Beijing, January 17

Stoutly defending its decision to raise the Kashmir issue at the UN Security Council as an attempt to de-escalate Indo-Pak tensions and out of “good will”, China on Friday claimed that “most of the members” of the Council have voiced their concern over the situation in the Valley.

China’s comments came a day after India asserted that Beijing’s latest attempt to raise the Kashmir issue at the UNSC on Pakistan’s behalf has failed, with an overwhelming majority of the 15-member body expressing the view that it was not the right forum to discuss the bilateral issue between India and Pakistan.

China, Pakistan’s ‘all-weather ally’, on Wednesday made the fresh pitch to raise the Kashmir issue under “other matters” during a closed meeting in the UN Security Council Consultations Room.

Answering a barrage of questions at a media briefing here on why China is backing Pakistan to raise the Kashmir issue in the UNSC, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said, “China’s position is consistent and clear. This issue is a dispute left from history and should be properly resolved following the UN charter, UNSC resolutions, and bilateral treaties and in a peaceful way.”

“As requested by Pakistan, the Security Council reviewed the Kashmir issue on January 15. The Security Council members are concerned about the current situation and they called the relevant parties to observe the charter and resolve disputes peacefully, through political dialogue and exercise restraint and work on de-escalation,” he said.

Replying to a questing on why only China, among all the members, is making such claims, whereas no other member of the body has spoken about it, Geng said, “Indeed the UNSC reviewed the Kashmir issue on January 15 and there was no statement. But China as a permanent member participated in the review meeting and what I said was in line with the review. But if you think this is not true then you can look at other sources.”

When asked to name other countries he referred to, the Foreign Ministry spokesman said, “If you do not trust our views you may refer to other sites for information.”

At a press briefing in New Delhi on Thursday, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar, while replying to questions about the developments in the UNSC, said the overwhelming majority of the UNSC was of view that it was not the right forum for such issues. Pakistan’s attempt to peddle baseless allegations and show an alarming scenario failed as it lacked credibility, he said.

Commenting on India’s statement, Geng said, “India’s attitude and views, we understand them. But what I said was China’s views and stance. I believe that India is aware of that and we have been in contact on that.”

To a question on why China is raising the Kashmir issue at the UNSC, when the top leaders of India and China made efforts to improve relations through informal summits, creating a negative perception among Indians, Geng said, “Because we want to work for de-escalation and work for regional peace and stability. This is out of good will. However, if the Indian side interprets it in other way, that will be a wrong interpretation.”

Following the Indian government’s revocation of special status granted to Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcating it into two union territories on August 5 last year, China has criticised New Delhi for making Ladakh a union territory. China lays claim over several parts of Ladakh.

Responding to a question that the Russian envoy in India has said that the Kashmir issue should be resolved bilaterally between India and Pakistan, he said during the review most UNSC members expressed concern on the current situation in Kashmir and called for restraint and de-escalation of tensions through dialogue.

“Russia is a member of the UNSC and its position has been fully expressed during the review,” he said.

Replying to a question on why China, which in the past has advocated that the Kashmir issue should be peacefully resolved between India and Pakistan, has now changed its stand by including UNSC resolutions and UN charter, Geng said Beijing’s position on Kashmir is very clear.

“We haven’t changed our position. The issue between India and Pakistan has always been on the UNSC agenda. The UNSC should pay attention to the issue in Kashmir based on the latest developments. And in this region, there are still International Observer Groups and it has always been on UNSC agenda,” he said.                      About India’s decision to invite Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan in the meeting of the Heads of the governments of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) countries, Geng said, “SCO is a regional cooperation organisation. India and Pakistan are members of it. Both the countries, we hope, can work together closely under this framework for the healthy development of this organisation.”

“India and Pakistan are important countries in South Asia and I hope they can resolve their issues through dialogue and improve their relations,” he said.

To a question on allegations of human rights violations in Kashmir during the past five months, Geng reiterated China’s stand, saying that Beijing stood for enhancing dialogue and mutual trust between India and Pakistan and exercise restraint and work for de-escalation of tensions.

