A Rafale jet at the show

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

Bangalore, February 15

Even as the delivery of the newly acquired fighter aircraft, the Rafale, is scheduled to commence from September 2019, its maker, the Dassault Aviation France, is expecting a bigger order to supplement ‘Make in India’ efforts.Last year, India ordered 36 twin-engine Rafale jets for 7.8 billion euros, the first major induction since the Sukhoi-30 jets started coming in batches since 1997 onwards.Dassault Aviation CEO Eric Trappier said: “We are pushing for more orders… the existing order of 36 is not big enough to have transfer of technology”. The plan is to be in India, he said, adding “India should be ready to be part of the global supply market”.The company, he said, was in race for the additional twin-engine fighter jets needed by the IAF as well as the Navy’s requirement of 57 jets for ship deck-based operations. Yesterday, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had announced that 300-400 jets (single engine and twin engine) are needed by the IAF over the next 10 years. On being asked what could be an ideal number for making in India, Trappier pointed to the original tender that was for 126 twin-engine jets. “It will be good if we get an order of some 200, including the 36 of the existing IAF order and 57 that the Navy needs,” Trappier said. 

For India, it is important to go beyond investing all energies in declaring Pakistan a “terror state” or giving any such encomium. It is unrelenting diplomatic and military pressure as well as the economic squeezing of Pakistani interests in a hypersensitive-on-terror world that will help India to shift gears and get tangible results.

Masood Azhar (left) and Hafiz Saeed enjoy impunity despite all diplomatic efforts. AFP

RAJYA Sabha MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar’s appeal to Members of Parliament to declare Pakistan a “terrorist state” and snap all  economic, trade and cultural ties is well meant, though insufficient in changing the essential ground realities. The evidence to nail Pakistan’s complicity in terror is incontrovertible and universally acknowledged, with the hard data since 1998 showing14,741 civilian and 6,274 security personnel killed in terror attacks, which can be directly linked to the progenitors in Pakistan. However, labelling a country unilaterally or even multilaterally does not lead to tangible course-correction. It only appeals to the constituents and cadres, internally. Declarations by forums like the UN, for anointing nations, entities or individuals as “terrorists” or “terror sponsors” is becoming irrelevant. This is due to the sophistry of the procedures involved in the designation and the subsequent inability to enforce tangible restrictions and punitive actions. The UN declaration of Hafiz Muhammad Saeed on December 10, 2008, (resolution 1822), as being associated with Lashkar-e-Toiba and Al-Qaida and for “participating in the financing, planning, facilitating, preparing or perpetrating of acts of activities by, in conjunction with, under the name of, on behalf or in support of” both entities, mattered little to the Pakistani state. Pakistan allowed a free reign to the fugitive with civil impunity, as the Pakistanis maintained that India ostensibly lacked, “evidence nor any real proof behind their allegations”. That the UN  declared him a terrorist and that the US had placed a $10-million bounty on his head, besides the ban was simultaneously enforced on Hafiz Saeed’s organisation by other countries like UK, Russia, Australia, EU etc. was of no consequence to the Pakistani establishment and narrative. Similarly, the contradictory optics of Pakistan’s “all-weather friend” China vetoing the designation of the Jaish-e-Mohammad Chief, Masood Azhar as a “Global Terrorist” at the UN — is to be contrasted with the shocking delisting and lifting of sanctions against another virulently anti-India terrorist, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, known as the “Butcher of Kabul”. The leader of the Hezb-e-Islami faction, he is infamous for his single-handed plunder and massacre in Afghanistan. The recent pardon inked by the Afghan government led to the lifting of UN sanctions and the political rehabilitation of the warlord, who remains unrepentant, even after his established scale of brutality. In the case of Masood Azhar, unlike earlier when the proposal was initiated by India, the latest proposal to seek his branding as a terrorist was initiated by the US, UK and France. Yet, China thought it prudent to put the same on “technical hold”, even though Jaish-e-Mohammad is already an UN-designated terrorist organisation. China refuses to explain how it distinguishes the leader from the organisation. Donald Trump’s observation of the UN as “just a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time” reflects the growing irrelevance of such platforms.Even the much-bandied issue of withdrawing the MFN (Most-Favoured Nation) status accorded to Pakistan in 1996 (without a reciprocal status from Pakistan, citing the plausible “non-tariff barriers” made by India), is rooted more in political symbolism than punitive implications for Pakistan. On the contrary, such a move could upset the overtly advantageous trade surplus position to India, besides complicating WTO-level arrangements. So withdrawing MFN, like other forms of “naming and shaming” is more internally appealing than economically or strategically hurtful to Pakistan.The genesis of the Pakistani establishment’s  brinkmanship lies in the genealogical fault lines of its two-nation theory. The creation of Bangladesh still rankles. The necessity of keeping the “K”- bogey alive fuels the essential relevance of the trinity of ruling institutions in Pakistan — army, politicos and the clergy. Lastly, poking India via terror through “non-state-actors”, is a ploy to deflect attention from Pakistan’s own internal challenges like Panamagate and unrest in Balochistan. The only time Pakistan has undertaken a tangible course-correction is when the applecart of the Pakistani institutional structures is threatened with irrelevance, and not through any external condemnation.  Pakistan extracts leniency from the US which overlooks Pakistan’s proven duplicity on terror due to the compulsions of maintaining supply routes for its assets and personnel in Afghanistan. Despite outbursts and diplomatic berating, the US has desisted from declaring Pakistan, a “terror state”.Even the latest report submitted by the dozen odd US think tanks like the Brookings Institution, Hudson Institute, Georgetown University etc. to the Donald Trump administration suggest desisting from designating Pakistan as a “state sponsor” of terror, at least in the first year of administration. While it clearly notes Pakistani duplicity, it also recognises the geostrategic importance of keeping Pakistan afloat, given the lack of alternatives. There is a call for more direct finger pointing of the terror nurseries, sanctuaries and the infrastructure of Pakistan’s supposed “strategic depth”, as a means to exert meaningful reaction, while supporting the country’s democratic framework. The last two times that the Pakistanis retracted from their beaten path was immediately after the 9/11, when General Musharaf did a volte face owing to US pressures which threated to delegitimise the Pakistani establishment and its antecedents. The second time was after the Peshawar school massacre, which targeted the Pakistani military institution. Corrective measures were initiated by Pakistan, albeit, selectively and temporarily. Rather than investing all energies in declaring Pakistan a “terror state” or any such encomium, it is unrelenting diplomatic and military pressure and economic squeezing of Pakistani interests in a hypersensitive-on-terror world that will shift gears. The new US establishment promises a short-drift to diplomatic niceties and ambiguities. It has centred its foreign policy with an overwhelmingly anti-China stand and the Pakistanis would invariably find themselves on a sticky wicket, given its vassal status towards China. So, India may “name and shame” Pakistan with dossiers, it must be live to the thick-skinned real politik which shows that rogue nations can contextualise any negative label given to them, with creative interpretations and myth-making. Historically, the only time a course correction is initiated is when there are prospects of either a regime change, economic combustion or when the ruling “institution” faces spectres of absolute irrelevance.The writer is a former Lt Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

