in India” and it will be based on a report of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom. This report makes a mention of how Dalits are victims of trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation or forced labour. It also talks of religious minorities facing challenges. “In 2015, religious tolerance deteriorated and religious freedom violations increased in India. Minority communities, especially Christians, Muslims, and Sikhs, experienced numerous incidents of intimidation, harassment, and violence, largely at the hands of Hindu nationalist groups,” the Lantos Commission hearing  the notice says, quoting the latest report.The hearing, it said, will examine these and other issues while seeking to provide concrete recommendations for how the US policy-makers can most effectively encourage the protection of human rights, given the strategic importance and continued growth of the US-India bilateral relationship.Many in India would find such notices rather disagreeable. Why does it happen? Is it meant to embarrass a preferred guest or intended to convey a strong message from members of the Congress — 100 Senators and 435 Representatives — to a country whose caucus enjoys the largest number of Congress members among any country-specific group?Perhaps the answer lies in the largely unnoticed tendency of the Indian diplomats working in Washington DC.  Barring a few exceptions, the India connect on the Capitol Hill is largely outsourced to the outreach by enthusiastic Indian-Americans who have come to organise themselves as a cogent group.It could be a smart and cost-effective way of doing things in a city where lobbyists work with a professional purpose, of course, for a fee. Yet, what is missing is the professional diplomatic outreach and level of intense engagement with the lawmakers on a scale that for a country of the size of India is less than adequate.Has New Delhi found another way of working its way through the doors of various offices that dot either side of the Capitol Hill, where staffers continue to play a significant role in assisting lawmakers in arriving at an opinion? The evidence is missing.Each lawmaker is acutely aware of the causes that are dear to him or her and their constituents. Irrespective of what the person inside the White House thinks and irrespective that many envy the President as holding one of the most powerful offices on the planet, yet each member of the Congress has his or her own world view. No wonder it is said the US has 535 Secretaries of State, with each Congressman wanting to leave an imprint on how the US shapes its foreign policy.Imagine this, during the run-up to the campaign for the Lok Sabha polls in 2014, two members of the US Congress, on a visit  to Delhi organised by an international think-tank, were sounded not to attend an interaction with the BJP leadership in Delhi. The ostensible reason was that two among the group of four had signed a petition in the wake of the 2002 Gujarat riots. Incidentally, the programme was coordinated by a person who is a close relative of a top-ranking Indian diplomat.  Among those asked to step aside was a founding member of India caucus, Jim McDermott, who sportingly signed up to join 36 Congress members and shook hands with Prime Minister Modi during the Madison Square event a few months later. Sometimes statements made at committees sound to the Indian ear like talking down but it is surely meant to resonate among policy-makers and intended to have an amplifier effect. Yes, India enjoys bipartisan support on the Hill, but it is time that the Indian engagement with the Congress  and Indian Parliament was restructured and the Ministry of External Affairs relied more on its traditional methods and professional officials  than on Indian-Americans, the White House and the US Administration to do heavy-lifting with lawmakers. The Capitol Hill is institutionally zealous of its voice and its say in the conduct of US foreign policy. It is about time that we learnt to operate the Congressional ropes.The writer spent a year pursuing American Political Science Association-Fulbright Congressional Fellowship on “Role of US Congress in shaping foreign policy”

Ludhiana, June 6

Close on the heels of divisional-level manoeuvre exercise conducted in general area Nakodar-Nurmahal, in the vicinity of Ludhiana by Panther Division, two more tactical exercises were conducted by the Vajra Corps.These exercises were conducted at Khem Karan, historically known as ‘Patton Graveyard’ and Jalalabad, both in general area of Ferozepur by ‘Double Victory Brigade’ and ‘Golden Arrow Division’.The exercises involving large scale tank, infantry and aviation manoeuvres were supervised by Lt Gen JS Cheema, General Officer Commanding Vajra Corps. Despite intense heat, with extremely high temperature inside the tank or infantry combat vehicle, troops displayed remarkable skills and enthusiasm in undertaking various tactical manoeuvres.The exercise was witnessed by Lt Gen KJ Singh, General Officer Commanding -in-Chief, Western Command. The Army Commander complimented the troops for displaying a high standard of professionalism, even under harsh weather condition. —TNS