Amir Karim Tantray

Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 10

The weekly Poonch-Rawlakote cross Line of Control (LoC) bus service was today suspended, following firing and shelling from the Pakistan army in the Chakan Da Bagh area in Poonch district.“Due to shelling from Pakistan side, the bus service was suspended today for security reasons,” said Poonch SSP Rajiv Pandey.Every Monday, the bus carries passengers from this side to POK. Trade is carried out through this route from Tuesday to Friday.The suspension has cast a shadow on trade as well as the service may not resume tomorrow too.“We are prepared to go ahead with the trade. A day before we have to receive goods trucks at the trade centre so that their checking is done before allowing them to move to the other side, but today we decided not to put their lives at risk. If everything remains fine, we will be able to go for trade in the morning and checking will also be done at that moment,” claimed Tanvir Ahmed, Trade Felicitation Officer (TFO), Poonch.In the past two days, Pakistan targeted the trade centre which forced the authorities to stop the bus service.The cross-LoC trade has come under the scrutiny of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is probing its link with the Hawala money trail.

Army gives relief for damaging house

Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 10

The Army today paid compensation to a resident of Hiranagar whose house was damaged due to field firing in ranges.Giving details, the Defence PRO, Jammu, said the station commander of Basholi and Janglot Garrison handed over a cheque for Rs 17,600 to Ratno Devi, resident of Kadater village (Parangoli), of Hiranagar tehsil, as compensation for damaging the house.The sarpanch of the village and other eminent persons were also present. The locals were thankful to the Army for the gesture.Keeping in view the plight of the distressed family, Rising Star Corps resolved the case of compensation, the PRO added.

Hafiz Saeed. File photo

Simran Sodhi

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 12

The US today imposed sanctions on terrorist organisations based in Pakistan, including an organisation run by Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed’s Jamaat-ud-Dawah.In another development, Daniel Coats, Director of the US National Intelligence, told lawmakers during a Congressional hearing that tension between India and Pakistan can only come down if Pakistan moves forward on the Pathankot probe.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)The developments came as a relief for India that has long been asking the world to take strict action to curtail the funding of various Pakistan-based terror groups that routinely carry out attacks. “These sanctions seek to disrupt the financial support networks of terrorists based in Pakistan who have supported the Taliban, Al-Qaida, Islamic State, and LeT for recruiting and funding of suicide bombers and other violent insurgent operations,” said John Smith, director of treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control. He said the US would “aggressively target extremists in Pakistan” and their fronts, including “charities which are used as vehicles to facilitate terror activities”.The statement of Coats has given a significant backing to a demand that India has been making for a long time —- talks and terror cannot go together and Pakistan needs to act against those who are behind the Pathankot attack.“Easing of the heightened India-Pak tension will probably hinge in 2017 on a sharp and sustained reduction of cross-border attacks by terrorist groups based in Pakistan and progress in the Pathankot investigation,” Coats said.Both these developments also assume significance in light of the fact that the Trump administration will soon announce its Afghanistan policy. India and Pakistan have been vying for strategic influence in the region.

Security: not even a rupee sanctionedNew Delhi: The government is yet to sanction a single rupee for fortifying military bases across the country, notwithstanding the demand by the three services for Rs 2,000 crore to plug the gaps in their security in the wake of the Pathankot terror attack. A total of 3,000 sensitive bases, including 600 highly-sensitive installations of the Army, Navy and the Air Force, were identified by the forces to revamp the security infrastructure. The Army has spent Rs 325 crore from its “internal” funds, but the government is yet to give a rupee to the three services for it, official sources said. PTI

Marks left by mortar shells fired allegedly by Pakistan on the wall of a government school building at Lam village in the Jhangar sector, in Jammu on Thrusday. PTI

