Tribune News Service
Mohali, August 1
Low-cost carrier AirAsia started its Chandigarh-Delhi-Chandigarh flight operations from the Chandigarh international airport at Mohali today.
The airline’s Chandigarh-Delhi flight took off from here at 12.50 pm and reached Delhi at 1.55 pm. The launch fare of the flight has been set at Rs 1,365 per passenger.
The airline is already operating its Chandigarh-Bengaluru flight from here. The response to the low-cost flight is said to be encouraging.
Photo tweeted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
New Delhi, July 26
As the nation observes the 20th anniversary of the Kargil war, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday shared pictures of his visit to the area during the conflict and his interaction with the soldiers.
“During the Kargil War in 1999, I had the opportunity to go to Kargil and show solidarity with our brave soldiers,” he said on Twitter.
The prime minister said that in 1999, he was working for the BJP in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.
“The visit to Kargil and interactions with soldiers are unforgettable,” Modi said.
In the photographs, he is seen interacting with army men and meeting wounded soldiers. PTI
BSF and Army jawans take part in the ‘Run For Martyrs’ to mark the ‘Kargil Vijay Diwas’ in Jalandhar on Wednesday. Photo: Sarabjit Singh
Jalandhar, July 24
As a part of the week-long programme started by the BSF, Jalandhar Frontier, a five-km race, ‘Run for Martyrs’, was organised at the BSF headquarters here this morning to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the ‘Kargil Vijay Diwas’ and to pay tributes to martyrs of the Kargil War.
Mahipal Yadav, Inspector-General, BSF, Punjab, flagged off the race by waiving the green flag.
The run commenced from Ashwani Stadium via BSF Gate No 3 and reached the Army Mill Road, (main road Jalandhar to Ludhiana) and concluded at the Ashwani Stadium.
As many as 350 BSF personnel’s and soldiers of the Indian Army participated in the run. The winners were awarded by Mahipal Yadav.
Arakshak Babu Lal (BSF, Punjab) won the first positions and was given Rs 3,100. Arakshak Rajmal (BSF, Punjab ) remaind second. Sepoy Suman Sen (Indian Army, core camp) bagged the third position.
Tribune News Service
Panchkula, July 9
Panchkula MLA Gian Chand Gupta unveiled the statue of Major Sandeep Shankla at AWHO Society in Sector 20 here today.
The statue has been set up by the Panchkula Municipal Corporation in memory of the martyr, who died fighting for the unity and integrity of the country.
It is pertinent to mention here that on August 8, 1991, Major Shankla’s battalion, 18 Dogra, carried out a search and cordon operation at Zafarkhani village in Kupwara district. A soldier was injured in the crossfire with terrorists and Major Shankla, unmindful of the enemy fire, crawled out to drag him to safety, killing a terrorist. The terrorists then lobbed two grenades at the officer, of which one he hurled back at them, sustaining splinter and bullet injuries in the process. But he kept fighting till he lost consciousness.
The operation had resulted in the elimination of nine terrorists and apprehension of 22. He was posthumously awarded with the Ashok Chakra, the highest peacetime gallantry award.
Addressing the gathering of Army officers and their families, Gian Chand Gupta said by setting up the statue, the Municipal Corporation had paid tributes to the martyr who made the city proud by sacrificing his life in the line of duty. Major Sandeep Shankla was a resident of Panchkula and he had laid down his life for the unity and integrity of the country.
Capt Vikram Batra
Ajay Banerjee
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, July 6
It will be a journey for which Luv has waited for 20 years, to be at the same spot where his identical twin Kush sacrificed his life for the country — atop a 16,000-foot-high Himalayan massif along the Line of Control.
On Sunday, it will be exactly 20 years when Kush, Capt Vikram Batra, a resident of Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, sacrificed his life during the Kargil war (May-July 1999).
Vishal Batra, known in his family as Luv, will be there to mark his brother’s death anniversary. “I am going to ‘meet’ my brother, up there,” Vishal said just hours before he boarded a flight en route to Drass at the base of the peak in Jammu and Kashmir.
