Despite judicial rebuffs on his ban on immigrants, President  Donald Trump  appears to be intent on waging war on the American society’s most vibrant elements: the immigrants. The Department of Homeland Security is reported to have put in place plans “for aggressive enforcement of immigration laws.” The only saving grace is that the new administration has denied reports that it intended to deploy National Guards to round up the undocumented immigrants in the United States. And, though the Trump administration has emphasised that it will keep intact President Obama’s protection programme for “dreamers”, the overall message the immigrants across the board have heard from the Trump White House is one of intimidation and fear. Also, the potential asylum seekers stand discouraged and forewarned. America will no longer be the first choice of the prosecuted. If President Trump has his way, the United States would be spending huge resources on making life simply difficult for the current and potential immigrants. The Trump White House wants to empower agencies like the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Custom and Border Protection, as well as to build up a wall along the southern border.  On their part the administration officials insist that President Trump is simply asking for a vigorous enforcement of the existing laws and that the law-enforcement agencies will be targeting mostly “criminals” among the immigrants.These caveats notwithstanding, President Trump has succeeded in making each and every immigrant edgy, nervous and fearful. The American law-enforcement agencies are neither known for their professional detachment nor for their racial broadmindedness.  The leadership of the law-enforcing agencies remains with those who belong to “the Trump class”, mostly subscribing to the ugly notions of white supremacy. The rest of the world has reacted adversely to these signals. But the new American President has made it clear that he is not going to allow himself to be distracted from those loony ideas and prejudices that in the first instance propelled him to the White House. Nor does he appear bothered at playing the bull in America’s ethnic china shop.

Trump move on illegal immigrants puts half a million Indians at risk

WASHINGTON: An estimated half a million Indians living illegally in the United States could be among those targeted under the Donald Trump administration’s plans unveiled on Tuesday to aggressively “facilitate the detection, apprehension, detention, and removal (deportation)” of undocumented immigrants.

There are an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in the US, and upwards of 8 million of them are expected to find themselves targeted under the new policy.

Only those who were illegally brought in to the country as children and the parents of children born here will be exempt.

The Indian government is aware that its nationals are illegally residing in the US, but does not know how many there are, for which it has relied on estimates by American think tanks and research groups.

However, it expects to hear from the Trump administration if and when Indians are rounded up for deportation, as is the procedure.

Jammu, February 18

Director, Rajya Sainik Board (RSB), Brig Harcharan Singh (retd) today called on Lt Gen D Anbu, Army Commander, Northern Command, during which the director briefed the Army Commander on the issues of welfare of veterans and families of martyrs.The Army Commander was apprised about the event which was held in Jammu on December 6 last year and attended by the Governor regarding bringing synergy between citizens and the armed forces.The director informed the Army Commander that a software for compiling veterans’ data which would help streamline the process of issuing identity cards and availing benefits from various welfare schemes of Central and state governments was under final stages of trial. — TNS

LT GEN SURESH SHARMA, AVSM

ASSUMED THE APPOINTMENT OF ENGINEER-IN-CHIEF ON 01 FEB 2017

China has prevented JeM chief Masood Azhar from being on the proscribed UN list. This is not out of any love for the ISI’s favourite terrorist leader. It is more about the insurance China needs for its $46-billion investment in projects in Pak. China wants its strategy of the trade corridors to be without potential of conflict.

Playing the great game: Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Islamabad in 2016. Xi launched projects worth $46 billion. This exceeds US spending in Pakistan. Reuters