Islamabad, May 11

Pakistan on Thursday summoned India’s Deputy High Commissioner here to “condemn” the alleged ceasefire violation by India along the Line of Control in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir that killed a man and injured three others.The Foreign Office said in a statement that Indian security forces violated the ceasefire along the LoC in Tandar, Subzkot, Khuiratta, Baroh, Bagsar, Khanjar sectors in PoK early today.It said the alleged Indian firing killed a civilian while three others, including a woman, were injured.“The Director General (SA & SAARC), Mohammad Faisal, summoned the Indian Deputy High Commissioner, J P Singh and condemned the unprovoked ceasefire violation by the Indian occupation forces on the night of 10th and 11th May,” it said.The Foreign Office said the “deliberate targeting” of civilians is contrary to human dignity and international human rights and humanitarian laws.“The Director General urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 ceasefire understanding; investigate this and other incidents of ceasefire violations; instruct the Indian forces to respect the ceasefire, in letter and spirit and maintain peace on the LoC,” it said.An official at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad said Singh conveyed to Faisal that the “cross-border firing was initiated by Pakistani troops to give cover to terrorists” and “Indian troops responded only in self-defence.”     “We have noticed increased movement of terrorists along the LoC,” the official quoted Singh as saying.India and Pakistan often trade fire along the LoC, resulting in deaths and injuries on either side of the border.The intensity has increased in recent months as tensions have run high between the two sides on a number of issues, most recently over the death sentence given to an Indian national on spying charges by Pakistani military court.Kulbhushan Jadhav was sentenced by a Field General Court Martial to death. But the trial and the sentencing of Jadhav was carried out under utter secrecy and Pakistan has refused India consular access for at least 16 times. — PTI

Map showing proposed China-Pak Economic Corridor (CPEC)

Beijing, July 6

China is planning to launch a road and rail freight service to Pakistan through the multi-billion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a move which could raise concerns in India.The new line will start from Lanzhou, capital of northwestern China’s Gansu Province, travelling through Kashgar in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to the Gwadar Port of Pakistan, Xu Chunhua, director of Lanzhou International Trade and Logistic Park, was quoted as saying by state-run Xinhua news agency.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)However, it has not been specified when the service will be launched. In May last year, a rail and road cargo service opened between Lanzhou and Kathmandu. Xu said the cargo service has been welcomed by south Asian countries. In 2016, the bilateral trade between China and Nepal was over 3 billion yuan (about $440 million), and the volume is forecast to hit 10 billion yuan this year.  India has objected to the $46 CPEC, which is part of the Silk Road.  — PTI Map showing proposed China-Pak Economic Corridor (CPEC) Beijing, July 6 China is planning to launch a road and rail freight service to Pakistan through the multi-billion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a move which could raise concerns in India. The new line will start from Lanzhou, capital of northwestern China’s Gansu Province, travelling through Kashgar in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to the Gwadar Port of Pakistan, Xu Chunhua, director of Lanzhou International Trade and Logistic Park, was quoted as saying by state-run Xinhua news agency. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) However, it has not been specified when the service will be launched. In May last year, a rail and road cargo service opened between Lanzhou and Kathmandu. Xu said the cargo service has been welcomed by south Asian countries. In 2016, the bilateral trade between China and Nepal was over 3 billion yuan (about $440 million), and the volume is forecast to hit 10 billion yuan this year.  India has objected to the $46 CPEC, which is part of the Silk Road.  — PTI

Details of retaliation to come only after execution

NEW DELHI: Army chief General Bipin Rawat indicated on Thursday the force would retaliate to the beheading of two Indian soldiers by Pakistani troops, but refused to spell out details.

AP PHOTOArmy soldiers walk back towards their base camp after a search operation in Shopian, about 55km south of Srinagar, on Thursday. Security forces launched an anti­insurgency door­to­door search operation with around 4,000 troops, helicopters and drones in south Kashmir.

The killing and mutilation of the soldiers in a cross-LoC raid on Monday sparked widespread anger, with family members and political leaders demanding similar action against the neighbouring country.

“We don’t talk about future plans beforehand; we share details after execution,” the chief said in his first public reaction to the attack carried out by Pakistan’s Border Action Team (BAT) in the Krishna Ghati sector of Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district.

