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Islamabad, October 11

A prominent Pakistani journalist has been barred from leaving the country after he reported a rift between the civilian and military leaderships over the powerful ISI shielding terror groups like the Haqqani network and LeT that led to Pakistan’s international isolation.Cyril Almeida, a columnist and reporter for the Dawn newspaper, tweeted he has been told that he has been put on ‘Exit Control List’—a system which allows Pakistan government to bar people from leaving the country.“Puzzled, saddened. Had no intention of going anywhere; this is my home. Pakistan. I feel sad tonight. This is my life, my country. What went wrong,” Almeida tweeted.PM Nawaz Sharif yesterday asked authorities to take “stern action” against people responsible for publishing the “fabricated” story. The daily today stood by the story issued on October 6, saying it was “verified, cross-checked and fact-checked”. — PTI

India believes Pakistan will resort to a major strike in J&K using terrorists, but there won’t be an attack by Army regulars. pti

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 11

Buoyed by a “positive signal” from global powers and the international “cold-shoulder” to Pakistan, following the September 29 strikes by the Indian Army across the Line of Control (LoC) to target terror  camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), the Indian security establishment has devised a “three-S” formula to respond to terror threat originating from across the border.“Speed, Skills and Surprise” will form the fulcrum of the “three-S” formula. The “skills” shall include stealth and training to carry out responses in future as the security establishment knows that cross-LoC raid or strike at multiple locations cannot be repeated after every terror attack in India.Pakistan’s “low-cost” option of waging a proxy war by sending terrorists to India can no more remain viable in the long run; the unpredictability that will be factored in the “three-S” formula, would  be a deterrent, a source told The Tribune.Within hours of the cross-LoC strikes, Russia, China and the US made it clear that they “stood by” New Delhi’s response. While China asked both sides to scale down tension and resort to dialogue, the US and Russia, in separate statements, called on Pakistan to end terrorism originating from its soil.On September 30, Moscow said, “We expect that the Pakistan government should take effective steps in order to stop activities of terrorist groups in the territory of the country.”US National Security Adviser Susan Rice called on Pakistan “to take effective action to combat and de-legitimise United Nations-designated terrorist individuals and entities, including Lashkar-e-Toiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, and their affiliates.”Within India, an assessment within the security establishment is that Pakistan will attempt to retaliate through terror strikes even as citizens in its own country have questioned the wisdom of engaging with India.New Delhi believes Pakistan will resort to a major strike in Jammu and Kashmir using terrorists, but there won’t be an attack by Pakistan Army regulars. India’s response to such a strike will depend on the nature of the attack, but so far it’s almost certain that “no war” looms on the horizon unless Pakistan is hell-bent on taking on the economic and military might of India.

Ambala October 10

Ex-servicemen today protested political parties and criticised them for seeking evidence of surgical strikes and said politicians must not drag the Army into politics.Subedar Atar Singh Multani, president, Ex-servicemen Welfare Committee, Ambala, said: “The Army is not supposed to give proof of operations carried out by it. The surgical strikes were a confidential operation and the politicians must stop questioning the Army.” He said it was an insult to the Army and martyrs who laid their lives for the country. Later, they burnt Chinese lights and called upon the public to boycott Chinese products. — OC

BSP chief Mayawati. PTI

Lucknow, October 7

Alleging that the BJP was trying to take “political mileage” out of the surgical strikes across the LoC, BSP chief Mayawati on Friday said only the Army should be felicitated for its action and not the Defence Minister or the Prime Minister.

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“BJP’s attempt to take political mileage out of the surgical strikes ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls should be condemned. Only the Army should be felicitated and hailed for it not any leader, the Defence Minister or the Prime Minister,” Mayawati said.

She said the BJP leadership’s reported directive to its leaders and ministers not to issue statements on the surgical strikes seem to have fallen on deaf ears.

“Against the instruction, hoardings, posters and statements of BJP leaders are being used to take political gain out the of force’s action. This is happening when the situation on the border is tense and terrorists are continuing their attacks.

The Centre and the BJP should avoid such propaganda for political gains,” the BSP supremo said.

“People’s apprehensions that the BJP government headed by Narendra Modi will promote hatred, orchestrate communal riots and rake up the India-Pakistan issue ahead of the UP Assembly polls to turn the tide in its favour are proving true. It did the same before the 2014 Lok Sabha polls,” she alleged.