“As a responsible country, we have been in contact with both India and Pakistan, and are playing a constructive role on this,” he said. PTI

Jammu, January 18

An Army jawan committed suicide by shooting himself with his service rifle in a camp in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district, police said on Saturday.

Sepoy Prince Kumar (25), a resident of Hoshiarpur in Punjab, was posted in 112 Territorial Army and was on guard duty when he shot himself at Chinar camp in Rehambal area on Friday, a police official said.

The official said the motive behind the extreme step was not known immediately.

The body would be handed over to his unit after the completion of medical and other legal formalities which were under way, he said. PTI

Maj Gen Ashok Mehta (retd)
Military commentator

Never before in recent memory has an incoming Army Chief made crystal clear the constitutional role of the Army. During his first annual press conference ahead of Army Day, General MM Naravane stated unequivocally that the Army owes allegiance to the Constitution of India and the core values it embodies in its preamble: Justice, liberty, equality and fraternity. The defence of these values, he said, was achieved by protecting the borders and safeguarding the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. He outlined this belief and conviction in his opening remarks, and not in response to a question.

His remarks will certainly set to rest, for the time being, the controversial political statements made by his predecessor, General Bipin Rawat, and others in uniform, endorsing the government’s policies before and after the ongoing CAA/NRC protests.

Just last month, the Eastern Army Commander, Lt Gen Anil Chauhan, lauded the government for taking difficult legacy decisions — from abrogation of Article 370 to Ram Mandir and from CAA to bringing to near closure the Naga peace process. This same script was paraphrased by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar at a book launch recently, suggesting that the government’s distinguished record of achievements was being distributed to the military also. It was inevitable that the armed forces would be sucked into backing the government policy and its implementation.

General Naravane’s reference to the Preamble of the Constitution and its core values follows young students regularly reading them out during the ongoing protests. This is a timely reminder to the men and women in uniform that it is the Constitution — to which they swore allegiance on joining the military — which is their holy grail, not any political party or ideology. General Naravane’s bottom line was: “We are an Army of the people and for the people”, which translates into pursuing national interest and not partisan interests of the ruling establishment and the party in power. The General’s sermon was required to set the record straight and insulate soldiers from politicisation.

It is widely understood that over the last few years, especially following the Uri surgical strike and the Balakot air strike, the government glorified the soldier largely for its own electoral benefit, thereby politicising sections of the military, especially when Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath called the Indian Army, ‘Modiji ki sena’, at election rallies last year.

After the Uri surgical strike, pictures appeared at election rallies of the now Northern Army Commander, Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, the architect of the strikes, flanked by Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Shah.

While publicly defending the integrity of the Rafale contract with Dassault, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was invariably accompanied by an Air Marshal, usually now the Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria.

This dangerous misuse of the Army and Air Force in claiming political success has swayed several serving and retired soldiers towards the ideology of the ruling party.

The Indian armed forces remain uniquely apolitical, professional, secular and committed to civilian political control. Pursuit of these ideals is facilitated by the military imbibing from its own set of ethics, ethos, customs and traditions that have prevented any unconstitutional activities by them.

In his book, A Chequered Brilliance, former Congress minister Jairam Ramesh describes former Defence Minister VK Krishna Menon’s efforts in creating a rift among the senior Army officers, separating the pliant from the self-opinionated. He trained his guns on the charismatic Army Chief, General KS Thimayya (during Karnataka elections last year, Modi erroneously named Field Marshal KM Cariappa, when he meant Thimayya, while blaming Prime Minister Nehru and the Congress for mistreating him) and the legendary Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw to get them removed and replaced by his chosen lot of generals that included the likes of PN Thapar, BM Kaul and others. Menon’s politicisation of the Army was one reason for the Himalayan debacle of 1962.

The only other crisis in the Army was when a former chief took his own government to court over an age row. When asked why he took no action to discipline the Army Chief, Defence Minister AK Antony, alarmed at the question, and in awe of the General, replied: “But how…? The Army Chief is such a big man.”

