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IAF has lowest combat power in decade With only 32 squadrons, Indian Air Force is now in the ‘middle of shortage’

IAF has lowest combat power in decade
MiG-21 (above) and MiG-27 were phased out on Jan 1. file

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 24

In a damning reality, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is now at its lowest combat strength in more than a decade.The IAF has informed the government about the gravity of the situation that the force is now in the middle of the shortage. Three squadrons of the vintage single-engine Soviet Union origin MiG-21 and MiG-27 have been phased out as on January 1 this year, leaving the IAF with only 32 squadrons (some 16-18 planes in each). This is some 10 short of the government mandated 42 squadrons needed to tackle a simultaneous two-front war with China and Pakistan.In simple words, the IAF will have some 576 fighter jets and will be short of the 750-strong fighter jet fleet mandated by a government sanction to wage a simultaneous two-front war with Pakistan and China.Of the 32 squadrons, the vintage MiG-21 and MiG-27 will form 11 squadrons. The Sukhoi 30-MKI populates 10 squadron, the 1970’s design British Jaguar is in six squadrons, followed by French Mirage 2000 and Soviet Union’s MiG-29 in two and three squadrons, respectively. The last three are being upgraded with better missiles and avionics.The country is now facing the reality of projections on IAF fighter fleet made, separately, over the past 10 years, by the Indian Air Force, strategic thinkers, successive reports of Parliamentary Committees on Defence and the reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). Warnings on the “lackadaisical” pace of induction of new fighter jets into the Indian Air Force and the resultant lose of “combative edge” in battle are now ringing true, sources say.A senior official admitted: “We are in the middle of the predicted shortage.”It is the replacements which bother the IAF. The IAF will be raising a squadron of the twin-engine Russian-origin Sukhoi-30-MKI within this year but much depends on the speed of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which is licensed to produce it in India.HAL, a Ministry of Defence (MoD)-owned public sector undertaking, was mandated by the Cabinet Committee on Security in March 2006 to produce 16 planes annually and deliver 180 in phases by 2017. The project is running three years behind schedule. Till 2011, the HAL had the capacity to produce just eight Sukhoi-30 jets annually, said a report of the CAG in 2014.The Sukhois were ordered in phases since 1997, the IAF wants 272 of these in its fleet by 2020. The other choice for the IAF is to seek faster induction of the 106 Tejas “Mark-1A” which have been ordered.The MoD has set a 2018 deadline for the first aircraft to be ready with a target to complete its production by 2022-23. In September, new specifications were agreed upon and the IAF accepted 43 modifications that could be carried out without changing the existing design.10 squadrons short for two-front war with China, Pak

  • Three squadrons of the vintage single-engine Soviet Union origin MiG-21 and MiG-27 have been phased out on January 1, leaving the IAF with only 32 squadrons (some 16-18 planes in each)
  • This is 10 short of the mandated 42 squadrons needed to tackle a simultaneous war with China and Pakistan

Much depends on HAL’s speed of production

  • The IAF will be raising a squadron of the twin-engine Russian-origin Sukhoi-30-MKI this year but much depends on the speed of HAL, which is licensed to produce it in India
  • HAL was mandated by the Cabinet Committee on Security in March 2006 to produce 16 planes annually and deliver 180 in phases by 2017. The project is running three years behind schedule
  • Till 2011, the HAL had the capacity to produce just eight Sukhoi-30 jets annually, a 2014-CAG report said

Martyr’s only dream was a ‘pucca’ house

Bravehearts cremated with full state honours at their native villages

Martyr’s only dream was a ‘pucca’ house
The body of Lance Naik Om Prakash arrives at Chikher, 50 km from Shimla. Photo: Amit Kanwar