Vishal will be heli-dropped to reach Point 4875 (altitude of the peak in metres), now known as ‘Batra top’. “I had the option of climbing the peak, but the Army advised acclimatisation of at least one week, which was not possible due to time constraints,” says Vishal, who is a banker in Chandigarh.
At Point 4875, Capt Batra had led the assault by his ‘paltan’, 13 JAKRIF, to get it vacated from Pakistan army’s illegal occupation. In September this year, Capt Batra, a Param Vir Chakra recipient, would have turned 45.
Gen VP Malik, in his book ‘Kargil: From Surprise to Victory’, describes Capt Batra, who after killing four Pakistani soldiers in a hand-to-hand fight and capture of Point 5140 called his Commanding Officer and radioed the victory code: Yeh Dil Mange More…
A popular advertising jingle of the 1990s, the code was selected by Capt Batra during the pre-assault briefing by the CO, Lt Col YK Joshi (now Lt General). Point 5140, the highest occupied point on Tololing ridge, was captured on June 20. Lt Gen Joshi, awarded the Vir Chakra, will be on Batra top with Vishal. A climbing expedition of 13 JAKRIF will reach the same day.
Wit ht he din of elections over, there could not be a more opportune time for the new dispensation to ensure that important pointers from transborder actions like Balakot do not get obliterated but are acted upon.
HINDUSTAN TIMES■ Politicisation of the armed forces has grave ramifications. It distorts the apolitical fibre of our armed forces and is a dangerous portent for national securityFirst, while it was heartening to see everyone praise the Indian Air Force after Ba lakot, the chest-thumping and credit capturing between political parties that followed, with some even questioning whether the strike had taken place at all, was most unfortunate. Such events do prop el security dialogue to the forefront, but military operations remain the preserve of the government for ordering them and the armed forces for carrying them out. Such politic is at ion distorts the a political fib re of our armed forces and is a dangerous portent for national security.
Second, while the government’ s decision to strike and effectively combat Pakistan retaliation was the right one, between 2015 and 2018, many terror attacks went without a response and accountability. Is there an institutionalised decision making mechanism in place at all? India is perhaps the only major democracy where the armed forces headquarters are outside the apex governmental structure and, therefore, not institutionally part of the decision making process. It is imperative that we have an Act of Parliament which man dates the creation of a permanent Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), thereby making the armed forces apart of the decision making mechanism for cogent single point military advice to the government. The Defence Planning Committee recently created under the chairmanship of National Security Adviser (NSA) has been
established through an administrative order and thus remains unaccountable to Parliament. But it cannot replace the idea of a permanent CDS created by statute.
Third, the 2019 elections pushed national security to the fore, if rhetoric and party manifest os were anything togo by. Political parties must note that having spelt out big ticket plans, public discourse is going to gets harper. If their manifestos offer to “speed up purchase of outstanding defence equipment and weapons or ensure defence spending is increased to meet the requirement of the armed forces,” then questions regarding the time plot for implementation and budgetary support cannot be faulted. On the other hand, if they promise to “establish the office of CDS to act as the principal adviser to the government on defence matters or provide statutory basis to the National Security Council and the office of NSA, with both being accountable to the Parliament ,” they will have to be showcased with a timebound plan for execution; or else the intent could rightly be questioned. Against the back drop of India fielding an aging Mi G 21 Bis onto combat a modern Pak F–16, they ’ll be justified in asking for modernisation to be expedited with reasons for delay, enlarging the query to: Are the defence forces properly equipped and organised? Are they being looked after? Is it well honed? It is good that national security has become an electoral issue, but if the concern does not endure after votes are won, it will be the last time one will seethe issue at centrestage. That will jeopardise the nation’s security.
Fourth, Pakistan’s nuclear bluff has been called, but has catapulted India such that it can no longer be seen as a soft State. For this perception to last, India must equip, modernise and restructure the armed forces posthaste for 21st century warfare to deter Pakistan and dissuade China from aggression, while gradually building its potential.
Osaka, June 26
The trade battle between the US and China, and fears that spiralling tensions with Iran could erupt into conflict are poised to dominate a high-stakes G20 summit from Friday.
