Our Correspondent

Hamirpur, July 20

Hundreds of people that arrived at Galol village in Nadaun were kept waiting for the arrival of mortal remains of martyr Shashi Sharma who sacrificed his life in Jammu and Kashmir while responding to a cross-border firing on the Line of Control (LOC).It was intimated to the members of the martyr that the body would be airlifted from the Udhampur Army base to Sujanpur near here but later it was reported that the chopper could not take off due to bad weather at Udhampur.Relatives were also kept waiting at Sujanpur which was 35 kilometers away from the village. People were seen more angry for choosing a distant location for landing the chopper. The father of the martyr Prithvi Chand said the body could be brought by road as it only takes 6 hours to arrive from Udhampur.A communication from the Army confirmed that the body would be brought to the village by road tomorrow morning. The delay had harassed people, especially the wife and children of the martyr who were unable to eat and drink in the hour of grief.

Braveheart’s death mourned

Solan, July 20

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today mourned the death of rifleman Vimal Sinjali of 14 Gorkha Training Centre, Subathu, who was killed in a sniper fire from across the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir on July 18.The Chief Minister said his sacrifice would not go in vain and it would always inspire the security forces to serve the motherland with valour. DC Rakesh Kanwar said the deceased soldier would be cremated with full state honours at the 14 GTC, Subathu, tomorrow, after the arrival of his family from Nepal. — TNS

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s much-hyped, historic visit to Israel marks an end to uncertainty and tentativeness in Indo-Israeli relations. It seems the hyphenation of Israel and Palestine is finally over even in the mind of India, one of Palestine’s major supporters.

