610 cadets to pass out today

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 10

Lt-Gen Sarath Chand, General Officer Commanding-In-Chief (GOC-in-C), South Western Command, and Colonel of the Garhwal Rifles and Garhwal Scouts will be the reviewing officer at the passing-out-parade scheduled for tomorrow at the Indian Military Academy (IMA).A fleet of 610 gentleman cadets (GCs), including 45 foreign gentleman cadets, will pass out from the IMA.The police said additional personnel had been deployed around the IMA to maintain law and order in the city. Additional traffic policemen had been deployed to decongest traffic near the IMA. The IMA administration said necessary preparations had been done to ensure the smooth conducting of the passing-out parade.It may be recalled that Lt Sarath Chand was commissioned into Garhwal Rifles in June 1979 and has had an outstanding professional career spanning over 37 years. He is an alumnus of Sainik School, Kazhakootam, National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, Pune, and Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. He is a graduate of the Defence Services Staff College, and National Defence College, New Delhi.

india’s application for membership of the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group (NSG) has gone down to the wire. It is not just China but a group of half a dozen countries are also opposing India’s entry into the NSG without making any tangible commitments to the cause of non-proliferation. This stand translates into pressure on India to sign at least one of the tools of non-proliferation — the Fissile Missile Cut-off Treaty, the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty or the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). With two not very well disposed nuclear armed neighbours, India is not inclined to oblige the six countries, popularly called the ‘nuclear ayatollahs’, for their hard line stand of insisting that India must sign on the dotted line while ignoring its stellar record in non-proliferation.China’s objection is of a different kettle altogether. Beijing’s spanner serves two purposes. One, it tries to cool India’s ardour for a military tango with the US in the South China Sea. This was evident in the Obama-Modi joint statement that completely omitted South China Sea as compared to prominent mention in their vision statement last year. Second, China does not want a situation where India gets in the NSG and then permanently locks out Pakistan because decisions in that body are taken by consensus. It has, therefore, suggested common criteria for all countries that have not signed the NPT — which essentially means India, Pakistan and Israel.After Modi rubbed China the wrong way on the border dispute, diplomats have their task cut out to persuade China to drop its insistence on a criteria-based approach. Unlike the picture being portrayed by strategic experts, China is not an unreasonable nation. In the late nineties, China had stepped up to the plate after the US and Russia had stopped supplying uranium to India and most plants were on the verge of closure. The NSG is crucial for the inflow of high technology in order to jump-start the Make-in-India project. The US and France will be beneficiaries with billions of dollars in orders for nuclear plants.  In such a situation, India will have no option but to extend an olive branch to both Pakistan and China.

Border Security Force soldiers patrol the border fence. — PTI file photo

Washington, June 10

The US has asked Pakistan to ensure that its territory is not used for planning attacks in India, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said terrorism is being “incubated in India’s neighbourhood”.

“This is one of the steps that the US is encouraging Pakistan to do for the improvement of its relations with India,” a State Department spokesman said on Friday.

“We believe that Pakistan and India stand to benefit from practical cooperation and encourage direct dialogue aimed at increasing cooperation and reducing tensions,” State Department Deputy Spokesman Mark Toner said.

“And that includes steps by Pakistan to ensure that its territory is not used to plan attacks in India and that Pakistan takes steps to address or to go after, I think, all the terrorist groups that are currently using its territory,” Toner said.

“That continues to be an area of collaboration and cooperation that we pursue with Pakistan is its counterterrorism operations,” he said in response to a question.

Responding to a question, Toner said Pakistan was one of the issues discussed between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama.

“Certainly that was one of the discussions, frankly, that was raised at the – or one of the issues, frankly, that was raised in discussions with Prime Minister Modi. They talked about a wide range of regional issues, in fact,” he said.

“Our bilateral relations with India and Pakistan are separate and stand on their own merits, and so I don’t think we… it’s not prudent for us to view our security cooperation in the region in kind of a zero-sum game… or zero-sum terms, rather.”have constructive security relationships with each other. And that’s Pakistan, that’s India, and it’s also Afghanistan,” Toner said.

