Tribune News Service
Srinagar, December 5

Even as combing operations are underway in north Kashmir’s Handwara forest, a day after the killing of two Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants, security forces claim that two to three more militants of the group are still holed up in the area.
Officials engaged in the combing operation in the Bawan Rajwar forest area in Handwara, nearly 90 km from here, said searches in the thick forest were underway and there had been no fresh contact with the holed-up militants since Friday afternoon.
“Two to three militants, who are part of the group, are still holed up in the forest area and we are combing the vast area,” the official said.
He said the group of militants had infiltrated almost a month ago and the group was being chased since November 21.
Two militants of Lashkar and a soldier of the Army’s elite counter insurgency unit Naik Satish Kumar were killed in a gunfight in north Kashmir’s frontier Kupwara district on Friday. One of the slain militants, the Army said, was commander of the group.
An Army officer said besides weapons, a lot of ration was also recovered from the militant hideout in the area after the gunfight.
“We also recovered maps and diaries from the slain militants,” the officer said.
Deputy Inspector General of Police, north Kashmir, Gareeb Das said the combing operation was extended to the adjoining areas.
The combing operation in the adjoining Manigam forest of Kupwara district has been continuing for the past three weeks.
Meanwhile, the Lashkar-e-Toiba in a statement to a local news agency in Srinagar said after the taking over of the command by the group’s new chief Abu Musa, alias Hafiz, they had adopted a new strategy.
“Under the changed strategy the cadres of the outfit have engaged security men in various encounters in the past one month, which has resulted in heavy causalities to security forces,” the outfit chief was quoted.

RK Khajuria & Shyam Sood
Tribune News Service
Jammu/Rajouri, November 30

While families of Kafaitullah Khan, a library assistant in a government school, and BSF head constable Abdul Rasheed are in “shock” over the arrest of their kin, it has come to the fore that Rasheed had received phone calls from Pakistan seeking information on deployment of artillery guns and “laser fence” on the Line of Control in the border districts of Rajouri and Poonch.
“Since August, Rasheed had received three to four phone calls on his mobile from callers in Pakistan, believed to be ISI agents. They sought information about the RT guns and laser fence from him but he feigned ignorance,” said a BSF source.
While the BSF has ordered an internal probe, since Rasheed has been arrested on charges of espionage, it has not ruled out the possibility of him having spied for Pakistan, sources said.
“From the call details of Rasheed’s mobile phone, it has come to the fore that he talked to three to four persons, believed to be ISI agents in Pakistan,” the source said.
“Kafaitullah had given Rasheed’s number to his ‘relatives’ in Pakistan, who had been calling up Rasheed since August and in one such conversation he had been asked to furnish this classified information, which Rasheed claimed he never gave,” said sources.
Though the BSF didn’t find anything incriminating from his mobile phone and rented accommodation in Rajouri, we cannot rule out the possibility of him transmitting classified info via Whatsapp, Viber and Skype, said a BSF source.

