In a display of growing defence cooperation between India and the United Kingdom, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has carried out a joint exercise with the UK Royal Navy over the Indian Ocean.

The UK Royal Navy’s F-35B stealth combat jets, termed as ‘fifth-generation’ planes produced by the US company Lockheed Martin, participated in the exercise. The IAF used

the Russia-made Sukhoi 30-MKI and the British origin-Jaguar which have a maritime role.

The F-35B jets are based on the deck of the 65,000-tonne UK Navy carrier, the HMS Prince of Wales. The IAF jets took off from land bases to carry out the drills.

The IAF, on Wednesday, posted pictures of the exercise and said, “On 14 Oct, IAF’s Sukhoi-30 MKIs, Jaguars, AWACS & AEW&C aircraft joined Royal Navy F-35Bs from HMS Prince of Wales for a joint exercise over the Indian Ocean Region.”

The use of AWACS and AEW&C is crucial. The AWACS (airborne warning and control system) is an aircraft-mounted radar system designed to detect and track aircraft, ships, missiles and other vehicles at long ranges. The AEW&C (airborne early warning and control) is also a radar system designed to detect and track aircraft, ships and then direct own forces to respond. It is flying command and control centre.

The IAF added “the training strengthened interoperability, mutual trust, and collective commitment to regional stability”.  The objective of this aerial drill was to enhance capacities on both sides to operate together.

The UK’s Carrier Strike Group, led by HMS Prince of Wales, since April, is on an eight-month-long deployment under ‘Operation Highmast’ and highlights the UK’s increasing focus on the Indo-Pacific.

India and the UK have a “India-UK 2030 Roadmap” and the “India-UK Vision 2035,” which aim to elevate the bilateral relationship through strategic partnerships in technology and defence.

The two sides announced an agreement for cooperation in military training, under which IAFflying instructors will serve as trainers with the UK’s Royal Air Force.

Last week, the Indian Navy and UK’s Royal Navy concluded maritime exercise ‘Konkan-2025’ with ‘carrier strike groups’ led by the INS Vikrant and HMS Prince of Wales, respectively. It included fighter jets and copters on deck of the aircraft carrier, which is accompanied by other warships and submarines, getting live situational feed from surveillance planes and satellites.

The exercise involved maritime operational drills focusing on anti-aircraft, anti-surface, and anti-submarine exercises, flying operations and other seamanship evolution.

Statehood protests had left four people dead and over 80 others injured

Authorities on Wednesday lifted the restrictions in Leh district of Ladakh, 22 days after they were imposed following violence during the statehood protests that left four people dead and over 80 others injured.

The district administration had on September 24 promulgated prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) in Leh, banning the assembly of five or more persons.

No incident of violence had been reported since then, officials said.

“I do hereby withdraw the restrictions imposed vide this office order dated September 24 with immediate effect,” District Magistrate Leh, Romil Singh Donk, said in an order on Wednesday.

He said certain restrictions were imposed under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, to prevent any breach of peace and disturbance to public tranquillity.

The Senior Superintendent of Police, in a report submitted on Wednesday, said that there is no imminent apprehension of breach of peace and public order and recommended withdrawal of the restrictions under Section 163 BNSS, the DM said.

Police arrested climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on September 26, two days after clashes between security forces and protesters demanding Ladakh’s statehood and Sixth Schedule status left four people dead and 90 injured. He was detained under the National Security Act (NSA) for allegedly inciting the violence and shifted to Jodhpur jail.

Wangchuk, a leading voice of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), has been spearheading a five-year-long agitation demanding statehood and constitutional safeguards for the residents of Leh and Kargil.

Simulation of futuristic conflict scenarios for improved coordination among different agencies was exhibited at the exercise

A tri-service exercise under the aegis of Northern Command headquarters in which simulation of futuristic conflict scenarios for improved coordination among different agencies was exhibited concluded on Wednesday.

“Over four days imbued with simulation of intense futuristic conflict scenario and display of astute leadership, a tri-service multi-domain exercise has concluded under aegis of HQ Northern Command, with new lessons, improved reflexes and setting of new benchmarks in India’s preparedness for next-generation conflicts,” an official spokesperson of Army said.

He said the exercise challenged commanders, staff and troops with futuristic threats in cyber, space, electromagnetic and cognitive domains. “CAPFs, sister services, central government agencies and private sector players participated jointly, underscoring the importance of integrated and whole of a nation approach to continuously evolving security landscape. Participation by indigenous defence industry players set a new benchmark towards achieving jointness, Atmanirbarta and innovation,” the spokesperson added.

During the exercise, troops deployed in the forward areas practiced in situations like cyber intrusion, spectrum saturation, electronic jamming, spoofing and cognitive attacks.