Bhanu P Lohumi,Tribune News Service,Chikher (Shimla), February 22

The braveheart—Lance Naik Om Prakash, who was killed in an encounter near Pampore on the Jammu-Srinagar highway—had a dream of having a ‘pucca’ house at his native village.Om Prakash of the 9 Para (Commando) battalion, who was awarded the Asadharan Suraksha Seva Praman Patra Gallantry Award on Independence Day in 2013, was to proceed on leave from March 7.The 32-year-old’s body was airlifted to Chail in Solan district and brought to his native village Chikher in Satlai panchayat, about 50 km from Shimla.The Army paid a befitting tribute with full military honours to its valiant soldier who attained martyrdom during an operation in Pampore.Homage was paid to the valour and sacrifice of the late soldier in a solemn ceremony held at Army Cantonment, Chail (HP). Pride and honour for the martyr were palpable as the Commander of Kasauli Brigade, Brigadier Deepak Sharma, laid wreath to salute the soldier.His mortal remains, accompanied by contingents and SDM (Rural) Shimla were brought to Chikher, where he was cremated with full military honours. The pyre was lit by his younger brother. Hundreds of villagers joined the funeral and gave tearful adieu to the brave son. Army contingents presented guard of honour to the deceased. The villagers were consoling the family members saying “your son has sacrificed his life for the nation so that we can live here in peace”… you should be proud of him.His wife and elder daughter broke down as soon as the body arrived. His three-year-old younger daughter was unaware of the tragedy.Om Prakash had last spoken to his family on February 20. He informed them about his leave. His wife Krishna Devi said: “I will pursue my husband’s dream to construct a house and give quality education to my daughters Muskan (7) and Simran (3).”His father Nek Ram said: “I am proud of my son and will not shed tears, but we are now concerned about the future of the girls who have lost their father.” His grandmother did not say a word and watched everything silently.Om Prakash’s sister-in-law Poornima, who is also the pradhan of the panchayat, said Om Prakash believed in simple living and was friendly. He always used to tell kids to study well and serve the nation.Nita ram, his cousin, said since childhood, Om Prakash wished to join the Army and used to give the kids training.Om Prakash passed Class X from High School, Juger, and joined the Army 13 years ago. Kasumpti MLA Anirudh Singh was also present. As a tribute to the martyr, Koti residents shut their establishments.

Guv, CM mourn death of Om Prakash

  • Governor Acharya Devvrat and Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh have mourned the death of Lance Naik Om Prakash, who was killed while fighting terrorists at Pampore in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday.
  • In his message, the Governor conveyed his heart-felt condolences to the bereaved family. He prayed to the Almighty to grant peace to the departed soul and give strength to the bereaved family.
  • CM Virbhadra Singh said he was pained to know that another soldier from the state laid down his life fighting valiantly with terrorists at Pampore

Lance Naik Om Prakash

  • Age — 32 years(date of birth May 2, 1983)
  • Father name — Nekram
  • Service — 13 years
  • Survived by wife and two daughters
  • The martyr was awarded the Asadharan Suraksha Seva Praman Patra on August 15, 2013.

LAWLESS, HAPLESS, CLUELESS

QUOTA CHAOS IN HARYANA Violence, blockades keep region cut off from Delhi, thousands stranded on roads, rail platforms; toll touches 15 DANGEROUS TURN Caste war erupts at many places, protesters clash with army, snap water supply to NCR, 20 buses burnt in

THE CENTRE HAS SENT ADDITIONAL 1,700 PARAMILITARY PERSONNEL TO DEAL WITH THE SITUATION.

ROHTAK/HISAR/CHANDIGARH: Fresh incidents of arson kept Haryana on the edge as the toll in the Jat quota agitation mounted to 15, with seven more deaths reported on Sunday.

MANOJ DHAKA/RAVI KUMAR/HT(Top) Haryana Roadways buses on fire at Tosham in Bhiwani district on Sunday. The traffic jam on Grand Trunk Road near Karnal due to a blockade by Jat protesters on Sunday.Despite heavy presence of army and paramilitary forces, Jat protesters in Bhiwani and Sonepat districts torched two police chowkis, shops and an ATM. As sporadic attacks continued in different areas, Union home minister Rajnath Singh held discussions with Jat leaders and a delegation of khap representatives from Haryana to douse the stir. Road and rail traffic remained paralysed, leaving thousands of passengers stranded as major land and road arteries, including national highway No 1, remained blocked.

Industry body Assocham pegged the loss to industry so far due to the ongoing agitation at ` 20,000 crore. With agitation taking caste colour, two persons belonging to a non-Jat community were allegedly killed by agitators in Jhajjar.

