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Photo taken from www.gov.uk/government/case-studies. Credits: USI – CAFHR and IWM

London, June 21

Britain has launched a new digital archive telling the inspiring stories of war heroes, including six Indians, as part of the UK government’s centenary celebrations to mark World War I.As many as 175 men from 11 overseas countries were awarded Britain’s highest award for valour, the Victoria Cross (VC), during the war. These included six soldiers from undivided India who fought in the war as part of the British Indian Army and honoured in a commemorative plaque presented to India back in 2014.”Behind every name engraved on the memorial plaques there is a truly remarkable story. It is fitting that we pay tribute to the Victoria Cross recipients from overseas by bringing their stories together in this digital archive,” said Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) minister Hugo Swire.”By doing so we are sending a message that these men, and the important role played by their home countries in the First World War, will never be forgotten by the people of the United Kingdom,” he said.The new Digital Archive was launched by FCO yesterday to chronicle individual biographies of Risaldar Badlu Singh from Punjab, Sepoy Chatta Singh from UP, Naik Darwan Singh Negi and Rifleman Gabar Sing Negi from modern day Uttarakhand, Lance- Daffadar Gobind Singh from Rajasthan, and Lance Naik Lala from Himachal Pradesh.They were all awarded for their “conspicuous bravery” on the battlefield.Besides six VCs from India, the 11 countries covered by the special plaques include Pakistan (3); Nepal (2); Canada (70 VCs); Australia (66); New Zealand (16); South Africa (14); US (5); Denmark (2); Belgium (1) and Ukraine (1).August 2014 had marked 100 years since Britain entered the First World War. Prime Minister David Cameron had launched the ongoing commemoration programme back in October 2012.The new digital archive can be accessed through the UK government’s official gov.uk portal. — PTI

ENCOUNTER COMES A DAY AFTER FOUR MILITANTS AND A SOLDIER WERE KILLED IN TANGDHAR SECTOR

SRINAGAR: Two suspected militants were killed by security forces in an encounter on Friday in Kashmir’s Sopore town, army said.

The gunfight started in the morning between militants and security forces in Sopore town after police received information about the presence of militants, sources said.

Police sources said the identity of the militants killed in the encounter has been ascertained as Altaf Mir of Sopore and Imtiyaz Lone of Bandipora district.

The recent encounter comes a day after four militants and one soldier were killed in another encounter on Thursday after security forces foiled an infiltration attempt in Tangdhar sector near the Line of Control.

Army on Friday paid tributes to soldier Prem Bahadur Resmi Magar who was killed in the Tangdhar encounter.

The 37-year-old soldier was a part of the team that had killed seven militants in the same area in two earlier encounters.

He was a native of Falpa district in Nepal and is survived by his wife and two children. “He was a true embodiment of the Gorkhas’ martial and yet mirthful character,” an army spokesperson said.

A day before that, soldier Ajay Singh Choudhary succumbed to the injuries he suffered in an encounter on Tuesday in Machil sector of Kupwara district.

“Signalman Ajay was part of his unit’s Quick Reaction Team, which was the first to intercept and engage an infiltrating column of terrorists in the highly inhospitable terrain of Machhal area on [June 14],” an army statement said.

“Displaying exceptional gallantry and selflessness, he had continued to engage the terrorists, killing one despite being grievously wounded himself. He was evacuated from the encounter site but unfortunately succumbed to his injuries later

Followers of Shaheed Major Gurjinder Singh Grewal at his memorial in Lohgarh village near Ahmedgarh. A Tribune photograph