PRIME Minister Narendra Modi is in Israel for his maiden visit to that country. It is, in fact, the maiden visit of an Indian Prime Minister to Israel. Ever since the end of the Cold War, when the compulsion to support and take sides in the dispute over Palestine finally came to an end, India has steered mid-course, remaining a friend and supporter of the Palestinians,virtual strategic partner of Israel and continuing excellent ties with the Arab countries. A striking similarity of both countries was the timing of India’s Independence and Israel’s creation in 1947-48. Both countries fought wars right at their inception and the problems related to those wars continue even now, in both cases. In India’s case, Jammu and Kashmir-based separatism and terrorism  and in Israel’s domain Hamas and Hezbollah-led activities with political backing from regular nations remain the challenge. Whereas Israel’s threats have comparatively reduced over the years due to its proactive military dominance in its region, India’s have multiplied manifold. The regional dynamics are different no doubt but both nations are located in potential cauldrons of wide-ranging conflicts with unpredictable triggers.My personal take on Israel has always been one of admiration. It has given outstanding models of strategic thought, intelligence, governance and technology to punch much above its weight. Among the major reasons for its strategic confidence are the backing and support from US and its own ability to take decisions and proactive action against adversaries without much concern for international opinion. I had the good fortune of visiting Israel some years ago as part of an international study group which had access at very high levels. The visit took me through Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, West Bank and Ramallah, Nazareth, Galilee, the Lebanon border and finally Haifa. There were visits to some fascinating hi-tech research facilities and defence establishments with focus on micro drones and night-surveillance devices. Keeping a strategic overview, I absorbed everything which makes Israel what it is in terms of its strategic national security. It was obvious that constraints of real estate played on the Israeli mind   and drove much of its security thinking. It could not afford risk and therefore proactivity was the essence. Loss of territory was just not acceptable and to give itself depth Israel had taken some bold decisions in 1967. Although these decisions promoted its physical security also brought it lasting enmity. What I observed in all the briefings was the high level of clarity in thinking and virtual political consensus on matters of security. I realised this was a huge plus in planning and execution of national security. The other very noticeable aspect in Israel’s outlook towards security was the absence of rancour in the media. Having fought multiple conventional conflicts and experienced irregular threats almost from its foundation, very little social antipathy was expressed in the media although professionally there was no dilution in attitude towards anyone. It’s in the geopolitical and security domains that the major commonalties of Indian and Israeli interests lie. However, one cannot but appreciate the fact that Israel’s proclivity towards hi-tech research in the field of agriculture, metallurgy and even nuclear science is of great interest to India. Besides that, a small nation with high threats always innovates and Israel is probably the most outstanding example of that dictum. Institutional exchanges on education in design, research and development and startups will always be to mutual advantage.In the purely geopolitical domain, Israel has over time appreciated India’s problems of extending unequivocal support to its cause. There were compulsions of policies adopted by India in the past. Even after 1991, Israel was aware that India was still walking a tightrope. Its energy needs came from the Arab world. Prime Minister Modi’s earlier visits to the UAE and Saudi Arabia finally helped cement an equation with the Gulf which opened the way for an equally, if not more, transformational relationship with Israel. Geopolitically, there is another way of looking at this. As Iran’s antipathy towards Israel increased, especially during the time of Ahmadinejad, and its nuclear ambitions started becoming evident it was clear that the relationship between Israel and Saudi Arabia, backed by the US, would improve. This appeared to have an overall positive effect on Israel’s relationships with the Arab world, except with those elements supported by Iran. It opened a window for India without risk to its relationship with the Arabs. Iran already being under sanctions gave little scope for enhancing Indo-Iran relations. The overall effect of the dynamics of this emerging situation was a flow of positive energy through Indo-Israeli relations. The only casualty appeared to be Palestine which till as late as President Pranab Mukherjee’s visit in 2015 was on the tour map which took him to Israel, Palestine and Jordan. The dwindling importance of Palestine could be considered a momentary phenomenon. However, it seems the hyphenation of Israel and Palestine is finally over even in the mind of India one of Palestine’s major supporters in the heyday. The one aspect which can in a stroke drastically reduce threats in West Asia is a potential improvement in the relationship between Iran and Israel. Unfortunately, there are complex equations in this and is unlikely to see the light of day in the current set-up. Notwithstanding the Iranian Grand Ayatollah’s recent support to the Kashmiri separatists, which appeared more tactical than anything else, India is one country which can be a potential interlocutor, the moment for which is yet far.While the intelligence and military-to-military relationship continues to thrive, the visit of Prime Minister Modi and the manner of his reception and conduct should finally place the last nail in the coffin of uncertainty and tentativeness in Indo-Israeli relations. From now onwards, this should take the shape of a transformational relationship, especially since there is so much that the two nations have yet to achieve for their people.The writer, a former GOC of the Srinagar-based 15 Corps, is now associated with the Vivekanand International  Foundation & the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies.

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 19

Pointing out that the 1999 Kargil conflict was the result of intelligence failure, the Commander of the Army Brigade that had wrested control of Tiger Hill, the conflict’s most iconic feature and the capture of which was a turning point in the conflict, said the war had thrown up several important lessons.“One of the most important lessons learnt was that it could not be taken for granted that nothing would ever happen and that Commanders could never be complacent,” Brig MPS Bajwa (retd), the then Commander of the 192 Brigade said. “The mindset of Commanders is vital. If they are prepared for any eventuality, others down the line will also be prepared. If not, juniors will follow suit,” he addedThe Kargil War fought in the summer of 1999 on the icy heights along the Line of Control of the Kargil sector of Jammu and Kashmir to evict Pakistani intruders who had surreptitiously occupied tracts of the Indian-held territory.Delivering a talk on the Battle of Tiger Hill organised by the Centre for Military History today, Brig Bajwa said employing techniques of surprise and deception, effective exploitation of all available resources within the battle zone and innovative use of artillery were other important lessons of the conflict. Junior leadership, with its valour and tenacity as well as air support were other key factors that led to victories, he said.Elucidating on the operation to capture Tiger Hill, a dominating feature north of Dras that gave a clear view of the national highway, Brig Bajwa said it was a challenging task for which an unconventional plan involving surprise by following the most unexpected approaches was devised and a multi-directional attack was launched.The peak was held in strength by a well trained and well acclmatised enemy.The assault to capture Tiger Hill began on the night of July 3, with fake radio transmissions and deceptive movements being undertaken to confuse the enemy, even as heavy artillery opened up support fire. By 4.30 am, the grenadiers battalion, after hand-to-hand combat, entrenched itself on the top. Mopping up operations continued till mid-morning.

