Flying Officers Mohana Singh, Avani Chaturvedi and Bhawana Kanth have been commissioned as India’s first women fighter pilots. — PTI file photo

Hindon (UP), October 8

The first three women fighter pilots of the country are likely to fly the MiG-21 Bison jets, one of the potent combat aircraft in the IAF’s armoury.The three women pilots — Avani Chaturvedi, Bhawana Kanth and Mohana Singh — are set to script history next month when they will fly military jets after completing a strenuous training programme within three weeks.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)”The present consideration is to put them to MiG 21 Bison squadron. Our opinion is that it will sharpen their skills as the aircraft has more manual features than other sophisticated aircraft,” Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa said today.He indicated that after honing their skills in flying Mig 21 Bisons, the three women can fly other jets.The IAF chief was talking to reporters on the sidelines of an event to celebrate the Air Force Day.The three women were commissioned as flying officers in July last year, less than a year after the government decided to open the fighter stream for women on an experimental basis.A senior IAF official involved in training of the three women pilots said they will steer the combat jets next month.Currently, the three women pilots are flying Hawk advanced jet trainers.The IAF has already selected the next batch of three women trainee pilots for fighter stream. — PTI

THE Modi government has finally slashed excise duty on petrol and diesel by Rs 2 per litre each after continuously raising it in small doses nearly a dozen times in less than three years. Maybe the Finance Ministry yielded to public pressure and slashed excise duty; many others see it as a political compulsion ahead of the crucial Gujarat election, the home turf of PM Modi. With public anger building up, the government could not remain indifferent to the demand of providing relief from rising fuel prices. The Finance Ministry has, however, justified it as a move to quell rising inflation, ignoring minister KJ Alphons’ cocky comment that those who own vehicles could also pay higher fuel prices. The Finance Ministry had been a silent spectator to the gradual increase in fuel rates because there was no immediate political compulsion. Undoubtedly, petrol and diesel are the biggest revenue earners for both the Centre and states. But, indirect taxes on fuels ultimately hit the common man. The poor are being asked to pay for roads, airports, educational institutions and hospitals, which are mainly patronised by the affluent sections of society. All good governments instead choose the direct tax option to increase their revenues, where people are taxed as per their income and ability to contribute. Not only has the government taken its own time in reducing duty but also the quantum of the cut is inadequate. This half-hearted move will neither provide the desired relief to the consumer nor save the Finance Ministry from missing the revenue deficit target as it will still lose a revenue of Rs 13,000 crore. If the government is serious about protecting the consumer’s interest and shielding the poor from the cascading impact of transportation fuel on essential commodities, it needs to slash excise duties by another Rs 3-4 per litre to align retail prices that existed three years ago. Simultaneously, the Centre and states should work together to bring auto fuels under the GST regime to bring predictability in pricing and have a one-nation one-tax policy.  

1. INDIA SHOULDN’T HESITATE TO STRIKE BACK AT PAKISTAN IF IT HAS ADEQUATE EVIDENCE LT GEN SYED ATA HASNAIN (RETD)
2. NEW DELHI IS TOO SOFT ON ISLAMABAD
3. GURDASPUR BYPOLL ::SPECIAL COVERAGE :03 OCT 2017
4. DROPPING THE ANNUAL BORDER MEETING: CHINA CONTINUES TO SQUIRM AFTER DOKLAM BY LT GEN ATA HUSNAIN
5. HEMKUND SAHIB PORTALS TO CLOSE ON OCTOBER 10
6. 5 MILITANTS DIE AS ARMY REPELS INFILTRATION IN URI, KUPWARA
7. ONE YEAR SINCE SURGICAL STRIKES: INDIA’S COUNTER TO PAK PROXY WAR VINDICATED, BUT MORE TROUBLE SHOULD BE EXPECTED BY LT GEN SYED ATA HASNAIN –
8. HAZARE: MODI AVERSE TO APPOINTING LOKPAL
9. IAF ENHANCES NIGHT FLYING TO BOOST STRIKE CAPABILITY
10. DEFENCE PSU HAL TO OFFLOAD 10% STAKE
11. INDIA SHOULD LOOK EAST AS ISLAMIC STATE COMES KNOCKING ON THE DOORS OF SOUTH EAST ASIA
12. IMA CONTINUITY DRILL
13. JOIN ARMY FOR GOOD LIQUOR: ATHAWALE TO DALITS
14. AIR FORCE PLANNING TO CELEBRATE MARSHAL ARJAN SINGH’S LEGACY
15. AFTER 30 YEARS OF SERVICE, ARMYMAN TOLD TO PROVE HE IS INDIA
16. 