(a)Officers’ Training. For serving officers in the last two years of service and for retired/released officers’ within three years from release or up to 60 years, whichever is earlier. The serving officers, undergoing resettlement training, are treated on duty up to a maximum period of six months but they are not paid any traveling, daily allowance and are not entitled to travel on railway warrant. The officers pay 40% of the course fee and 60% fee is paid by Govt.

(b) PBOR Training. For serving PBORs in the last two years of service. PBORs on training are considered as on temporary duty and are entitled to draw their pay and allowances. 100% course fee is paid by the Govt.

(c) Ex-Servicemen (ESM) Training. The scheme is primarily meant for those Ex-Servicemen (ESM) who could not avail the facility of resettlement training while in service and is extended to the widow/one dependent of an ESM, irrespective of whether his death is attributable to military service or not. Training is organized by RSB/ZSB. ESM would be eligible to undergo training upto five years from retirement/release or 60 years whichever is earlier.

Indian Air Force chief BS Dhanoa flew a trainer version of Tejas.

Bengaluru, February 14

A month after he flew a solo sortie in single engine MiG-21 fighter, Indian Air Force chief BS Dhanoa flew indigenous LCA Tejas on the first day of Aero India 2017.Air Chief Marshal Dhanoa flew a trainer version of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) with Air Vice Marshal A.P. Singh, who is principal director at NFTC, being his co-pilot during the sortie over Yelahanka airbase.Less than 15 days after taking over as the IAF chief, he flew solo in a MiG-21 fighter jet, the oldest fighter aircraft in the IAF’s inventory.Dhanoa flew the MiG-21 Type 96 aircraft from the IAF base at Uttarlai, a forward base in Rajasthan.His predecessor, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha flew the Tejas last year, becoming the first IAF chief to fly the indigenous fighter. — IANS

