Everyone will offer recommendations on the issue and once decided it will be promulgated formally.

Jaipur:

Officer cadre restructuring in the Indian Army, including doing away with the Brigadier”s rank, is under review, a top army officer said today.

“It is just a thought process at this point of time. We are all to offer our recommendations on this issue. Once it is decided, it will be promulgated officially,” said South Western Army Command chief, Lt Gen Cherish Mathson.

Speaking to media on sidelines of Army-media seminar here, he however refused to reveal further details on the subject saying it is under deliberation at present.

To a query on the challenges being faced by the army at present, he said enemy countries using tactics of information warfare and psychological warfare on social media channels, which the younger generation has a tendency to believe more. “We need to check it and identify that such actions are happening against us.. (being done) by enemy nations,” he added.

Even China and Pakistan are engaged in such warfare with India, he added saying that all enemy countries engage in such tactics. “It is a global phenomenon and it is also happening in Asia.”

Mathson warned people to remain aware fake messages being circulated on social media. The enemy countries are carrying out information warfare through fake messages and such messages are needed to be identified, he said.

He also said that the incidents of stone pelting in Kashmir have been controlled now.

On spying and smuggling activities on the borders of the country, he said that there are many linkages between border populations and hence spying and smuggling cases are common there

“However, we have our own counter intelligence establishment to look and check such issues,” he said.

NEW DELHI: The Army, as part of its ongoing exercise to restructure its officer cadre after a long wait of 35 years, is mulling the radical step of doing away with the rank of Brigadier to ensure better career prospects and parity with the civil services as well as arrest its greying profile of commanders.
As per the internal paper drafted for the cadre review in the over 12-lakh strong Army, which has a little over 42,000 officers at present, the force would like to cut down the number of its ranks from nine to six or seven.

The test-firing of the missiles, conducted by the elite Strategic Forces Command, validates all operational and technical parameters, according to the defence ministry

India on Thursday successfully test-fired nuclear-capable short-range ballistic missiles Prithvi-II and Agni-I from an integrated test range off the Odisha coast, demonstrating its strategic deterrence capability.

The test-firing of the missiles, conducted by the elite Strategic Forces Command, validated all operational and technical parameters, according to the defence ministry.

On Wednesday, India successfully test-fired indigenously developed Akash Prime missile in Ladakh that has been customised to operate at an altitude above 4,500 metres.

The test-firing of the missiles came over two months after the May 7-10 military conflict between India and Pakistan.

The Prithvi-II missile has a range of around 350 km and is capable of carrying a payload of up to 500 kg. It can carry both conventional as well as nuclear warheads.

The Agni-I missile has a range of 700-900 km and can carry a payload of 1,000 kg.

Both Prithvi-II and Agni-I missiles have been an integral part of India’s nuclear deterrence.

“Short-range ballistic missiles — Prithvi-II and Agni-I — were successfully test-fired from the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, Odisha, on July 17,” the ministry said in a brief statement.

It said the launches validated all operational and technical parameters. “These tests were conducted under the aegis of the Strategic Forces Command,” the ministry said.

Army’s first assault canine dog ‘Bajaj’ died this week after a prolonged illness, according to officials.

“Chinar Corps expresses heartfelt condolences on the demise of Assault Canine Dog ‘Bajaj’ on 15 July 2025 after a prolonged illness. A vital member of our combat team, Bajaj stood as a symbol of loyalty, strength and courage,” Srinagar-based Chinar Corps of the Army posted on its X handle.

The first Indian Army assault dog integrated with the K9 surveillance camera system, Bajaj participated in numerous high-risk counter terrorism operations in the Kashmir valley, often leading from the front and safeguarding the lives of soldiers, the Army said.

“For his exceptional service, Bajaj was honoured with the COAS Commendation Card (Aug 2022), GOC-in-C Commendation Card (Jan 2022) and the Chinar Medallion (2021). A true warrior who served the nation till his last breath. Rest in peace, Braveheart,” it added.

We must ensure that our Army meets the optimum requirement standards in terms of manpower, firepower and technology.

Gurbachan Jagat

S the Kashmir issue ‘resolved’? The transition from the brink of an all-out war to this moment of peace and quiet has been sudden. Two nuclear powers moved from bombing each other, deploying drones, fighter jets and navies, and mobilising army formations to an abrupt ceasefire and mutual claims of victory.

To the uninformed, the skirmish would be bewildering, given the initial scope and scale followed by the sudden cessation — were both sides just testing new weapons and casing each other out? To any old hand, it’s another scene from an old play with a louder chorus. Since Independence, we have fought four wars and have had numerous skirmishes with Pakistan. The Partition was on communal lines, and that bloody conflagration has been the bedrock of hatred on which much of the subsequent conflicts have been based.

