It will be just a small step forward on a long and difficult road, which our two nations can only traverse together if Islamabad gives up its negative posturing vis-a-vis India

My connect with Kartarpur Sahib goes back to my childhood. I still remember how the gurdwara, just about 235 km from my hometown of Patiala (that’s less than the Chandigarh-Delhi distance), was always spoken of with great reverence in our family. Of course, that was majorly because of the historic importance of the site, where Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji died on September 22, 1539. But part of it was also because of the personal connection my family had with the gurdwara, whose present building was built in 1925 at a cost of Rs 1,35,600, donated by Maharaja Bhupindar Singh, the then ruler of Patiala and my grandfather, after the existing structure was ravaged by floods.

The desire to visit the revered gurdwara has always been strong within me. Today, just days before I see the cherished aspiration transform into enviable reality, I bow before the Great Guru for granting me this experience, and that too during his 550th Prakash Purb celebration.

I recall my personal meetings, in my previous term as chief minister, with former Pakistan President, General Pervez Musharraf, during which I had spoken extensively about the deep-rooted urge in every Sikh to visit the historic Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara. Though he had responded positively to my request, which our former Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, had also subsequently pursued actively, things did not really move forward till November 2018, when the Government of India conveyed its decision to build the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor from Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district to the International Border (with Pakistan), in coordination with the Government of Punjab.

It was a momentous day for all of us here in Punjab, and we wasted no time in initiating the process of getting things in place for the construction of the corridor and the infrastructure around it. It took us less than two months to make the land required for the project available to the central government. The work on the corridor (4.190 km) was started on December 13, 2018. In addition, a Passenger Terminal Building Integrated Check Post (ICP) is also being constructed at the International Border in an area of about 50 acres by the Land Port Authority of India (LPAI), which will become operational before the corridor opens for pilgrims.

Working closely with the Centre, my government, I am pleased to state, has ensured that the corridor is ready to be inaugurated by the prime minister on November 9, and to receive the first jatha of pilgrims to Sri Kartarpur Sahib on the same day. That, with the blessings of Wahe Guru, I will have the honour of being a member of this jatha gives me a deep sense of joy and satisfaction.

What makes this achievement truly remarkable is that both India and Pakistan stuck to their deadlines against all odds, in the face of many disturbing and disruptive developments in the last one year, to fulfill their ends of the bargain. This gives me, and I am sure it gives the people of both countries, a powerful sense of optimism about the future.

However, the fructification of this optimism would depend, to a great extent, on how soon, and how effectively, Pakistan leverages the opportunity it has got in the shape of the Kartarpur Corridor. From where I see it, the corridor has the potential to stand out as a historic symbol of peace and hope of a better tomorrow for Indo-Pak relations.

The recent decision of the Union Ministry of Road Transport & Highways to name the stretch from the Indo/Pak Border-Dera Baba Nanak-Amritsar-Tarn Taran-Goindwal Sahib-Kapurthala Sultanpur Lodhi National Highway as “Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji Marg” in the state of Punjab has further added to the aura of the corridor, which in many ways is a bridge of faith between India and Pakistan.

But the opening of the corridor next month will be just a small step forward on a long and difficult road, which our two nations can only traverse together if Islamabad gives up its negative posturing vis-a-vis India. As long as the Pakistan Army continues to support and sponsor cross-border terrorism, as long as our soldiers are killed by the men from across the border, and as long as the climate of mistrust and fear remains, there can be no real progress in easing the perpetual tension between our countries.

However, with my unwavering faith in the ideology of universal love and tolerance propagated by our revered first Guru, I am strongly of the view that the corridor will eventually pave the way for harmony between our two nations, whose people share common roots and a common aspiration for the future. It is my dream to see India and Pakistan connect with each other at an even deeper level, to walk beyond the 4.5 km of the Kartarpur Corridor and find new ways of burying the past, in my lifetime.

One small way of building on the trust that the corridor promises to nurture between the two countries is for Islamabad to waive the $20 fee it has imposed on pilgrims visiting the revered gurdwara. A gesture like that would really prove that Pakistan respects the sentiments of India’s people, and wants to strengthen people-to-people relations between the two nations.

The corridor, I believe, has shown us that it is more than possible to bridge the differences that have assumed unnaturally grave proportions in these seven decades. All that is needed is the will to do so. Let this corridor, then, become an icon of our collective future, and a beacon to show us the way to do it. Let it be the burial ground for hatred and mistrust, and for all those inimical forces that have obstructed peace between the two nations all these years. Terror and violence have no place in this Corridor of Peace — a truth that I am sure Islamabad realises, and hope it is ready to acknowledge.

