Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 8

The Northern Command will hold an investiture ceremony on February 12 in Udhampur to present 38 medals, including gallantry and service decoration, to Army men.The medals will be presented by Northern Command chief Lt Gen DS Hooda.On the occasion, President’s gallantry and distinguished service awards will be presented to military personnel and civilians for their service to the nation.Lt Gen DS Hooda will felicitate the bravehearts of the Army who had exhibited their valour and dedication while discharging their duty, said a defence spokesperson.“It will be a moment of pride and honour for all awardee officers, jawans and their families under the Command. The civilians who assisted the Army are also being felicitated on the occasion,” the spokesperson said.The spokesperson added: “A total of 19 Sena Medals (Gallantry), including three posthumously, will be presented by the Northern Command chief. Apart from the gallantry awards, nine Vishisht Seva Medals and 10 Sena Medals (Distinguished) will be presented to soldiers for their distinguished services.”A total of 15 civilians, including a Deputy Superintendent of Police, will also be awarded on the occasion.A total of 29 units deployed in the Northern Command theatre will be conferred Unit Citations for excellence in operations.

Lt Col Gurcharan Singh (retd) cuts a cake on his 96th birthday in Chandigarh on Monday. A Tribune photograph

Tribune News Service,Chandigarh, February 1

One of the oldest surviving officers and longest-serving commanding officer (CO) of the highly decorated 7th Light Cavalry, which created history by operating tanks at never-seen-before heights of 11,000 plus ft in sub-zero temperatures to wrest Zoji La from Pakistani invaders during the 1947-48 Indo-Pak war, Lt Col Gurcharan Singh (retd), was felicitated on his 96th birthday at his residence here today.The Colonel of the 7th Light Cavalry, Maj Gen NP Singh, Director, Defence Services Welfare, Punjab, Brig JS Arora (retd), Maj Gen GS Malhi (retd), who had served with the regiment, and Col RS Bagga, Officer Commanding No.1 (Independent), Armoured Squadron, were among those who joined the veteran soldier for a cake-cutting ceremony along with family members.Still alert, though his hearing is impaired in one ear, Lt Col Gurcharan Singh fondly remembered being a Major under the command of the legendary Maj Gen Rajinder Singh ‘Sparrow’, then a Lieutenant Colonel, when the Stuart light tanks of the regiment blasted the enemy positions at unbelievable heights of up to 11,500 ft under extreme treacherous conditions and freed the crucial Zoji La, the gateway to Leh and Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir.After aerial reconnaissance and a lot of planning and rigorous training for the final operation, on October 29, the regiment commenced the ascent during heavy snow. Getting the tanks up the steep-winding path, with rocky cliff faces on one side and a sheer drop on the other, was a herculean task and at many bends the tank tracks often overshot the edges of the track. So steep was the gradient at some places that the tanks had to be winched slowly.On November 1, 1948, dawn broke with an overcast sky. As the guns boomed, three lead tanks debouched into Gumri Basin and engaged the enemy bunkers on Mukand and Chabutra positions and knocked them out, enabling the infantry to secure the lower reaches of the basin. The tanks then advanced and knocked out a mountain gun on the North Ridge, clearing the whole basin of the enemy, who retreated in panic.

Nawaz Sharif

Lahore, January 30

Pakistan will soon complete its investigation into the Pathankot terror attack and make it public, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said today.The attack had had a negative impact and disturbed the talks with India which were “going in the right direction” after the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, he said.“The investigation into the Pathankot incident is under way and we will make its findings public soon,” he said while talking to mediapersons here. “Whatever facts come out we will bring them forth before everyone,” he said. Sharif vowed that Pakistan would go to any length to uncover the alleged use of its soil in the January 2 attack on the air base in Pathankot by suspected Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorists. “It is our responsibility to uncover if our soil was used in the attack. We will do this and the ongoing investigations will soon be completed,” he said.The terrorists were being defeated and in desperation, they were carrying out isolated acts to make their presence felt, he said, adding that the remaining ones will also be eliminated.Meanwhile, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said none of the “suspects” arrested in connection with the attack had been charged. “The investigation team is probing the matter and its findings will be made public,” Sanaullah told mediapersons.On whether any link of JeM has been established, he said: “The investigation team is also probing this.”Sharif had formed a six-member committee headed by Additional Inspector General of Punjab’s Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) to investigate the attack in which seven security personnel were killed. — PTI

