Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping’s forthcoming “informal summit” in China raises the strong possibility of improving the relations between the two countries. There has been a flurry of activity for the last few months involving National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, among others. This raises the hope of a substantial progress, an entente cordiale, since the summit meeting has been arranged after adequate preparation, including confidence-building measures on both sides.India has shown concern regarding Chinese sensitivities on the Dalai Lama. The ghost of the 73-day stand-off in Doklam has now been buried and the concerns about the Chinese presence in the Indian Ocean have been kept aside in an attempt to focus on commonalities rather than differences. The Modi-Jinping summit in Wuhan is expected to yield rich dividends and it will set the stage for the Prime Minister’s second visit to China in June, when he is scheduled to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting.India has been moving energetically to repair relations with neighbouring countries. The reset with China is needed because of the changing geopolitical situation in which both Beijing and New Delhi seek to build an alliance that can weather the mercurial US. The summit meeting is a major investment for both leaders. They will seek to set the tone of the relationship that will then be followed up by officials concerned from both nations. The devil is always in the details, but the expectation is that there would be effort to find practical solutions to each other’s concerns. President Jinping needs India to be on board his Belt and Road Initiative, while India has territorial concerns since it runs through the PoK. Just as India has done, China too has made some concessions already. It announced it would resume sharing of hydrological data of the Brahmaputra and Sutlej rivers, which is crucial for flood prediction and relief planning. The two leaders have the ability to forge a new path of mutual benefit to the two countries. How well they seize the opportunity remains to be seen.

mphal, May 22

A large quantity of arms and ammunition was recovered by Assam Rifles (AR) on Tuesday while those were being transported in a vehicle from Ukhrul to Imphal in Manipur, an AR release said.The seized items included two GSG-5 German rifles with four magazines, one Uzkon semi-automatic shotgun with three magazines, two 9 mm Beretta pistols with four magazines, one 9 mm Sigsauer pistol with two magazines, detonators and more than 6,000 rounds of ammunition of various kinds.The recovery is a major success on the part of Assam Rifles to thwart nefarious designs of the underground groups, it said. PTI

Tribune News Service 
Patna, April 22

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said that the newly inaugurated 6th battalion of ITBP in Bihar’s Saran district would give a sense of confidence to locals.

Speaking at the inauguration at Jalalpur in Saran district, he said attributed Bihar’s growth to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

The new headquarters spread in 71 acres has nine building and about 1000 jawans would work. It took about two years for its completion.

written Confession by Wg Cdr C K Sharama  regarding embezzlement of Donated Funds by Veterans by him,Maj Gen Satbir Singh and Gp Capt VK Gandhi, gives clear picture about Maj Gen Satbir and his team so called as Fighters for OROP.

Till date they have not given account of crores of donations collected at JM but pocketed maximum . Shame and disgrace to this General. Veterans trusted him can do do it now.

Calling for march again at Delhi on pretext of OROP  is reviving his lost glory and collect some more funds.

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 14

Seeking rectification of an anomaly that has affected about 39,000 officers, the Army has written to the Controller General of Defence Accounts and reminded it that the error should have been corrected in August 2012 itself when the Ministry of Defence okayed the move.In its letter, the Army has claimed that it had received a large number of representations about the provisions okayed by the government not being granted (by the CGDA).As per directions by the Ministry of Finance and endorsed by the MoD, all officers in service as on January 1, 2006, were to get an additional increment. In July 2012, the Ministry of Finance issued a letter that Central Civil Pay Rules had been amended and July 1 was accepted as uniform date for annual increments for all employees.It further said to bring parity, all employees whose increments were due between February and June 2006 may be granted one increment on January 1, 2006. Based on the Finance Ministry letter, the MoD issued its letter saying the same be implemented for the forces too. The Army has compiled details of all affected officers, some of whom may have retired, and sent a copy to the CGDA.A senior functionary said most Army men held any post for not more than three years and there was no continuity or system of a follow-up. A matter that should have been sorted out automatically remained pending, forcing the Army to take it up, he said.

New Delhi, May 13

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday dubbed as a “serious disclosure” Pakistan’s ousted PM Nawaz Sharif acknowledging that militant organisations were active in his country and said it proved India’s position that the handlers of Mumbai attack were in Pakistan.For the first time, Sharif also questioned Pakistan’s policy to allow the “non-state actors” to cross the border and “kill” people in Mumbai.“It is very serious disclosure. India’s position has been that the mastermind of the Mumbai terror attack operated from Pakistan. We strongly believe that the handlers of the attack were in Pakistan,” she said.“It (Sharif’s remarks) only proves that India’s stand has been right all the way,” she said.Meanwhile, the Pakistan PM has convened a high-level National Security Committee meeting on Monday to discuss the “recent misleading media statement” by Sharif, officials said in Islamabad on Sunday.Army spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor tweeted: “The NSC meeting suggested to Prime Minister to discuss recent misleading media statement regarding Bombay incident. Being held tomorrow morning.” (sic) — PTI

‘Misinterpreted’Statement of Nawaz Sharif has been grossly misinterpreted by the Indian media. A section of Pakistani media has lent credence to propaganda of Indian media without going through the full facts

Spokesman for Nawaz Sharif

Kochi, April 12

The Southern Naval Command was augmented with the arrival of INS Magar from Vishakhapatnam.The ship was welcomed by Rear Admiral RJ Nadkarni, Chief of Staff, headquarters of Southern Naval Command, on Wednesday, a defence press release said on Thursday.The ship would join the first training squadron for training young officers. Over the next few weeks, it would undergo modification for accommodating sea trainees, prior to commencing her training role, the release said.Thereafter, it would be used to impart training in seamanship, navigation, ship-handling, boat-work, engineering and electrical departmental skills, among other disciplines.Also, the ship would expose the trainees to the rigorous life at sea, the release added.The ship is being prepared to increase the capacity of the training squadron to meet the rise in the training load of officer-trainees and also to cater to the maintenance requirements of the existing ships.INS Magar, a Landing Ship Tank (large) of the Navy, was built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd, Kolkata, and commissioned on July 18, 1987.Over the past 30 years, the ship has participated in amphibious exercises, fleet deployment and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. The major operations undertaken by the ship include Operation Pawan (Indian Peace Keeping Force operations in Sri Lanka), wherein it played a role in movement of logistics supplies to the area of operations and supported the IPKF land forces.The ship has participated in all major amphibious exercises on both seaboards and also undertaken humanitarian and disaster relief operations on numerous occasions. The noteworthy operation was during the 2004 tsunami, wherein the ship provided relief to 1,300 survivors.INS Magar is commanded by Commander Praveen Kumar Sinha, a marine commando who is a qualified “saturation diver” and specialised in counter-terrorist operations and explosive ordnance disposal. PTI

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 8

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Sunday announced a special grant of Rs 25 lakh for the development and upgrade of the Sikh Regiment Centre at Chandimandir.The CM attended the ‘Baisakhi Lunch 2018’, hosted by the regiment in the Khetarpal Officers’ Institute at the Chandimandir Military Station.Recalling his association with the Army, Capt Amarinder reiterated his commitment to the welfare of the soldiers and ex-servicemen. He said the grant would help in the development of sports infrastructure and other related facilities at the centre. He reaffirmed his government’s commitment to extend all possible assistance to the defence personnel and their families.Earlier, the Colonel of the regiment, Lt Gen SK Jha, thanked the CM for efforts to ensure a second career for JCOs and Other Ranks (ORs) after their superannuation from the defence services. General Jha lauded Capt Amarinder’s regimental spirit and acknowledged his concern for the well-being of soldiers.