What is needed now is the intent to bury the hatchet, which, in the given circumstances, is more the responsibility of Pakistan than of India. And now is the best time for the Imran Khan government to make the next move.

This article first appeared in the print edition on October 30, 2019 under the title ‘Journey to a beginning’. The writer is chief minister of Punjab.

The supply company and the supply depot provide supplies to an army division and the brigades under it in both peace and field locations. The combined strength of the supply company and depot is about 200 troops, officials explained.

HT Correspondent

chandigarh@hindustantimes.com

Mohali  : Students of the Army Institute of Law (AIL), Sector 68, on Monday submitted their response to the decisions announced by the institute over the eight demands raised by them.

Over 300 students have been protestingagainst the college administration since last week. College chairman Major General ML Aswal had met them and announced the decisions taken by the management over the row.

To the first demand as per which the students asked for the appointment of a democratically chosen interim students’ body, the chairman had said that the body would continue to be nominated. To this, the students, citing Lyngdoh Committee Report, replied that Supreme Court says elections can be conducted to form student bodies in colleges and universities.

To the demand of revoking the provisions of the code of conduct, the college management had recommended a review in consultation with the students and their parents. To this, the students highlighted several codes and demanded their revocation.

To the demand of mandating a system of mock lecture for fresh recruitment of faculty members and inviting anonymous feedback, the students said, “Such lectures in the presence of senior and experienced faculty members will help gauge the abilities and style of teaching of the candidates.” The  AIL management had refused to abide by this demand. On the complaints of overpricing and low quality of food served at the college cafeteria, they urged the authorities to seek their suggestions before giving contract to anyone.

DEMAND PERMANENT BOARD OF INQUIRY

To their demand seeking the composition of a board of inquiry, the students asked for a permanent body in place. “We recommend having a permanent body, wherein members may change periodically over an academic year to prevent organisational hassles for students and authorities alike,” they said.

Seeks credible action against terrorists on Pak soil, says half-hearted steps won’t do

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 25

India today termed Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s remarks that his country was still hosting 30,000-40,000 armed men who had fought in Kashmir or Afghanistan a “glaring admission” of Islamabad’s policy of using armed extremists as an instrument of state policy.

Many of these militants were sent to India and the international community is well aware of this, said Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar.

“It is a glaring admission by the Pakistan leadership. We have been saying repeatedly that it is time for Pakistan to take credible and irreversible action against terrorists,” he observed even as Khan, back in the country after a three-day visit to the US, said he felt like he had again won the World Cup. The Pakistan PM, while admitting that tens of thousands of people with dented records were still in Pakistan, also claimed previous dispensations had not been upfront about admitting the presence of 40 militant groups on Pakistani soil.

“They should make sure that the safe havens and sanctuaries in Pakistan should be neutralised. We feel that half-hearted measures to please the international community won’t do,” added Raveesh Kumar.

Despite Khan’s claim that his foreign trip was spectacularly successful, sources here pointed out that he had returned with no overt promises from the US of resuming aid that Pakistan desperately needs for its military and social sector. They pointed out that the overtly friendly gestures by US President were aimed at ensuring that Pakistan did not play spoilsport at a time when Washington wants to extricate itself from Afghanistan.

They also took on Khan for suggesting Pakistan had turned a corner in 2014 after the Peshawar school attack when he claimed all political parties decided to jointly combat terrorism.

The sources wanted to know why the ranks of militants had not depleted in these five years and despite this claimed political consensus, why did these militants continued with their armed depredation in India.

The sources drew attention to Khan’s entourage that included army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, and ISI chief Lt Gen Faiz Hameed to indicate the reality of rival centres of power in Pakistan. Khan was forced to be accompanied by army generals to signal to the US that Pakistan’s rival centres of power were on the same page as him. However, Kumar sought to end the controversy over Trump’s claim that PM Narendra Modi had asked him to mediate on the Kashmir issue.

“We should move on, we have moved on,” he said, while drawing attention to the depth and breadth of Indo-US ties which, he suggested, was unlikely to be shaken by a stray comment that had already been clarified by the US State Department and denied in Parliament by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

The US media has already hauled Trump over the coals for undoing the achievements of his predecessors on India by “blundering” to volunteer to mediate over the Kashmir issue. Trump has committed “diplomatic malpractice of a high order” by revealing a privileged conversation with PM Modi, said the Washington Post.