ANYONE who follows strategic issues knows that much can happen in geopolitical and geo-strategic-related affairs which defies rationale. Yet, one thing is clear; nations do not act, engage or support each other unless there is an inherent national interest involved. Seldom do leaderships follow the norm of support based on emotive or historical linkages. A nation as pragmatic and nationalistic as China does not usually make mistakes in this regard as far as the pursuit of national security strategy is concerned. When it comes to China’s denial of support to brand Masood Azhar a UN-designated terrorist, this rationale appears to fly in the face of the Masood Azhar affair. A few facts, to glean the background may be required. Following the attack on the US embassies in Nairobi and Darussalam by the Al-Qaida and other associated groups, the Security Council passed Resolution 1267 or 1267 Regime, in 1999. This Resolution primarily looks at non-kinetic ways of forcing entities, terror groups or their leaders to be proscribed and pressurised with cooperation between members of the UN. It requires unanimity of the Security Council to be brought into effect against any of the above. India has been attempting to have Masood Azhar, the infamous JeM chief proscribed under this but China comes to Pakistan’s support each time in denying unanimous approval of the UNSC which is mandatory. India has criticised the UNSC decision, stating that, “Its working methods, based on the principles of unanimity and anonymity, is leading the Committee to adopt a selective approach to combating terrorism.” JeM was listed under 1267 Regime as far back as 2001 for its links to the Al-Qaida but labelling eludes Masood Azhar because of China which is the only nation in the UNSC which is preventing this. Is it in China’s national interest to do the above? First and foremost, to put the question differently, is anything in the interest of India and not that of Pakistan automatically in China’s national interest? China’s strategic academic community does not think so because there has emanated no strident defence of China’s stance except from the usual media commentaries. The latest Global Times of China states, “Chinese analysts said they believe India did not provide enough evidence to support its proposals, as evidence is required not only because of the need to maintain the UN’s authority, but also because of the complexities in the region”. This stance can continue forever.The conclusions should be obvious. China considers its relationship with Pakistan deeply strategic. There have been times China has tried to project a degree of neutrality between India and Pakistan in matters concerning even Jammu and Kashmir. Since the last two years its stance has hardened irrationally in favour of Pakistan. Two things seem to have dictated this. First, is the turn in the Indo-US relationship, which progressively showed emergence of greater strategic understanding and was perceived by China as essentially aimed at it. The larger narrative of India’s outreach to Japan and Vietnam also appears to have unnerved China. Second is the indirect effect of the New Great Game in Asia. It is not the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) alone which is binding China to Pakistan in a more determined way. The CPEC is just a sub-arm of the larger strategy of outreach by China to go well beyond its borders in order to sustain its growth rate. It is also designed to help develop the backward regions within its territories, including the troubled region of Xinjiang. In the South-East Asian and East-Asia region in order to have a control over the ocean disputes, China has reached out to Philippines, Laos and Cambodia. It also has the presence of North Korea as a foil should things not go as per plan. In its strategy towards its western boundaries it is Russia who it needs and the relationship has strengthened considerably. Oil and gas from Russia, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan are reasonably guaranteed but insufficient to meet its voracious needs.  Almost 80 per cent of its energy needs are still supplied through the sea lines of communication (SLsOC) which are vulnerable in the event of larger conflict. The only country which can facilitate both, outreach for trade and transportation of energy needs through the continental routes is Pakistan. This realisation has struck a deeper chord in China over the last two years as the US moved closer to its pivot and rebalancing strategy under former President Obama. Donald Trump’s approach is still confused and unclear. He does not yet know how he will deal with China. He wishes to be aggressive on the South China Sea dispute and does not wish to leave Afghanistan to the control of Pakistan and the ISI to work with the Taliban and the Haqqanis. So the US may well marginally enhance its presence in Afghanistan. That is not good news for China that wants its strategy of the trade corridors to be without potential of conflict and opposition. So, Pakistan’s strategic importance goes up several notches. As it is, even the casual eye can gauge that without any other factor; just its geographic location is God’s greatest gift to Pakistan. It controls access to the ocean and reverse access to the heart of Asia. It provides the US its only viable logistics route to Afghanistan. China’s future development of the western peripheral regions is dependent on the development of the trade corridors through the zone of the New Great Game. In the latter, it is not infrastructure alone but the potential of ideology being infused as a weapon here. The entire New Great Game, which is all about extension of influence to facilitate trade corridors, can be hamstrung by the infusion of Islamic radicalism. The infrastructure will remain unsafe and millions of dollars worth of security systems will have to be deployed to safeguard it. Pakistan’s reputation as the core centre of radical Islam precedes it each time. Through the 1980s, the US and Saudi Arabia defeated the former Soviet Union with the assistance of Pakistan and its ISI. It has tied down India considerably in the state of Jammu and Kashmir and potentially it holds the key to the security of the corridors in the New Great Game zone. All this is through the networks it controls. The extent to which friendly terrorists can assist Pakistan in its future strategy has been insufficiently realised by India. China has the full measure of appreciation of what Pakistan can and cannot do. The investment in Masood Azhar is not for any love for the ISI’s favorite terrorist leader but due to sheer prudence about the insurance China needs for the $46 billion and much more that will eventually be sunk into these projects.India’s diplomatic efforts may not yet succeed in this sphere but there is no option but to continue these as China is isolated in the UNSC and Pakistan too is feeling the heat. Sometimes narrow diplomatic defeats can actually be converted to eventual victories. That is, only if you understand the nuances.The writer is a former GOC of the Srinagar-based 15 Corps. He is now associated with the Vivekanand International Foundation.