Interacting with the troops, Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Pratik Sharma said, “In modern warfare, the lines are blurring between domains, so we need to leverage niche technology and keep innovating. A whole of nation approach is required to protect our territorial integrity and critical assets and also unleash punitive action on adversary if the situation so demands.”

The exercise demonstrated that readiness for future warfare begins with open minds and seamless teamwork. The Northern Command now stands better equipped, united and prepared to defend against emergent threats with strategic foresight and multi-domain synergy, the spokesperson added.

Seizures up post Op Sindoor | 362 recoveries compared to 81 last year

A five-fold surge has been witnessed in smuggling of arms from Pakistan through the Punjab border, with 362 weapons, including AK-47 rifles, grenades and improvised explosive devices, seized so far this year compared to just 81 last year.

A security expert attributed the sharp rise to the precision strikes carried out by India during Operation Sindoor on terror hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The expert said Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) appeared to have launched a retaliatory campaign by stepping up arms smuggling in an attempt to destabilise Punjab. Nearly one-third of the seizures have occurred after Operation Sindoor.

Over 50 persons had been arrested, some caught collecting weapons dropped via drones while others were the intended recipients tasked with carrying out terror strikes, said an official.

For the first time in three years, three AK-47 rifles were seized, highlighting how sophisticated weaponry was infiltrating the state. The last such seizure was in October 2022 when six AK-47s were recovered.

Speaking to The Tribune, Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav emphasised the severity of the situation. “We have managed to pre-empt the smuggling of sophisticated weapons and thwarted several terrorism plans hatched from across the border,” he said.

The DGP said the seizures had been possible due to coordinated efforts by the Punjab Police, its counter-intelligence unit, including the Special Services Operation Cell, Border Security Force and central agencies.

Investigations revealed that gangsters and terrorists operating from the US, Canada and other countries were not only arming the operatives of terror outfits like the Babbar Khalsa International, but also fuelling organised crime.

“The ISI is leveraging a nexus of gangsters, drug smugglers and terrorists to sow chaos in Punjab, with recovered arms linked to violent crimes such as extortion, targeted killings and inter-gang rivalries,” said an official.

This strategy, the official said, was part of a broader ISI agenda to vitiate law and order and create conditions conducive to the secessionist ideology of Khalistan. “The proliferation of violent crimes is also raising fears that these armed gangs could serve as foot soldiers for future terror attacks,” he said.

The official said the scale of smuggling this year exceeded the combined total from 2021 to 2024.

The recovered weapons include sophisticated models like 9mm Glocks, PX5 pistols, .30 bore, .32 bore and .315 caliber firearms, often accompanied by magazines and live cartridges. Since 2022, Glocks and PX5 variants, sourced directly from Pakistan, have dominated hauls, designed for high-impact terrorist and criminal operations.

Smuggling methods have also evolved significantly. While traditional ground couriers, border facilitators and riverine routes were once the norm, recent years have seen a shift towards drone-based deliveries, a trend that began in 2019 with the first documented drone smuggling case. Riverine routes remain a preferred method during the monsoon season, exploiting increased water flow and reduced visibility along the border. These technological and seasonal adaptations had made interdiction more challenging, requiring constant vigilance from security forces, said a security official.

Officials said smuggling networks were heavily concentrated in Punjab’s border districts of Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Fazilka and Batala, which accounted for a majority of the small arms recoveries since 2022. These areas, often tied to ISI-directed modules, served as critical entry points for the illicit arms trade, the officials said.

JOB FAIR FOR EX-SERVICEMEN AT VARANASI :17 OCT2025

A SON’S TRIBUTE: Heroes In Uniform

Defence personnel do not have absolute right to premature release from service: AFT rules

Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal

Raksha Mantri releases a book titled ‘Ready, Relevant and Resurgent II: Shaping a Future Ready Force’ authored by CDS

Medics on the Frontline | Raksha Sutra | DPR, MoD

Raksha Mantri to Chiefs of UN Troop Contributing Countries

Petty Officer Vs Havildar : Need to Re-designating Indian Army Ranks

No more Humiliation of Army Ranks

Army jawan cremated with military honours in Jammu

2 terrorists killed as Army foils infiltration attempt in Kupwara

Armed Forces set for major tri-service mountain drill focused on futuristic warfare

Indian Army flags off four-day ‘Shaurya motorcycle rally’ in Arunachal

Gaza hopes to pick up the pieces

India slams Pakistan at UN over child rights abuses, cross-border terrorism

Security threat: Ladakh admn justifies NSA arrest of Sonam Wangchuk

Pakistan, Afghan forces clash again along Khyber Pakhtunkhwa border

US-India expert Ashley Tellis arrested for retaining secret documents, links to China

Directorate General of Resettlement (DGR) will be organising an “Ex-Servicemen Job Fair” in #Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. The Ex-Servicemen Job seekers may avail this opportunity for hassle-free recruitment.

