Current Events :
Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has blamed India’s support for Sheikh Hasina for straining bilateral ties, claiming the deposed former Prime Minister was responsible for the killing of young protesters during the Dhaka unrest.
“We have problems with India right now because they didn’t like what the students have done. And they are hosting Hasina, who created all this problem and killed the young people. That creates a lot of tension between India and Bangladesh. Also, lots of fake news on all kinds of propaganda is coming from the other side,” Yunus said on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
On the regional front, Yunus stressed the need to revive the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), calling it a “wonderful idea” that was allowed to wither due to political differences among member states.
He said the grouping should function like the European Union, allowing free movement of people and businesses across South Asia. “It’s like the European Union. That was a kind of image in which the SAARC was built. But somehow, one of our neighbours didn’t like that framework. So, it became almost a dead organisation,” Yunus said, without naming any country.
As an alternative, Yunus floated the possibility of Bangladesh joining the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), noting that Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had expressed support for the idea. “ASEAN would be a good place to go. So, we want to build it up–regional harmony and regional interconnectivity,” he said, while admitting that Myanmar’s opposition over the Rohingya issue remained an obstacle.He also highlighted the economic opportunities of greater regional integration, suggesting that Bangladesh could serve as a gateway to the Bay of Bengal for Nepal, Bhutan and India’s landlocked north-eastern states. “If you can’t do the whole SAARC, then we can have a mini-SAARC of our own in a business deal, not political or any formal treaty,” he said.
Yunus underlined that a broader regional economy, rather than narrow national boundaries, would ensure mutual benefits. He said Bangladesh was open to partnerships that could connect South Asia and Southeast Asia.
When the MiG-21 touches down on the tarmac at Chandigarh for the last time on September 26, having emblazoned the skies over the Indian subcontinent for 62 long years, it leaves in its wake some defining moments in India’s military history.
The ceremony being organised to mark the culmination of flying operations by the MiG-21 — at the same place from where its chequered journey had begun in 1963 — promises to be a dazzling affair, with a flypast by a never-seen-before multi-aircraft formation, simulated dogfights and sky diving.
A commemorative formation of three MiG-21 Bisons flanked by the indigenous Tejas fighter on either side and followed by nine Hawks from the Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) in an arrowhead formation trailing tri-colour smoke has been specially formed for the event.
The SKAT will also put up a display of its signature aerial manoeuvres. A simulated dogfight between Jaguars and MiG-21s, freefall by the Akash Ganga skydiving team and a flypast by two formations of three MiG-21s each, with Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh expected to be in the cockpit of one of the aircraft, are the other highlights of the ceremony. Among the crew participating in the final flypast is a woman pilot, Sqn Ldr Priya Sharma.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of the Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Army Staff Gen Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Naval Staff Dinesh Tripathi and six former Air Chiefs along with senior service officers and civilian dignitaries will attend the event.
Six MiG-21s from the IAF’s No. 23 Squadron, the Panthers, which is the last unit to be operating this aircraft, are in Chandigarh from their present base at Nal near Bikaner in Rajasthan. About two years ago, the IAF had moved the last two remaining MiG-21 squadrons, the other being the No. 3 Squadron, the Cobras, to Nal.
In 1961, the IAF opted to procure the Soviet-origin MiG-21, a third-generation jet fighter aircraft, over several other western competitors such as the British English Electric Lightning and the US F-104 Starfighter due to a combination of strategic, economic, political and operational factors. Over the next four decades, it formed the backbone of the IAF’s fighter fleet.
After cutting its teeth in the 1965 India-Pakistan War, where it performed the air defence role, the MiG-21 played a crucial role in the Liberation of Bangladesh Campaign, not only in achieving air superiority but also undertaking ground attack roles. A key operation was attacking the Governor House in Dacca (now Dhaka), considered by military historians as the final nail in the coffin that led to the collapse of the Pakistan army in the east.