Our Correspondent

Mandi Ahmedgarh, June 16

To remember the supreme sacrifice of a war hero of the Indo-Pak War 1971, residents of his native village Lohgarh have urged the higher authorities to direct the district administration to construct the road connecting the memorial of the martyr with the main road.Residents said the passage should be rechristened in the name of Shaheed Major Gurjinder Singh Grewal, who had laid down his life in the war.In a communiqué addressed to the higher authorities, including Prime Minister of India, Department of Ex-servicemen and Welfare Ministry of Defence, New Delhi, Secretary Kendriya Sainik Board, New Delhi, and Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana, residents and the members of the panchayat led by Ravinder Singh Gill, former office-bearer of Zila Sainik Board, regretted that the successive governments had failed to recognise the supreme sacrifice of martyr Major Grewal.Though elected representatives have been promising to install the statute of the martyr, efforts were not even made to construct a small portion of road passing near his memorial in the village.Maintaining that Major Grewal was one of the youngest martyrs of the district, residents said due recognition by the government would enthuse the youth to join defence forces.Claiming that officials of the block development office in Pakhowal had initiated the process for drafting the project in presence of members of the civic body, the supporters of the martyr regretted that funds for the same were never received.

Tribune News Service

Jammu, June 13

Against the backdrop of Pathankot airbase terror strike, the Jammu and Kashmir Government has banned private airborne activity — para-jumping, paragliding and hoisting of air balloons — within a radius of one kilometre of any defence and security installations in the state. It follows the request of the Indian Air Force (IAF), Police Headquarters, to all district magistrates to restrict “private airborne activity”. In this regard, a communiqué from the IAF, Police Headquarters (Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu area), was issued on June 2. The IAF apprehends that terrorists could use sub-conventional methods to target IAF, defence and police installations in future.  Invoking provisions of Section 144 of the J&K Criminal Procedure Code, Jammu District Magistrate Simrandeep Singh has ordered the ban on private airborne activity. He said,“it has been brought to my notice that terrorists may use sub-conventional methods to target IAF, defence and police installations in near future.” The order said, “Such sub-conventional methods include the use of adventure sporting equipment, like paragliders and parachutes. It is imperative to impose restrictions on agencies involved in adventure sports, like parasailing, paragliding.” The district magistrate ordered that there would be no private airborne activity within a radius of one kilometre of any defence or security installations in Jammu.  “Even otherwise, prior permission of the district magistrate shall be required in case any such activity is to be conducted anywhere in the district. All private agencies involved in such business shall disclose the details, including equipment, to the additional deputy commissioner (law and order), Jammu, within 60 days of the issuance of this order,” the district magistrate said. He said the sub-divisional magistrates, tehsildars and SHOs in the district would ensure compliance to this order. Sources said that Udhampur district was also contemplating ban on private airborne activity shortly.Pertinently, the state administration, on the directions of Governor NN Vohra, had conducted a multi-agency security audit of all vital civil and defence establishments and installations across Jammu and Kashmir.On January 19, the Governor had said at New Delhi on 7th raising day of NIA that Pathankot terror strike could have been prevented, had lessons been learnt from previous attacks, with focus on securing the international border with Pakistan, which was not yet “well-guarded”.

Terror threat

• The IAF apprehends that terrorists could use sub-conventional methods to target IAF, defence and police installations
• in future
• The Jammu district magistrate orders ban on private airborne activity within a radius of one kilometre of any defence or security installationsin Jammu
• Prior permission of the district magistrate shall be required in case any such activity is to be conducted anywhere in the Jammu district

MiG-27 crashes in Jodhpur, no casualties
Air Force personnel gather around an Indian Air Force MiG-27 fighter jet that crashed into a residential building in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, on Monday. The pilot escaped unhurt. AFP
A MiG-27 aircraft of the Indian Air Force crashed in a residential area of Jodhpur on Monday morning, with the pilot ejecting safely. The aircraft was on a routine training sortie when it crashed at 11.30 am
The MiG-27, which had taken off from the Jodhpur Air Force Station, developed a technical problem and hit a locked house in Kudi Bhaktasni area, officials said. No one was injured on the ground
The plane caught fire after the crash and fire fighters were rushed to douse the blaze. The pilot had sought priority landing but as the engine failed, he had to eject. A court of inquiry has been orderedhttp://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/mig-27-crashes-in-jodhpur-no-casualties/251385.html

