11 OFFICERS, 10 JCOS AND 185 SOLDIERS DIED WHILE 19 OFFICERS, 11 JCOS AND 334 SOLDIERS WERE WOUNDED DURING THE BATTLE OF BERIWALA

FAZILKA: The Amogh Division of the Army held a ceremony here on Wednesday to remember the heroism and valour of the brave soldiers, who laid down their lives fighting for the motherland during the 1971 IndoPakistan war.

The ‘Saviours of Fazilka’ fought the battle of Beriwala, which raged on uninterrupted for 14 days from December 3, 1971 onwards. It was undoubtedly one of the fiercest actions of the 1971 Indo-Pak war.

In this epic battle, 11 officers, 10 junior commissioned officers (JCOs) and 185 soldiers embraced martyrdom while 19 officers, 11 JCOs and 334 soldiers were wounded on the battlefield. For displaying conspicuous gallantry, one Mahavir Chakra, six vir chakras and four mention-indispatches were awarded.

The ceremony witnessed active participation by the general public. The civil administration came forward to assist the Army in organising and actively participating in the event.

Rich tributes were paid to the martyrs by laying wreaths at the Fazilka war memorial. A ‘marathon’ was organised wherein people participated with a lot of enthusiasm despite the chilly weather.

Prizes were given in various categories to the participants of the marathon.

The children of Fazilka presented a mesmerising cultural programme which filled everyone’s heart with patriotism.

Events such as painting, debate and various other activities were organised in schools across Fazilka on the eve of Vijay Diwas and the winners were felicitated.

General officer commanding (GOC) of the division Major General Bipin Bakshi exhorted all ranks of the division to rededicate themselves to the service of the nation and emulate the devotion of war veterans and martyrs.

The event was also graced by Santosh Rana, wife of late major KS Rana of 15 Rajput, who attained martyrdom during the operations in Fazilka and many war heroes and veer naris (war widows).

Aditi Tandon,Tribune News Service,New Delhi, December 16

Ruling out war as the only option available to deal with Pakistan-sponsored terror in India, the government today said it was hopeful of resolving all outstanding issues with the neighbouring country through dialogue.Exuding hope of positive outcomes from the just resumed comprehensive bilateral dialogue with Pakistan, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today told the Lok Sabha that talks were always resumed on the basis of renewed hope in its ability to deliver the desired results.“War is not the only option when we (India and Pakistan) have started afresh and decided that we will resolve our issues through dialogue. We have made a new beginning, a new start and hope to eliminate the shadow of terrorism through dialogue,” Swaraj said in the Lok Sabha during the Question Hour when BJP member from Satna Ganesh Singh asked her pointedly if India would consider eliminating terrorists in Pakistan the way US eliminated Osama bin Laden sheltered in the neighbouring country.The minister, however, reiterated India’s stated position on a dialogue with Pakistan saying talks and terror could not go together.“We have said repeatedly that talks and terror cannot go together. The PM has best articulated this position by saying that the sound of talks will get drowned in the noise of bombs. Talks and terror cannot go together but then let us talk on terror. That is why the NSAs of the two countries met in Bangkok to discuss these issues. But one meeting is not enough. We have to continue to talk,” Swaraj said.

There’s no good or bad terrorism: Pak diplomat

• Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit has said there is no difference between “good and bad terrorism”. His comments signal perhaps a change in the long-held Pakistan policy of differentiating between a “good terrorist” and “bad terrorist” or, as in the case of Afghanistan, between “good Taliban” and “bad Taliban”. India has always maintained that this is a flawed approach and can never be successful in fighting the global menace of terrorism. — Simran Sodhi