The MiG-21s also rendered the Tezgaon airfield at Dacca out of action by carrying out never-attempted-before steep glide bombing missions to crater the airstrip. This resulted in the IAF gaining air superiority over East Pakistan, paving the way for unrestricted ground, air and naval operations.
In 1985, as Operation Meghdoot, India’s campaign in the Siachen Glacier, was underway, a MiG-21 executed a daring, but little known photo-recce mission over Skardu in the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Equipped with an underbelly camera pod and flying just a couple of hundred feet above the ground, it photographed the new runway and adjacent areas to collect intelligence on Pakistani aircraft, airfield status and logistics. Skardu is a strategic Pakistani forward airbase and monitoring its activities was critical due to its role in supporting Pakistan military operations in the Siachen Glacier region.
MiG-21s were among the first fighters to go into combat on May 26, 1999, when the IAF formally entered the Kargil conflict along the Line of Control, launching the opening attacks at 6.30 am, targeting enemy camps, logistic routes and supply dumps overlooking key areas in Dras, Kargil and Batalik sectors.
On August 10, 1999, a few weeks after the Kargil conflict, a MiG-21 intercepted and shot down a Pakistani Navy Breguet 1150 Atlantic maritime patrol aircraft over the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat after it intruded into Indian airspace and ignored warnings.
Two MiG-21s from the No. 45 Squadron were scrambled. Sqn Ldr RK Bundela, flying the lead MiG-21 and later awarded the Vir Chakra, fired an R-60 missile from a 3-km range, hitting the Atlantic’s port engine. The plane caught fire, descended, and crashed near the border village of Talhar. All 16 Pakistani crew members, including five officers and 11 trainees, were killed.
Sqn Ldr Bundela and the ground-based fighter controller, Wg Cdr VS Sharma, were decorated with the Vayu Sena Medal.
The last known time the MiG-21 was deployed in a war-like situation was in 2019 after the IAF strike on terrorist camps at Balakot in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan in the aftermath of a terrorist strike at Pulwana in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed.
The MiG-21, the oldest fighter in the IAF’s inventory, was pitted against the F-16, the most advanced aircraft that the Pakistan Air Force flaunts, with the IAF claim that an F-16 was shot down in an aerial duel close to the Line of Control in Rajouri sector.
One of the MiG-21 pilots, Wg Cdr Abhinandan Varthaman, fired an R-73 missile at an F-16, resulting in a radar blip, being tracked as an F-16, vanishing from the screen, according to a top IAF officer.
Varthaman’s own MiG-21 was also hit after he reportedly transgressed across the LoC in the heat of the moment and he landed inside the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir after ejecting. He was captured but later repatriated to India and was decorated with the Vir Chakra.
Apropos of ‘Security stakes must spur jointness’; there is no doubt that joint operations are a sine qua non for success in every battle or war. However, what is the best way forward to achieve it? Even though jointly planned and executed, Op Sindoor was essentially dominated by the Air Force, which has emerged as a “service of choice” for achieving strategic paralysis of enemy forces deep inside their country. That is what the IAF Chief, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, is saying loud and clear. Unfortunately, he is being projected as a spoilsport. It may not be in our country’s interest to pursue the creation of theatre commands.
Lt Col GS Bedi (retd), Mohali
UN resolutions useless
With reference to ‘Palestine recognition’; there is a growing global momentum against Israel amid increasing realisation that it is using the Gaza conflict to erase the possibility of a Palestine state itself. Tel Aviv has been deliberately crippling Palestinian Authority (PA) by withholding the latter’s taxes, affecting its essential functions. This has even prompted Israel’s ally Germany to consider sending financial aid to PA, all because of US backing. Trump can politically ill-afford to dump Israel. The UN can pass resolutions in favour of Palestine statehood, but it won’t make much of a difference to Israel or the Gaza conflict. There might be a split in the Western camp over Israel, but this isn’t enough to rein in Tel Aviv.