‘Feels like I have won World Cup’

Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday said the “rousing welcome” accorded to him by his supporters after his first official visit to the US made him feel as if he has won the cricket World Cup for the country. “I felt as if I came home after winning the World Cup and not from an official visit,” Khan, the former captain of the Pakistani cricket team, which won the cricket World Cup in 1992, said. pti

What Pak PM said in America

• Pakistan still hosting 30,000-40,000 armed men who had fought in Kashmir or Afghanistan
• Previous governments were not forthcoming on admitting presence of 40 militant groups on Pakistan soil

Mediation claim a blunder: US Media

Trump just committed diplomatic malpractice of a high order… After his trade war with India, his blundering into the Kashmir conflict further alienates an important country whose friendship the US needs to counter the rise of China. The Washington Post

Submit Your Life Certificate in November.If your age is 80 years or above, Life Certificate  can be submitted w.e.f. 1st October  and will be valid till 30.11.2020. To see  DLC (Digital Life Certificate) process,  click the Movie Link  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNMlkTYqTF8  on  Pensioners Portal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNMlkT

The standoff was finally resolved after the PLA stopped the road construction, following which India withdrew its troops. AFP file

Beijing, July 24

The Chinese military on Wednesday said it is striving to promote security and stability along the India-China border and has created “favourable conditions” to resolve the Doklam standoff in 2017.

A white paper titled ‘China’s National Defence in the New Era’, released by the Chinese Defence Ministry here touched upon various aspects of its military development comparing with India, US, Russia and other countries.

About the situation at the Sino-Indian border, the white paper said the Chinese military “strive to promote stability and security along the border with India, and taken effective measures to create favourable conditions for the peaceful resolution of the Donglang (Doklam) standoff”.

The reference to Doklam in the white paper was significant in the backdrop of the reports that China continued to reinforce its troops not far from the standoff site.

The standoff began when Indian troops objected to the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) building a road close to the narrow Chicken Neck corridor connecting with the North-Eastern states in an area also claimed by Bhutan.

The standoff, which led severe disruption of relations between the two countries, was finally resolved after the PLA stopped the road construction, following which India withdrew its troops.

The standoff led to both the countries revamping their ties with the first ever informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Wuhan in 2018 which paved the way for the normalisation of the ties.

President Xi is due to visit India later this year for the second informal summit, which is expected to further solidify the relations between the two counties.

The India-China border dispute covered 3,488 km and the two countries have so far held 21 rounds of talks to resolve the issue.

The white paper also highlighted the intensification of competition between the two million strong Chinese military with that of its counterparts in India, US, Russia and other countries.

“Global military competition is intensifying. Major countries around the world are readjusting their security and military strategies and military organisational structures. They are developing new types of combat forces to seize the strategic commanding heights in military competition,” it said.

The US, the white paper noted, is engaging in technological and institutional innovation in pursuit of absolute military superiority.

Russia is advancing its ‘New Look’ military reform, while the UK, France, Germany, Japan and India are re-balancing and optimising the structure of their military forces.

“Driven by the new round of technological and industrial revolution, the application of cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), quantum information, big data, cloud computing and the Internet of Things are gathering pace in the military field,” it said.

The white paper noted that the international military competition is undergoing historic changes. New and high-tech military technologies based on IT are developing rapidly. There is a prevailing trend to develop long-range precision, intelligent, stealthy or unmanned weaponry and equipment.

“War is evolving in form towards informationised warfare, and intelligent warfare is on the horizon,” it said.

The defence white paper also sought to play down heavy military expenditure, saying that China is spending less on defence budgets in terms of GDP in comparison to India, US and other countries.

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the leading international defence think tank, China, the second-largest spender of defence in the world, increased its military expenditure by 5.0 per cent to USD 250 billion in 2018 against India’s USD 66.5 billion.

The US, which is the largest spender of defence, spent USD 649 billion in 2018.

Arguing that China’s defence expenditure is reasonable and appropriate, the white paper stated that the country attends to both development and security.

“It is making an integrated effort to build a prosperous country and a strong military, and striving for the coordinated development of national defence and the economy,” it said and claimed that China’s defence expenditure is open and transparent.

Compared to other major countries, the ratios of China’s defence expenditure to GDP and to government expenditure, as well as the per capita defence expenditure of the country, remain at a relatively low level, it said.

As the only major country yet to be completely reunified, and one of the countries with the most complex peripheral security environment, China faces serious challenges in safeguarding national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and maritime rights and interests, the white paper said.

China is moving closer to the centre of the world stage, and the international community expects more international public security goods from the Chinese military, it said.

There is still a wide gap between China’s defence expenditure and the requirements for safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests, for fulfilling China’s international responsibilities and obligations as a major country, and for China’s development.