Washington, December 8
As the US prepares to sell F-16s to Pakistan, the country’s former top diplomat has warned the Congress that such fighter jets would end up being used against India and not against terrorists.
Describing sale of such military hardware and even reported talk of a civil nuclear deal as an appeasement policy towards Pakistani military, the former top Pakistani diplomat has urged the US to tell the leaders in Pakistan that their ambition of rivalling India is akin to Belgium trying to rival France or Germany.
“The Obama administration’s consideration of a nuclear deal with Pakistan, just like its decision a few months ago to sell almost USD 1 billion in US-made attack helicopters, missiles and other equipment to Pakistan will fuel conflict in South Asia without fulfilling the objective of helping the country fight Islamist extremists or limit its nuclear arsenal,” said Husain Haqqani, the former Pakistani Ambassador to the US.
In a prepared remark submitted ahead of a Congressional hearing on ‘Civil Nuclear Cooperation with Pakistan: Prospects and Consequences to the Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade Subcommittee of the Committee on Foreign Affairs’, Haqqani said Pakistan’s failure to tackle its jihadist challenge is not the result of a lack of arms but reflects an absence of will.
“Unless Pakistan changes its worldview and its compulsive competition with its much larger neighbour even in violation of international commitments, American weapons will end up being used to fight or menace India and perceived domestic enemies instead of being deployed against jihadists,” he said.
Currently, director of South & Central Asia at the Hudson Institute, a top American think-tank, Haqqani said competition with India remains the overriding consideration in Pakistan’s foreign and domestic policies. —PTI

PM wants Pak to take firm action against perpetrators

Simran Sodhi,Tribune News Service,New Delhi, January 5

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today phoned Prime Minister Narendra Modi and assured him of Pakistan’s support in investigations into the Pathankot attack. “Modi strongly emphasised the need for Pakistan to take firm and immediate action against the organisations and individuals responsible for and linked to the Pathankot terrorist attack,” the Ministry of External Affairs stated in a press note. Sharif assured Modi that his government would take “prompt and decisive action against the terrorists”. Sharif, who is on a visit to Sri Lanka, made the phone call around 3.30 pm, a day after India provided leads to Pakistan indicating the involvement of its nationals in the attacks. Sources said India had shared with Pakistan the telephone intercepts of calls made by terrorists to their alleged handlers and the location of those they had called in Pakistan. The  attackers had made about a dozen calls to numbers in Pakistan. The evidence provided by India to Pakistan includes call records from Bahawalpur and the addresses from where the calls originated. Sources say India has been able to identify the Pakistani handlers. It is understood that the leads and evidence have been provided to Pakistan by National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval.  Meanwhile, the fate of the Foreign Secretary-level talks is yet to decided. Sources say India has demanded action against the JeM top leadership and the arrest of Masood Azhar before the talks take place. Pakistan had on Monday said it was working on the “leads” provided by India. The US too has said that Pakistan must take action against the perpetrators of the Pathankot attack.