Sanjay Chopra, Mohali
Thorat inspires respect
With reference to ‘Thorat, the soldier who saw 1962 coming’; Lt Gen SPP Thorat was indeed a remarkable soldier and a true professional. Thorat’s autobiography From Reveille to Retreat is a testament to his military career and foresight. His legacy serves as a reminder of the importance of professionalism in civil-military relations and the need for timely decision-making in the face of security threats. Thorat’s role in predicting the Chinese attack make him a significant figure in Indian military history. His humility, integrity and commitment to duty are qualities that inspire respect and admiration.
Capt Amar Jeet (retd), Kharar
Self-reliance through awareness
Refer to the editorial ‘Swadeshi push’; to systematically achieve self-reliance, India must discourage imports of low-grade electronics, plastics and fashion items from China through sustained public awareness. Partnerships with Taiwan and Japan for semiconductor technology will strengthen domestic manufacturing. The steep US visa fee can help retain Indian talent, fostering innovation at home. Finally, increasing iron ore imports from Russia and expanding production of critical automotive and electronic components will firmly steer India toward a resilient, Atmanirbhar Bharat.
Turning the moral compass
Refer to ‘Dera Beas head meets jailed ex-minister Majithia in Nabha’; the Akali leader is facing multiple criminal cases, including drug-related charges. It is hard to comprehend the necessity or justification for the Dera chief to meet him. Their meeting reflects a visible inconsistency in jail protocols and privileges, raising concerns about equal treatment under the law. Religious leaders wield significant moral influence, and using that influence to meet controversial figures involved in serious criminal cases sends a wrong message to the public. Authorities must ensure transparency and fairness in such matters.
BS Kakkar, JalandharExtend rail link to Kalka
Refer to ‘50 years on, Centre shows green signal to Rajpura-Mohali rail link’; the much- awaited move will serve a limited purpose. The project should have been extended a few more kilometres up to Kalka or at least till Chandigarh. It would boost economic activity, connectivity and tourism. Thousands of people visit Chandigarh for work daily.
Vinay Kumar Malhotra, Ambala Cantt
The 4 HP NCC Company has been upgraded to a full battalion, now designated as 4 HP Bn NCC Hamirpur, with its cadet strength rising from 2,000 to 3,520. Commanding Officer Col GP Singh announced this expansion while addressing the media, highlighting that the upgradation would open new opportunities for youth across Himachal Pradesh.
With the increased intake, the battalion has sanctioned 18 new NCC units, taking the total number of institutions under its jurisdiction to 55. To manage the wider area of operation, an additional staff of 10, including an administrative officer, has been deployed.
Col Singh said 14 new units have been established in government colleges at Bhoranj, Jawalamukhi, Barsar and the College of Horticulture and Forestry, Neri. Institutions such as NIT-Hamirpur and Sainik Schoo- Sujanpur Tihra have also been brought under the battalion’s fold. Among schools, Government Senior Secondary Schools at Jhigriani, Patta, Kangoo, Tauni Devi, Bir Baghera and PMHS Jakhu Jangal, along with private schools MPS, AIMPS and SDPS in Hamirpur, now have NCC units.
The battalion covers institutions in Hamirpur, Kangra, Mandi and Bilaspur districts. With greater intake, more cadets are expected to represent Himachal in national events. This year, 19 cadets have been shortlisted for the Republic Day pre-selection camp at Dalhousie, beginning September 28. Successful candidates will proceed to camps at Solan and Rupnagar, Punjab.
Col Singh stressed that NCC instills values of discipline, courage and leadership, while training cadets in drill, weapon handling, firing, disaster management, social service, adventure, self-defence and civil defence — preparing them to serve both the nation and society.