In his address to the joint sitting of US Congress here, Modi had said terrorism has to be fought with “one voice” as he commended the American Parliament for sending out a clear message by refusing to “reward” those who preach and practice terrorism for political gains, an apparent reference to the blocking of sale of 8 F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan. — PTI

President Pranab Mukherjee and Vice-President Hamid Ansari at the release of first copy of the book ‘The Education President’ at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Wednesday. PTI

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 8

The Indian Army will help establish a Signals training school for the Namibian armed forces in the African country as part of its growing engagement with countries located in what was known as the dark continent. At the same time, India, besides focusing on bilateral trade and cultural relations, will also push for procurement of uranium from Namibia.A memorandum of understanding (MoU) for helping setting up the military school was expected to be signed between the two countries during President Pranab Mukherjee’s state visit to Namibia next week, senior officials of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. Besides Namibia, the president will also visit Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast).While this is the first-ever visit of an Indian President to Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana, a presidential visit to Namibia, is being undertaken after 21 years. The reaching out to African countries, many of which have historical and cultural ties with India, comes in the backdrop of China having made significant inroads in that continent. China has major presence in the aforementioned countries with major developmental projects and high volume of trade. A team of three Indian Army officers and other staff will proceed to Namibia for the project once the formalities are worked out. A defence cooperation agreement with Namibia was signed in 1995, following which Indian Air Force training teams have been stationed in Namibia, which has also procured some defence equipment from India, including three transport helicopters from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.MEA officials said an agreement was signed with Namibia, which is the fourth largest producer of uranium, for peaceful civilian use of nuclear energy, but its implementation had been held up as it was still to be ratified by the Namibian legislature. An agreement among African countries on uranium export is another impediment to the agreement. A number of other agreements are also expected to be signed with the countries that the President is visiting, besides holding delegation level talks with leaders of the respective countries and interaction with the local diaspora.An agreement for setting up a gas-powered fertiliser plant in Ghana and reopening the regional office of the EXIM Bank for West Africa are also on the agenda. The President will address a joint business forum and students and faculty of the University of Ghana besides unveiling a statue of Mahatma Gandhi gifted by the Indian Council of Cultural Relations. In Cote d’Ivoire, among other official engagements, Mukherjee will be honoured with the National Order of the Republic of Ivory Coast, the highest civilian award of that country

India to press for uranium supply

• An agreement was signed with Namibia, the fourth largest producer of uranium, for peaceful civilian use of nuclear energy
• However, its implementation has been held up as it is still to be ratified by the Namibian legislature

Tribune News Service

Jammu, June 2

The Army today dedicated a community centre to Dehri village located close to the Line of Control (LoC) in Mendhar sector.The project was executed by the Army under the Border Area Development Programme (BADP) to meet the long-pending demand of the villagers.The community centre was handed over by Army officials to Nazir Hussain, sarpanch of the village, in the presence of tehsildar, BDO and Mendhar SDPO.

New Navy Chief, Admiral Sunil Lanba (on right) shakes hand with outgoing chief Robin K Dhowan after a Guard of Honour at South Block, in New Delhi, on Tuesday. PTI photo

New Delhi, May 31  

Vice Admiral Sunil Lanba took charge as the new Chief of the Naval Staff on Tuesday, as his predecessor Admiral RK Dhowan retired from service.“I am sure under his leadership, the Indian Navy will execute every task,” Dhowan said.Addressing the personnel on parade yesterday, Vice Admiral Lanba complimented the personnel of the command, who notwithstanding the constrains of the service, had worked with synergy and teamwork in ensuring that ships, submarines and aircraft were maintained in a high state of combat readiness at all times.In keeping with the fragile maritime environment of the region, he said there was a need to be ever vigilant in all quarters and all fronts, adding that he had no doubt that fire power from units of fleet, flotillas and squadrons could be delivered appropriately should the need arise.Pointing towards the International Fleet Review held recently at Visakhapatnam, Vice Admiral Lanba said presence of 50 countries in the review clearly indicated the growing stature of the country in the region.He added that many countries had expressed the desire to cooperate and exercise with the Indian Navy, which was indicative of professionalism, training and sound culture displayed by the service.He also urged for change and apprised the personnel on the steps taken by WNC in addressing the long standing issue of shortage of married accommodation.Born on July 17, 1957, Vice Admiral Sunil Lanba was commissioned on January 1, 1978 into the Executive Branch of Indian Navy.During his long and distinguished service spanning nearly 38 years, he has served in a variety of Command, operational and staff appointments.Vice Admiral Lanba’s Sea Command includes commanding the minesweeper INS Kakinada, frigate INS Himgiri and Executive Officer of INS Viraat, the aircraft carrier.Before taking over as FOC-in-C, Western Naval Command, he was FOC-in-C, Southern Naval Command, Vice Chief of the Naval Staff and Commandant, National Defence College.Vice Admiral Lanba is a qualified specialist in navigation and direction course.He attended the course at the Royal College of Defence Studies in UK.Vice Admiral Lanba, who is a recipient of Param Vishist Seva Medal and Ati Vishist Seva Medal, is married to Reena Lanba and the couple has a son and two daughters. — ANI