The Defence Minister Mr Manohar Parrikar expressed India’s hope that all parties to the disputes in the South China Sea region will abide by the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, ensure its effective implementation and work together to ensure a peaceful resolution of disputes.
Addressing the 3rd ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM-plus) at Kuala Lumpur, Mr Parrikar said that the situation in the South China Sea and recent developments there have attracted interest and concern. “This is natural since freedom of navigation in international waters, the right of passage and overflight, unimpeded commerce and access to resources in accordance with recognized principles of international law including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, are of concern to all of us”, he stated. He also hoped that the Code of Conduct on the South China Sea would be concluded at an early date by consensus.
Following is the full text of the Defence Minister’s address:
“I am honoured to represent India at the 3rd Meeting of the ADMM-Plus. My delegation is grateful for the outstanding hospitality extended to us since our arrival yesterday. I would also like to thank our host, Malaysia, for the excellent arrangements made for this meeting.
In a short span of time since its foundation in 2010, the ADMM-Plus has emerged as a compact and useful forum for discussing security issues among officials of the Ministries of Defence of our region. Our meetings at the level of ministers and other activities undertaken under the aegis of the ADMM-Plus are contributing to greater trust and confidence within the region.
2015 is an important year for the ASEAN. We congratulate ASEAN on its impressive achievements and wish the ASEAN Community greater success. 2015 is also the 10th anniversary of the EAST Asia Summit, whose membership footprint matches with that of ours.
ASEAN is at the heart of India’s ‘Act East Policy’ and is central to our dream of an Asian century. As neighbours and as countries belonging to the same region, India and ASEAN member states face common security challenges both traditional and non-traditional. The overriding priority for all of us is development and the transformation of the lives of our people. A peaceful and stable regional and international security environment is critical to our goal.
India has been working bilaterally and multilaterally with all the States represented here to enhance the security and stability of the region from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific. Our efforts include joint military exercises in areas such as disaster response and humanitarian assistance, training and capacity building in areas such as navigational safety and cyber security, exchange of perspectives and cooperation on counter terrorism and support for ASEAN-led initiatives for security cooperation.
ASEAN has also led useful and constructive discussions in the past couple of years on the regional security architecture. India was pleased to co-host with Cambodia, the 4th Workshop on the Regional Security Architecture in July this year. We welcome the very useful and constructive ideas presented by Indonesia, Thailand, China, Russia, Japan and others and we share the common assessment that any future framework must be centered on the 18-member EAS as a premier leaders-led forum for dialogue on strategic issues thereby reinforcing ASEAN’s centrality in the evolving architecture. India would like to see a closer relationship between the EAS and the ADMM-Plus.
The five areas of cooperation that we have identified for work in the ADMM-Plus, namely, HADR, maritime security, military medicine, counter terrorism and peace-keeping operations – have progressed well through the mechanism of Expert Working Groups (EWG). India was honoured to co-Chair within Vietnam the EWG on the new area of humanitarian mine action last year. We look forward to hosting ADMM-Plus experts in the joint Humanitarian Mine Action and UN peacekeeping Operations Field Training Exercise in March 2016 in India in Pune. Going forward, we should give thought to future areas of cooperation and dialogue beyond the 2014-17 cycle. In this regard, I propose that we look at the welfare of ex-servicemen and veterans as an area of exchange of national experiences.
We are all concerned with the persistent threat of terrorism and radicalism. There can be no justification for acts of terrorism and we have to work resolutely to choke off recruitments, funding and arms for terrorists. We commend Malaysia’s initiative on Global Movement of Moderates and other efforts to combat radicalisation.
Maritime security is again a common challenge. The seas and oceans in our region are critical enablers of our prosperity. The situation in the South China Sea and recent developments there have attracted interest and concern. This is natural since freedom of navigation in international waters, the right of passage and overflight, unimpeded commerce and access to resources in accordance with recognised principles of international law including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, are of concern to all of us. India hopes that all parties to the disputes in the South China Sea region will abide by the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, ensure its effective implementation, and work together to ensure a peaceful resolution of disputes. We also hope that the Code of Conduct on the South China Sea would be concluded at an early date by consensus.
Let me conclude by assuring you, Mr Chairman, and all my colleagues in the ADMM-Plus our full cooperation in achieving the objectives we have set for this forum. We wish Malaysia all the very best with the Summits you would be hosting shortly.
I thank you for your attention.”

Indian army is facing acute shortage of men. The government is launching massive campaigns to attract new recruits. The armed forces are reeling under financial crises. The armed forces are starving for recruits. THE PAVEMENT garment shops on Sunday market at Daryaganj in New Delhi are known for their down to earth prices. Visited by thousands of people from across the national capital region (NCR), these are a boon in disguise for the common man who cannot afford the luxury of a brand new garment but can do with the discarded stuff from the upper middle class folk and many a garment factories from across the nation.Just like any other customer, Raghubir Singh (name changed) is also busy digging into a heap of jackets, body warmers and suits. North India is reeling under a spine chilling cold wave and wishes to buy apiece each that can keep him and his 15-year-old son back at Amritsar, warm in this killing weather.

He selects a gray overcoat for himself and a blue jacket for the boy. The price is merely rupees 200 each. But just like any other father, a dejected Raghubir gives way to his son requirement, keeping his personal needs aside. Raghubir has money enough to buy only one.

