1 BSF jawan killed, 1 hurt in militant attack on 46 RR battalion in Baramulla

First gun shots were heard at 8.25 pm, followed by blasts and intermittent firing. AFP file photo

Majid Jahangir & Ishfaq Tantary

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 2

A Border Security Force (BSF) guard was killed and another injured as militants attacked a battalion headquarters of Army’s 46 Rashtriya Rifles on the outskirts of Baramulla town in north Kashmir tonight.A BSF sentry was killed when a group of militants, whose number could not confirmed immediately, tried to storm the base at Janbazpora, Baramulla, around 60 km from Srinagar, around 10.30 pm. A BSF company is deployed at the RR battalion headquarters.Editorial: At daggers drawn“So far, one BSF sentry has been killed and another jawan is injured,” Baramulla Senior Superintendent of Police Imtiyaz Hussain told The Tribune.Defence sources said militants could not breach into the camp. They launched attack by lobbying grenades and opening indiscriminate fire. The exchange of fire is still on and the area around the base cordoned off. No militant has been killed so far.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)The 46RR battalion base which is under attack is located on the banks of the Jhelum between Azad Gunj and Janbazpora localities of Baramulla town. A number of important Army and police installations, including offices of the Deputy Inspector General of Police (north Kashmir) and the Senior Superintendent of Police (Baramulla), are situated on the other side of the river. Today’s strike comes exactly a fortnight after terrorists struck at the Army brigade headquarters at Uri, 102 km from here, killing 19 soldiers. Days after the Uri attack, India reacted by launching surgical strikes on militant launch pads in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir.

‘Will take some days to bring back jawan’

• Pune: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said on Sunday it would take “some days” to bring back Army jawan Chandu Babulal Chavan of 37 RR, who is in Pakistan’s custody after he inadvertently crossed over. He said a well-established mechanism through the DGMO had been activated to secure his release. “Since the situation is tense, it will take some days to bring the soldier back,” he said. PTI

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

United Nations, September 21

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has raised the Kashmir issue with almost every world leader he has held talks with on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session, but his efforts to internationalise the dispute with India appeared to have gained no traction.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

Sharif’s repeated calls to the UN to help resolve the Kashmir dispute appeared to be gaining no traction as UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon made no reference to Kashmir in his final speech to the UNGA as the UN chief.

At the opening session of the General Debate yesterday, Ban touched upon a cross-section of global issues, including the Syrian crisis, the Palestinian issue, the refugee and migrant movements and tension in the Korean Peninsula.

Kashmir will be the focal point of Sharif’s address to the UN General Assembly.

Tension have heightened between India and Pakistan in the wake of the attack by heavily-armed militants, suspected to be from Pakistan, on an army base in Uri in which 18 jawans died.

Ban has repeatedly said his “good offices” are available to help resolve the Kashmir dispute only if both India and Pakistan request for it, a clear indication that the issue is bilateral and should be solved by the two countries only.

Sharif also raised the issue with the leaders of the US, the UK, Japan and Turkey and sought their intervention to resolve the matter. He met Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan here yesterday.

“PM Sharif briefed Japanese PM about the grave turn that the situation in occupied Kashmir is taking. Reminded him about UNSC resolutions,” Pakistan’s envoy to the UN Maleeha Lodhi tweeted.

“PM Nawaz Sharif also apprised his Japanese counterpart of the human rights violations being committed by Indian occupation forces in Kashmir,” Lodhi said in another tweet.

Erdogan and Sharif “agreed that OIC (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) Comm on Human Rights should send a fact-finding mission” to Kashmir, Lodhi said.

On Monday, Sharif held bilateral talks with US Secretary of State John Kerry and UK Prime Minister Theresa May.

According to a readout of his meeting with Kerry by the Pakistan mission, Sharif told him that more than 107 people have been “assassinated” in Kashmir, thousands injured and “worst human rights violations are being committed at the state level.”