In step with national economic development, defence expenditure of China will maintain a moderate and steady growth, the white paper said. PTI

Defence outlay in the annual budget has once again belied expectations, pegged at Rs 3.18 lakh crores approximating to 1.5% of projected GDP, it is the lowest since the 1962 war. Pre-budget optimism was heightened as finance minister had piloted projections of the ministry of defence in her role as defence minister and it was natural to expect larger allocation since she knows the unsatisfactory state of inventory. Allocation marks 6.87% hike over the last budget’s revised estimates and barely caters for inflation. The only silver lining is waiving of basic customs duty on defence imports – likely to save Rs 25,000 crore, over five years. No wonder, the media has listed defence among losers’ category and treatment meted out as ‘blink and miss’ approach. Die-hard optimists can draw some solace from the government describing it as a budget with 10-year vision. It is hoped that experts will concurrently consider putting long-term defence planning and procurement back on rails to give the much-needed impetus to capability building and modernization.

The new defence minister, like his predecessors, had reiterated that financial constraints will not be allowed to impact capability building. On face value, this indeed seems very reassuring as all defence ministers and finance ministers maintain this position. While national consensus on macro issues alludes us, we have unanimity on assurances at least. The ‘feel good factor’ is further amplified with occasional booster dose provided by ill-informed media, heralding every ‘acceptance of necessity’ (AON) as induction. The AON actually is only the first step, more like starting the match. The conversion or strike rate of these for Army is as low as 30%. The Army on the average takes 30 to 40 AONs every year and every such announcement aided by media boosts ‘josh’ factor without sparing even an iota of ‘hosh’ or scrutiny for retracted and stalled AONs.

More importantly, the tortuous process between trials and price negotiations culminating into contract spans four to five years. Finally, the gestation of the equipment itself is limited by capacities and could be spread over another four to five years. Recently, an AON was granted for 464 Russian T-90 tanks leading to considerable muscle flexing on social and print media, aided by graphics, as if tanks were ready to roll down. It would have been more objective if flowchart of impending process and pitfalls were included in these reports.

In 2014, an outgoing Army Chief took a rather unprecedented step of flagging critical operational deficiencies, terming them as ‘hollowness’. Consequent to this letter and as points-man for capability building in the Army, I had to anchor hearing by Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence (PSCOD). We were literally put in the dock with real architects of this sorry state, bureaucrats (as mandated by the transaction of business rules), attending as observers. We heard oft-repeated assurances, the budget will not be allowed to impact defence modernization. Yet, in 2018, in another hearing, the same committee was given rude reality check, which spelt out that against stipulated equipment profile of Modern-30, Current-40 and Ageing-30, existing inventory was 8-24-68 mix and funds not even adequate to service committed liabilities.

The army had traditionally followed threat-based planning, which amounts to reactionary capability building to handle our likely adversaries and manage the hybrid war. This was revised to threat cum capability building, duly supported by mandated levels of deterrence, ‘punitive’ against Pakistan and ‘credible’ against China. Net assessment models had stipulated quantified comparative ratios, stipulating building up 1.5 to 1 superiority against Pakistan. Capability-based planning is more pertinent for catering for ambiguous or emerging threats like artificial intelligence, robotics, space and cyber warfare.

Notwithstanding, stated parameters, in effect, the Army has been following firefighting approach driven by operations branch rather than perspective planning. There are occasional welcome doses of demonstrative acquisition of force multipliers like Rafale, C-130j, Apache, S-400 and ULH through strategic government to government (FMS in American parlance) route. The Army has been forced to resort to emergency induction of ammunition, sniper and other rifles. With regional power aspirations and as a net provider of security, it is high time that we make our procurement system functional graduating to genuine capability-based planning backed by periodic net assessment audits. While ambiguity seems to be the currently favoured approach and is needed for a few surprise capabilities yet for stable deterrence, it is axiomatic to build transparency and demonstrate seriousness in capability building. The much-needed reform of creating a non-lapsing fund for capital acquisitions will alleviate our problems as towards close of the financial year, it becomes process driven scramble to book expenditure with the status of schemes often an overriding priority.

The current, 13th Army plan covers the period from 2017 to 2022 and even at the mid-term stage, it is still in the discussion stage. It is also learnt that current review is driven by fiscal pragmatism, wherein a number of schemes may reflect budgetary realities. To put it bluntly, the armed forces have been told to cut the coat as per cloth. For those, who are statistically inclined, 12th Army plan had approximately 700 schemes and this one may have only 300 schemes. While drafting a new plan, mandatory pre-plan review invariably shows slippages, hence, it is prudent to remain pragmatic in projections but the overall impact on capabilities must be deliberately considered. It may be worthwhile to take plan holiday for first three years of the current plan, recast and draw a well-considered plan in next six months and apply it from 2020 to 2025 with clearly defined targets and more liberal funding.