His friend puts a sympathetic hand over his shoulder that is decorated with some job identification. Raghubir is Subedar in the Indian army! A man who puts life at risk for the nation cannot even afford to buy a second grade warmer for himself?

“I wanted to buy two jackets but I do not have money for two. I am hardly able to save anything from what I get as my salary. Well, my son needs it more than me, so I bought this for him,” says a shivering Singh with a hidden tear about to dwell in his eyes. But obvious, the truth is hidden from no one.

This is the story of one Raghubir. Many an untold tales of financial crisis stand untold in the mightiest armed force-on-land in the world.

Sample the tale of Lajo (name changed) from Bihar. Wife of a martyr Subedar Major, who was killed by militants last year at Poonch in Kashmir, she works as a stone-breaking laborer at a construction site in New Delhi. After all, despite repeated requests and pleadings with the concerned personnel, the pension allotted to the martyr’s family never reached in time. And Lajo the only one to fend for a family of two kids and parents-in-law had to work as a menial labourer.

“My husband laid down his life for the nation. I am proud of him. I have no complains and grudges against anyone. It is just that I need our due, in time, for my family. And till then I shall work here. I do not feel any shame in doing this. After all it is better than begging for money and food,” says Lajo. Such a plight of a lady whose eye still twinkle at the mention of her husband’s sacrifice.

The Indian President has got a big raise with the monthly pay packet doubled from Rs 50,000 to Rs one lakh, under a proposal cleared by the union cabinet on January 24. And Pratibha Patil is not alone to get such a hike.

The Vice-President would get Rs 85,000 per month against the present Rs 40,000. Likewise, the salary of Governors has been raised from Rs 36,000 a month to Rs 75,000. The increase in emoluments would come into effect from January 1 2007. Last year? Yes, you heard it right! That means more than a crore being lovingly pumped into the pockets of the VVIPs who otherwise get unaccountable perks as well!

The contrast is glaring. Perhaps this is the reason for shortage of officers in the armed forces. We are short of over 11,000 officers ranging from the rank of Captain to Major. It is public knowledge that the Indian army has launched a massive awareness drive to get young people in the armed forces. Despite, glossy advertisement campaigns like: “Be an Army man: Be a winner for life,” the armed forces continue to face a serious shortage of officers.

It is high time that the government realises that pumping money into hoardings, lucrative ads and zestful campaigns is of no use in such a grim situation. The government should realise that though advertisements are one of the best modes of promoting a cause. Why not an ad guru tells the national media advisor that some causes depend on mouth-to-mouth publicity? Will Raghubir and Lajo want their children to work for the army in future?

“I want my son to be a doctor. At least he might earn better and take care of his family, and us,” says Raghubir.

“If the government pays the army men better, I want my son to fight for the security of the nation and win a bravery medal like his father. If they do not pay well in future, I would want him to work for some computer company or become an engineer. Money is a necessity, medals do not buy you food,” states a resolute Lajo.

This reminds of a news channel that recently awarded the Indian soldier the title of the Indian of the year, ‘unsung hero.’ But does that award do any good to people like Lajo?
The fact is crystal clear. The army men and their families seek monetary fulfillment rather than bravery medals and promises of pay hikes.

So when shall the government pay heed to such a grim situation? Or they are waiting for the nation’s guards to turn the tables around and behave like any other protestor, staging a protest near the Parliament seeking justice? The time is not far when this thought might become turn into a reality. The danger bells are ringing, but are our ears alert enough to hear those? – See more at: http://www.merinews.com/article/why-indian-army-starves-for-new-recruits/129791.shtml#sthash.bGbWRWZ0.dpuf