Jammu & Kashmir is the only Muslim-majority state-turned-UT in India, and Pakistan desires Kashmir. The fact that along with Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), it is located strategically at the confluence of four nations (Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and India) makes it even more desirable.

The Chinese Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), often referred to as the new Silk Road, has the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor as its fulcrum, connecting Xinjiang to Gwadar through PoK. This corridor opens Central Asian countries and onwards to Europe through direct land routes for Chinese trade. It furthermore connects China to the Middle East with a much shorter sea route through Gwadar. Chinese contracts and investments in the BRI totalled $124 billion with over 176 deals in the first six months of this year, bringing the total investment in this initiative to $1.3 trillion. The highest investments have been in Africa and Central Asia (Financial Times, July 17).

No wonder the Chinese have repeatedly declared their unequivocal support to the Pakistani state. We witnessed this friendship during the recent confrontation. Chinese-made fighter planes, missiles, communication and surveillance satellites and security systems were reportedly used.

To those sections of the media and intelligentsia referring to Pakistan as a bankrupt state and a pushover — welcome to the real world of geopolitics. Pakistan is like those business firms which are in Chapter 11 (Bankruptcy Code) but know how to market themselves to potential suitors while juggling their debtors and gaming the system — they do it well.

The scale of armed conflict has escalated from artillery duels to far more complex theatres of war. Now, there is no longer the odd headline about an exchange of fire in Poonch and Rajouri and the ebb and flow of its intensity. The new era of warfare features drones, satellites, guided missiles and what not. The ramifications will not be limited to remote border regions but will be felt across the whole nation — we must be ready for this.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) put its annual report on its website on July 11. The report said India would not compromise on issues relating to national security and would take firm and decisive steps to deal with all attempts to undermine its security and territorial integrity. However, Pakistan’s attitude has not changed even after the recent deterrent action.

The tone and tenor of its Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, has become more belligerent, and he repeatedly describes Kashmir as Pakistan’s jugular vein. He has been encouraged by US President Donald Trump, who hosted him for lunch at the White House. The Pakistan Air Force Chief was invited to the Pentagon, where he conferred with the top brass of the US Air Force. The American President has also tried to hyphenate India and Pakistan while claiming credit for the ceasefire (which was purely a bilateral affair between the DGMOs of India and Pakistan).

On the economic front, the World Bank and the IMF, nudged by the US, have approved loans for Pakistan. The Financial Action Task Force has also let Pakistan off the hook by not including it on the defaulters’ list. In the face of these developments, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made our stand clear. There is no ambiguity about it that India’s policy stance has been revised and every act of terror would be considered an act of war and will be dealt with as such.

Where do we go from here in the light of the above discussion and the attitude of Pakistan and its friends? Further provocation is more than likely in Kashmir or elsewhere in India. Pakistan’s post-Partition hangover and the multiple losses it has suffered in the four wars, along with its vested interests, commits it to carry on trying to acquire Kashmir.

Earlier, it was through aiding and abetting terrorism, which was a methodology well learned and developed by the ISI while assisting the US in building the Afghan Taliban. The ISI used it to try and tie up Indian resources in a shadow war, hit morale, keep the issue alive and deliver defeat through a thousand cuts.

So, what happens when the next Pahalgam or its equivalent occurs? Will it be a full-scale war, as declared? Will it be a similar limited skirmish? Will we get played by mischievous elements hoping to profit from conflict? It is a given that in view of the changed policy, we will have to always maintain a high level of readiness in all important theatres. We will have to ensure that our Army meets the optimum requirement standards in terms of manpower, firepower, surveillance systems, technology, etc as we climb this ladder of escalation.

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, has been complaining from the day he took over that he does not have even the sanctioned strength of squadrons. He has also argued that indigenous production is lackadaisical, and we have to buy ‘off the counter’ as time is of the essence. The Navy appears to be better off, but constant upgrades are necessary.

Even the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen Anil Chauhan, has stated that India cannot win modern wars with outdated weapons. He has underscored the need to adopt future-ready technology, primarily through indigenous development. Policies must be built on equipment platforms available and those to be procured.

As India grows and tries to find its place at the global high table, so do the powers which feel threatened by us — it is the way of things. We must be very watchful on the diplomatic front. We cannot always act unilaterally, and we need friends and allies. During the recent conflict, we did not receive support from our neighbours or any of the major world powers. Pakistan had solid backing of China and Turkiye.