The US suffers from a shortsighted sense of history, whereas the North Koreans invoke the lesser known facts of US history, footprint and machinations in Korea

North Korea”s intermediate-range strategic ballistic rocket Hwasong-12 lifted off from the launching pad near Pyongyang in August. AFP

Lt-Gen Bhopinder Singh (Retd)

North Korea’s reputation as a roguish and dangerously belligerent regime is a self-earned and -established narrative, though the entirety of the truth on the genesis and the evolution of the crisis in the Korean peninsula is based on incomplete truths that belie the complete facts of history and the accompanying role of the US, over the years. Like the infamous spin-doctoring of the presence of ‘Weapons of Mass Destruction’ (WMDs) in Iraq, which ostensibly legitimised the US invasion of Iraq – which later spun into aunbridled mayhem by the convenient US withdrawal, is playing out a narrative today in the battlefields, from Syria and Libya to Yemen. Earlier, the same incomplete and convenient US intervention in Afghanistan had left a devastated and destroyed country to the mercy and bloodlust of the erstwhile US-supported mujahidin. That Saddam Hussein or Afghan warlords were once feted and armed by the US is a glossed-over patina that is systematically swept under the carpet as it allows the plausible option for the US to retain the moral high ground. North Korea’s penchant for nuclear-tipped theatrics is now equally matched by US President Donald Trump’s reciprocal drama and proclivity for the ‘fantastic’ – from dropping the GBU-43 MOAB (aka mother of all bombs) in war-torn Afghanistan to raining 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles on a dilapidated airstrip in Syria, the end result of which in both cases was a military dud. The whimsical unpredictability of leadership in both Pyongyang and Washington DC bodes ill. North Korea’s relative isolation from the information highway, with its limited ability or desire to communicate externally, ensures that complete truths on the North Korean saga and the shortcomings of the US history and subsequent policies never mar the global perceptions. The global thaw in the post-Cold War era had reached the Korean peninsula as well, with the signing of the 1994 Agreed Framework, wherein the then-nascent North Korean nuclear programme did agree to freeze the weapons development in exchange for promised aid in a quid pro quo. What is lesser known is the stuttering and delaying of the promised US aid, as presumably the US Congress in the Clinton era, was Republican-controlled. As part of the deal, Pyongyang did shut shop at its Yongbyon reactor till 2003. The non-fulfilment of the deal by the US made North Korea surreptitiously restart its covert operations of uranium-based n-capability. George W Bush added to the Kim-regime’s fears with the famous triad of ‘Axis of Evil’, wherein he suggested a regime-change, similar to the one undertaken in Iraq. Sanctions were imposed and a crucial Macau bank with North Korean accounts was frozen. North Korea retaliated and boycotted the six-party talks with the condition that sanctions be lifted. Multiple signals from Pyongyang for negotiations with the US were cavalierly rebuffed. North Korea responded with a tit-for-tat and conducted its first nuclear test in 2006. Its attempts to blackmail the US with its show of  military strength resulted in missile tests in 2009, 2013, 2016 and 2017. As late as 2015, the Obama government felt it below its dignity to discuss a joint Chinese-North Korean proposal for freezing North Korean weapons in exchange for ending US military manoeuvres in the Korean peninsula. The ascendancy of Donald Trump has exacerbated the situation. As North Korea exhibits instincts of a dictatorial regime bent on survival, the US efforts are towards further tightening of the sanctions-led noose (UNSC resolution 2375 was passed last week). Suggestions to negotiate with North Korea by offering to consider the request of suspending US military exercises, by Beijing and Moscow, have been described by Nikki Haley as ‘insulting’. Both Pyongyang and Washington DC are saddled with impulsive bullies who feed partial truths to their respective constituents. The US suffers from a shortsighted sense of history, whereas the North Koreans invoke the lesser known facts of US history, footprint and machinations in Korea. As Naom Chomsky succinctly states, “You can say it’s the worst regime in history, whatever you like, but they have been following a pretty rational tit-for-tat policy.”North Korea is a child of WW2North Korea is a vivisected child of WW2 and the immediate aftermath of the Cold War era that neatly divided the world into two camps: the US-led and the Communist bloc. The bloody Korean War (1950-53) resulted in a ‘draw’ along the 38th parallel, accounting for over 3 million deaths, most of them in modern day North Korea which lost an unprecedented 15% of its population to the incessant US bombings. Memories of 635,000 tons of bombs (mostly on North Korea) and of 32,557 tons of napalm are preserved and kept alive in North Korea today. The West’s blithely forgotten horrors of the US carpet-bombing are carefully contexualised and rationalised by the successive Kim-dynasts to excuse decades of privation to its populace, and to retain the paranoia about the imminent US attack. The legendary US General MacArthur had testified against his own nation’s policy in the Senate’s Committee on Armed Services and Committee on Foreign Relations by stating: “The war in Korea has already almost destroyed that nation of 20,000,000 people. I have never seen such devastation. I have seen, I guess, as much blood and disaster as any living man, and it just curdled my stomach the last time I was there. After I looked at the wreckage and those thousands of women and children and everything, I vomited … If you go on indefinitely, you are perpetuating a slaughter such as I have never heard of in the history of mankind.” Like in the Middle East, the savagery, duplicity and selfishness of the West is only remembered by the recipient countries. The writer is a former Lt-Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands & Puducherry