Several properties of non-Jats were targeted in Rohtak and Jhajjar cities as security forces failed to bring situation under control. There were also reports of backlash from non-Jats at some places in these two districts, besides Gohana and Bhiwani.

Three people were allegedly killed in firing at Delhi Gate in Jhajjar, while two were killed in the Chawni area. Another person was shot dead in Safidon of Jind district. There were reports of a person being killed in firing at Garhi-Bindroli village in Sonepat district where security forces had gone to remove Jat protesters who had laid siege to the Munak canal disrupting water supply to Delhi. The supply of the Yamuna water to the national capital was not restored even after a daylong paramilitary action.

Officially, the government said 11 persons have been killed so far in the ongoing stir. “11 persons have been killed and about 150 injured during the ongoing Jat stir,” director general of police Yashpal Singhal told reporters.

The Centre decided to set up a committee to examine the demand of Jats for quota in central jobs, giving in to them. Another decision was to move a bill in the Haryana assembly for giving OBC status to the community.

While the BJP brass is hopeful the agreement would help ease the situation, the state officers, who have been monitoring the situation closely, are not too sure. “Blockades have been lifted from roads at Gurgaon, Palwal, Panchkula, Yamunanagar and Bhiwani in the evening, but it is too early to say anything,” a top bureaucrat told HT.

Authorities had to clamp curfew in Kaithal city in view of the prevailing tension due to protests by Jats and counter demonstrations by non-Jats. The curfew was later lifted. The ongoing pro-quota protest, meanwhile, spread to Panchkula district adjoining Chandigarh with agitating Jats blocking the Zirakpur-Shimla highway at the old Panchkula intersection for three hours.

Jat protesters vandalised a college owned by an MP and a hotel in Sonepat where a rice mill was also set on fire. Over two dozen Haryana Roadways buses were set ablaze at Tosham in Bhiwani district. BJP MP Dharambir’s house was also vandalised in Bhiwani.

Over 40 shops and two police stations were set afire in Kalanaur in Rohtak. A showroom and a hotel were also set on fire in Hansi, Hisar.

Violence was reported in Gohana in Sonepat district, where a mob set on fire several shops, two buses and two motorcycles. A police post was set afire in Barota village of Sonepat district. Protesters also vandalised about dozen dhabas on the GT road and an engineering college in Sonepat. The protesters blocked the national highway at Rewari, disrupting traffic. Ganuar railway station in Panipat district was vandalised. The booking office and station master’s room were damaged.

With violence continuing unabated, chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar cancelled his upcoming Bangalore roadshow.

State minister Anil Vij said talks cannot be held with a “mob” and that the Jat agitators should form a committee to hold parleys with the state government. He said the agitation was leaderless and “mobocracy” was prevailing.

“Our government, be it in the state or at the Centre, is committed to reservation to Jats, but it is for them to decide whether they want to give us time so we can come up with something concrete which later does not get struck down by the courts,” Vij said.

The Centre has sent additional 1,700 paramilitary personnel to deal with the situation.

The civil aviation ministry has asked airlines to operate additional flights from here to Chandigarh, Amritsar and Jaipur to enable stranded people reach their destinations.

The agitation has hit rail services hard in the northern states, affecting around 1,000 trains with 736 trains cancelled and 105 diverted besides damage to rail property.

Jats using women as shields against security forces

ROHTAK: Jat protesters are using women as shields against thousands of security personnel deployed to quell the violent pro-quota demonstrations in Haryana that have left at least 10 people dead.

PARVEEN KUMAR/HTWomen from the Jat community blocking the old Delhi-Gurgaon road during their agitation in Gurgaon on Sunday.Women, mostly from agricultural families, are participating in the movement in large numbers following reports that the army may act firmly against demonstrators in a bid to end road blockades that have crippled traffic and transportation of essential goods.

The plan received a boost when a group of female protesters forced soldiers to end a flag march in Rohtak district and turn back. The demonstrators are of the view that the army will not target the women as they do not have female personnel on the ground.

HT spoke to some of the women participating in the protests and they said they had joined of their own free will.

“We have to come out of our houses as our sons are being killed by security personnel,” said Sangeeta who had come from Jhajjar district.