MK Bhadrakumar

Modi caught in a bind

War with Pak a non-option, but no retaliation will rile followers

THE terror attack on the Pathankot base is being simplistically interpreted as an attempt by the Pakistani military establishment to detract from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s brilliant display of diplomacy to ‘drop by’out of the blue at Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s family estate in Lahore on December 25. But the state of play is far more complicated than that.Indeed, there is some sign of confusion also as to whether Prime Minister Sharif wouldn’t have been au fait with Rawalpindi’s sabotage plan. There is an overall lack of clarity in the government’s account of what is happening, compounded by the acute need to cover up the embarrassment over security lapses and the inept handling of the looming threat despite intelligence inputs in advance.  The Pathankot terror strike coincides with an attack on the Indian consulate in Mazar-i-Sharif, which also comes within a week of Modi’s visit to Afghanistan. The Pakistani objective appears to be to throw the gauntlet at Modi himself. Make no mistake, the ‘powers that be’ in Pakistan have challenged Modi to live up to his carefully-cultivated self-image as a tough leader who is capable of paying back terrorism with terrorism, waging ‘swift, short’ wars if need be, resorting to ‘hot pursuit’, while playing the subtle ‘great game’ in Afghanistan threatening to dismember Pakistan if push comes to shove.Today, Modi faces a big dilemma. If he decides to live up to his fearsome reputation and orders the subalterns to retaliate with force, there could be unforeseen consequences and the downstream developments will most certainly spin out of control. Washington has already raised the spectre of an India-Pakistan war, alerting the need for the international community’s intervention in the developing situation. No world capital, including Washington, has cared to point finger at Pakistan for staging the attack in Pathankot, which is a sad reflection on the Modi government’s failed containment strategy against that country.At any rate, with an economy in slow growth, the government needs to borrow money to wage a war and the balance of military power is so delicately poised that an outright victory over Pakistan would be far from certain. A stalemate will not serve India’s purpose either. What is beyond doubt is that a war will mean sudden death for Modi’s so-called ‘development agenda’, which has been struggling to take off after nearly 20 months into the 60-month term of the government.On the other hand, Modi cannot afford to disappoint his hardcore followers. They feel let down if he does not live up to his reputation for being a ‘forceful’ leader. Of course, if the Modi mystique wears off, there will be a political price to pay. And that could be damaging at a time when there are signs already that the nation is becoming sceptical of the Modi brand. The point with brand value is that once it begins to wear off, the dubious quality of the product begins to get exposed.The dilemma, however, is going to be even more acute if the government proceeds on the dialogue track as if nothing really changed after the Pathankot attack. The pitfalls could be many. To begin with, India will be entering the dialogue without a well-thought out strategy. The government has been blowing hot and cold on Pakistan and the current phase favouring dialogue may well be yet another whimsical phase, given the robust opposition to the very idea of dialogue among influential sections of opinion within the ruling circles.On the contrary, Pakistan has disclosed that it has already drawn up a six-month road map for the dialogue process to run its course, and that it hopes to make progress on some ‘doable’ issues. Does the Modi government have an action plan? Indeed, there are ‘doable’ issues, but does the Modi government have the political will to move forward? The Siachen dispute comes readily to mind. Again, Pakistan most certainly would expect discussions over the Kashmir problem. But the maximal agenda of the government would have us believe that all that needs to be discussed is the ‘return’ of POK and the Northern Areas, which rightfully belong to India.Meanwhile, Pakistan has made serious charges regarding India’s alleged covert support of terrorism directed against that country. It handed over to the Obama administration last October a bulky dossier in three volumes detailing its allegations with purported evidence. The Obama administration is yet to throw the dossier out of the window, and instead, the joint statement issued after Sharif’s visit to the White House mentioned that India and Pakistan should discuss their ‘mutual concerns’ over terrorism. (Interestingly, this is also the line taken by the US state department on the Pathankot terror strike.)Suffice it to say, the government’s Pakistan policies through the past 19-month period have come full circle. The core issue increasingly is the credibility problem surrounding the persona of Modi. The prevailing opinion in Pakistan is that Modi is a Hindu fundamentalist who built a political career by whipping up communal polarisation, and that calibrating the India-Pakistan tensions suits his and his party’s political agenda. Many thoughtful Pakistanis genuinely fear that Modi might trigger an armed conflict with Pakistan at some point as a means to divert attention from the lacklustre record of his government. All in all, therefore, Modi is caught in a bind. War is a non-option but lack of retaliation for the high-profile Pathankot terror strike disappoints his ardent followers. A decision to continue the dialogue track is the right thing to do, but this time around Pakistan can be expected to keep up the pressure on India to negotiate seriously, which the Modi government will find unpalatable for the simple reason that in their view there is nothing to negotiate except cross-border terrorism. A new cycle of terrorist violence threatens the country’s internal security.The obvious thing to do is for the government to proceed on the dialogue track with the full backing of a national consensus. This should have come naturally because after 19 months in power, Modi has virtually borrowed the farsighted vision of his predecessor Manmohan Singh to constructively engage Pakistan in dialogue. But the BJP is fixated on ratcheting up confrontation with the Congress. Modi has reduced foreign policy to a platform to embellish his political profile and is unwilling to share the limelight even with the Cabinet minister holding the portfolio. He and he alone must own up the responsibility if the India-Pakistan relationship touches a criticality barely 10 days after his dramatic touch-down in Lahore.—  The writer is a former Ambassador to Uzbekistan and Turkey