PATHANKOT SLOWED DOWN TALKS: SHARIF

EW DELHI: Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for the first time has said that the terror strike on Pathankot airbase affected the dialogue process with India, reports said on Saturday. India has alleged that Maulana Masood Azhar, chief of Pakistanbased terror group Jaish-eMohammad, is responsible for plotting the Pathankot attack and given several pieces of evidence against him.

Pathankot affected dialogue, says Sharif

Commodore M Bhada (Retd)

Convenor, Vikrant Memorial Forum

The Memorial opposite the Lion Gate in Memory of INS Vikrant, was jointly unveiled by VAdm SPS Cheema, FOC-in-C West & Shri Ajoy Mehta, Municipal Commissioner, MCGM, on Friday, 25th Jan 2016.

INS Vikrant, the first aircraft carrier of the Indian Navy, was commissioned in 1961 and after a glorious 36 years service to the Nation was decommissioned in 1997. During this period, she actively projected India’s Sea Power in the Indian Ocean region. The ship saw action in the 1971 Indo-Pak War operations in the Bay of Bengal and played an instrumental role in the defeat of Pakistan that led to the creation of a new Nation. It was owing to her presence in the Bay of Bengal that the Country’s promulgation of contraband control was effectively enforced by the use of integral air power, representing India’s   multi-dimensional Sea Power.

Despite the concerted efforts of the Indian Navy, the State Govt and the Central Govt to preserve Vikrant as a Museum, she could not be retained and finally had to be sent to the scrapyard in 2014.

The dedication on the plaque reads as follows:

This Memorial is a living testimony of deep gratitude to a majestic ship, which chartered a glorious innings in the service of our Nation, from those to whom her deck was a haven of warmth and safety. Those who took forward her immeasurable legacy as pioneers of Indian Navy’s embarked aviation cadres. She played a vital role in the early victory of the 1971 War, representing India’s multi-dimensional Sea Power. We, her shipmates, offer this little monument to the iconic Aircraft Carrier, Indian Naval Ship VIKRANT, fabricated from her recovered memorabilia, as an offering of our everlasting tribute.

This project was conceived and spearheaded single handedly by Commodore Medioma Bhada (Retd), an ex-pilot from Vikrant who acquired the parts of the ship from the scrapyard and donated them for this memorial. The monument was  designed and created by Mr Arzan Khambatta, a sculptor known to bring life to metal, who has retained the pristine condition of the parts whilst projecting iconic Vikrant’s Air Power.

French President Francois Holland’s visit helped create an air of finality to the deal for purchasing Rafael fighter jets. All that remains, we are told is six more months of hard bargaining over prices. By then the Narendra Modi government would have completed two years in office and come no nearer to its predecessor in resolving the question of steady drawdown of India’s fighter aircraft fleet. For years, the joint development and production plan with Russia for the next generation of fighter aircraft too has been the subject of intense negotiations.  The light combat aircraft, after decades of being under development, went on its first outing to the Bahrain air show. But it cannot undertake the requirements of the heavier fighter aircraft. If the negotiations over Rafael drag on, Modi will have himself to blame for failing to reverse the attrition in India’s fighter fleet. Almost as if on impulse, he placed an order for 36 Rafael jets on the eve of his first visit to Paris last April. Rafael had emerged as the best of the six fighters that had competed for the Indian Air Force’s tender for 126 fighters. For the past three years Defence Ministry officials had been conducting intense haggling-cum-negotiations with the company. The entire exercise went topsy-turvy when Modi announced the order for 36 fighters. Exasperated officials had to begin negotiations all over again. This time they are trying to get the old price for a smaller order. It is not just about Rafael. The Make-in-India policy for defence equipment was announced with fanfare without one crucial component — the criteria for the foreign strategic partner. The industry is not happy with the proposal to restrict one strategic partner to one project. Once this is overcome, the next hurdle will be the defence public sector workers opposing the entry of the private sector. Several other major projects such as plans to jointly build warships, nuclear submarines and helicopters are also facing challenges. The bigger challenge is there are no export markets or civilian derivatives for these products. The government will have to become realistic and prioritise products that can be realistically built in India at a comparable cost.