Mandi, February 8

Ex-honorary commissioned officers are seeking early implementation of Justice Reddy recommendation on ‘One Rank One Pension’ (OROP) scheme.Captain Jagdish Verma (retd), president of the Ex-Servicemen Organisation, Honorary Commissioned Officers’ Welfare Association of Himachal Pradesh, said their association had sent a letter to the Ministry of Defence demanding intimation on the latest status of the case and getting the process of acceptance of the recommendation of Justice Reddy so that the already delayed scheme of OROP for ex-servicemen is implemented in right perspective.He claimed that there were certain irregularities in the OROP scheme which was implemented by the Central government in 2015 for ex-servicemen.“The government had constituted one-man judicial commission under the chairmanship of Justice L Narsimha Reddy, a retired Chief Justice of Patna High Court, to look into the irregularities and submit a detail recommendation to the government for early rectification,” he added.He alleged that even after the interval of five months neither the government had made the recommendation of Justice Reddy public nor any acceptance of the recommendation. — TNS

The contingent represented Directorate of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal and Chandigarh at the All-India Republic Day Camp, 2017. Tribune Photo

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, February 8

Lt Rajeev Kumar Varshney, associated NCC officer of the Giani Zail Singh Campus College of Engineering and Technology (GZSCCET), Bathinda, recently returned after attending the one-month long All-India Republic Day Camp, 2017, of the NCC held in Delhi.Around 2,500 cadets hailing from 17 NCC directorates across the country participated at the camp.He represented the Directorate jointly of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal and Chandigarh under the direction of Contingent Commander Col Piyush Aggarwal.While sharing his experience, he said the camp proved to be a culmination of efforts of the NCC cadets who had cherished the desire of being a part of the Republic Day celebrations at the national level.“During the camp, the cadets of our contingent excelled in almost all categories of competitions and won the most coveted RDC-Banner of the NCC,” he added. Col Himmat Singh, Commanding Officer, 20 Punjab Batallion, NCC, Bathinda, appreciated him and congratulated Lieutenant Varshney for the spectacular success of his contingent.Mohan Paul Singh Ishar, Vice-Chancellor, Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Technical University, said his knowledge and experience would be shared and utilised for the benefit of the students.

The move comes in the backof a video uploaded by BSF jawan Tej Bahadur Yadav on social media over the poor quality of food served in frontier posts of the BSF.

New Delhi, February 8

Senior officers of paramilitary forces have been advised to have the food prepared for jawans and endorse a note on its quality, the government informed the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.The move comes in the backdrop of a video uploaded by BSF jawan Tej Bahadur Yadav on social media over the poor quality of food served in frontier posts of the BSF.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju said the ministry has reiterated to forces to ensure that the officers during their visit to posts, may check on the aspects of living conditions, clothing, food and equipment and they may also take initiative to get free and frank feedback of the personnel.“It has been advised that senior officers may also partake in the food prepared for the jawans and endorse a note on the quality/quantity of the food in the inspection register.The forces have also been advised to review their internal grievances redressal system and take proactive measures to redress the grievances,” he said.On the issue of videotape of Yadav, Rijiju said, “Senior officers of the force were deputed to ascertain the facts. A Staff Court of Inquiry (SCOI) has been ordered and to facilitate free and fair inquiry, the officers concerned have since been transferred”.In response to a separate question, he said, “BSF has informed that the jawan, who made the complaint of substandard quality of food, has not been transferred from out of the frontier where he is serving. It is also reported that the said jawan never made such complaint earlier to anyone”.In yet another response, the minister said the CRPF has also reported two such complaints of poor quality of food along with various other grievances.“With respect to other paramilitary forces viz – SSB, ITBP and CISF, no such complaints have been received adding that all the forces have robust grievance redressal mechanisms,” he said. — PTI