Rachna Khaira
Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, December 7

Voices of remembrance were heard on Monday when the nation stood together to observe the 66th Armed Forces Flag Day to bring alive the memories of those who made the supreme sacrifice of their lives in wars fought to retain the sovereignty of the country.
The day was observed with solemn gaiety at the Punjab State War Memorial in the city on Monday. Maj Gen Deepak Dhanda, SM, Chief Of Staff, Vajra Corps, was the chief guest on the occasion and Girish Dayalan, Additional Deputy Commissioner, was the guest of Honour on the occasion. The dignitaries infused patriotism with a new zeal into the atmosphere during their address to the armed forces personnel and students present.
“Naam, Namak aur Nishan’- Nishan means flag are inseparable to those wearing uniform until their last breath. It is a matter of immense pride for us to maintain the sovereignty of the national flag as we either hoist the flag in the enemy’s area by winning over or come back after getting draped in it,” said Gen Dhanda.
He also informed that Vajra Corps is working with the fully equipped Veteran Felicitation Centre (VRC) and Army placement cell here in the city. Since January 2015, nine officers and 157 Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) and 376 other ranks were rehabilitated after being given jobs in various fields. The Vajra Corps also donated Rs 1 lakh to the district administration as contribution to the Armed Forces Flag Day.
Speaking on the occasion, Girish Dayalan said as a civil servant, he was sensitised about the armed forces and the contribution of their families in their absence. “Keeping in mind the supreme sacrifice and contribution of armed forces here in the region, the district administration has decided to dedicate a mural to Mahavir Chakra winners from the district at the BMC Chowk,” said Dayalan.
He said the District Sainik Welfare Board at Jalandhar is on top for the last many years. “We have been on the top for years for collecting the maximum contribution on Flag Day. Last year, it was Rs 21 lakh. This time, we have already contributed Rs16 lakhs and are hopeful of touching the figure of Rs 30 lakh by the end of this financial year,” said Dayalan.
In his address, Brig (retd) Minhas, Vice-President, District Sainik Welfare Board, said the department has state-of-the-art infrastructure and has introduced many preparatory courses for various competitive exams for the wards of serving and retired personnel. “The department has made a legacy to serve the ex-servicemen and their families with compassion and zeal and we will maintain it forever,” said Brig Minhas.
Also present on the occasion were Col (retd) KPS Atwal, Distict Sainik Welfare officer (DSWO) and Col (retd) HP Singh, a former DSWO. The department also distributed sewing machines, blankets and cheques to the beneficiaries comprising war heroes and widows.
History of Armed Forces Flag Day
The First World War, which is celebrated every year as Armistice Day on November 11, was named as Poppy Day because the souvenirs of poppies were operated to benefit the ex-army men as well as their relatives. After getting the freedom from the British, the Indian Government decided to pay attention to the army men and their relatives.
A special commission constituted by the Government of India on August 28 in 1949 declared that Flag Day would be celebrated annually on December 7 to collect funds from the public by selling India’s flag for the well-being of the staff of the armed forces. Army men in India perform their duty for the safety and security of the people, so it is also the duty of the common people towards the army men who are ready to sacrifice their lives in the battle.
Importance and objectives
Armed Forces Flag Day in India is celebrated annually to remember all the sacrifices of the personnel of Army, Air Force and Navy. The event is organised to receive collaboration from the public to make available rehabilitation to the families of war victims, to offer welfare to the serving personnel as well as their relatives and to help in the resettlement and well-being of ex-servicemen and their relatives.
Fund set up in 1949
The original Flag Day Fund was set up in 1949 by the Defence Minister’s Committee The fund collection is managed throughout the country by the local arm of the Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB), which is a part of the Ministry of Defence The fund collection is managed both by official and non-official means through voluntary organisations Over the years, it has become a tradition to commemorate this day as an honour to the soldiers, airmen and sailors of India.
On Flag Day, all three branches of the Indian armed forces, the Army, Air Force and the Navy, arrange a variety of shows, carnivals, dramas and other entertainment programmes to showcase the talent of their personnel. India has the world’s third largest military force with 1.3 million active personnel, 1.15 million reserve personnel and 1.3 million paramilitary personnel.