 

 

‘Vajpayee announced victory in battle of Tiger Hill in advance, would have been embarrassing if we failed’

On Punjab law officers’ list: AG’s wife, kin of judges, netas

Punjab to do away with 3 police ranges

Ruchika M Khanna

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 30

Punjab will no longer have two supervisory levels in its policing structure. Among the last states to bring in the reform, it has abolished the post of DIG in different police zones. Also, IGPs have been vested with supervisory powers.Punjab will now have seven police ranges — Amritsar, Jalandhar, Patiala, Bathinda, Ropar, Ferozepur and Ludhiana. Each of these will be headed by an Inspector General of Police (IGP). Earlier, four police zones were headed by a DIG each and seven by IGs. Now on, three districts will form a police range.A new post, that of ADGP (Border), has been created for a greater vigil at the India-Pakistan border. Harpreet Singh Sidhu, in-charge of the Special Task Force to fight the drug menace, has been given the additional charge. With orders abolishing the police ranges of Ropar, Ferozepur and Ludhiana expected tomorrow, the state will have four ‘spare’ DIG-level officers.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, calling it the beginning of police reforms aimed at providing good governance, said the tenure of “senior operations men” would be fixed. He did not mention any posts. But sources in the police department said the Director General of Police (DGP), Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) and Inspectors General of Police (IGPs) will have a fixed one-year tenure.The CM said after the Cabinet expansion (expected by mid-July), he would keep the Home (police, Intelligence and jails), Horticulture and Animal Husbandary Departments with him. He said he would also be appointing parliamentary secretaries who would not be involved in official work “but will be trained in parliamentary roles.”Meanwhile, the state government has decided to have English as the medium of instruction at the primary level, beginning this academic session. Mandarin, Italian and French will be introduced as optional subjects in Class X.English medium in primary schoolsThe Punjab government has decided to have English as the medium of instruction at the primary level, beginning this academic session. Mandarin, Italian and French will be introduced as optional subjects in Class X.

Mr. Howard, who worked for the CIA for 36 years as an operative, claims he was tapped by senior CIA agents to work on the project due to his engineering background, and early career in the demolition business.

Trained as a civil engineer, Mr. Howard became an explosives expert after being headhunted by the CIA in early 1980s. Mr. Howard says has extensive experience in planting explosives in items as small as cigarette lighters and as large as “80 floor buildings.”

The 79-year-old New Jersey native says he worked on the CIA operation they dubbed “New Century” between May 1997 and September 2001, during a time he says the CIA “was still taking orders from the top.” Mr. Howard says he was part of a cell of 4 operatives tasked with ensuring the demolition was successful.Mr. Howard says the World Trade Center 7 operation is unique among his demolitions, as it is the only demolition that “we had to pretend wasn’t a demolition job”. He claims he had no problem going through with the deception at the time, because “when you are a patriot, you don’t question the motivation of the CIA or the White House. You assume the bigger purpose is for a greater good. They pick good, loyal people like me, and it breaks my heart to hear the shit talk.”

[John Kerry Admits WTC 7 Was Brought Down By Controlled Demolition]

But even he admits that now, looking back, “Something wasn’t right.”

“No good has come from this. This isn’t the America we envisioned.”

Explaining how the building was bought down, Mr. Howard says, “It was a classic controlled demolition with explosives. We used super-fine military grade nanothermite composite materials as explosives. The hard part was getting thousands of pounds of explosives, fuses and ignition mechanisms into the building without causing too much concern. But almost every single office in the Building 7 was rented by the CIA, the Secret Service, or the military, which made it easier.”

Mr. Howard explains that WTC 7 was “loaded with explosives in strategic places” in the month leading up to the day that changed the course of American history. On September 11th, while the North and South towers burned, fuses were ignited in World Trade Center 7, and nanothermite explosions hollowed out the building, destroying the steel structure, removing the reinforcements, and allowing the office fires to tear through the rest of the building, hollowing it out like a shell.