“I still remember President (Bill) Clinton’s promise that the US will play its role to help out in resolving bilateral disputes and issues between Pakistan and India,” Sharif said, according to the release.

“I expect US Administration and Secretary Kerry to use his good offices to help in resolving bilateral issues between Pakistan and India,” he added.

In his meeting with May, Sharif urged her to play her role in convincing India to stop the use of force against the people in the region.

He said Pakistan’s support for Kashmiri people “in their legitimate struggle for self determination and its commitment to the Kashmir cause are non-negotiable.”

A state of high alert was issued across Uttar Pradesh, following the surgical strike across the Line of Control (LoC), an official said on Friday.

Security was heightened in all districts, fearing retaliation from Pakistan.

The Seema Shashastra Bal (SSB) was also asked to step up vigil along the Indo-Nepal border.

Special focus was on security of historical monuments, tourist destinations, public places like railway and bus stations, malls, shopping complexes and film theatres, an official told IANS.

Additional police force was deployed in the peripheral parameters of cantonments in Lucknow, Agra, Kanpur and Meerut, and military installations and airports were put under close watch.

Special checking operations were initiated to screen vehicles on border and other sensitive areas like Maharajganj, Bahraich, Gonda and Gorakhpur.

“Other than scaling up the visible security, we have also sensitised the intelligence system and are keeping an eye on every activity,” an official said.

By blaming Pak for Uri & any attempt to escalate tension to deflect attention from state terrorism in Kashmir will prove expensive for Indians. KHAWAJA ASIF, Pak defence minister, in a tweet

ISLAMABAD/NEW DELHI: Pakistan on Sunday rejected India’s assertion that it had a hand in the terror attack on an army camp at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir, saying New Delhi should share “actionable intelligence” on the incident with Islamabad.

Soon after Indian home minister Rajnath Singh pointed a finger at Pakistan for its “continued and direct support” to terror groups, Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesman Nafees Zakaria dismissed the accusation. “India immediately puts blame on Pakistan without doing any investigation. We reject this,” Zakaria told Reuters.

A statement from the InterServices Public Relations, the Pakistan Army’s media wing, later in the day referred to the hotline contact between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) and sought intelligence on the terror attack. “Refuting the unfounded and premature Indian allegations, the Pakistan DGMO asked his counterpart to share any actionable intelligence,” it said.

The latest situation on the Line of Control was discussed and the Pakistan DGMO “reiterated that no infiltration is allowed from Pakistan’s soil because water tight arrangements were in place on both sides of LoC/working boundary all along”, the statement added.

The attack was extensively covered by Pakistani news channels and foreign office officials privately said Pakistan condemns the attack. “We condemn terrorist actions in all forms,” said an official.

Adding to the uncertainty in bilateral relations were remarks by Pakistan’s defence minister Khawaja Asif that his country would not hesitate to use tactical nuclear weapons in the event of an attack by India. But Asif made the comments in an interview with Geo News channel that was recorded before the attack and aired on Saturday night.

His remarks were aired again after the attack and picked up by Indian media. In response to a question about the possibility of hostilities with India, Asif said: “I don’t think there is any immediate threat (of a war with India) but as Allah has said in the Quran, the horses should be ready. Our readiness should be complete at all times… The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.”

Army vehicles move towards the border area in Akhnoor sector, 35 km from Jammu, on Friday. PTI