A retired Kerala officer says bosses violated his right to life

Around the time when a BSF jawan’s video went viral on soc­ial media this year exposing the dismal state of affairs in the uniformed forces, a reti­red lieutenant colonel wrote to Army chief Bipin Rawat, complaining about a more shocking experience that however got no media attention. In early January, the video by Tej Bahadur of 29 battalion showed how jawans are served substandard and insufficient food due to a corrupt system that forces them to sleep on an empty stomach at times. In his January 13 letter to Gen Rawat, Lt Col (Retired) Arun Kumar complained about a gruesome experience he faced while serving the army. He said army denied him food and there has been no act­ion after he complained about this violation of his basic human rights and right to life.

“I didn’t have the courage (to go to the media) and my case proves that the jawan was right (in doing so),” Kumar, 57, tells Outlook, citing the complete apathy to his written complaints. A native of Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, Kumar had filed numerous complaints against “corrupt and dishonest” officers that only resulted in much torture and harassment to him since 2002.

“I had been put in the psychiatric ward twice. They put me on medicine to make me a psychopath. I have been criminally assaulted, illegally confined, denied medical treatment on numerous occasions by army doctors, denied food and subjected to an illegal general court martial. All this has been done to eliminate me since I did not compromise on honesty,” he claims.

Having served the army for 33 years, Kumar had raised the issue of corruption a dozen times. “Most of my allegations involve financial dishonesty and moral turpitude of senior officers,” he says. “I had filed three statutory complaints—in 2003 and July and August of 2010. None was registered. A mail from the Army HQ later said they won’t take cognizance of my complaint. Letters from the President, some ministers and MPs went unanswered­.

“The Army knows my claims will be pro­ved. So they have neither ordered a probe, nor instituted disciplinary proceedings agai­nst me for the allegations,” he adds. “This makes the criminal conspir­acy evident.”

Kumar’s family friend, Flt Lt M.P.S. God­ara, faced a similar fate after he petitioned the defence minister in July 2016 about torture by his Commanding Officer. “He was later beaten up and assaulted four times by colleagues. It was planned. A court-martial is being orchestrated against him,” Kumar says. Godara is now stationed in Thane. “His parents are government schoolteachers and they are running from pillar to post.” Youngsters join the forces with a lot of motivation, but the “corrupt” system only de-motiva­tes them, he adds.

CHANDIGARH: Justice Virender Singh, chairman of the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT), has assured the members of the Armed Forces Tribunal Bar Association, Chandigarh, that every effort will be made to clear the pendency of the cases at the Chandigarh bench. At the UT bench, no permanent judicial member is functioning since September 23, 2016.

Justice Singh suggested a special court of the AFT at Chandigarh, which will be presided over by him on March 11 and he would take up all covered matters of rounding of disability as well as the honorary Naib Subedar cases, which are directly covered by the Supreme Court judgments.

Justice Singh came from New Delhi to hold Chandigarh bench on Thursday and Friday. The cases have piled up considerably due to non-functioning of all the three benches at Chandigarh.

Bhim Sen Sehgal, chairman of the All India Ex-servicemen Welfare Association (AIEWA) and a practicing advocate, apprised Justice Virender Singh regarding the pendency of the cases which has caused inconvenience and harassment to the war widows, disabled soldiers, family pensioners as cases have been pending for the last four to five years.

Sehgal further apprised that even the judgments of 2010, 2011 and 2012 have not been implemented by Union ministry of defence and principal controller of defence accounts, Allahabad.

It was also agreed by the AFT Bar members present in the court. He told the members that he would make all out efforts to get the judicial members appointed on regular basis not only in the AFT Chandigarh bench but also at other benches.

Justice Singh is also holding the court on Friday at Chandigarh.

New Delhi, February 6

Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba and Army Chief General Bipin Rawat today reviewed joint exercises at mid-sea. The duo witnessed a host of activities that are  part of Theatre Readiness Operational Exercise (TROPEX).The exercise, which started on January 24 off the western coast, involves some 50 Navy warships, including aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, and nuclear-powered submarine INS Chakra. The drill is testing and validating abilities in conventional war, anti-submarine warfare and securing sea lanes of communication. The two Chiefs witnessed the firing of surface-to-air missile and ship-launched Brahmos. They sailed aboard INS Vikramaditya and witnessed the ‘large force engagement by a flotilla of ships against threats simulated by IAF comprising airborne radars and fighter jets like Sukhoi-30 MKI.  Threats emanating from different directions were ‘neutralised’ by using Beyond Visual Range missile capabilities of MiG 29Ks fighter jets operating from INS Vikramaditya. The Landing Platform Dock INS Jalashwa is deployed to conduct amphibious operations. The Boeing P8-I, a long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft, are operating alongside IAF jets.  The IAF’s IL-78 refuelled IAF and Navy planes mid-air. — TNS

Perhaps because I’m an army son that it rankles and I wince each time I see a civilian attempting a military salute. The sad but brutal truth is they don’t know how to do it, which is why the action looks silly. Equally importantly, they clearly don’t feel comfortable and the awkwardness shows.