Dehradun, November 23
The All-India Defence Employees’ Federation has announced to observe a black day on November 27 to register their protest against the Union Government.
The federation is not happy with the Seventh Pay Panel Commission recommendations. Members of the federation would wear black ribbons on November 27 and hold a demonstration against the Union Government, said C Srikumar. — TNS

ਬੈਂਗਲੁਰੂ— ਕਰਨਾਟਕ ਦੀ ਰਾਜਧਾਨੀ ਬੈਂਗਲੁਰੂ ‘ਚ ਪਠਾਨਕੋਟ ਹਮਲੇ ‘ਚ ਸ਼ਹੀਦ ਹੋਏ ਰਾਸ਼ਟਰੀ ਸੁਰੱਖਿਆ ਗਾਰਡ (ਐਨ. ਐਸ. ਜੀ.) ਦੇ ਜਵਾਨ ਕਮਾਂਡੋ ਨਿਰੰਜਨ ਕੁਮਾਰ ਨੂੰ ਸੋਮਵਾਰ ਨੂੰ ਹਜ਼ਾਰਾਂ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਨੇ ਸ਼ਰਧਾਂਜਲੀ ਦਿੱਤੀ। ਪਿਤਾ ਨਿਰੰਜਨ ਨੂੰ  ਸ਼ਰਧਾਂਜਲੀ  ਦੇਣ ਲਈ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੀ ਨੰਨ੍ਹੀ ਬੇਟੀ ਵਿਸਮਯਾ ਵੀ ਪਹੁੰਚੀ। ਲੈਫਟੀਨੈਂਟ ਕਰਨਲ ਨਿਰੰਜਨ (35) ਐਤਵਾਰ ਨੂੰ ਪਠਾਨਕੋਟ ਵਿਚ ਇਕ ਬੰਬ ਨੂੰ ਨਕਾਰਾ ਕਰਦੇ ਸਮੇਂ ਸ਼ਹੀਦ ਹੋ ਗਏ ਸਨ।
ਕਮਾਂਡੋ ਨਿਰੰਜਨ ਦਾ ਜਨਮ ਬੈਂਗਲੁਰੂ ‘ਚ ਹੀ ਹੋਇਆ ਸੀ ਅਤੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੀ ਪੜ੍ਹਾਈ ਵੀ ਇੱਥੇ ਹੀ ਹੋਈ ਸੀ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਪਰਿਵਾਰ ਵਿਚ ਪਿਤਾ ਸ਼ਿਵਰਾਜਨ, ਪਤਨੀ ਡਾ. ਰਾਧਿਕਾ ਅਤੇ 18 ਮਹੀਨੇ ਦੀ ਬੇਟੀ ਵਿਸਮਯਾ ਅਤੇ ਭਰਾ ਸਕਵੈਡਰਨ ਲੀਡਰ ਸ਼ਰਤਚੰਦਰਾ ਹੈ। ਸ਼ਹੀਦ ਦਾ ਮ੍ਰਿਤਕ ਸਰੀਰ ਐਤਵਾਰ ਦੇਰ ਰਾਤ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਘਰ ਪੁੱਜਾ ਅਤੇ ਉਸੇ ਸਮੇਂ ਤੋਂ ਹੀ ਉੱਥੇ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਦਾ ਤਾਂਤਾ ਲੱਗਣ ਲੱਗਾ।
ਨਿਰੰਜਨ ਦੇ ਮ੍ਰਿਤਕ ਸਰੀਰ ਨੂੰ ਅੱਜ ਅੰਤਿਮ ਦਰਸ਼ਨ ਲਈ ਬੀ. ਈ. ਐਲ. ਮੈਦਾਨ ‘ਚ ਰੱਖਿਆ ਗਿਆ, ਜਿੱਥੇ ਸਵੇਰੇ ਹਜ਼ਾਰਾਂ ਦੀ ਗਿਣਤੀ ਵਿਚ ਲੋਕ ਇਕੱਠੇ ਹੋ ਗਏ। ਨਿਰੰਜਨ ਦੇ ਪਰਿਵਾਰਕ ਸੂਤਰਾਂ ਨੇ ਦੱਸਿਆ ਕਿ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਪੁੱਤਰ ਦੇ ਮ੍ਰਿਤਕ ਸਰੀਰ ਨੂੰ ਜਲਹੱਲੀ ਹਵਾਈ ਅੱਡੇ ਤੋਂ ਕੇਰਲ ਸਥਿਤ ਗ੍ਰਹਿ ਨਗਰ ਪਲਕੱਕੜ ਲੈ ਜਾਇਆ ਗਿਆ, ਜਿੱਥੇ ਮੰਗਲਵਾਰ ਦੀ ਸਵੇਰ ਨੂੰ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦਾ ਅੰਤਿਮ ਸੰਸਕਾਰ ਕੀਤਾ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ।