The celebrations in Ludhiana. Tribune photo: Himanshu Mahajan

New Delhi, August 15Patriotic fervour gripped the nation on the 71st Independence Day on Tuesday as people from across states and union territories came together to celebrate the occasion underlining the spirit of unity in diversity.As chief ministers hoisted the Tricolour amid tight security, they announced development programmes, flagged challenges confronting them and pledged to take their states forward.J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti used the occasion to talk about her state’s special status, express hope in country’s institutions and attacked Pakistan for fuelling violence in the state.On Article 35A, which has been challenged in the apex court, she said, “I am sure the Supreme Court will dismiss the present petition before it.”Mehbooba said the people of the state decided to accede to India as they found similarities in the pluralism that existed in the state and the country.She said many people across the country believed that J&K is the crown of India. “There is no doubt about it and it should remain like that,” she added.Meanwhile, mobile phone services and portable Internet services were snapped across Kashmir as a precautionary measure, officials said.Unfurling the national flag, UP CM Yogi Adityanath stressed the importance of Swachch Bharat Mission in tackling diseases like encephalitis as he regretted that children are dying even after 70 years of Independence.Addressing a gathering at the Chattarsal Stadium on the occasion, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the Delhi government would come out with a detailed plan to check spread of dengue and chikungunya in the next 10 days.He said the no-detention policy had ruined the education system and assured that the 60,000 students who had failed in Class 10 this year would be readmitted.Uttarakhand CM Trivendra Singh Rawat unfurled the flag and promised to honour the mandate given by the people by wiping out graft from the state. He said the government would work to achieve 100 per cent literacy in the state by 2019.Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh assured farmers that his government would implement the promised farm-debt waiver scheme in about a month and appealed them not to consider committing suicide or taking any other extreme step.Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani announced setting up of 10 industrial estates for small industries, financial aid to fishermen, and free Wi-Fi on educational campuses.CM Devendra Fadnavis said the Maharashtra government aimed to make farmers debt-free and also announced that the homeless would be provided houses by 2019 as the Independence Day was celebrated with fervour across the state.However, the celebrations at some places in Maharashtra were marred by protests by farmers who sought to disrupt flag-hoisting over loan-waiver.In his address, Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the state government aimed to make the state free of corruption and poverty by 2022. He also said every poor in the state would have a house of his own by 2022.Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed concern over the “grim flood situation” in his state and assured that the government would do everything to help people. He said the disaster-hit people had the first right on the state’s exchequer.People across West Bengal celebrated the day with colourful processions, parades and cultural programmes as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee unfurled the national flag in Kolkata.Colourful tableaux depicting government schemes like Kanyashree, Sabujshree, Khadya Sathi and Sabuj Sathi were exhibited. A special tableau on the upcoming FIFA World Cup U-17, which will also be hosted in Kolkata, was also presented.As flood waters wreaked havoc in the state, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said the main cause of the devastation by the Brahmaputra river is silt and sand carried by rivers from other states.The riverbed of the Brahmaputra is rising gradually and reducing its water carrying capacity, he said.“The prime cause of increasing silt and sand carried by rain water is deforestation in the neighbouring states. We have apprised the Prime Minister of the matter during his recent Guwahati visit,” he said.In Tripura, Chief Minister Manik Sarkar hoisted the flag at the Assam Rifles parade and cautioned against “a force trying to mix politics with religion”.In Itanagar, unfurling the Tricolour, Chief Minister Pema Khandu said the people of Arunachal Pradesh shared a special relationship with the armed forces, “who have stood by us in times of adversity and times of prosperity”.Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik suddenly fell ill while addressing the people at the Independence Day function but officials said he recovered soon. The CM left the parade venue only after taking salute.In Aizawl, Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla said Mizoram’s New Land Use Policy had brought development as the state celebrated the day with gaiety and enthusiasm.Meanwhile, Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar appealed to the people to join hands with the government to make the state free of plastic by 2020.In southern states, Telangana CM Chandrasekhar Rao, in his Independence Day address, said the state government would soon take steps to give about 85,000 new jobs.

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Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan urged people to defeat attempts to “poison and dilute” the idea of nationalism, while his Tamil Nadu counterpart K Palaniswami said his government was working with the sole aim of public service “smashing all hurdles before us”.Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said “imposition” of any language on a state is unconstitutional as he emphasised that the strength of the nation lies in the fact that all languages and communities not only co-existed, but also flourished by retaining their identities within the democratic set-up.

Seven-eight intruders were pushed back. — Representational photo

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 26

The Indian Army on Tuesday foiled an infiltration bid by seven-eight armed intruders of Pakistan’s Border Action Team (BAT) in Keran sector of Kupwara in J&K.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)The intruders came near the Army posts around 1 pm. They were supported by nearby Pakistani posts by mortar and small arms fire.Read: Militant killed as Army foils fresh infiltration bid in Kashmir’s UriThe BAT action was aimed causing damage to Indian posts but any such attempt was thwarted, sources said.There was no casualty on the Indian side and the armed intruders retreated.Firing by Indian posts was under way at the time of filing report.