India for fresh price quote on Rafale jets

New Delhi unwilling to seal deal till cost is reduced

Ajay Banerjee,Tribune News Service,New Delhi, January 27

India and France are looking at the possibility of sealing the deal on 36 Rafale fighter jets over the next two months even as New Delhi has sought a fresh ‘price quote’ on the planes. India has asked the manufacturers of Rafale, French company Dassault Aviation, to come up a quote on pricing, it is learnt.During the just-concluded three-day visit of French President Francois Hollande, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed as the first step towards signing a formal inter-governmental agreement (IGA).Only pricing remains to be decided and specific aspects are being discussed on how price can be reduced, a top functionary said. There is no reason it can’t be done in four to six weeks, he added.Last-minute efforts to ink the IGA for the purchase of the jets during Hollande’s visit had come to naught as New Delhi was not happy with the price being offered.“It was way too expensive. The price has come down from earlier but not to our expectations. Let them (the French) do their exercise of costing and come back with a fresh offer,” a senior functionary said.The French President was quoted as having cited a figure of US $9 billion for the 36 jets, including two types of missiles (air to ground and air-to-air), training of pilots, bombs and base facilities of the planes. It would translate to Rs 59,000 crore or Rs 1,630 crore per piece. Indian negotiators are willing to pay some US $7 billion or Rs 46,000 crore (Rs 1,180 crore per piece).In the meantime, the Indian Air Force has reminded the Ministry of Defence that it needs at least 80 Rafale-type multi-role combat fighter jets to be battle-ready in the next few years. The Tribune had on June 2 reported how the IAF was uneasy with the number of jets ordered. As of now, the IAF has 35 fighter jet squadrons (having 16-18 planes each) against its projected requirement of 42.

French Prez says will take up with India pact on 36 Rafale fighter jets

Nitin Jain,,Tribune News Service,,Chandigarh, January 24

India and France committed themselves to closer ties in business and in combating terrorism, hours after French President Francois Hollande began his three-day visit to India on Sunday. Prime Minister Narendra  welcomed him here.The two leaders shared concern over the menace of terrorism with Modi pitching for a collective fight.  They pledged to work together in fields of mutual interest.Hollande will be the chief guest at the Republic Day parade in New Delhi on January 26. He said he would discuss with India the inter-governmental agreement on 36 Rafale fighter planes.Modi,who specially flew to the city to receive the dignitary, said: “The trust and friendship with France is an asset for us.” Hollande and Modi interacted with the Indo-French CEOs Forum and addressed the India France Business Summit at Hotel Taj. Prior to that, they visited the Rock Garden, Capitol Complex and Government Museum and Art Gallery.Speaking at the Business Summit, Modi said he had had several opportunities to interact with Hollande, one of these being the recent COP21 Summit. “President Hollande is correct in saying that terrorism is a challenge, just like global warming.” Observing that within days of the Paris terror attacks, France had hosted several world leaders, he said the French people and the French media deserved appreciation for the same. Calling defence a “very important matter,” Modi said it was not about the battlefield alone, “cyber security is vital too.” Pointing out that India’s skilled manpower could be a major source of strength, the Prime Minister said: “Our skilled manpower can bring down costs and improve quality. In a short span of time, India’s ‘Ease of Doing Business’ rankings have improved substantially.”  Stressing the world had accepted India as a good investment destination, he said France’s greatest strength was innovation. On smart cities project, he said, “Urbanisation is gaining pace and that is why we are working on this project. We want to work closely with France. We want to work together for the development of humankind.”  Earlier, speaking to the media at the airport, Hollande said: “We are going to take another step on the road which we hope will lead us to India’s acquisition of the 36 Rafale jets.”Stating that France had shown that it had the world’s best aircraft, Hollande said the commercial contract would come only after the inter-governmental accord, which would be discussed during this visit.

Rafale deal could take more time: Hollande