Mayawati said the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh Government have gone on an “inauguration spree, which is an attempt to divert voters’ attention and confuse them”. —PTI

Unprovoked firing at Naushera sector in Rajouri, KG sector in Poonch and Pallanwala in Akhnoor

JAMMU: There seems to be no end to ceasefire violations by Pakistan as it resorted to mortar shelling and unprovoked firing on Indian posts along the Line of Control (LoC) in Naushera sector of Rajouri district (5am) and Pallanwala area of Akhnoor sector in Jammu (1.35pm) on Tuesday. Later in the day, more ceasefire violations were reported from Naushera Sector of Rajouri and KG Sector of Poonch at 5pm.

AFPA Border Security Force (BSF) soldier patrolling along a fence at the India-Pakistan border in R S Pura, southwest of Jammu, on Tuesday.

“Unprovoked ceasefire violations by Pakistan started in Naushera and KG Sectors of Rajouri and Poonch districts respectively from 5pm. Firing stopped at KG Sector at 8 pm but continued in Naushera Sector of Rajouri district,” defence spokesman Lt Col Manish Mehta said.

Reports of ceasefire violation in Pallanwala sector came in around 1.35pm and continued till evening. Rifleman Dharender Bisht of 2/9 Gurkha Rifles was injured in the firing in Bhudwaal forward post of Khour area in Pallanwala sector in Akhnoor. He was evacuated by army authorities.

Col Mehta said Pakistan is using small arms, automatics and 82 and 120 mm mortars. “Our own troops are responding in equal measure,” he added.

A police officer from Pallanwala police station said Pakistan has been firing mortars on forward villages like Darkote, Platan, Channi Dewanu, Budhwal, Gagrial and Garar villages. Villagers had already moved to relief camps set up in government schools in safer areas, he added.

Meanwhile, an intelligence official said that Pakistan has been trying to push a group of ultras from Naushera sector since India’s surgical strike on September 29.

“This morning they tried once again to push the ultras. They are said to be five to six in number. The Indian army is alert to the situation,” he said.

Indian Air Force Chief Marshal Arup Raha addresses the annual press conference in New Delhi on Tuesday. Tribune Photo: Mukesh Aggarwal

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 4

IAF Chief Marshal Arup Raha today refrained to comment on the recent strikes at terror camps across the Line of Control (LoC), saying things were still “live” and the IAF had adequate capability to take on any contingency.“Things are still live, it would not be right for me to give a perspective now,” Air Chief Marshal Raha said at a press conference. He refused to take any question on the September 29 surgical strikes. “Our capability is not towards a particular country,” he said without naming Pakistan.Speaking about future plans, he expected the IAF’s fighter jet fleet to grow over the next few years and provide better capabilities. Over the next few years “we will manage the fleet with replacements and upgrade”.After the purchase of 36 Rafale jets from France, there is a plan to make fighter jets in India. The Light Combat Aircraft, Tejas, will be inducted in big numbers (106, including the upgraded version).Also there are plans to upgrade the Sukhoi-30 MKI — the IAF’s lead fighter jet that is based at Halwara and Bathinda in Punjab and Sirsa in Haryana, among other bases in the country.The IAF at present has 33 (16-18 in each) fighter squadrons as against the 42 needed to tackle a simultaneous two front war with Pakistan and China.On the LCA, he said the next version called the Tejas ‘Mark1-A’ will be an improved version. It will have better radar, greater weapons carriage avionics. We can start production by 2021. “We can have 80 such planes by 2027.”On having the fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA), he said there were some issues of transfer of technology with Russia. He said: “We can hopefully move ahead on the research and development of the same.”On the integration of BrahMos missiles with the Sukhoi-30 MKI, he said “we hope to fire a live missile in three months time.” The IAF chief who heads the Chiefs of Staff Committee (CoSC) — a body of the three service chiefs — said he hoped the government would resolve the issues of the 7th Pay Commission.

Frankly, I never thought this regressive recommendation would ever be accepted… the pay panel has made unfounded and uncharitable remarks against disabled soldiers. MAJOR NAVDEEP SINGH, lawyer, Punjab and Haryana high court

CHANDIGARH: The central government notified the Seventh Pay Commission recommendations on Friday but disabled officers of the defence forces will still get lower remuneration than their counterparts in civil departments.