Mukesh Ranjan

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 30

Home Minister Rajnath Singh today reviewed the security situation in the country, taking stock of the forces’ preparedness along the western border in view of yesterday’s surgical strikes by the Army on terror launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.Edit: After the strikesDuring hour-long deliberations, the top security brass briefed Rajnath about the steps being taken to foil any Pakistani design to attack Border Security Force posts. They also elaborated on the measures taken to ensure the safety of civilians living in border areas. Sources said Rajnath directed officials to be on high alert. National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi and top officials of security and Intelligence agencies attended the meeting. Meanwhile, the MHA has issued a countrywide alert, asking states to heighten vigil to foil any attempt by Pakistan-based terror groups to carry out attacks, especially in metropolitan cities. The border states of Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat were also directed to remain vigilant.Rajnath told reporters that all attempts were being made to secure the release of an Indian soldier who had inadvertently crossed over to Pakistan. He said the government had taken note of the reports that stated that an Indian soldier was in Pakistan’s captivity.Sources in the MHA, however, said the minister had not spoken to anyone in Pakistan to secure the release of the soldier in captivity, but they went on to add that the ministry would soon make moves in that regard.Army sources yesterday said, “One soldier from 37 RR with a weapon has inadvertently crossed over to the other side of the Line of Control. Pakistan has been informed by the DGMO on the hotline.” Sources said the incident was not related to the surgical strikes in PoK.

*VETERAN’S SOLIDARITY RALLY on Thursday, 15 September 2016 At War Memorial at 1630h, Sector 3, Chandigarh

*CAPT AMARINER SINGH* the most celebrated veteran will lead the ESM to Governor residence

1. To affirm our support to the COSC bold decision asking Govt to withhold implementation of 7CPC for Armed Forces till all anomalies are solved
.
2. *You are requested to Assemble at War Memorial  Sector 3, Chandigarh at 1630 PM sharp*.

3.Veterans shall proceed thereafter to Governor Punjab (Administrator UT) & Governor Haryana to hand over the Memorandum of Solidarity with COSC Lead by Capt Amarinder Singh.

4. We request all the Veterans of Punjab , Haryana, UT Chandigarh and other places to join this Mega Solidarity Rally, irrespective of your political affiliation groups or associations .

5. No slogans to be raised during assembly Nor  display of banners.

Let’s get together as true and real soldiers in letter and spirit.

Must give Moral support to our chiefs as the Govt is all out to degrade defence forces to the lowest statuall veterans requested to Join and recah RV at 16:30 h on 15 Sep 2015.

It’s a prestigious issue and cause  so all requested  to come in strength.Even civilian brothers and sisters can join in support.

*SOLIDARITY RALLY*
*Dt~Thursday, 15 Sep.
*Time~16:30 hrs.
*Venue~War Memorial.
* BOAT CLUB ,SUKHNA LAKE , Chandigarh.
Regtl insignias, scarves, side caps, a riot of colour.
Chest up, pride written on your face, a soldiers countenance.

Let people know the difference.

Rgds.
Col Charanjit Singh Khera

Gen Secy

Sanjha Morcha

The crossover: The strikes did take the Pakistan army by surprise.

