Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 1

To celebrate New Year, Indian and Chinese armies held two ceremonial border personnel meetings (BPMs) at Chushul-Moldo and Daulat Beg Oldi-TWD meeting points in eastern Ladakh.

The meetings were organised on the invitation of the People’s Liberation Army, China.

The Indian delegation was led by Maj Gen Sanjiv Rai and Col SS Lamba and the Chinese delegation by Senior Col Liu Hou Jie and Col Song Zhang Li. Giving details, a Northern Command spokesman said the ceremonial meetings commenced with the delegation members saluting the national flags. “This was followed by the ceremonial address comprising of exchange of greetings, wishes and vote of thanks. The address reflected the mutual desire of maintaining and improving relations at functional level at the border,” he said.

Thereafter, a programme showcasing Chinese culture and traditions was organised, the spokesman added.

The ceremonial BPMs were held in the backdrop of successful conduct of exercise at Chengdu in China wherein troops of both the countries interacted, participated in joint exercises and shared experiences. The spokesman said both the delegations interacted in a free, congenial and cordial environment. “The delegations parted amid feeling of friendship and commitment towards enhancing the existing cordial relations and maintaining peace along the border. Both sides also sought to build on the mutual feeling to maintain peace and tranquillity along the border,” he said.

In what is being seen as an effort to counter China’s growing influence in Myanmar, India has decided to ship 6 Kiran Jet trainers to Myanmar. Top government sources confirm the decision has already been taken.

India and Myanmar have close military ties and there have been times when the Myanmar Army has helped India with insurgents deep inside their territory. According to media reports, an IAF team will also be stationed in Myanmar for 2 years to service the planes and to help the Myanmar pilots with training.

Earlier, India had gifted used Mi25 helicopters to Afghanistan.

India, however, finds it impossible to counter China’s soft power approach in Southeast Asia. So far Beijing has provided development grants to Naypyidaw for education, economy, technology, and communication infrastructure.

China is currently in talks with Myanmar to develop a strategic deep-sea port in Kyaukphyu, western Rakhine state.

Kiran is a two-seat intermediate jet trainer developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and has been used by the Indian Air Force for intermediate level training of pilots.

Myanmar features prominently in PM Narendra Modi’s Act East Policy and New Delhi is keen on accelerating the ongoing infrastructural projects in Myanmar to boost bilateral ties between both the countries. India is also planning to cooperate in areas such as security, economy and culture.

India has already started the construction of the 109-km road project as part of the USD 484-million Kaladan Multimodal project and it is expected to be operational only by 2019-2020.

Jammu, December 26

A soldier was shot dead following a verbal spat by his colleague in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district, police said.

“Havildar Rajesh was fired upon by his colleague inside an army camp in Bhaderwah area late on Tuesday. The injured was shifted to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries,” a police officer said.

The incident reportedly followed a verbal spat between the two.

“Police have sought custody of the accused soldier. The army has also ordered an internal inquiry,” the officer added. IANS

Tribune Web Desk
Chandigarh, December 26

The Indo-Tibetan Border Police personnel on Wednesday rescued 11 people, including five trekkers from Delhi, a guide and five porters, from Munsiari, Uttarakhand.

They were stranded in Munsiari since December 24 when they lost contact due to snowfall in Khaliya Top in Bhainstal area.

They were rescued by the 14 Battalion of ITBP personnel. All the rescued persons are in good health.

Martyr Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad

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Suggest budget constraints should not be only guiding principle

Ajay Banerjee
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, November 21

Retired Generals of the Army have advised that forthcoming restructuring of the forces should not lose focus of the two-front simultaneous war scenario and also budget constraints should not be the only guiding principle to re-cast the Army.

These opinions emerged after Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat met former chiefs and senior officers to discuss the nuances of restructuring the force over a two-hour session in Delhi on Sunday.

Details emerging now indicate that the veterans — former chiefs and Lieut Generals — were informed about the forthcoming changes. Among the invitees were those retired officers who are regular on TV shows and write columns in newspapers.

Despite being retired the Generals keep in touch with their regiments for life, hence are important in conveying the “right message”.

The veterans were informed about four major in-house studies being carried out. The most important is “Reorganisation and Rightsizing of the Indian Army”, which reviews operational structures to make them efficient and future-ready by taking into account the operational situation on Western and Northern Borders. This will include creation of integrated battle groups (IBGs) fully equipped with elements of warfare.

In an interview to the Tribune on November 5, General Rawat had said how these IBGs were planned to be pre-positioned facing the western (Pakistan) and northern (China) borders.

The second study is on “Reorganisation of the Army Headquarters”, aimed at integrating various wings. The third study is on “Cadre Review of Officers”, which focuses on incorporating the proposed reorganisation and restructuring and plans to have a balanced cadre to meet the aspirations of officers. This will include longer tenures as Brigadier, Maj General and Lt General and faster promotion from Colonel to Brigadier.

The fourth study is on “Review of Terms of Engagement of Rank and File”, aimed at having a younger profile of officers. The retired Generals have been told that the IBGs are being “Test-beded” — a term in military parlance for trying out a new concept in the field under real conditions.

Army plans two types of integrated battle groups (IBGs) — smaller for mountains (China border) and bigger for plains (Pakistan border). Each border may have around 8-10 IBGs.

Each IBG may have 8,000-10,000 troops and comprise 4-6 infantry and armoured battalions, 2-3 artillery regiments, an engineers’ unit, integrated signals unit and dedicated integral logistics.

Brigadiers may command smaller IBGs and Major Generals the bigger ones. Both will be under the Corps Commander of the area.

Divya Sharma

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 10

One hundred and twenty girls participated in the annual cadet training camp with RDC launch concluded at Gharinda, near Indo-Pak border on Sunday. Most of them aim for joining armed forces, besides learning art of self-defense.

The girls across Majha were trained in life skills and self-defense. The camp was conducted by the First Punjab Battalion, NCC. The girls came from Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran and Pathankot.

“I left a private school and joined a government school as it offered NCC. I wish to join the Army and NCC is my first step,” said Palakdeep Kaur, a young cadet.

Diksha, a college student, highlighting life lessons learnt in such events, said, “My primary aim is to make into defense service. In any case, I am unable to achieve it. The life learning skills I have nurtured here are going to stay with me. I know how to protect myself. My inter-personal skills have improved.”

Around 350 cadets are being trained under the experts from military on their physical and mental fitness. Many of them see here an opportunity to make new friends and meet new people.

“This is my second camp. I have met a number of cadets from different places,” said a student. The young vibrant girls feel that such camps have helped them improve their confidence level and have made them better individuals.

“I feel much more confident than before. Debates, physical activities and shooting lessons have improved our confidence level,” said Nandini, a cadet.

“Major Kavita along with other instructors trains these young female cadets. Most of them are learning self-defense mechanism, taking part in physical activities and understanding Army and NCC,” said Sukhpal Singh, associate NCC officer. The camp on Sunday concluded with prize distribution function followed by a cultural programme.