With hotspots North Korea and Venezuela and a slowing world economy also high on the agenda, the two-day gathering of leaders from the world’s group of 20 leading nations in Osaka, Japan, could be one of the most pivotal in years, analysts say.
Trump last week sparked hopes for a detente in the long-running trade war when he said he would hold “extended” talks with Xi after a “very good telephone conversation”.
For his part, Xi told Trump that “China and the US will both gain by cooperating and lose by fighting”, according to Chinese state media.
The two sides were close to a deal when talks broke down abruptly last month and markets are hoping the leaders’ first face-to-face talks since December, when they met at the last G20 in Argentina, can break the deadlock. has hit $200 billion of Chinese imports with levies and has threatened to impose them on an additional $300 billion, which would hurt China’s already slowing economy and spread the gloom worldwide.
Observers said a decisive breakthrough was possible at the talks, which are expected on Saturday, but was not the most likely scenario given the complexity of the issues.
“President Trump likes deals, so he might agree to something,” noted Matthew Goodman, an economics expert at the US-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies.
“More likely is that they will agree to a truce and to restart talks and…try to come to some sort of deal within three months,” added Goodman.
Trump could also threaten to raise tariffs to 40 per cent if talks fail, he warned, adding: “It’s not going to solve the immediate problems.”
Economists and markets are hoping some sort of pact can be agreed as the stuttering global economy can ill-afford further trade tensions between its two biggest players.
“This is bad for everyone…it’s a no-win situation,” said Denis Hew, director of the Policy Support Unit for APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation).
Alice Ekman, head of China Research at the French Institute of International Relations, said the world should brace for a lengthy period of frosty relations as Washington and Beijing also scrapped over technological domination.
“The tensions are such that even if we get to a deal…this (the trade war) will leave its mark, and we are now engaged in a long-term rivalry,” she told AFP.
The other topic likely to dominate the meeting is North Korea’s nuclear programme and here again the meeting between Xi and Trump is likely to be key.
Trump will travel to South Korea after the G20, with talks between Washington and Pyongyang stalled after February’s failed summit in Hanoi.
But Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have been exchanging personal letters, with Kim vowing to “seriously contemplate” the “excellent content” in the recent missive from Washington, while the US leader hailed a “beautiful letter” from Pyongyang.
The G20 comes days after Xi wrapped up a highly symbolic visit to the isolated state and a recent defector from North Korea said the Chinese leader would likely come bearing an offer to the US side.
“They want to use President Xi as a mediator in the G20,” Thae Yong Ho told reporters in Tokyo.
Iran will also loom large after Trump called off a planned military strike but then imposed sanctions against its supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and threatened the country with “obliteration” if it sought war.
Aware that attention is likely to focus on the US-China trade talks, the Japanese hosts are trying to focus on their priority areas, including the fight against ocean plastic and the challenges faced by ageing populations.
“There has been over a year’s worth of preparation and very dedicated hard work gone into this…So I hope the media also pays attention to the other aspects that will be discussed at the G20,” pleaded Masatsugu Asakawa, Japan’s top finance diplomat. AFP
Lt-Gen Raj Sujlana (retd)
THE Army has a hierarchical chain of ranks from a Lieutenant to a General. Officers gradually progress up the ladder, manning a host of appointments at various levels of command and staff. Besides, there is an appointment of the Colonel of the Regiment (COR) which is not a part of this chain. It is different, and a privilege which comes only to a few. It differs from the rank of a Colonel and is held by a senior officer of every regiment, normally a serving General Officer of the same Regiment. It bestows on the officer, who is a fatherly figure for the regiment and responsible for the morale and welfare of his regiment. He regularly visits battalions of his regiment to address their issues, give advice, look after welfare of war widows and all ex-servicemen. The selection is by common suffrage but is restricted to one vote for each officer i.e. Colonel rank and above of the same regiment. The COR has a special privilege —he can wear the rank insignia of a Colonel whenever he visits any of his battalions. The analogy being that, a Colonel is the last rank which is in direct and daily contact with the troops. Officers thus selected have spent over two decades with the troops, earned their spurs in the junior ranks through thick and thin up to a Colonel’s rank and then move to higher command a bit detached from the direct contact with troops. This appointment, in Army parlance is referred to as ‘The Colonel’, and is a continued process and pinnacle of Regimentation in the Army.