AS I write these lines, Pakistan has strongly denied that the Indian army carried out surgical strikes across the LoC. It has claimed, indeed asserted, through the official army spokesman that the Indian action was confined to the traditional exchange of fire across the LoC which the two armies have undertaken many times in the past, including heavy fire last year. In doing so, as of now, Pakistan has obviously sought to ensure that it does not come under pressure from its domestic public opinion to adequately respond to uphold the country’s honour. For if it acknowledges that Indian soldiers crossed the LoC, even by a short distance of a couple of kilometres, the Pakistani people, more so, Pakistani soldiers and officers will demand of its generals, especially army chief General Raheel Sharif, that the Indian Army be soonest taught a lesson so it does not undertake such an action again. This refrain would be heard the loudest from the jehadi tanzeems.Raheel Sharif has an image to live up to — his elder brother and maternal uncle were decorated with the Naishan-e-Haider, Pakistan’s highest gallantry award, and the Sharif family is greatly respected in army circles and by the public at large. Raheel Sharif is also credited with successful action in North Waziristan to clear Tehrik-e-Taliban-e-Pakistan cadres under the Zarb-e-Arz operation. Thus more than Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, it is the General who is under greater scrutiny. It is obvious that his initial reaction has been not to immediately get into a tit-for-tat situation and to move cautiously. That is not unnatural, for the Pakistan General staff would need to carefully weigh all options, especially as the international community knows that Pakistan has provoked India continuously over two decades with its pursuit of cross-border terrorism and that no army would take the Uri terrorist attack lying down.The major powers, especially the US, have advised Pakistan that it has to take action against all terrorist groups, not only those that have turned against the state. This counsel has fallen on deaf ears, for there is no evidence that the Pakistan army is willing to take a re-look at its security doctrines. These prescribe the pursuit of low-intensity conflict to contain India by keeping it off-balance. The fact is that despite the Pathankot attack and India’s acceptance of a Pakistani joint investigation team,  including an ISI representative, to visit the Pathankot air base, it continued to essentially remain in denial, which is a clear evidence of its unwillingness to modify its security approaches. As India has crossed a threshold, Pakistan’s security planners will be under international pressure to modify their policies on the use of terror, even as they will not easily give it up. Why?The major powers, including Pakistan’s all-weather friend, China, do not want a conflagration between two countries with nuclear weapons. As India has always acted “responsibly”, it has ironically been under greater pressure to avoid taking any step that would enhance the chance of escalation. This has been so after every significant terrorist provocation, including the Parliament attack and the Mumbai outrage. Each time, India absorbed terrorist action, despite the loss of life. Indeed, influential sections of the Indian political and security classes advanced the view that terrorism did pose a real security challenge to the country. Thus Pakistan-sponsored terrorism was cynically relegated to a matter of political management. If this was the view of those who governed the country, the international community naturally went along. The Pakistan Generals too felt secure that India’s political masters would not really react with force. They were initially concerned that Prime Minister Narendra Modi may be different and they tested him even prior to his taking oath when the Indian consulate-general in Herat was attacked. When Modi flip-flopped, laying down red lines only to dissolve them, they felt that he was no different from his predecessors. They will now have to reassess.The only time the global powers brought pressure to bear on Pakistan was during the Kargil encroachment. Then India acted with determination to throw out Pakistan forces that had occupied the Kargil heights. It is because India refused to accept Pakistani action and the Indian Army started meeting with success despite great odds that the US put pressure on Pakistan to abandon its unacceptable misadventure. The US pressure was a contributory factor to Pakistan’s decision to withdraw. The Kargil lesson was that if India showed resolve and acted then Pakistan was asked to act responsibly. The key factor in all such situations is calm and sober resolve and deliberate action. Now after the surgical strikes, which have been undertaken with precision, it would be Pakistan that would be under pressure not to notch up the situation. That would be the quiet message that the Chinese would also give, notwithstanding the public postures that they may take.The Modi government has also done well not to have undertaken the surgical strikes in isolation, but as part of a package of measures to show that India is re-examining the premises of its Pakistan policy. No previous government has focussed on the Indus Waters Treaty and Pakistan’s MFN status. Nor has any government raised Pakistan’s human rights record in Balochistan internationally,  that to at the UN. Most importantly, the withdrawal from the SAARC Summit — and, it is obvious that Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan and India have consulted on this matter — would not have gone unnoticed in important capital cities. While there will be routine counsels of restraint, there is no doubt that there will be an understanding that India has suffered much and Modi expended much political capital and the present action — with no intention, at present, to undertake any other surgical strike — was neither adventurous nor unnatural.There is little doubt that Pakistan will loudly proclaim the dangers of Indian action leading to the danger of acquiring a nuclear dimension. This is hogwash and self-serving. Pakistan will also renew efforts to draw attention to the Kashmir situation, but global indifference to developments in the Valley will continue as no country wants to intervene in it.So, how will Pakistan respond? Indian security managers should redouble their vigilance against a major terrorist strike. The writer is a former Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs 

https://youtu.be/cspNIDG4esI

Kashmiri wants freedom from India then why 25 crore Muslims are living in India: Hamid Bashani

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