THERE has been much debate on the officer-jawan relationship in recent months in the media. Let me forcefully state that the Indian Army officers can cross all boundaries of laid-down rules to look after the welfare of their troops. Here goes an ‘actuality’. I got my flying wings in 1975, and by 1976, was flying in an Observation Post Flight in Jammu. The three-seater Krishak aircraft was mainly meant for directing fire on enemy locations, photo missions, evacuation of injured personnel and ferrying of Commanders for operational tasks. The switch to this aircraft from Auster MK IX, which I flew earlier, was done under the watchful eye of a flying instructor who was a no-nonsense man and a stickler for rules.VIP tasks soon came my way. I was to pick up the GOC of a division from Poonch and fly him to Rajouri. I had to clear the hills by midday to avoid turbulence. The takeoff from Jammu was delayed by an hour due to inclement weather and I landed, an hour late, at my final destination, Poonch. As I was taxying to a mini ad-hoc dispersal, I saw the staff officer from the Brigade HQ, heading towards my aircraft. I was told that the GOC had already left for Rajouri by road as he was not sure of my arrival due to bad weather. In the same breath, I was told that the Brigade Commander wanted me to join him for breakfast. Quick to accept the offer, I directed the Guard Commander to ensure that guards were placed all around the aircraft. The breakfast was sumptuous, and soon, I was heading back to the landing ground. As I approached the kit, I could see someone already sitting in the co-pilot seat — a handsome Sikh soldier, carrying a small bag in his lap. In a commanding voice, I asked my unauthorised passenger to come out of the aircraft. I asked the Guard Commander how he allowed this security breach. He replied that he was told that ‘he’ and ‘I’ were performing similar duties and had the ‘right to board’ the aircraft. My next arrow was fired at this overconfident soldier; and I asked him how our duties were similar. Pat came the reply, ‘Sir, you are a driver, and so am I. If a driver does not look after another, who will?’ I was fuming. How dare he call a pilot a driver! To put him in his place, I asked him what type of ‘vehicle/aircraft’ he ‘drove’ on which he rested his claim. Proudly, he stated that his task was more difficult than mine, for he was a ‘mule driver’, and had taken the liberty of taking a lift in my aircraft as he wanted to reach his hometown early to see his ailing mother. My anger gave way to guilt. I immediately strapped him in my co-pilot seat. Seeing him smile, I felt I had made up for the unwanted vocal ordeal of the last 10 minutes. I made contact with the Jammu Air Traffic Control and said I was carrying a passenger who was not a planned occupant and this be told to my Flight Commander. On landing, I ensured that he was taken to a langar, where a feast was laid out for him. The jeep driver was directed to drop him at the railway station, with the order that he must be brought to my office before leaving the air base. Soon, he entered my office, his salute perfect. His verdict was that I was a ‘good driver’. Indeed, I was a driver in the air and was lucky to have been given an opportunity to ferry a ‘VIP mule driver’!

Lucknow, February 6

Indian National Army (INA) veteran ‘Colonel’ Nizamuddin died in Uttar Pradesh on Monday, his family said. He was 116.A close associate of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Nizamuddin breathed his last in Azamgarh district’s Dhakwa village.He served as a driver-cum-guard of Bose after the INA was formed. He accompanied Bose when he went to meet Hitler to seek help to secure freedom for India.He also accompanied Bose during his trips to Japan, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.He is survived by his 107-year-old wife Ajbunisa, daughter Habibunnisa (85) and sons Akhtar Ali (72), Anwar Ali (65) and Sheikh Akram (55). IANS

The martyr’s mother Lalit Mohini at her residence. Photo: Dev Dutt Sharma

Nitish Sharma

Tribune News Service

Ambala, February 5

The family of Major Yogesh Gupta, who sacrificed his life while fighting terrorists at Surankot in Jammu and Kashmir in July 2002, feels neglected. The family have been struggling to keep the name of the martyr alive for the last 14 years.Talking to The Tribune, Lalit Mohini, the martyr’s mother, said, “Despite killing four dreaded terrorists and sacrificing his life, no gallantry award has been given. We remember the Commanding Officer mentioning his name being forwarded for the Ashok Chakra, but have not heard anything in this regard so far.”The battle casualty report stated: “Based on specific information, the Operation Prachand Prahar was launched with 9 Para (SF). At 0430 hours, contact was established with terrorists at Ranjati. In the ensuing firefight, Major Yogesh Gupta suffered severe gunshot wounds in the abdomen.” It further stated: “Despite being severely injured, Major Yogesh Gupta continued to engage the terrorists valiantly and killed four dreaded terrorists. A total of five hardcore terrorists were killed in the firefight and Major Yogesh Gupta attained martyrdom.”“If this is not bravery, what are gallantry awards given for? Either the Army should say it had prepared a wrong casualty report or tell why the martyr has not been honoured so far,” she added.“We desire that a memorial to Major Yogesh Gupta should be built, which will help in keeping his name alive and inspire the future generation. The government and administration have turned a blind eye to our struggle and the sacrifice of my son,” she further said.“It is sad that there is not even five yards of land in Ambala for a martyr while huge space is used to build statues of political leaders. We are not seeking any monetary help. It is a matter of honouring a martyr and remembering his bravery,” said the pained mother.“Sometimes, we do not feel like raising the issue again. We feel neglected when a gallantry award is presented to the next of kin of other martyrs and feel the injustice meted out to Yogesh,” she said.“We have approached all concerned, including the Ambala GOC, local administration, MLA and the PMO repeatedly, but to no avail,” said the martyr’s mother.