Hyderabad, October 20

A brawl at a birthday party cost the life of a 28-year-old Army jawan, who was “stabbed” to death at the party in Warangal district. The police said the incident took place on Saturday night and the jawan has been identified as H Prem Kumar.

According to the police, the incident took place at Narsampet town of the district. The injured jawan was rushed to a local hospital, but since his condition was serious, he died while being taken to Hyderabad.

The police said, “As per available information, the jawan had come down on a vacation a couple of days ago and attended birthday celebrations of his friend on Saturday night where an altercation took place after some of his friends got drunk and one person who attended the birthday party stabbed him”.

Sources said Prem Kumar was serving in Kashmir and had come home on leave three days ago. — TNS

Air Marshal B Suresh PVSM AVSM VM ADC Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) Southern Air Command, Indian Air Force, arrived at Air Force Station Thanjavur, on Tuesday. On arrival, he was received by Group Captain Prajual Singh VM, Station Commander, Air Force Station Thanjavur and presented with a guard of honour.

The AOC-in-C inspected various sections and units at Air Force Station Thanjavur and reviewed the operational preparedness of the base. He was apprised on the various ongoing work services and fast moving projects towards developing Air Force Station Thanjavur as one of the premier fighter airbase in the Southern region.

During his interaction with the personnel, AOC-in-C emphasized on the optimization of resources, operational expertise, dedicated efforts towards key result areas, improvised training and professional competency.
Mrs. Radha Suresh, President Air Force Wives Welfare Association (Regional) was received by Mrs. Vandana Singh, President Air Force Wives Welfare Association (Local).

New Delhi, October 9

A day after Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson omitted mentioning UN Charter and UNSC resolution on Kashmir, a joint China-Pakistan statement has brought the formulation back. The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson’s accent on India and Pakistan resolving the Kashmir dispute bilaterally had led to the assessment that China had consciously dropped India’s bugbear of referring to UNSC resolutions in order to create a conducive environment.

But the joint China-Pakistan statement says the Chinese side “responded that it was paying close attention to the current situation in J&K… the two sides reaffirmed their support on issues concerning each other’s core interests,” it added.

“No matter how the international and regional situation changes, the friendship between China and Pakistan has always been unbreakable and rock-solid, and China-Pakistan cooperation has always maintained strong vitality,” Xi was quoted by the Xinhua news agency shortly after he met Imran Khan two days before emplaning for India to meet PM Narendra Modi.

Noting that Pakistan had provided “selfless help” when China was in difficulty, Xi said, “Now that China has developed, it sincerely hopes to help Pakistan develop faster and better.” Xi added that the parties should resolve the dispute via peaceful dialogue. — TNS

Follow UN Charter’

• Kashmir issue is a dispute left from history, and should be properly and peacefully resolved based on the UN Charter, relevant UNSC resolutions and bilateral agreements.— Joint China-Pakistan statemen

Newly-inducted Indian Air Force (IAF) Apache attack helicopters fly during the 87th Indian Air Force Day celebrations, at Hindon Airbase, Ghaziabad on Tuesday.

The 87th Indian Air Force Day celebrations, at Hindon Airbase, Ghaziabad on Tuesday

Newly-inducted Indian Air Force (IAF) Boeing CH-47 Chinook

Indian Air Force Surya Kiran aerobatics team

Ajay Banerjee
Tribune News Service 
Hindon (UP) October 8

Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman on Tuesday made a ‘grand entry’—flying a MiG 21 fighter jet—amid cheers from the audience at the Hindon Air Base to mark the annual Air Force Day parade here, some 20 kms east of New Delhi.

Abhinandan led a team of three MiG 21’s at the air display here. Another team, named ‘Avengers’—flew past in a Mirage 2000 and Sukhoi 30 MKI—included the members of the IAF squadrons that carried out air strikes at Balakot in Pakistan on February 26 this year.

Wing Commander Abhinandan was part of the air duel over Nowshera in Jammu and Kashmir the next day. He had to eject in Pakistan and was released 48 hours later. He has been awarded the Vir Chakra, the third highest battle honour.

At the parade, US-made helicopters, the Chinook and Apache, made their public debut.

It is for the first time in more than 60 years that the Indian Air Force is now operating US-made copters, a change since the times the IAF flew Soviet /Russian-built copters.

The two copters are made by American aerospace giant Boeing. The heavy-lift capability Chinook CH 47 was inducted in Chandigarh in April this year while the Apache 64E attack copter was inducted at Pathankot in September this year.

So far the IAF has been using the Mi26 for heavy lift role while the Mi35/Mi25 for attack role.

Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria, who took charge as Indian Air Force Chief on September 30 said the IAF will focus on indigenous production as part of its modernisation plan and two new helicopters will be inducted into the force soon.

He specifically mentioned the light utility helicopter and the light combat helicopter being developed by public sector giant Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) as the two future inductions.

Air Chief Marshal Bhadauria said the IAF was on the path of modernization and mentioned the induction of the Rafale and the S400 missile system in this regard.

Tribune News Service
Jammu, October 5

Islamabad has asked all Kashmiri militants in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to cross the Line of Control and launch jihad in the Valley. It has also ordered closure of offices of Kashmiri militant outfits in Rawalpindi and asked them to shift to Muzaffarabad, capital of PoK, to give the fresh violent movement a complete Kashmiri look.

Pakistan has already vented its fire and fury over the scrapping of Article 370, giving special powers to Jammu and Kashmir, on the global stage, and the directions are aimed at giving a practical shape to its “bloodbath in Kashmir” statement.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan had made the statement at the UNGA after being isolated over pleas for intervention in Kashmir.

Islamabad is desperate to disturb peace in Jammu and Kashmir before winter when most of the mountainous passes close due to heavy snowfall. This is the first major step that the Pakistan establishment has taken to ratchet up militancy in the Valley and other parts of the state, say sources.