TODAY (September 24), in Pune, the Indian Army will pause to honour one of its most remarkable but under-recognised soldiers. The autobiography of Lieutenant General SPP Thorat is being re-released in the presence of the Chief of Defence Staff,
NEW DELHI: Events leading up to the 1962 India-China war will be in sharp focus again next week when chief of defence staff General Anil Chauhan releases the revised edition of the autobiography of the late Lieutenant General SPP Thorat, one of the most respected army officers of that era and whose prescient warning about Chinese intentions were ignored by the government at the time.
The CDS will release the revised edition of the book, From Reveille to Retreat – An Autobiography, in Pune on September 24; the book was first published in 1985 and went into its last reprint two decades ago. The latest version, published by Hedwig Media House, omits some portions that are no longer relevant and includes many previously unpublished papers and photographs.
One of the chapters in the autobiography deals with the North-Eastern Frontier, capturing the aggressive Chinese actions along the northern borders in the late 1950s, the government’s refusal to admit any danger to India, the stark differences between the political and military leadership, Thorat’s strained relations with the then defence minister VK Krishna Menon and the defence of the North-Eastern Frontier Agency (now Arunachal Pradesh) being entrusted to the para-military force Assam Rifles and not to the army.
General Officer Commanding (GOC) of White Knight Corps Lt Gen P K Mishra on Monday reviewed the ongoing anti-terror operations in the hilly areas of Udhampur, Doda and Kishtwar districts of Jammu and Kashmir following recent encounters with terrorists, officials said.
While a massive search operation is underway in Seoj Dhar forest connecting Dudu-Basantgarh in Udhampur district with Bhaderwah in Doda district since Friday evening following the killing of a soldier in a gunfight with terrorists, another operation was launched in Keshwan forest of Kishtwar district after a brief encounter on Sunday afternoon, the officials said.
Accompanied by GOC, counter-insurgency force (Delta) Maj Gen A P S Bal, the corps commander flew in a helicopter to Seoj Dhar to review the ongoing operations this morning, the officials said.
They said though there was no contact with the terrorists after the initial gunfights in Seoj Dhar and Keshwan forests, helicopters were seen hovering over the dense forests which remained besieged with joint parties of army, police and CRPF on the ground carrying out the combing operation.
Drones and sniffer dogs were also deployed in the area to help track down and neutralise the terrorists, the officials said.
Meanwhile, security forces also launched a cordon and search operation in Malhar area of Kathua district after getting information about suspected movement of two terrorists.
The operation is going on but there was no trace of the suspected persons so far, the officials said.
In 1961, the Indian Air Force (IAF) opted to procure the Soviet-origin MiG-21, a third generation jet fighter aircraft, over several other Western competitors such as the British English Electric Lightning and the US F-104 Starfighter.
A combination of strategic, economic, political and operational factors influenced this decision. Not only was the MiG-21 cheaper than its Western counterparts, it came with the Soviet offer of full transfer of technology and rights for manufacture in India, something the West was unwilling to do.
With geopolitical shifts, India also sought to diversify sources of Defence equipment, which till then had been dependent on the West. Strengthening ties with the erstwhile Soviet Union also offered a strategic balance against China and Pakistan.
A deal with the Soviet Union was signed in 1962 and the first batch of eight pilots trained at Lugvoya Airbase in Kazakhstan. The first batch of 10 aircraft arrived in April 1963, forming No.28 squadron, the First Supersonics at Chandigarh.
The MiG-21’s Mach 2 speed, agility and climb rate, as well as other characteristics such as a simpler design and ruggedness as compared to western fighters suited India’s requirements.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited began licence production of the MiG-21 in 1966 at its Nashik plant. A total of 1,200 aircraft of different variants were procured till 2010, with later variants undergoing significant upgrades. At its peak, over 400 MiG-21 aircraft were in service with the IAF. The fleet, however, also came under scrutiny for the high number of accidents it suffered.