London, June 13

Pakistan continues to be ahead of India when it comes to having higher number of nuclear warheads and beats Israel as well as North Korea, a report by a Stockholm-based think tank said today.The report comes just days after disgraced nuclear scientist AQ Khan, father of Pakistan’s nuclear programme, claimed the country had the ability to hit India in five minutes. The claim was ridiculed by Indian experts who underlined that nukes should always be weapons of deterrence and not offensive.As per the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) annual nuclear forces data, Pakistan is believed to have 110-130 nuclear warheads.On the contrary, India is said to have about 100-120 nuclear warheads. The report said, while the US and Russia were slowly reducing their nuclear arsenals, they were modernising their capacities.The other nuclear weapon-possessing states have much smaller arsenals, but have all either begun to deploy new nuclear weapon delivery systems or announced their intention to do so, it added.“China appears to be gradually increasing its nuclear forces as it modernises the arsenal. India and Pakistan are both expanding their nuclear weapon stockpiles and missile delivery capabilities. North Korea is estimated to have enough fissile material for around 10 nuclear warheads. However, it is unclear whether North Korea has produced or deployed operational weapons,” the report said.Last year also, Pakistan was ahead of India when it came to nuclear warheads. While India was said to have about 90-110 nuclear warheads, Pakistan had 100-120 of them.At the start of 2016, nine nations — the US, Russia, the UK, France, China, India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea — possessed approximately 4,120 operationally deployed nuclear weapons.If all nuclear warheads are counted, these states together possessed a total of around 15,395 nuclear weapons compared with 15,850 in early 2015, the report said. — PTI

Year on, Pak nuclear arsenal up from 100-120 to 110-130

• Stockholm International Peace Research Institute’s annual data suggests at the start of 2016, Pakistan had 110-130 nuclear warheads, against India’s 100-120
• Last year, too, Pakistan was positioned ahead of India with 100-120 nuclear warheads. India was a step below its neighbour having 90-110 warheads
• At the start of 2016, nine nations together possessed a total of around 15,395 nuclear weapons compared with 15,850 in 2015, the report said

Under an extensive outreach drive, the Dograi Brigade of the Indian Army organised a Women Empowerment Conclave at the Military Station Khasa on Sunday. A Tribune photograph

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 12

Under an extensive outreach drive, the Dograi Brigade of Indian Army organised a Women Empowerment Conclave at Military Station Khasa near here today.In the run up to the conclave, special teams contacted all war widows of Amritsar and Tarn Taran districts to proactively resolve their grievances, especially those related to pension, healthcare, land, legal cases and other entitlements to them with minimum delay. During this drive, approximately 861 widows were contacted.Anupveer Cheema, zonal president, AWWA, Vajra Corps, interacted with the widows and enquired about their problems. On this occasion, more than 350 widows were felicitated by the Army Wives Welfare Association by presenting them with utility items. The chief guest awarded three education scholarships to girl children of the widows.During the event, a number of stalls from various welfare functionaries and organisations of the Army and civil establishments were set up at the venue to provide solutions under one roof. The representatives of Zila Sainik Welfare Office, Records Office and Veteran Sahayata Kendra held meetings and interviews and addressed the grievances of widows. Non-Governmental Organisations and public sector banks organised special workshops to acquaint the widows of all possible welfare avenues available to them. Job letters to 12 dependents of veterans as packaging supervisors and foremen in industries were also presented on the occasion.Medical and Ex-servicemen Health Contributory Scheme (ECHS) camp with all specialist facilities including medical, surgical, gynecologists, dental, eye and ENT, Lab and dispensary were established. The Army also distributed booklets to the widows containing pension entitlements, welfare schemes and important contact numbers of officials to follow up their concerns in future.The event was inaugurated by Lieutenant General JS Cheema, General Officer Commanding, Vajra Corps while Major General Nav K Khanduri, General Officer Commanding, Panther Division, was also present on the occasion.