There are around 3,000 trained Kashmiri militants in PoK. They had gone there for training over the years and a number of them subsequently got married.

“The militants have been told that it was Pakistan’s duty to train them in handling of arms and ammunition, which it did. Now it is their duty to fight for their land, and the time has come to go and do so,” a source said. “The idea is to portray the entire militancy in Kashmir as indigenous,” the source said.

The militants have been divided into two categories — bachelor and married. The unmarried have been told to do a refresher’s course in arms training and head towards the LoC. Pakistan establishment handlers have told them that their entry into J&K would be facilitated by Pakistan, and they would be provided weapons and ammunition for their assigned task.

The married militants have been asked to start preparing to go (to J&K), and their families would be taken care of by the establishment. Maximum investment is being made in Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, the indigenous group that has offices in PoK and Pakistan. The Hizb leadership, including its chief Syed Salahuddin, has been asked to immediately shift to Muzaffarabad from Rawalpindi.

This strategy fits into Pakistani doctrine that it provides moral, political and diplomatic support to Kashmiris, while Kashmiris are fighting on their own.

Hizb leadership asked to leave Rawalpindi

• Hizb leadership, including chief Syed Salahuddin, has been asked to shift to Muzaffarabad from Rawalpindi
• Around 3,000 trained Kashmiri militants are currently present in PoK. They had gone there for training over the years
• Islamabad is desperate to disturb peace in J&K before winter when most of the high passes close due to heavy snowfall

Jawan who strayed into pak quits army

Dhule: Soldier Chandu Chavan, who inadvertently crossed into Pakistan in 2016, says he is quitting the Army due to ‘harassment’. “I have been continuously harassed and looked at with suspicion, forcing me to quit.” PTI

New Delhi, October 5

Following the long-standing demand of the Army, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has given in-principle approval to enhance monetary assistance to next of kin of battle casualties from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 8 lakh, officials said on Saturday.

They said the financial assistance would be granted under Army Battle Casualties Welfare Fund (ABCWF).

At present, financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh is given to battle casualties in case of death and also to those sustaining 60 per cent and above disability besides to several other categories.

The assistance is given in addition to liberalised family pension, financial assistance from Army group insurance, Army Welfare Fund and ex-gratia amount.

“The Defence Minister has given in-principle approval to enhancement of monetary assistance to next of kin of all categories of battle casualty from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 8 lakh,” said a defence ministry spokesperson.

The ABCWF has been set up under the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (ESW) after a large number of people offered to provide monetary assistance to the families of battle casualties following an incident in February 2016 at Siachen where 10 soldiers were buried in an avalanche.

The ABCWF was instituted in July 2017 and was implemented retrospectively with effect from April 2016.

This fund was set up in addition to the various existing schemes for the welfare of next of kin of  battle casualties and their children.

In addition to the assistance under the ABCWF, the already-existing monetary grant includes ex gratia for various ranks ranging from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 45 lakh and Army Group Insurance ranging from Rs 40 lakh to Rs 75 lakh, officials said.

Singh, as home minister in the previous government, had launched ‘Bharat ke Veer fund’ to assist families of paramilitary personnel killed or injured in action. PTI

All veterans from Army ,Navy, Airforce and  para military   and their family voters are requested to vote for Capt Sandeep Sandu  he is our veteran candidate from DHAKA constituency of Punjab . Veterans are requested to request their relatives who are in Dhaka Constituency to vote also. Please spread the word .

from
Col Boparai president and Col Charanjit Singh Khera Gen Secy Sanjna morcha and entire team .

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 23

Inputs with Indian Intelligence agencies suggest around 60 trained militants have infiltrated from Pakistan into Jammu and Kashmir over the past two months.

There is a high possibility of three to four infiltration attempts within this week mostly along the Line of Control in north Kashmir — Keran, Uri and adjoining sectors, the inputs indicate.

An alert has been sounded due to the impending festival season that starts with Navaratras (from September 29) and ends two weeks after Diwali (October 27).

Over the past two months, infiltrations have taken place on both sides of the Pir Panjal mountain range that segregates the Valley from the Poonch-Jammu region, sources said.

Initial estimates of infiltrations were lower, however, the multi-agency centre (MAC), which collates data and inputs from human intelligence, radio intercepts and other sources, has arrived at a figure of 60 infiltrations over the past two months.

Sources said the number of these infiltrations indicates a major terror attack is being planned and the target could be on the Indian side along the 198 km of International Boundary in J&K. This runs south of the river Chenab river to the border of the state with Punjab at Madhopur.

Several military and Border Security Force (BSF) camps dot the Jammu region and all forwards posts have been on high alert. In the past two weeks, there have been violations of the ceasefire agreement and troops on either side have fired at each other.

Indian estimates say there are around 450-500 terrorists in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Off these, 250 are stationed at launch pads as well as camps along the LoC.

Estimates are that Pakistan may try and do something between the UN General Assembly in last week of September and the hearing of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) hearing scheduled later in October.

In the past one month, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has been raising lot of ‘red flags’ about an attack.

New Delhi: The IAF on Sunday felicitated a trust founded by the late Air Force Marshal Arjan Singh and his wife, with Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa applauding the noble work done by it towards welfare of serving and retired air warriors. The felicitation ceremony was held at Akash Air Force officers’ mess here on the establishment day of the trust, officials said. The Marshal and his wife Teji Singh had contributed their personal funds of Rs 2.25 cr to establish this trust on September 22, 2004. Marshal Arjan Singh DFC, a Padma Vibhushan awardee, had played a crucial role in 1965 by stopping Pakistani armour offensive code named ‘Operation Grand Slam’. IANS