Among the accepted recommendations is a return to the slab system for calculation of disability. That was prevalent before the sixth commission replaced it with the system of calculating disability element of pension as a maximum of 30% of pay scale for 100% disability. It is the method used for civilians. For lower degree of disability, the amount was reduced on prorata basis.

The defence services had this time even sought enhancement of the disability element of pension at 50% for complete disability.

But, in the slab system that has made a comeback, for 100% disability, for officers the element of pension is fixed at `27,000, for junior commissioned officers (JCOs) `17,000; for other ranks (ORs), `12,000 a month, for 100% disability. It would be reduced as per lower level of disability. In lower ranks, the change of system won’t make a significant difference, though. WHY THE U-TURN?

The seventh panel reasoned that after implementation of the sixth commission recommendations, emoluments “for 100% disability, at the minimum level for ORs, went up from `1,550 to `3,138, that is, a little over double; and at the highest level amongst officers from `2,600 to `27,000, that is, by 10.38 times”.

It added, “As a percentage of the total officer retirees, the number of officers retiring with disability has increased in 2013-14 (19.8%), as compared to 2007-08 (13.6%). The percentage of JCOs/ORs retiring with disability is, on the other hand, decreasing (18.9 to 7.2).”

For introduction of the flat slab system again, the seventh panel also said that disability pension based on percentage brought inequity, as the difference between maximum and minimum quantum of compensation across the ranks “is now disproportionately high”.

But Major Navdeep Singh, lawyer at the Punjab and Haryana high court, differs: “Frankly, I never thought that this regressive recommendation would ever be accepted. While recommending this aspect, the pay commission has made unfounded and uncharitable remarks against disabled soldiers by casting aspersions on those who have incurred disabilities while in service. These remarks should be expunged by the political executive.”

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, September 30

The Army recruitment board has rescheduled its recruitment rally at Khasa, scheduled for October 1. In a press note issued by the Army recruitment board, officials have cited the prevailing situation at the border for rescheduling the recruitment rally. The officials stated that the new dates of the rally would be announced at a later date.

Islamabad, September 30

Pakistan on Friday said it has briefed the envoys of the P5 — the US, China, Russia, the UK and France — over “unprovoked firing” by India at the LoC and asked the countries to play their role in ensuring the maintenance of peace and security in the region.

Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry accompanied by the Director-General Military Operations (DGMO) briefed the Ambassadors of Permanent Members of UN Security Council about the “frivolous Indian claim of carrying out surgical strikes on the LoC”, the Pakistan Foreign Office said in a statement.

DGMO Major Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza gave a detailed briefing of the situation on the LoC and completely rejected the Indian “claim of surgical strikes”, the statement said.

It claimed that in reality, on the night of September 28 and 29 September, the Indian forces resorted to “unprovoked firing” at the LoC at multiple points, which led to the death of two Pakistani soldiers.

“The Armed Forces of Pakistan gave a befitting response to the ceasefire violations by India. He also highlighted the troops positions on the LoC and explained the anti- infiltration mechanisms already in place,” the statement said.

The DGMO also informed the envoys about layers of fencing, barbed wires, lighting, border posts, bunkers etc, on the LoC, which ensure that no infiltration takes place.

The Foreign Secretary also rejected the “false and baseless Indian claims”, the statement said.

“He conveyed serious concerns over the increased Indian aggression and belligerence, especially during the last few days which could also be seen in multiple public statements made by the Indian Prime Minister,” it said.

The Foreign Secretary informed the Ambassadors that Pakistan remains the “major victim of terrorism, including state terrorism”.

He called upon the Permanent Members of the UN Security Council to play their role to ensure maintenance of peace and security in the region.

Earlier, reports said Pakistan’s DGMO met Foreign Secretary Chaudhry and gave a detailed briefing to him on the situation at the LoC.

India carried out surgical strikes on seven terror launch pads across the LoC with the Army inflicting “significant casualties” on terrorists preparing to infiltrate from PoK.

The terror launch pads were targeted by the Army on the intervening night of September 28 and 29 in a nearly five- hour-long operation. — PTI