I had the privilege of being ‘The Colonel’ of the Sikh Regiment. The tenure of over half a decade remains specially etched in mind —the wonderful interaction with the serving fraternity in varied conditions and situations, reaching out to war widows and ESM, ameliorating their problems and not to forget the tot of rum and vigorous Bhangra with them!
‘One travels in a time machine of yesteryears donning a colonels’ rank while holding the rank of General and can often land up in a humorous situation. In peace locations, formal social gatherings, if organised, are attended by officers from other regiments as well. During one of such evenings, as I mingled with the officers, a young Major, a doctor came up and said, “
“Sir, I owe you an apology!” A bit perplexed, I looked at him and wondered what possibly the reason for this was, but memory failed to ring a bell. His embarrassment was obvious as he went on, “Sir, during the evening I had observed many Colonels in the party, but you were drawing particular respect from all present, so I asked one of your Regimental Officers why this elderly Colonel was getting unwarranted respect, and reality dawned. So, sir do pardon me as I was somewhat unparliamentary!”
In another social evening, I was in conversation with a group of young Lieutenants when suddenly one of them said, “Sir I observe you are posted at the Indian Military Academy (IMA), what appointment you hold there?” Not expecting such a query, I looked at him and replied, “Well, whenever I have spare time, I love to put on The Colonel;s rank and visit battalions of the Sikh Regiment, otherwise, routinely, I perform the duties of the Commandant, IMA!” The poor guy looked shell shocked.
In both cases, I broke into a smile and told them, “to relax and enjoy the evening, life is a learning process and I am sure today you are wiser that there is an appointment of ‘The Colonel’ in the Army!
Amir Karim Tantray
Tribune News service
Jammu, June 19
It has been 20 years since the Kargil war, when valiant forces of the Indian Army, fighting difficult terrain coupled with indifferent weather conditions, defeated the enemy sitting on an advantageous position. This is also the time to remember the brave who made it possible.
One such brave officer, who was awarded Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) for his service, is Colonel Balwan Singh Panghal. He was a lieutenant during the Kargil War and an indispensable part of 18 Grenadiers unit, under whose command the Army had successfully launched the assault on the Tiger Hill.
He, along with his platoon, was instrumental in regaining the supremacy of Indian Army in the area, where the enemy was keeping a close watch on every movement of the Indian forces and was inflicting damage.
Talking to The Tribune, Col Balwan Singh Panghal, who is posted in sub-area Ambala now, shared memories of the war and the efforts that went in to capture the Tiger Hill and turn the tide in the country’s favour.
Belonging to Sasroli village in Jajhar district of Haryana, Col Panghal became a household name across the country in general and Haryana in particular at that time.
Giving details of the operation, Panghal said, “Firstly, our platoon was given the task of capturing Tololing post, from where the enemy was continuously monitoring our movement and was attacking the Srinagar-Leh national highway. Moving through a difficult terrain in a freezing weather, we managed to get back Tololing in 22 days but we lost our two senior officials in the assault, Lt Col R Vishwanathan and Major Adhikari, and 23 other soldiers.”
“After that, we were assigned the task to get back the Tiger Hill. We started the operation on July 2, 1999, and on July 4, after a five-hour fierce gun battle, we claimed it back but lost nine soldiers,” the Colonel said.
He, along with 24 other soldiers, had led the assault on Tiger Hill and it was the most difficult part of the operation, as several other assaults had been unsuccessful.
“When we started the assault, firstly only seven soldiers managed to reach one of the posts on Tiger Hill and they killed 30 to 35 Pakistani soldiers, but out of these seven soldiers, six died and only Sepoy Yoginder Singh Yadav (now Subedar) managed to come back in critical condition. During the final assault, we managed to capture the Tiger Hill without losing any soldier,” he stated.
It was his planning and the crucial information provided by Sepoy Yoginder Singh Yadav after returning from the enemy post which enabled Col Panghal to capture the Tiger Hill.