World Trade Center 7 collapsed into its own footprint at 5:20pm, seven hours after the destruction of WTC 1 and 2. The building shocked witnesses by coming down at the speed of freefall, indicating that it encountered zero resistance on the way down.

Mr. Howard and his colleagues had done their job.

“When the building came down, it was such a rush. Everything went exactly to plan. It was so smooth. Everybody was evacuated. Nobody was hurt in WTC 7. We were celebrating. We kept watching replays of the demolition, we had the whiskey and cigars out, and then all of a sudden the strangest thing happened. We all started to worry that it looked a bit too smooth. We watched the tape again and again and again and we started to get paranoid. It looked like a controlled demolition. We thought shit, people are going to question this. And then we heard that people from the street were reporting that they heard the explosions during the afternoon. When we were told that the BBC botched their report and announced to the world that the building collapsed 20 minutes before it actually did… At that point we really thought the gig was up.”

According to the official 9/11 report issued by the government, WTC 7 collapsed due to “uncontrolled fires” that were caused by debris that floated over from WTC 1 and 2, which had been hit by passenger planes. If the official narrative was true, WTC 7 would be the first tall building in the world to ever collapse due to uncontrolled fires, and the only steel skyscraper in the world to have collapsed into itself, due to “office fires.”

Mr. Howard and his colleagues feared the public would see through the official narrative and rise up against the government, demanding to be told the truth.

“There were so many loose ends, so much evidence left behind. We thought the public would be all over it. We thought there would be a public uprising that the media couldn’t ignore. They’d be funding investigations and demanding to know why they were being lied to. We thought they’d find chemical composites in the area that would prove Building 7 was blown up. 

“We thought there would be a revolution. It would go all the way to the top, to President Bush. He’d be dragged out of the White House.

“But none of that happened. Almost nobody questioned anything. The media shot down anyone who dared question anything they were told.”

Follow the money

Mr. Howard claims he has “no direct knowledge” about the destruction of North and South Towers of the World Trade Center, explaining that “CIA operations are very specific” and that it is common to be working on a larger project while only understanding a small piece of the puzzle.

[9/11: Larry Silverstein Designed New WTC-7 One Year Before Attacks]

But he has advice for investigators seeking to understand the entire puzzle and work out who was behind the most devastating attack on American soil in history.

“Follow the money.”

“When you want to find out who is behind something, just follow the money. Look at the trades made just before 9/11. These are the guys that knew what was coming. The sons of CIA agents, government officials. Close relatives of the most powerful men in America. Cheney, Rumsfeld. They all got rich. It wasn’t just the contracts awarded to their friends in the construction business and the wars and the kickbacks.”

“It was insider trading.”

Many countries including Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Monaco launched insider trading investigations in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, believing that if they could prove Al-Qaeda operatives profited on the stock market then they could prove the terror organization was behind the attacks.

And all the evidence pointed to heavy insider trading around 9/11.

Italy’s foreign minister, Antonio Martino, said: “I think that there are terrorist states and organizations behind speculation on the international markets.” German central bank president, Ernst Welteke, said his researchers had found “almost irrefutable proof of insider trading.”

Even CNN reported that regulators were seeing “ever-clearer signs” that someone “manipulated financial markets ahead of the terror attack in the hope of profiting from it.”

Mr. Howard says that a serious study of who profited on the stock market from 9/11 would “tear the heart out of the oligarchy in America.”

“There is only one organization that spans the entire world, and let me tell you now, it isn’t and it never was al-Qaeda.”

It’s the CIA.

“There could never be a real investigation. The entire shadow government, as you call them now, are implicated.”

The 79-year-old, spending his final weeks at home, said he doesn’t expect to be taken into custody following his confession because “then they’d have to go after everyone else. They will just use the media to attack me. They are all on the payroll to suppress everything around 9/11.”