Vijay Mohan
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, November 24
Several suggestions have been made by the Committee of Experts convened by the Defence Minister to recommend ways and means to reduce litigation in the Ministry of Defence and strengthen the mechanisms for redressal of grievances of defence personnel.
The five-member committee submitted its report to Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today. The 509-page report contains 75 recommendations that touch upon various aspects of pension and service matters, discipline, vigilance and promotion issues, military justice reform, issues concerning civil employees and areas of potential disputes. Scores of senior functionaries in the services and MoD were examined and relevant documents and orders scrutinsed.
The committee has recommended greater personal interaction and opportunity of hearing in the system of formal complaints and petitions so as to give a better role to human interaction rather than the one-way noting sheet method and to assist in providing outlet and catharsis to individuals related to their grievances.
Greater constructive usage of social media, including initiation of blogs by senior commanders, to promote an interactive process with the rank and file, has been propagated. A face-to-face “collegiate” system of decision-making in various aspects rather than the file circulation method has been suggested along with more transparency in matters related to promotions and confidential reports.
Recommendations on military justice reform include steps that can be taken without any legislative change such as introduction of permanent infrastructure for Court Martial at specified stations to reduce ad hocism and reduction of command influence. A high level study group to ensure that reforms in these very important areas are not ignored and are configured with the times and the best national and global practices, has been recommended.
The committee has also recognised other areas of potential disputes, including those of disabled cadets, women officers and Short Service Commissioned Officers and several recommendations for more amiable service conditions have been put forth. Service and pension-related policies, including those affecting disabled soldiers and widows, form an important part of the report.

Recommendations are:

Greater personal interaction
Constructive use of social media
Face-to-face ‘collegiate’ system of decision-making
More transparency in matters related to promotions, confidential reports
Permanent infrastructure for Court Martial at specified stations

Ravi Krishnan Khajuria
Tribune News Service
Jammu, November 18

The Army has lost two decorated officers — Colonel MN Rai and Colonel Santosh Mahadik — this year in its fight against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in Kashmir.
“The two officers always led their men from the front in multiple counter-insurgency operations. Both of them combined bravery with compassion,” said a senior Army officer.
Moreover, both officers had developed a healthy rapport with the people in Kashmir, especially the youth, weaning them away from militancy, he added.
Colonel Rai laid his life in the line of duty, combating militants in the Tral area of Pulwama district, on January 28. Colonel Mahadik was killed in Kupwara district on Tuesday. The heroes left behind a saga of bravery that, in turn, would strengthen the resolve to fight elements inimical to peace, said the officer. Both officers were quite young. While Colonel Rai was 39 years old, Colonel Mahadik was 38.
“These men of mettle knew no fear and were always at the forefront to combat militants. Though there is no denying the fact that we have lost two Colonels this year in counter-militancy operations, their sacrifice will inspire other Army men to take this fight against terrorism head on,” he said.
Colonel Rai was killed after the father and brother of one of the terrorists, who were hiding in a house, approached him, claiming that the militant wanted to surrender.
Colonel Rai, like a true soldier, gave them the opportunity to do so. Militants came out of the house firing indiscriminately, leading to the gunbattle. The officer’s swift actions prevented many civilian casualties, but he laid down his life in the line of duty. Colonel Rai was conferred the Yudh Seva Medal on the eve of Republic Day for outstanding contribution in planning and conducting operations.
Both Colonels were commanding officers of their units. “Colonel is a senior post, but still they chose to fight from the front, that showed their commitment,” said a defence official. Colonel Rai was the Commanding Officer of 42 RRwhile Colonel Mahadik was Commanding Officer of the 41 RR.
A classmate of Colonel Mahadik at Sainik School in Satara, Colonel Prashant Patil, said: “He was born for this. He would always speak about making the supreme sacrifice. Though calm by nature and gentle in demeanour, he carried a storm in his heart.”