Yet Indian politicians insist on saluting. They believe this is the patriotic thing to do and though that sentiment is genuine it doesn’t hide the spectacle they make of themselves which is why I end up laughing whenever I see one of them trying to do one.

Now let me tell you a few home truths about the military salute. It looks best when done by strapping soldiers. Height and build are part of what makes the salute look smart. Short, dumpy, pot-bellied men can end up looking comic. It also needs to be done with military precision.

Whether it’s the naval or army version, your fingers need to be together and stretched out straight, not splayed or awkwardly angled. That makes the difference between the swagger of a serving soldier and the shambolic decrepitude of Dad’s Army!

There are, however, a few other things that civilians don’t seem to know or appreciate. In the army an officer or soldier would never salute bare-headed. A cap or beret is an essential requirement. Without one an army man will instead bring himself to attention and pull his arms downwards.

Of course, the navy and air force have different traditions. Naval custom requires an exchange of salutes regardless of headgear or dress. And, I’m reliably informed, since 2006 the air force salutes even while seated.

My point, however, is simple: Even with headgear civilians attempting to salute look uncomfortable and, actually, odd. Indeed, they can often look inelegant and occasionally comic. So, for heaven’s sake, why do our politicians do it?

It isn’t that there isn’t an acceptable and rather becoming alternative. The American tradition of placing your right hand over your heart, as you stand to attention when the national anthem is played, is the best.

It goes well with western suits and skirts just as it would with Indian bandgalas, kurta pyjamas, sarees and salwar-kameez.

Though not military the gesture does undeniably suggest heartfelt respect. That, after all, is what you intend when the national anthem is played or the flag unfurled. It’s also a tradition followed by some Indian organisations. If the pictures I’ve seen are accurate, I believe it’s customary for Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh members to hold their right hand across the chest with the fingers pointing left during the national anthem.

Shashi Tharoor attempted this when he first became an MP and encouraged those around to follow suit but, alas, ended up facing legal action for disrespecting the national anthem. Understandably, he’s never tried it again. But Shashi was correct and his critics wrong.

I’m confident our politicians would feel happier placing their right hand over their heart rather than attempting, in their creased kurta pyjamas or billowing sarees, a military salute they can’t do well and look decidedly ill-atease performing.

It’s just that someone has to be the first. When that happens the practice could become acceptable very quickly. I guess we have to patiently wait for the first prime minister or president to strike out and be different. I wonder who it will be.

20 soldiers killed in just over a month this year alone

An ice avalanche killed 10 Army personnel atop the Siachen glacier in February 2016. Tribune photo

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 3

A rise in winter temperature coupled with unusual amounts of snowfall have made the mountain slopes in Jammu and Kashmir risk-prone with 20 Army troops dying due to avalanches this year alone in just over a month.The Centre has asked the Chandigarh-headquartered Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) to study the phenomena and prepare a detailed report on what all are new vulnerable spots needing mitigation measures. The SASE predicts avalanches and suggest preventive measures.The 20 deaths have occurred in three separate avalanches all in northern part of the Kashmir valley. Last year in February, an ice avalanche killed 10 troops atop the Siachen glacier. Minister for State for Defence Subhash Bhambre today informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply: “The DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) is working on four projects to develop new technologies for more accurate prediction of avalanches.”A rise in minimum and maximum temperatures in winter has led to at least three immediate off-shoots — The quantum of snowfall has doubled, winter is setting in late and thirdly, the rise in minimum temperature is not allowing the snow to freeze into hard ice. Thus, snow remains moist, resulting in slippery slopes that are avalanche-prone. The DRDO/SASE have 56 high altitude observatories and 55 automatic weather stations in Uttarakhand, Himachal and J&K. Further, avalanche-related forecast specific for Army is drawn by DRDO from its five avalanche mitigation centres, which have teams of SASE stationed alongside Army.