Ravi Krishnan Khajuria
Tribune News Service
Jammu, November 20

While mines and IEDs keep killing and maiming villagers in forward areas close to the border, mines remain embedded in 30,000 kanals (3,717.6027 acres) of fertile land in Jammu district alone.
These mines were planted during Operation Vijay in 1999 and Operation Parakram in 2001-02. For the Army, this land in Jammu was indispensable from the security point of view. Hence, it cannot be returned, at least for now.
Sayeed Ghulam Nabi of the Sabzian sector in Poonch said the mines posed a serious threat to lives of farmers, children, shepherds and cattle. “Those who die are fortunate because those who lose their limbs become a curse for themselves and their families,” he added.
Mines still existed in Sagra Gali, Krishna Ghati, Balakote, Brutti, Darra Sangla, Noorkote, Nakkarkote, Uppar Digwar, CRPF Dhok, Makhyari area, Forward Chaprian, Shahpur and Guntrian, added Nabi.
Rifat Arra of Terwan village said villagers living in forward areas walked on razor’s edge. “Besides Pakistani firing, the mines have killed and injured the poor. We fear going to fields and pastures because one never knows the exact placement of these mines, which drift in rain,” she said.
Junaid Khan of Guntrian said the mines had hit livelihood. He said the fear of stepping on a mine had reached such an extent that villagers staying in in hamlets had stopped cultivating their fields and grazing cattle.
He said while villagers got killed and hurt, they had not been paid any compensation by governments in the state and at the Centre.
The Army admitted that farmers whose land was used for mines and fencing had not been paid any compensation. Abdul Gani of Shahpur echoed similar views.
After Operation Parakram in 2001-02, the Army decided that certain portions of mined farmland would be demined and returned to farmers. Twelve years on, the process is still on.
On November 13, the Army demined 296 kanals (37 acres) in the Jourian area of Akhnoor in Jammu district. A total of 30,000 kanals of farmland in Jammu district was still mined, said official sources.
Jammu Deputy Commissioner Simrandeep Singh hoped that the Army would demine the land. It was stated in a survey that 1,076 persons died and 2,570 injured in mine and IED blasts in the state till 2012.