When officers of my vintage graduated in 1957 from the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun, it was not the Constitution we swore allegiance to, but the credo and motto scripted by Field Marshal Philip Chetwode: “The safety and honour of the country come first, always and every time; the honour, welfare and comfort of the men you command come next; your own ease, comfort and safety come last, always and every time.”

As for soldiers of the time, at their attestation parade, they swore over copies of their faith to unstintingly obey the orders of their seniors, to protect the country on land, at sea and in the air, in India and overseas. It was a multi-faith avowal for defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country as priests of different faiths snaked through the rank and file of recruits being turned into soldiers.

Thank you, General Naravane, for reminding soldiers (and us veterans) of their constitutional duties, including upholding the democracy’s core values.

Tribune News Service

Neeraj Bagga

Amritsar, January 12

People took road safety pledge collectively during the Beating the Retreat ceremony at Attari-Wagah border on Sunday.

The NGO, Drive Smart Drive Safe, along with SIAM, CII and many other like-minded organisations, launched the campaign to create awareness among masses.

Crores of Indians travel on roads and 415 never come back home, everyday. There are many reasons of these deaths but one sure solution and improvement possibility is transforming public traffic sense, encouraging good road behaviour through a Citizen’s Movement.

Believing in “Sadak Suraksha Jeevan Raksha”, these NGOs launched the campaign titled IndiaAgainstRoadCrash #IARC2020 during the 31st National Road Safety Week as announced by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

Team of ClubD2S educated more than 50,000 citizens at Wagha border about need to bring urgency to arrest road deaths and putting it on national priority.

Rama Shankar Pandey, MD-Hella India Lighting Limited, said: “Travelling on Indian roads is extremely risky and there are many overlapping reasons for such alarming road crashes in the country, but one sure solution to change ourselves.

For masses, road crash is yet seen as an unfortunate act of God. This psychology needs to be changed.

New Delhi, January 16

Newly appointed Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Bipin Rawat, on Thursday called for a US-style approach to tackle terrorism, like they did after the 9/11 attacks.

Speaking at the Raisina Dialogue 2020, Gen Rawat said, “Terrorism is here to stay as long as there are states which use terror as policy and till there are proxies who provide weapons. We have to bring an end to terrorism and that can only happen the way Americans started after the 9/11 terror attacks.” “They said let’s go on a spree on global war on terror.

To do that you have to isolate the terrorists and anybody who is sponsoring terrorism has to be taken to task,” he added.

Gen Rawat was part of a panel discussion on the evolving nature of counterterrorism. The consensus among the speakers was that threat of terrorism was pervasive and continues to warrant international attention and greater cooperation within the intelligence community.

“Anyone sponsoring terrorism has to be taken to task,” the CDS added. On being asked by the moderator of the discussion if he was referring to Pakistan, he said, “I am referring to any such country.”

On Pakistan, Gen Rawat said, “You have to bring about accountability. Denial that they (Pak) are victims of terror is not an answer. Time has come to take the bull by its horns.”

He lauded the pressure exerted on Pakistan at the recent Financial Action Task Force (FATF) , which he said was a reflection of global recognition of Pakistan’s role in harbouring terrorists.

On being asked if the Army had been heavy-handed in Kashmir, Gen Rawat said there was an impression that the Army was heavy-handed, but that was wrong. “We used hard measures in early 1990s. Look at the casualties we are suffering,” he argued his opinion.

The UK Special Representative on Afghanistan and Pakistan, Gareth Bayley, responded to allegations of the UK being too close to Pakistan. “It is a simple matter of necessity,” he added. “We have to be engaged with countries across South Asia, having robust conversations across all levels about what needs to happen urgently.”

Responding to allegations that social media platforms are often used as propaganda tools by those seeking to promote violent extremism and hate, Facebook Policy Lead Erin Saltman acknowledged their inability to ascertain the threat and scope of its influence. However, she stressed that in the past five years, Facebook had redoubled its efforts to identify and counter such extremist online content. — TNS