New Delhi, June 21In some good news for those planning to visit the Rohtang Pass in Himachal Pradesh to beat the summer heat, the National Green Tribunal has allowed 100 more tourist vehicles to pass through the eco-sensitive area.The panel, which had earlier permitted 800 petrol and 400 diesel vehicles to go beyond Manali on Rohtang Pass road, has allowed more vehicles to the picturesque location to ensure that more tourists are accommodated.”We hereby permit 100 more cars out of which 60 per cent would be petrol cars and 40 per cent diesel cars. The applicants under this category will be only the tourists driving their own vehicles from Himachal Pradesh and other parts of the country.”75 per cent of such applications would be granted permit under outside tourist category i.e. the tourist driving their own vehicles from outside Himachal Pradesh. The remaining 25 per cent would be the tourist from other districts of State of Himachal Pradesh,” the circuit bench headed by National Green Tribunal (NGT) Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said.The green panel announced that any vehicle, taxi or tourist, which is found to be violating any condition of the permit or directions of the NGT would be liable to pay Rs 5,000 as environmental compensation for such default.”This amount shall be payable to the administration through police and other executing departments. In addition to fact that as and when the department of transport issues regular permits for running of vehicle shall not issue such a permit if the person is found to be defaulting more than three times, that permit for running vehicle shall stand cancelled and will not be renewed and computer programmed to reject the request,” the bench said.On the issue of issuing permits, the bench held that online registration for permits to Rohtang should be opened at 10 am every morning and then again at 4 pm on the same day instead of 12 noon as done earlier.”In variation to the practice presently being adopted by the administration all persons concerned would be allowed to login and submit their application online at least a week in advance. In other words the person desiring to have a permit could apply one week in advance to the proposed date of travel,” it said.It also directed installation of CCTV cameras on each check-post within a week for keeping a strict vigil in the area.”These cameras would be connected to the computer and due records would be maintained of the vehicles which cross the barriers and go up to Rohtang for tourism purposes or even otherwise,” the bench said.The tribunal had earlier asked the state government to submit a comprehensive report on various aspects including the ropeway, operationalisation of CNG and electric buses, status with regard to afforestation and establishment of eco-friendly market at Marhi. — PTI  – See more at: http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/himachal/ngt-relaxes-restriction-on-tourist-vehicles-to-rohtang-pass/425579.html#sthash.WnbRbFxn.dpuf

Tribune file photo for representation only.

Srinagar, July 17

Three unidentified militants were today killed by the security forces in an encounter in Anantnag district of south Kashmir, said defence officials.The encounter broke out at around 8 pm at Wanihama village of Anantnag, following an anti-militancy operation launched by the security forces, said a defence spokesman.He added that three militants were killed in the ensuing gunbattle.Further details are awaited.

Earlier, militants attacked an Army convoy at Bijbehara in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir, an Army official said, adding that a man was injured when the forces fired back.

Security forces have cordoned off the area and launched an operation to track down the militants, the official said.”Terrorists opened fire on the last vehicle of the Army convoy near Bijbehara. We retaliated and a man was injured in the incident,” he said.Haji Abdullah (60), a resident of Arwani in Bijbehara, suffered a bullet injury on his left thigh and is undergoing treatment at the Bone and Joint Hospital here, the official said. — PTI