President Barack Obama reaches to shake hands with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Tuesday on June 7, 2016. AP/PTI

Washington, June 10

Describing the just concluded US visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as “historic”, the Obama administration has christened his vision of Indo-US ties that has overcome the “hesitations of history” and working for the betterment of the global good as “Modi Doctrine”.“The most important outcome in my mind of the visit this week and of the years of effort that preceded it is the clear and compelling vision that was laid out by Prime Minister Modi before joint session of the US Congress,” Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Nisha Desai Biswal said.“This vision which I have come to call The Modi Doctrine laid out a foreign policy that overcomes the hesitations of history and embraces the convergence between our two countries and our shared interests,” Biswal told a Washington audience.Biswal, the Obama Administration’s point person for South and Central Asia, said this at a discussion on ‘Security and Strategic Outcomes from the Modi Visit’ organised on Thursday here jointly by the Heritage Foundation–an American think-tank–and India Foundation, a New Delhi-based think-tank.Modi, she said, in his speech furthered his bold vision of India-US partnership that can anchor peace, prosperity and stability from Asia to Africa, from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific and help ensure the security of the sea lanes of commerce and freedom of navigation on the seas.“This Modi Doctrine notes that the absence of an agreed security architecture creates uncertainty in Asia and reiterates India’s adherence to and calls for others’ support for international laws and norms,” Biswal said.India, she said, is now key element of Obama Administration’s rebalance to Asia, a strategy which recognises that America’s security and prosperity increasingly depend on the security and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific.“The joint strategic vision which was issued last year laid out our mutual goals and interests in the Indo-Pacific and across the global commons. We are now implementing a road map that sets out a path of cooperation to achieve those goals and protect those interests,” Biswal said.In his remarks, US Ambassador to India Richard Verma said the US welcomed and shared the Prime Minister’s vision.“We have made a clear and strategic choice to support India’s transition to become, as Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar has articulated, a leading power. Our actions, as security partners in every sense of the word, speak to this endeavor,” he said.“We envision India as a leading power that can uphold international norms and support what Defence Secretary Carter called last week a “principled security network” in Asia. A leading power that can grow its economy while at the same time demonstrating global leadership on clean energy and climate,” he said.“And a leading power that joins likeminded partners to safeguard the global commons. Realising this vision will require diligent work on part of the bureaucracies in both Washington and Delhi and resilience to overcome obstacles that may arise,” Verma said.Indian Ambassador to the US Arun K Singh described the Prime Minister’s visit as “historic”.“There is a need step-by-step to build confidence and to build the habit of working together. That calls for regular meetings, including at the highest levels,” Singh said.On the political side, he said: “We are finding that even though we may not agree on every aspect there is an increasing convergence in our interest and assessment of issues.” In the Prime Minister’s speech to the Congress there was a reflection of the fact that this growing convergence is in the interest of India and the US. The areas of convergence are in the field of terrorism, situation in the Indian Ocean, Asia Pacific region, cyber issues.Singh said the two countries had recognised that clean energy would be an important area of partnership. PTI

Lt Col Ranveer Singh Jamwal being honoured during a function in Jammu on Sunday. Tribune Photo: Amarjeet Singh

Tribune News Service

Jammu, June 5

Jammu today accorded a grand reception to Lt Colonel Ranveer Singh Jamwal for scaling the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest, for a third time.Social groups comprising Amar Kshatriya Rajput Sabha, Jammu; Rajput Sabha, Jammu and Samba and Dogri Sanstha, Jammu and Pahal, organised an impressive programme to honour Lt Col Jamwal for achieving the feat.Lt Col Jamwal, who landed at Jammu airport this morning, was taken to the venue from the airport in a procession which saw participation of hundreds of youth from different parts of the region.Apart from representatives of various social groups, Param Vir Chakra awardee Bana Singh, Cabinet minister Chander Parkash Ganga, former minister Surjit Singh Slathia, senior officers from police and district administration were also present on the occasion.Lt Col Jamwal is the first Army officer from Jammu and Kashmir to achieve the feat for a third time. He had first scaled the world’s highest peak at 8,848 metres on May 25, 2012 and the second time on May 19, 2013.During their address, the speakers said that Lt Col Jamwal had brought laurels for J&K and demanded the government should name a stadium or a government building in his name to give him a real honour.