Members of the BAT, considered a rogue squad of Pakistani army regulars and militant mercenaries, ambushed an Indian border patro.

They killed naib subedar Paramjit Singh, a 42-year-old junior commissioned officer with 22 Sikh Regiment, and 45-year-old head constable Prem Sagar of the Border Security Force’s 200 Battalion.

Their decapitated bodies were found later.

“When this kind of action takes place, we also carry out retaliatory action,” the army chief said.

His remarks came on a day security forces launched an antiinsurgency door-to-door search operation with around 4,000 troops, helicopters and drones in south Kashmir.

This was the biggest combing mission against militants for more than a decade in the Kashmir Valley, which is besieged by a spate of militant attacks, bank robberies and cross-border shelling from Pakistan.

Insurgents attacked an army patrol in Shopian district, about 55km from Srinagar, on Thursday, killing a civilian and wounding three soldiers.

Gen Rawat, who has vast operational experience in J&K, said incidents of the past few days had necessitated the move.

“Banks have been looted, policemen have been killed. That is why today’s combing operation is taking place. These operations are carried out regularly,” he said.

There is no other option but to implement the ‘security with development’ strategy in letter and spirit

On April 24, Maoists killed 25 CRPF personnel in Sukma. The ambush took place only a kilometre away from a CRPF post at Burkapal, which was established in 2013 by the Chhattisgarh Police and later taken over by the force to bridge the 12-km gap between Chintagufa and Chintalnar.

AJAY AGGARWAL/HINDUSTAN TIMESA CRPF search operation underway in a forest at Bijapur, Chhattisgarh. Precise intelligence inputs are important for any successful operation

The availability of precise intelligence input is important for any successful operation. In a hostile environment, the forces face a herculean task of keeping themselves alert all the time. In the absence of roads for transport and mobile connectivity, the flow of information often gets delayed and so security forces are unable to take timely action.

Further, it is also difficult to verify such information and many a times the anti-Maoist operations are launched based on general inputs. The scenario, however, has been changing steadily. The tardy speed of road construction has improved. With more delegation of power, local contractors have undertaken construction works, though in patches. When all other agencies failed, the task of road construction, along the most challenging routes (including the under-construction Dornapal-Chintagufa-Jagargunda highway) was taken up by the Chhattisgarh Police Housing Corporation. Both central and state police provide security for this.

The mission of establishing 146 new mobile towers in the Maoist-hit areas has been accomplished. More are coming up. With more villages connected, intelligence will improve. Besides, three AIR stations are coming up in Bastar; regional programmes could help revive tribal culture and change the hostile atmosphere. We are also recruiting personnel for India Reserve battalions of Chhattisgarh from the Maoist-affected districts so that the problems related to local language and knowledge of terrain are minimised. The CRPF is also raising its Bastariya battalion . The next step is to use technology. For example, air surveillance of affected areas needs to be set-up at a battalion level. Plus we need more forces to reverse their mobile war. The central task of the Maoists still remaining the same i.e.; ‘to capture political power through protracted armed struggle with people’s support’, there is no other option than to implement the ‘security with development’ strategy in letter and spirit.

In an article in HT, former police officer Prakash Singh wrote ‘the state police forces lean heavily on the shoulders of the central armed police forces’ and ‘are in a shambles’. This is not true: The state police forces have increased their strength threefold since 2000 and have also occupied forward camps. The state’s ownership is total and complete.

Param Vir Chakra awardees Sanjay Singh and Yogendra Singh Yadav at the launch of the“Vidya Veerta Abhiyaan”, in New Delhi on Tuesday. PTI

New Delhi, May 2“Wall of heroes” with portraits of Param Veer Chakra awardees will come up at around 1,000 schools and colleges across the country to inspire the youth.Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar on Tuesday launched the Centre’s campaign “Vidya Veerta Abhiyan” as he condemned the killing of two soldiers by Pakistan.

