Photo for representation only.

Tribune News Service
Srinagar, February 1

Two militants were killed in a late night encounter with security forces in Drubgam area of Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir.

Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Pulwama following information about presence of militants in the area, a police official said.

He said a gun battle ensued as the militants opened fire at the security forces.

Two militants were gunned down, the official said, adding that their identities and group affiliation were being ascertained. With PTI inputs

The Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara. File photo

Islamabad, January 24

Pakistan on Thursday described India’s response to its proposal to finalise an agreement on the opening of the Kartarpur corridor as “childish”, saying that Islamabad’s reply will be “mature”.

Foreign Office Spokesperson Muhammad Faisal said Pakistan shared a detailed proposal along with a draft agreement with the Indian authorities and invited them to Pakistan to discuss and finalise modalities for the pact.

He said that concerned departments of Pakistan did extensive work in the preparation of the draft agreement on the Kartarpur corridor, which was shared with India on January 21.

Instead of responding to Pakistan’s initiative, India asked a Pakistani delegation to visit New Delhi and suggested two possible dates — February 26 and March 7 — for the meeting, Faisal told the media here.

“India has regrettably behaved in a childish manner, as far as its response is concerned. We have seen similar reply from India in the past, in September 2018, in response to the letter from Prime Minster Imran Khan,” Faisal said.

“Pakistan, unlike India, would come out with a very mature and well considered response on this highly important matter and respond to the Indian move very soon,” he added.

The much-awaited corridor will connect Darbar Sahib in Pakistan’s Kartarpur—the final resting place of Sikh faith’s founder Guru Nanak Dev—with Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India’s Gurdaspur district.

It will enable Sikh devotees to offer prayers at the historic shrine where Guru Nanak had spent his last 18 years.

Faisal alleged that India committed 2,300 ceasefire violations last year and these violations are still on the surge.

Pakistan is responding in a befitting manner to the “unprovoked Indian firing” on the Line of Control, he said, adding that Pakistan would respond to India in the same coin.

“If it (India) speaks the language of peace, we will respond peacefully and if it speaks the language of bullet, we will respond with the bullet,” he said.

Faisal also rejected the Indian claim about sinking of their fishing boat in Pakistani waters on 17th of this month.

He, however, alleged that poaching in Pakistani exclusive economic zones is a frequent activity by the Indian fishing boats.

He said Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) conducts anti-poaching operations as per the laws and international regulations and the relevant UN convention.

To a question about not allowing the use of airspace for cargo planes to Afghanistan, Faisal said that “our position on overflight cargo planes from India remain unchanged. However, passenger flights from India are operating as per the laid down SoPs.” — PTI

Defence Cyber Agency will have close to 200-strong staff from the tri-services – Indian Army, Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force.

With the threat perception changing from land, sea and air into the cyber world, India’s Defence Cyber Agency has started taking shape.

Initial proposal of the Defence Cyber Agency will have close to 200-strong staff from the tri-services – Indian Army, Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force, to be headed by the Headquarter of Integrated Defence Staff (IDS). They will serve under the command of the Chairman, Chief of Staff Committee and work closely with the National Cyber Security Advisor.

“We are alive to the threat on cyber front. To that end we are thinking of making a cyber agency. It would not be a quite full fledged command as we have in the army. As conscious of the fact that the threat exists, we are going in for the cyber agency. It will be headed by a two star rank officer. It will be an inter-service agency, not purely army, functioning under the Integrated Defence Staff. They will be looking after the threats in the cyber domain,” said Lt Gen MM Naravane, GOC-in-C, Army Eastern Command.

To begin with, the Defence Cyber Agency will be based out of the IDS Headquarters and later dedicated units will come up with the Army commands.

“The entire proposal is still under the formulation. Of course units will be spread all over the country. One person sitting in Delhi cannot be expected to do all these jobs. There will be units in every Headquarters with dedicated officers to deal with the cyber security,” added Naravane.

Last year, the Cabinet Committee on Security had cleared the formation of three agencies – Defence Cyber Agency is one of them, the two others are – Defence Space Agency and Special Operations Division.

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tweeted to congratulate the team of “Uri: The Surgical Strike“, about which she said she has been “hearing many good things”

Nirmala Sitharaman meets with cast and crew of “Uri: The Surgical Strike“

NEW DELHI: 

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met the cast and crew of “Uri: The Surgical Strike” on the occasion of Army Day on Tuesday. Actors Vicky Kaushal and Yami Gautam, director Aditya Dhar and producer Ronnie Screwvala were part of the meeting that took place at General Bipin Rawat’s “at home” function.

Ms Sitharaman took to Twitter to congratulate the film’s team about which she said she has been “hearing many good things”.

“At COAS Bipin Rawat’s ‘at home’, with the team of the film ‘Uri: The Surgical Strike‘. Yet to watch it, but hearing many good things. Kudos, Ronnie Screwvala, Aditya Dhar Films, Vicky Kaushal, Yami Gautam for a slick war movie on the spirit of our heroes,” the defence minister tweeted, along with some photos from the event.

The actors said they were honoured to meet the defence minister.

“It was an honour meeting you Ma’am,” Mr Kaushal replied to Ms Sitharaman’s tweet.