Vice Admiral Girish Luthra, AVSM, VSM

Vice Admiral Luthra, a specialist in Navigation and Direction and an alumnus of National Defence Academy, has very rich operational and staff experience over a career spanning three and a half decades. He has served as Navigating Officer of INS Betwa (Frigate), INS Dunagiri (Frigate), INS Gomati (Frigate) and INS Viraat (Aircraft Carrier). During his illustrious career, he commanded three frontline warships namely, INS Khukri (Corvette), INS Talwar (Frigate) and INS Viraat (Aircraft Carrier).  He is also an alumnus of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and the Naval War College, USA.

He has held important staff appointments such as Deputy Naval Attaché to High Commission of India, London, Fleet Navigating Officer of the Western Fleet, Command Plans Officer Headquarters, Eastern Naval Command, Principal Director Naval Plans and Asst Chief of Naval Staff (Policy & Plans). He has also been the Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet, Director General of Naval Operations and Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Operations). He was Commander-in-Chief of the Southern Naval Command at Kochi, prior to his appointment as the C-in-C of the Western Naval Command.

Vice Admiral Luthra is a recipient of Athi Vishist Seva Medal and Vishist Seva Medal for distinguished service.

The training exercise undertaken by the Indian Army under the aegis of Vajra Corps alongside Sutlej river. A Tribune Photograph

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, May 28

The Indian Army launched a massive summer exercise with troops over the complete month of May in the riverine terrain of Punjab, involving over 13,000 troops and several components of artillery guns, tanks and infantry combat vehicles as a part of its efforts to project its battle supremacy on the Western Front, said a spokesperson of Vajra Corps Headquarters, Jalandhar.Under the aegis of Vajra Corps, all ranks of the Panther Division commenced collective training by honing up basic battle procedures and drills at tactical and operational levels. The troops built the momentum of training gradually with increased combat tempo involving rapid mobilisation and execution of battle plans in conjunction with the Air Force, said the spokesperson.A large number of innovations and modifications carried out by units and formations to enhance combat power were validated in the field. During the exercise, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and communication systems were put to test in a network- centric battlefield environment supported by required operational logistics.“The exercise entered its culmination phase in May end and was witnessed by Western Army Commander Lt Gen KJ Singh. Beside interacting with soldiers and officers involved in the exercise, the Army Commander witnessed various battle maneuvers by infantry troops, mechanised infantry, tanks, artillery, special forces troops and surveillance detachments,” the spokesperson further added.The focus of the exercise was to validate operational and transformational effectiveness of various formations of Panther Division and achieving joint and seamless coordination among all the forces in the Indian Army in a NBC Warfare scenario so as to deliver the enemy a lethal punch with full might at a lightning speed, he further added.

Hemkunt Sahib in Chamoli district. ANI photo

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 25

The portals of Hemkunt Sahib and Lokpal Mandir in Chamoli district of Garhwal were opened to pilgrims around 10 am today.A large number of pilgrims participated in the prayers on the opening of these shrines. Head priest Jassa Singh recited the ardas before opening of the portal of Hemkunt Sahib. It was followed by Sukhmani Sahib path and shabad kirtan. Kadha prasad was also distributed on the occasion.Earlier, batches of Sikh pilgrims started their forward journey from Ghangaria in the wee hours for Hemkunt Sahib. The Shri Hemkunt Gurdwara Trust has made all arrangements for the smooth conduct of the yatra. The pilgrims are being provided with accommodations and food facilities at Rishikesh, Srinagar, Joshimath and Govindghat.On other hand, the portals of Lokpal Mandir in the close vicinity of Hemkunt Sahib were also opened. Kushal Singh Chauhan from Bhuyundar village performed the first puja at the mandir.