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While the establishment of the “wall of heroes” is voluntary for the educational institutes, he clarified that Centre will not issue any grants for the purpose and students and teachers should be encouraged to pool in money for the same.”The condemnable and barbaric act by Pakistan has been carried out after ignoring all indicators of humanity. Even war has few principles but they do not any principle of humanity or either they don’t want to know it. The entire country is anguished,” Javadekar said at the event.The HRD Minister reiterated Finance Minister Arun Jaitley’s comments that the sacrifice of the soldiers will not go waste.He said, “It is important that we have portraits of such soldiers in our universities to create passion and enthusiasm among the youngsters.”The initiative is part of the Centre’s Vidya Veerta Abhiyan (Wisdom and Warrior Campaign) and was conceived by BJP leader Tarun Vijay, who called it “a humble attempt to inculcate patriotism in the students”.Under the campaign conceptualised by the BJP MP, universities will set up walls measuring 15 X 20 ft and featuring portraits of the 21 soldiers decorated with the Param Veer Chakra, the highest war-time gallantry award.”On a day when the bodies of the two soldiers have come, this campaign is being launched,” Javadekar said as he handed over the portraits of the Param Veer Chakra awardees to the vice-chancellors and representatives of various universities, including the JNU, the DU, the Jamia Millia Islamia, the Central University of Jammu, the Arunachal Pradesh university, the Kerala University and the IIT Delhi, among others.Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre was also present at the event and condemned the beheading of the two Indian soldiers by Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir.The idea of having a wall of martyrs in universities was first proposed by a group of ex-servicemen.They had last year approached JNU Vice-Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar, saying portraits of martyrs and tanks used in wars should be put on display in the campus to instil sense of “nationalism” and “patriotism” among the students.The demand came amid a raging debate on nationalism following a sedition row on campus over an event during which anti-national slogans were allegedly raised. — PTI

• 
• Two soldiers were killed in Pakistan firing in LoC in Krishna Ghati sector in Poonch district. 
• 

Naib Subedar Paramjeet Singh (left) and BSF head constable Prem Sagar.

Jammu, May 1

Pakistan on Monday mutilated the bodies of the two Indian soldiers killed in firing along the Line of Control in Poonch district. An army JCO and a BSF head constable were killed and another soldier was injured as Pakistan fired rockets at a forward defence location (FDL) post of the paramilitary force along the LoC in Poonch.The army condemned the Pakistani action as despicable.

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Condemning the act, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley said: “Two of our soldiers in the Krishna Ghati sector in Poonch have been killed and their bodies mutilated by our neighbours. This is a reprehensible and an inhuman act. Such attacks don’t even take place during war, let alone peace. “Bodies of soldiers being mutilated is an extreme form of barbaric act. The Government of India strongly condemns this act and the whole country has full confidence and faith in our armed forces which will react appropriately to this inhuman act. The sacrifice of these soldiers will not go in vain,” Jaitley said.Meanwhile, Pakistan Foreign Office has denied Pakistan Army’s hand.“Pak Army did not commit any ceasefire violation on LoC or a BAT action in Buttal sector (Indian Krishna Ghatti Sector) as alleged by India. The Indian blame of mutilating Indian soldiers’ bodies is also false,” Pakistan Army’s Inter-Services Public Relations wing said in a statement.“Pakistan Army is a highly professional force and shall never disrespect a soldier even Indian,” it added.The ceasefire violation took place around 8.30 am. A junior commissioned officer of the army and a BSF head constable were killed in the attack, a senior officer of the paramilitary force said.

“At about 8.30 am, there was heavy firing from Pakistani (army) posts at the BSF posts along the LoC in Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch district with rockets and automatic weapons,” the officer said.

Another BSF jawan was injured in the firing.

Col Sarabjit Singh Sangha (retd), District Sainik Welfare Officer (DSWO), today said a six-week training programme from June 1 onwards wherein the students would be trained to get admission in National Defence Academy and and the Combined Defence Services. The registration for the course will begin from May 20.He said that during the course, students would be imparted training in mathematics, sciences, English and general knowledge and would also be imparted training in personality development. An entrance test would be held on May 25. He added that there were limited seats for the course and those interested should contact the office of the DSWO. — TNS