Reports said some protesters wanted to draft the residents of the girls’ hostel at the district’s Maharshi Dayanand University into the movement but the institute authorities did not allow them to enter. “We are fighting for our children’s future. We will do what our family members want us to do,” said Sunita, another participant.

Media reports quoted sources saying the defence ministry had given the army a free hand, for the first time, to take action against those involved in looting and rioting.

“It is wrong to allege that women are being used as shields, but they have joined the protest as they want to support their husbands and sons,” said local khap leader and Kurukshetra University professor Santosh Dahiya.

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Ready to manufacture F-16 jets in India: Lockheed Martin

But the American corporation’s executive did not commit any time-frame to have the plant operational.

f 16, f 16 india, f 16 jets india, india f 16 jets, india fighter jets, fighter jets india, india news, india f 16 fighter jets, indian air force, air forceUS Air Force F-16 fighter jet takes off from a runway during a military exercise. (File/AP Photo)

US fighter jet maker Lockheed Martin today said it is ready to manufacture F-16 aircraft in India and supports the ongoing talks between the two countries to set up the first manufacturing facility, one of the largest projects under the ‘Make in India’ initiative.

“We are ready to manufacture F-16 in India and support the Make in India initiative,” Phil Shaw, chief executive of Lockheed Martin India Private Ltd told reporters at the Singapore Airshow 2016.

But the American corporation’s executive did not commit any time-frame to have the plant operational, saying the group supports the ongoing government-to-government talks.

Shaw expressed strong interest in having the F-16 made in India “soon” without elaborating on the time-frame, linking it to the progress of the government-to-government talks.

Currently, Lockheed Martin manufactures one jet a month from its plant in the US and has a series of contracts and joint ventures in India with over 1,000 employees.

It has supplied six C130J Super Hercules planes to India in 2011 and will be delivering another six helicopters next year.

Industry observers said Lockheed Martin’s “wish to manufacture F-16 is based on the strong demand from the Indian armed forces and would want to lower the cost of the planes for exports by using the low-cost capability in India”.

“Certainly, Lockheed Martin would want to exploit the engineering skill and low cost capabilities in India and make F-16 very competitive in the fighter jet markets,” awell-informed source told PTI.

“Both the US government and Lockheed Martin see the advantage of placing a manufacturing base in India and make F-16 affordable for emerging markets,” the source said.

The making of F-16, which will be among the largest projects under the Make in India initiative, will be conditional to the Indian government making contractual commitment to buy the fighter jets for its armed forces, said the source.

“Washington, in return, would ensure technology transfer to the Indian engineering sector and a huge boost to Indian exports,” he said.

If the two government reach an agreement this year or2017, putting aside all differences on the mega project and the US’ move to supply eight F-16 to Pakistan, Lockheed Martin could roll out the first made in India jet in 2019-2020, said the source.

Lockheed Martin has already decided on India as its best option for low-cost and highly qualified engineering workforce, and the final go on this is dependent on approval from New Delhi and Washington.

– See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/ready-to-manufacture-f-16-jets-in-india-lockheed-martin/#sthash.k9eIth9t.dpuf


Army officers discuss best practices of IIMs

Tribune News Service,Dehradun, February 18

The Army Management Studies Board deliberated on innovative and high impact ideas and best practices requiring cross-pollination between the Indian Institutes of Management, academia and the Indian Army on the first day of the two-day meeting that began at the Indian Military Academy (IMA) here yesterday. Lt Gen PM Hariz, GOC-in-C, Army Training Command, chaired the meeting that is being attended by the Officiating Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Information System and Training), Military Secretary from the Army Headquarters, representatives of various Indian Institutes of Management, directors of the National Institute of Financial Management, Faridabad, and the Army Institute of Management, Kolkata.On the first day of the meeting, the board deliberated on innovative and high impact ideas and best practices requiring cross-pollination between the Indian Institutes of Management, academia and the Indian Army.Management studies that are being jointly carried out by the Army and the management institutes were reviewed and fresh proposals were considered. The board also considered holding seminars on “Shaping of Tomorrow’s Strategic Leaders”.Lt Gen PM Hariz, chairman of the Army Management Studies Board, emphasised on a road map for reaping the benefits by utilising management expertise being made available by various IIMs and other institutions. The board is the apex body on management-related studies and training in the Indian Army.