We will have to take a deep dive into our foreign policy and not listen to MEA’s platitudes; this requires work at the highest political and bureaucratic levels. The matter brooks no delay, and we must decide on the interim and long-term measures.

We must understand the enemy, or rather, enemies, their friends and their capabilities. We must accept that in this matter, we are virtually alone at the moment, and it would be difficult to face this humongous task without friends and adequate resources for our armed forces.

Gurbachan Jagat is former Governor, Manipur and ex-DGP, J&K.

“China ready to maintain communication with Russia and India on advancing the trilateral cooperation,” says Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian

As US and its NATO allies mount greater pressure on Russia on ending the conflict with Ukraine and threaten to impose secondary sanctions on crude oil, separate statements originating from New Delhi and Beijing have, today, been positive on reviving the Russia-India-China format.

In New Delhi, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, today, while answering media questions on the revival of Russia-India-China format said: “The revival will be worked out among the countries in a mutually convenient manner.” This is a consultative format where three countries come and discuss global and regional issues of interest to them, Jaiswal said when asked about positive opinion of China and Russia on reviving the format.

Earlier this morning, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian had set the ball rolling. “China stands ready to maintain communication with Russia and India on advancing the trilateral cooperation,” Lin had said at media briefing in Beijing today.

“China-Russia-India cooperation not only serves the respective interests of our three countries, but also helps uphold peace, security, stability and progress in the region and world,” Lin added.

A few days ago, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko said that Russia is negotiating the restoration of the Russia–India–China (RIC) format with Beijing and New Delhi. He pointed out that Russia remains positive towards promoting the operation of this mechanism.

Meanwhile, when asked if Prime Minister Narendra Modi would visit to China for Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) leaders summit, Jaiswal said, “The SCO meeting is some months away. The participation by countries are finalised as per the mutual convenience. We will let everyone know at the appropriate time.”

Earlier this week External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar was in China and had met his counterpart Wang Yi and raised issues of resolution of matters of the border areas and restrictive trade practices by Beijing.

The positive reaction comes after Ottawa was urged to take action to protect the religious rights of people as Rath Yatra procession in Toronto turned tense

Ubeer Naqushbandi Tribune News Service

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said that the process of rebuilding ties between India and Canada is moving in a positive direction, following a year of strained relations over the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in 2023.

The MEA’s comments come just days after India urged Canada to ensure the protection of religious freedoms, following tensions during a Rath Yatra procession in Toronto on July 11. Unidentified individuals reportedly hurled eggs at devotees, sparking outrage and allegations of racism and xenophobia.

During a weekly briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, responding to a question on bilateral relations, said: “We had a meeting at the Prime Ministerial level in Kananaskis, where both leaders affirmed the importance of India-Canada ties. Both sides are now working to rebuild this relationship.”

He added, “We are also working towards the appointment of High Commissioners in both capitals. The movement in India-Canada ties is positive.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Alberta last month. Modi had attended the summit on Carney’s invitation, his first visit to Canada since diplomatic tensions erupted last year.

Carney’s outreach is seen as a signal of the new Canadian government’s intent to reset relations with New Delhi.

Ties had plunged to an all-time low in 2023 after the killing of Nijjar, with then Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleging the involvement of Indian agents. New Delhi strongly denied the charges and accused the Trudeau government of harbouring pro-Khalistan elements on Canadian soil.

In October 2023, India recalled its High Commissioner and five other diplomats, while expelling an equal number of Canadian representatives.

Fifth probe into incident as family awaits justice

Punjab Police Offered crores to compromise

CBI TO INVESTIGATE COL BATH CASE : VEDIOS

CBI OVERTAKES COLONEL PUSHPINDER CASE

Mrs Jaswinder w/o Col Bath says she cried on Courts verdict for handing over to CBI

Akash Prime tested, can hit targets in Pak, China

Can’t win modern wars with outdated weapons, says CDS

Jaswinder Kaur Bath, wife of Col Pushpinder Singh Bath, addresses mediapersons in Patiala on Wednesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO

Jaswinder Kaur Bath, wife of Col Pushpinder Singh Bath, addresses mediapersons in Patiala on Wednesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO

The HC order of shifting the probe to the CBI from the Chandigarh Police, will be the fifth probe in the incident. Earlier, three probes marked in Punjab and the fourth by the Chandigarh Police ended in a stalemate.

Welcoming the Punjab and Haryana High Court directions to shift the case to the CBI, Jaswinder Kaur Bath, wife of Colonel Pushpinder Bath, today criticised the state government, Punjab Police and the Chandigarh Police for allegedly “conniving and conducting botched-up investigations to save the erring cops who assaulted her husband and son”.