Date: 17 October 2025.

Venue: Army Recruitment Ground, #Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.

For more details pl visit https://dgrindia.gov.in

IndianArmy

@dgrIndia
@DIAV20
@KSBSectt

“My father cherished a dream — to one day command this elite unit. I only hope he sees his dream come true through his son.”
— Col Varun Chhabra, who was nine when his father, Lt Col Arun Kumar Chhabra, SM, laid down his life in Sri Lanka on this day in 1989.

It was #OperationPawan. A hard, complex mission in a foreign land, undertaken for regional peace and the honour of the uniform. As second-in-command and designate CO of 10 Para (Special Forces), Lt Col Chhabra led a daring assault on a fortified LTTE position. He and his men surrounded the stronghold, eliminated two militants, and kept pressing under withering fire. Gravely wounded but unrelenting, he neutralized enemy commander, ensuring the success of the mission and fell moments later, his courage undimmed on this day in 1989.

His story, like those of many who served during that difficult campaign, stands as a reminder of the sacrifice, discipline, and honour with which Indian soldiers fought and fell, even on foreign soil, upholding the glory of the uniform beyond borders.

Decades later, the boy who grew up on his father’s story fulfilled the dream. Col Varun Chhabra went on to command 10 Para (Special Forces), the very battalion his father was set to lead, carrying forward his name, his ethos, and his creed.

Father and son — two warriors, one legacy!
Both bound by the same creed of the Special Forces: “Men apart, every man an emperor.”
Both served not for glory, but for the honour of the uniform and the oath they took when they first donned the maroon beret.

Junking the petition of a Flight Lieutenant challenging the rejection of his application for pre-mature release, the Bench relied on an earlier SC ruling that held that the interests of the service are of paramount importance

The Armed Forces Tribunal has ruled that members of the Armed Forces seeking premature release from service for personal reasons do not have an absolute right to leave the service on their own will.

“It is now a well settled proposition of law that grant of premature release to a member of the Armed Forces is not a right but is based on various schemes and polices and requirement of the service,” the Tribunal’s Bench comprising Justice Rajendra Menon and Rear Admiral Dhiren Vig ruled.

Junking the petition of a Flight Lieutenant challenging the rejection of his application for pre-mature release, the Bench relied on an earlier ruling by the Supreme Court that held that the interests of the service are of paramount importance. The Apex court had said that though Air Force orders provide for a balance between the interests of the service with situations involving requests by persons, individuals cannot assert a general right to act in breach or defiance of those orders.

The officer had sought premature separation from service on extreme compassionate grounds after having rendered about four years of commissioned service. He had claimed that after losing his father in 2016, he was the sole earning member of his family and had to take care of his ailing mother, aged grandparents and two elder sisters as well as look after family assets.

In his petition, he claimed that the action by the Air Force authorities to reject his request for premature separation twice by the Air Force authorities in 2023 and 2024 was vitiated by personal nepotism leading to his victimisation and was in violation of Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution. He also claimed that due to his circumstances, his work performance was being adversely affected.

The Bench observed that during evaluation of the officer’s case, it was assessed by the six-member Board of Officers headed by an Air Vice Marshal that the organisation had made a substantial investment in his training and development, commencing from his days at the National Defence Academy and continuing through his initial flying training and subsequent training as an air traffic control officer.

Resultantly, the officer had demonstrated exceptional performance and had achieved a high level of proficiency in his role, considering his relatively young seniority. Besides, he was granted a home zone posting which would have enabled him to balance his professional responsibilities with his personal requirements, the Bench further noted.

Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal displayed exemplary courage and leadership during the 1971 Indo-Pak War. Leading a fierce tank assault against the enemy, he refused to retreat even after being hit, making the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty. For his unparalleled bravery, he was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra. On his 75th birth anniversary, we honour and remember his enduring legacy that continues to inspire generations of Indians. 🇮🇳🫡

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, on October 14, 2025, released a book titled ‘Ready, Relevant and Resurgent II: Shaping a Future Ready Force’ authored by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan. The book presents a comprehensive and future-oriented blueprint for shaping India’s Armed Forces for making them future-ready. It makes an in-depth analysis of warfare’s changing character and provides an evolutionary overview of war, while focusing on emerging frontiers such as cyberspace, space-enabled operations, cognitive warfare, and their growing relevance for the Indian Armed Forces.

Highlighting the necessity for robust military leadership and institutional strength, the book offers a bold reimagination of India’s military future, one rooted in historical wisdom, driven by technological advancement and anchored in the vision of a ready, reliable, and resurgent India. The release event was attended by Director General of the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies Maj Gen (Dr) Ashok Kumar and the publisher from Pentagon Press Shri Rajan Arya.

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VK/Savvy