Siachen bravehearts’ bodies flown home

Siachen bravehearts’ bodies flown home
Soldiers carry coffins containing bodies of nine avalanche victims, in New Delhi. A Tribune photograph

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 15

The bodies of nine soldiers buried alive in an avalanche on the Siachen glacier on February 3 were flown in here from the Ladakh region today.The bodies were later flown to Pune, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Madurai, Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram for sending these to the native villages of the deceased soldiers.After a C130J Indian Air Force aircraft carrying the bodies of the soldiers touched down at the Palam airport here, Minister of State for Defence Rao Inderjit Singh and Army Chief General Dalbir Singh were among those who laid wreaths on the coffins to pay their last respects to the bravehearts.On February 3, 10 soldiers were buried under nearly 30 feet of ice and snow when an avalanche hit Sonam Post at an altitude of around 20,000 feet.Lance Naik Hanumanthappa Koppad was the only one found alive although he remained trapped under the snow for about six days. He died due to multi-organ failure at the Army Hospital Research and Referral in New Delhi on Thursday. Koppad was cremated in his home town in Karnataka on Friday.The bodies of the remaining nine soldiers were retrieved a week after the tragedy. Bad weather in the region hindered the process of flying the bodies out of Ladakh.The nine soldiers who died in the avalanche were: Subedar Nagesha TT of Tejur village in Karnataka; Havaldar Elum Alai M of Dukkam Parai village in Tamil Nadu; Lance Havildar S Kumar of Kumanan Thozhu village in Tamil Nadu; Lance Naik Sudheesh B of Monroethuruth village in Kerala; Sepoy Mahesha PN of HD Kote village in Karnataka; Sepoy Ganesan G of Chokkathevan Patti village in Tamil Nadu; Sepoy Rama Moorthy N of Gudisa tana Palli village in Tamil Nadu; Sepoy Mustaq Ahmed S of Parnapalle villagein Andhra Pradesh; and Sepoy (Nursing Assistant) Suryawanshi SV of Maskarwadi village in Maharashtra.

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India’s reaction to F-16 deal disappointing: Pak

Islamabad, February 14

Pakistan today said it is “surprised and disappointed” at India’s reaction over the US’ decision to sell eight F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan, arguing that India is “the largest importer” of defence equipment and its arsenal stock is “much larger”.Pakistan reiterated the Obama Administration’s justification that the acquisition would enhance the country’s precision strike capability to combat terrorism.“We are surprised and disappointed at the Indian Government’s reaction. Their (India’s) army and arsenal stock is much larger and they are the largest importer of defence equipment,” the Foreign Office said in a statement in response to media queries.“As regards F-16 sale, Pakistan and the United States closely cooperate in countering terrorism. US spokesperson clearly announced that the sale is to enhance precision strike capability,” it added.Pakistan’s reaction comes a day after India summoned US Ambassador Richard Verma to convey its “displeasure and disappointment” over Obama Administration’s decision to sell eight nuclear-capable F-16 fighter jets worth nearly USD 700 million to Pakistan. — PTI

Part of legacy announcement: US envoy

  • Mumbai: US Ambassador to India Richard Verma on Sunday said the sale of F-16 jets to Pakistan was “part of a legacy announcement” and his country expected Islamabad to do “more” on eliminating terror safe havens on its soil. “The reality is there are dangerous groups operating within Pakistan… More action needs to be taken by Pakistan on terror groups. Safe havens need to be eliminated,” he said.

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The never ending battle for Siachen veterans and families

High Court lawyer Maj Navdeep Singh who has fought numerous such cases on behalf of Siachen veterans says, “Hopefully this tragedy would be a catalyst for change in the military and civil establishment who must realise that at times the nature can be more lethal than bullets.

Specialised rescue teams who were carrying out the operations to search for the bodies of the soldiers hit by an avalanche, in Siachen on Tuesday. (PTI Photo)Specialised rescue teams who were carrying out the operations to search for the bodies of the soldiers hit by an avalanche, in Siachen on Tuesday. (PTI Photo)

While the death of ten soldiers in an avalanche in Siachen has once again brought into limelight the vagaries of nature that soldiers have to face in the area, yet the families of soldiers who die in Siachen or those who are disabled on the highest battlefield have to fight another battle with pension disbursing authorities to get their due benefits.