“We are honoured to meet you Ma’am… and thanks so much for your encouraging words. What you do for the nation is incomparable,” tweeted Ms Gautam.

Also featuring Paresh Rawal and Mohit Raina, the film was released on January 11.

“Uri: The Surgical Strike” box office performance remained stable on weekdays as the film crossed Rs. 50 crore mark on the fifth day of its release. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh shared the updated box office report, and wrote: “Uri: The Surgical Strike is winning praises, getting applause, ovation and (it is) amassing massive numbers at the box office. East, west, north and south, it’s Uri wave right now.”

The film collected Rs. 9.57 crore on Tuesday, bringing the grand total to Rs. 55.81 crore.

Washington, January 18

The Trump administration has discussed a potential missile defence cooperation with India as part of its effort to deepen the bilateral strategic partnership, the Pentagon has said, asserting that New Delhi is a “key element” in America’s Indo-Pacific strategy.

The Pentagon’s announcement in the 81-page ‘Missile Defence Review’ report released by President Donald Trump gains significance in view of India placing a USD 5 billion order to purchase S-400 air defence system from Russia, for which the US has publicly expressed its displeasure.

Noting that the threats posed by offensive missile capabilities are no longer limited to a few regions around the world, the Pentagon in its report said there were now a number of states in South Asia that are developing an advanced and diverse range of ballistic and cruise missile capabilities.

“Within this context, the United States has discussed potential missile defence cooperation with India. This is a natural outgrowth of India’s status as a Major Defence Partner and key element of our Indo-Pacific Strategy,” said the Pentagon report on Thursday.

The report, which identifies missile development projects by Russia and China as major threats to the US, did not give any further details about its potential missile defence cooperation with India.

The US has shown reluctance to offer its missile defense system to India.

Given the tough neighbourhood that India is in, New Delhi several years ago had approached the US and expressed its desire to acquire a missile defence system from it, particularly the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence system popular as THAAD.

The previous Obama administration was not very forthcoming in sharing its advance missile defence system with India, following which New Delhi went ahead to procure it from Russia.

As part of its Indo-Pacific strategy, the Trump administration now seems to be more than inclined to let India procure its missile defence system with talks between the two countries having already started.

“We will deepen our strategic partnership with India and support its leadership role in Indian Ocean security and throughout the broader region,” said the 2017 National Security Strategy of the US, which has been mentioned in the Pentagon report.

The Missile Defence Review report said the cornerstone of US’ security and diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific region is its strong bilateral alliances with Japan, South Korea and Australia, and emerging security relationships with others such as India.

Japan and South Korea are working with the US to build missile defence systems that are increasingly interoperable with American defences and increasingly capable against regional offensive missile threats and coercion.

This cooperation includes bilateral missile defence training exercises with the US.

Australia participates in a trilateral discussion on missile defence with the US and Japan. The US and Australia meet annually to discuss bilateral missile defence cooperation. New areas of focus include joint examination of the challenges posed by advanced missile threats, it said. PTI

Tribune News Service

Jammu/Pune, January 12

The Army today bid a tearful adieu to Major Shashi Dharan V Nair, who was killed along the Line of Control (LoC), in the Nowshera sector on Friday.

Major Nair was killed when an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded. The IED was planted by the Border Action Team of the Pakistan army with the help of militants on the LoC.

The Army paid tributes to the valiant officer and remembered his sacrifice for the nation.

At Rajouri, General Officer Commanding, Ace of Space Division, Major General H Dharmarajan paid homage to the officer. At Technical Airport, Jammu, Inspector General of Police, Jammu, MK Sinha; Station Commander, Jammu; Chief Security Officer, 16 Corps; Station Commander, Air Force Station, Jammu, and others paid tributes to the Army officer.

Major Nair hailed from Khadagwasla, Pune, and is survived by his wife Trupti Shashidharan Nair. Born on July 30, 1985, Major Nair had joined the Army 11 years ago.

The Army officer’s mortal remains were transported in a service aircraft from Jammu to Pune on Saturday.

In Pune, Harish Kasarkhod, his childhood friend, said having graduated from the famous Fergusson College, Nair could have got a comfortable job elsewhere, but his passion was the armed forces.

A pall of gloom descended on the area after the news came. Friends and relatives thronged the family’s house.

Meanwhile, another soldier Rifleman Jivan Gurung was killed in an IED attack along the LoC in the Nowshera sector of Rajouri. He was from Lamahatta village, Darjeeling, West Bengal.

He is survived by his mother Poonam Gurung. The soldier’s mortal remains are expected to be taken to his native village on Sunday. He was born on April 11, 1994.

Soldier commits suicide in south Kashmir

Anantnag: A soldier committed suicide by shooting himself with his service rifle on Friday night in Kulgam district of south Kashmir. The deceased soldier has been identified as Abishekh Roy Kumar. He worked as a wireless operator in the Army’s 34 Rashtriya Rifles camp at the Behibagh area of Kulgam district. Confirming the incident, an Army officer said, “Abishekh died on the spot after shooting himself.” He, however, said the reasons behind the suicide were not known. oc