THERE is a new government in place in Punjab, steering its first substantial session of the state Assembly. There is also a unique double-barrelled Opposition, albeit small, to confront the government. Unfortunately, there is no improvement in the manner in which the business of the House has been conducted over the years. It is shameful. Issues uppermost on people’s minds don’t get a chance to be brought up because the government does not want any uncomfortable matters to be discussed, while the Opposition seems to believe its achievement lies only in creating a spectacle. All are under the mistaken impression that their electors would be impressed by the display of aggression, when in reality they would be happy only if their lives improve.The Akali Dal has raised a very valid issue of farm loan waivers, but the demand coming from a party that had been at the helm for 10 years sounds rather hollow. Yet the Akali MLAs ensured the conduct of the House was derailed for two days. The Congress government seems to be on the right path in its approach to assessing the farm debt magnitude and working out its solutions. However, the party is responsible for having brought upon itself the pressure of announcing a complete waiver instantly. If it did not know how to go about delivering on its promise, it should not have made the irresponsible declaration before the elections.All this, however, made it convenient for the government to avoid discussion on the most crucial subject of Cabinet minister Rana Gurjit Singh’s role in the mining auctions. It is crucial because huge economic worth is involved; besides, the government’s handling of the scandal is going to set the tone for people’s expectations of it over the next five years. The AAP MLAs did well in raising the issue, but may soon lose the freshman advantage if they too choose the path of attention-seeking, of which there are distinct indications. Stay true to your electors, and raise their concerns in the Assembly by utilising the session optimally. For political point-scoring, there will be plenty of opportunities outside the sanctum sanctorum of democracy.

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 15

Cadet Shashank Sharma of Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institute (AFPI), Mohali, has bagged the first position in the all-India merit list for the National Defence Academy (NDA), which was released by the Union Public Service Commission yesterday. Another cadet of the same institute, Armaandeep Singh, has secured the eighth position. As many as 25 cadets of the AFPI find their names on the merit list and of them 12 are among the first 100, the AFPI Director General, Maj Gen BS Grewal (retd), said. Call letters for joining the NDA will be issued by the Army Headquarters shortly. The NDA entrance exam was held in September last year and nearly five lakh Class XII students appeared for it.Shashank Sharma belongs to Manakpur village near Ropar. His father is an employee of the BSNL and mother a teacher. Prior to joining the AFPI, he was a student of Mt Carmel School, Jindwari, Ropar. Armaandeep Singh belongs to Muktsar and is the son of an agriculturalist. Before joining the institute, he was studying at Yadavindra Public School, Mohali. After joining, all cadets of the AFPI do their Class XI and Class XII studies at Shemrock Senior Secondary School, Mohali.Earlier, on June 10, the first batch of six gentlemen cadets of this institute were commissioned as officers after passing out from the Indian Military Academy, Dehra Dun. Seventeen more cadets have recently completed their training at the NDA and will be proceeding for their final-year training at the respective service academies soon. The AFPI was set up by the Punjab Government for training selected young men from the state for joining the armed forces through the NDA. The institute was established in 2011 and its first batch of cadets passed out in April 2013. So far five batches have passed out from the institute and 63 cadets have already joined various military academies with another 20 to 25 expected to join in July this year.

Geetanjali Gayatri

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 11

Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI), an enterprise of the Ministry of Defence, will shortly set up its unit in Industrial Model Township (IMT), Rohtak, making it the first “big project” to come to the district under the BJP government in Haryana.Spread over 10 acres, the government undertaking has been awarded land at concessional rates. Sources say that land has been allocated at 50 per cent of the rate to MIDHANI which wants to establish an Armour Fabrication Unit though the company had sought 15 acres of land from the government in HSIIDC, Manesar.However, after a visit to IMT, Rohtak, the company has decided to set up its unit to manufacture 13 types of armoured vehicles with a start-up business plan of Rs 50 crore which will be gradually increased to Rs 250 crore.The move to open a unit in the National Capital Region (NCR) comes in the wake of increased supplies to the northern region since Hyderabad, the current location, did not seem ideal to the company with most business opportunities being concentrated in the northern region.Sources in the Industries Department say that the coming of the unit to Rohtak will not only create employment opportunities, but evolves an ecosystem to enhance economic activities in the region.The company has already been sent a letter of confirmation by the HSIIDC and work on ground is expected to begin once the formalities of land allotment are over.With this “deal” already under its belt, MIDHANi is learnt to have approached the Haryana Government through the Ministry of Defence for land in Hisar as well.Unlike the Rohtak unit, which will concentrate on the armouring business and the creation of a state-of-the-art armour production plan, the Hisar unit will manufacture special containers used by nuclear power plant for disposal of waste.Sources claim that talks are already underway for providing land at concessional rates for this unit as well.