Take for example the case of Harjinder Singh, whose son Lance naik Gurjant Singh of Sikh Light Infantry died on Siachen Glacier in 2008 due to extreme climatic conditions. The liberalized family pension which was entitled to the father was refused to him on the pretext that the death had not taken in actual fighting but due to extreme weather. It was on judicial orders that the pension was finally granted but the government chose to appeal till the Supreme Court which ultimately dismissed the appeal and granted the pension.

Explained: The Miraculous Rescue Of The Siachen Soldier

https://youtu.be/WXGzDMUrZhE
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A military widow, Harjinder Kaur, lost her husband Sepoy Malkit Singh of Punjab regiment after he suffered a heart attack in Operation Falcon just after another tenure at Siachen. She was refused the correct entitlement of liberalized family pension and she too was granted relief on judicial intervention.

In another case, Gunner Jai Lal Pal of Artillery was medically boarded out in 1989 after his fingers were amputated after suffering frostbite in Siachen. He is still making the rounds of courts to get his correct pension released while the slow moving military bureaucracy has not been able to complete the paper work even 27 years after his release.

A short service commissioned officer, Captain SP Singh, who volunteered to serve in Siachen, and whose disability of Psoriatic Arthropathy during his Siachen tenure was wrongly diagnosed as ‘excessive dandruff’, was not granted permanent commission due to his disability and also refused disability pension on the pretext that his disability was not affected by service conditions despite the medical opinion that his condition was aggravated due to wintry conditions. The officer finally got his disability pension on judicial intervention.

Officers dealing with such cases say that though the rules are quite liberal and the High Courts and the Supreme Court have also strongly ruled in favour of granting benefits to such disabilities and deaths in Siachen and other operational areas, the Defence Ministry, Army Headquarters and Defence Accounts authorities routinely reject claims on technical reasons due to a textual interpretation, forcing affected families of personnel into litigation and unnecessary heartburn. Siachen veterans say that the nature is a bigger killer than bullets at the glacier and also in other tough operational areas.

High Court lawyer Maj Navdeep Singh who has fought numerous such cases on behalf of Siachen veterans says, “Hopefully this tragedy would be a catalyst for change in the military and civil establishment who must realise that at times the nature can be more lethal than bullets. We must also salute the judiciary, especially of Delhi and Punjab and Haryana high courts for always standing behind such

– See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/siachen-siachen-soldiers-siachen-avalanche/#sthash.CnnvdBm2.dpuf


ON THE FRONTLINE Siachen glacier — Avalanche deaths unacceptable

Arun Joshi

We have been condemned to count casualties in the Siachen glacier. Ten more soldiers have died as their post was swamped by a giant snow wall on February 3. This tragedy is greater as they did not die fighting the enemy. “There are remote chances” of now finding their bodies buried under tonnes of snow.Why should they die like this? The Ministry of Defence and the top brass of the Army have to answer this. Soldiers have been stationed at the glacier since 1984 to guard the nation’s strategic asset. That strategic assets have to be guarded whatever the cost, is an argument well taken. But those who guard it deserve extraordinary protection too from blizzards, frostbites and mental ailments to maintain vigil at the highest battlefield of the world. Over the decades, the Centre could not install an effective avalanche warning system at the glacier where billions of rupees of taxpayers are being spent every year.In the 1990s, it was claimed that an effective avalanche warning system was in place. That system rarely seems to work. Soldiers were asked to celebrate the installation of a satellite phone with which they could talk to their families. The facility was provided to help them battle the isolation of their snow-bound station. But there was no internal communication system to forewarn them at 19,600 feet that they were in an avalanche-prone area. The whole glacier is not avalanche-prone but still posts were set up where snow rivers can hit them any time.The problem is four-fold. Firstly, it is the glacier itself, which has not been properly delineated. The cartographers while drawing the Line of Control (earlier the ceasefire line) after the Simla Agreement in 1972 left things undefined. Secondly, the bureaucracy does not have much knowledge of the weather and terrain but decides what the soldiers should or should not have. They sit on the files while the soldiers wait and die.Thirdly, the plague of corruption has brought soldiers in harm’s way at the glacier. Corruption is as deadly as the hostile surroundings. The former Defence Minister had been put in the picture about the poor quality of shoes and socks. He had been told that the stockings provided to soldiers failed to protect them from frostbites. But, there is yet no word suggesting that the soldiers deployed and operating in – 45 degrees Celsius should get an adequate gear. Their special rations are sold on the black market in Leh. A few inquiries indicted low-rung officers; others were closed without telling anyone what happened to the men involved in brazen corruption. In 2005, water was passed off as diesel. Fourthly, there are ceremonial visits which make headlines while the soldiers are made to wait for years for the promised substantive things.The soldiers are told that the whole nation salutes them for their bravery and fortitude for standing high at the highest battlefield of the world. The saga of bravery, however, is not written with the burial of soldiers under avalanches.In the 21st century, there is a need to devise a clear, political, diplomatic and military strategy. The political leadership should summon the courage to take a call about how to save the soldiers from such unnatural deaths.