THE GOVERNMENT’S RESPONSE CAME ON A PIL BY ADVOCATES TO GRANT EQUAL STATUS TO PARAMILITARY AND POLICE FORCES
NEW DELHI: The status of ‘martyr’ is not accorded to armed forces personnel who sacrifice their lives on the line of duty and hence cannot be given to the paramilitary forces, government has told the Delhi High Court, terming a plea on the matter as “misconceived”.
“The prayer… to grant ‘martyr’ or ‘shaheed’ to Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) at par with army, navy and air force is misconceived as the very same status is not actually being granted to the personnel of army, navy and air force,” a bench of justices S Ravindra Bhat and Deepa Sharma was informed.n an affidavit, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and other ministries said the word ‘martyr’ was not used in the three services and “no such order/ notification has been issued by the MoD to call martyr, (those) who are killed during duty.
Similarly, no such notification has been issued by Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for the CAPF and Assam Rifle (AR) personnel.”
The government’s response came on a PIL by advocates Abhishek Choudhary and Harsh Ahuja to grant equal status to paramilitary and police forces like the armed forces in granting ‘martyr’ status to the deceased personnel.
The response was sought after the government informed the court that it had no such scheme, as sought in the PIL.
The government said “in army/navy/air force, the nomenclature for the word ‘martyr’ is battle casuality and physical casuality. The word ‘martyr’ is not used in the three services.”

The opening of the Kartarpur corridor connecting devotees to their cherished shrine marks a new beginning. Another man-made border has fallen, albeit only for a narrow passage and specific purpose, on the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. The Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan inaugurated their end of the facilities. The former saw off the first batch of devotees that included former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, ministers and others. The latter received them. The twain, expectedly, did not meet, but worked in coordination.

The tremendous enthusiasm among the devotees has left great goodwill, which could well be used as political capital to bridge the vast chasm that exists between India and Pakistan. Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Imran Khan both spoke on the occasion. The momentum of the occasion, coming as it does on the eve of the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, was not enough to set aside differences and discord for the moment, even as Imran Khan raked up the Kashmir issue. In focus was the vast infrastructure built at break-neck speed to facilitate the pilgrimage, and the spirit of the people who were getting a chance to visit the land of their prayers.

The road to the Kartarpur corridor has gone through many twists and turns. It has somehow survived the vicissitudes of Indo-Pak relations. However, the danger of the hijacking of what has become a bridge between two peoples will remain. The security agencies have flagged a number of concerns, and due attention has to be paid to them. The piety of the devotees should be allowed to be a balm that heals the rifts, not be exploited, or allowed to be exploited. Due care will have to be taken by the security agencies, and any attempt to subvert the spirit of Kartarpur would have to be nipped in the bud. The 4-km journey to Kartarpur has taken 72 years to traverse. In consonance with the teachings of Guru Nanak, let it showcase the triumph of hope and goodwill between fellow beings.

Tribune News Service
Dehradun, November 13

Brig KG Behl (retd)———— Maj Gen Lalji D Singh (retd)
Indian armed forces retired personnel in Uttarakhand have decided to intensify their agitation with an aim to build pressure on the Centre Government to amend clauses added to the recently sanctioned one rank one pension (OROP) scheme for them.
The ex-servicemen will hold a meeting of the core committee under the banner of the United Forum of Ex-servicemen, Uttarakhand Chapter, tomorrow to decide whether to return medals to government or not to show resentment against the Government.
Maj Gen Lalji D Singh (retd) said a delegation of the United Front of Ex-Servicemen had already apprised Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar about the voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) clause added by the Centre in the OROP notification. He said ex-servicemen would no longer tolerate pension disparity.
Maj Gen C Nandwani (retd), president of the United Front of Ex-servicemen, Uttarakhand Chapter, told The Tribune that nearly 60,000 personnel retired from the Indian defence forces every year and hence OROP would not financially burden the Union Government.
He said the Union Government should form a committee comprising senior and experienced retired defence personnel to resolve the OROP issue instead of forming a one-man committee headed by a retired judge.
Brig KG Behl (retd), a former president of the Dehradun Ex-Services League, said arrears should be given to retired octogenarian defence personnel in one installment instead of four installments.
He added that pension is earned wages for the services rendered by an individual during his service period.
Brig Behl said it was reasonable and logical that two individuals, who had rendered an equal length of service and had handled the same level of responsibility (rank), should be given equal pension, irrespective of their date of retirement.
Brig RS Rawat (retd), president of the Uttarakhand Ex-services League, said OROP sanctioned by the Union Government had not fulfilled their demands yet.
He opposed the clauses added by the government in OROP.
He said ex-servicemen were agitating for OROP as it was a fight for equity and justice for them as well a question of dignity of ex-servicemen.