BATTLING THE ELEMENTS

iachen acts as a wedge between Shaksgam valley under China’s control and Baltistan, which is occupied by Pakistan

India launched Operation Meghdoot in April 1984 after the Pakistani army occupied dominating heights on the glacier, a 76km river of slow moving ice

India currently sits on dominating positions overlooking Pakistani posts located 3,000 feet below

India has deployed around 3,000 soldiers at Siachen where temperatures can drop to minus 60 degrees Celsius

Soldiers have to trek for almost 28 days covering a stretch of 128km to reach some of the farthest pickets

‘Removing troops not a solution’

VISAKHAPATNAM: Terming the recent death of 10 soldiers in an avalanche on the Siachen glacier “painful”, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said on Sunday that withdrawing troops from the world’s highest battlefield could not be a solution. “This incident is painful to me personally, but the solution that is suggested is not a proper analysis,” he said, referring to demands that Indian soldiers be withdrawn from the glacier.

Asked if the proposal to convert Siachen into a “peace mountain” still exists, the minister said: “The decision (on deploying troops) on Siachen is based on the security of the nation.”


Despite risk to soldiers, Siachen is vital to India’s security

The death of 10 soldiers in an avalanche at Siachen has brought the spotlight back to the harsh conditions faced by troops at the world’s highest battlefield and also its strategic importance to India.

Islamabad has made repeated demands for demilitarising the glacier invoking the aspect of long-term peace but India has always taken a cautious approach on the issue.Defence officials say that as long as the glacier is under India’s control, the Pakistani army can’t link up with the Chinese and pose threat to Ladakh. It acts as a wedge between the Shaksgam valley under China’s control and Baltistan, which is occupied by Pakistan.

The Indian Army launched Operation Meghdoot in April 1984 to secure the glacier after Pakistan army occupied the heights at Siachen, a 76-km river of slow moving ice.

Several rounds of talks between India and Pakistan on demilitarising the Siachen glacier — an old sore in bilateral ties — have failed with Islamabad refusing to authenticate troop positions on the ground.

In fact, India deployed its soldiers on Siachen after Pakistan began allowing international mountaineering expeditions to the glacier, sending out a signal that it controlled the area. Different interpretations of the 1949 ceasefire agreement by the two countries also aggravated the dispute.

India, which spends Rs 5 to Rs 7 crore daily on guarding the strategic glacier, has deployed around 3,000 soldiers at Siachen where temperatures can drop to minus 60 degrees. The location at 19,600 feet where the 10 soldiers died often sees temperatures plunging to minus 42 degrees.

Soldiers have to trek for almost 28 days covering a stretch of 128 km to reach some of the farthest pickets on the glacier, one of the most desolate places on this planet.

Almost 80% posts on the glacier are located above 16,000 feet, with Bana towering above the rest at 21,753 feet. Bana post is named after Subedar Bana Singh who was awarded the Paramvir Chakra for his helping secure the glacier in 1984.

Indian Army has cautioned against withdrawing from Siachen until Islamabad authenticates troop positions on the ground as it would be a formidable task to reclaim the glacier.

India currently occupies dominating positions on the Saltoro ridge with Pakistani posts located 3,000 feet below.