As the last of the remaining MiG-21 prepare to fly into the sunset on September 26, after being a game-changer in the skies over the Indian subcontinent for 62 years, here are five prominent operations that mark their journey with the IAF:
In the eastern theatre during the Liberation of Bangladesh Campaign, MiG-21s played an instrumental role, not only in achieving air superiority but also undertaking ground attack roles. A key operation was attacking the Governor House in Dacca (now Dhaka), considered by military historians as the final nail in the coffin that led to the collapse of the Pakistan Army in the east.
On December 14, 1971, following intelligence reports of a top-level meeting at the Governor House, four MiG-21s armed with rockets were launched from the Guwahati airbase. Around 12:55 pm, they hit the house with pinpoint accuracy, causing its roof to collapse. The building was hit two more times, first with two MiG-21s, followed by two Hunters.
Following the bombing, the Governor of East Pakistan, AM Malik, who was until then undecided on whether to resign, submitted his resignation to the United Nations (UN). The entire East Pakistan government followed, resigning to the UN, leaving the defence of Dacca in the hands of Pakistan’s eastern army commander Lt Gen AAK Niazi, who surrendered two days later.
The MiG-21s also rendered the Tezgaon airfield at Dacca out of action by carrying out never-attempted-before steep glide bombing missions to crater the airstrip. This resulted in the IAF gaining air superiority over East Pakistan, paving the way for unrestricted ground, air and naval operations.
As Operation Meghdoot, India’s campaign in the Siachen Glacier, the world’s highest battlefield, which began in 1984 was under way, a MiG-21 is said to have executed a daring photo-recce mission in 1985 of which little is known publically.
Equipped with an underbelly Type-96 pod carying a Vinten panoramic camera, it streaked through the Shyok valley, flying just a couple of hundred feet above the ground and made an arduous run over Skardu in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, photographing its newly laid runway and adjacent areas to collect intelligence on Pakistani aircraft, airfield status and logistics.
The pilot employed low-level penetration at high speed to evade radar, navigating by maps and visual landmarks due to limited aids available in the remote terrain. Other fighter aircraft provided cover.
Skardu was and continues to be a strategic Pakistan Air Force forward airbase located in the Gilgit-Baltistan region and its monitoring its activities was critical due to its role in supporting Pakistan military operations in the Siachen Glacier region.
Even in the 1971 India-Pakistan War, Skardu had been a high-value target for supporting enemy operations in the Northern Sector. The IAF conducted a daring bombing raid on Skardu on December 17, 1971, using Canberra bombers and An-12 transports to damage the runway, thereby preventing Pakistani operations. Even then, recce flights by MiG-21s were conducted to confirm the damage, marking one of the aircraft’s early forays into the fighter-recce role.
MiG-21s were among the first fighters to go into combat on May 26, 1999, when the Indian Air Force formally entered the Kargil conflict along the Line of Control in northern Jammu and Kashmir.
MiG-21s, alongside MiG-23s and MiG-27s, launched the opening attacks at 6:30 am, targeting enemy camps, logistic routes and supply dumps overlooking key areas along the frontlines in Dras, Kargil and Batalik sectors.
Flying out of Srinagar and Avantipur airbases, the MiG-21s were primarily used for ground attack missions and close air support, besides undertaking photo-reconnaissance and battle damage assessment missions as well as combat air patrols.
MiG-21s were adapted for precision ground attacks in narrow, high altitude valleys and confined spaces, targeting small enemy outposts, bunkers and supply lines through manual aiming and unguided bombs and rockets, requiring exceptional skills. These strikes were critical in softening enemy positions.
In the absence of advanced navigational aids, IAF pilots innovatively used hand-held GPS and stopwatches for navigation in low-light conditions, achieving effective results without advanced technology. By mid-July, when the war started winding down before its cessation on July 26, the MiG-21s had carried out about 580 strike missions and 460 air defence sorties.
On August 10, 1999, a few weeks after the Kargil conflict, a MiG-21 intercepted and shot down a Pakistani Navy Breguet – 1150 Atlantic maritime patrol aircraft over the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat.
The French-built, twin-turboprop aircraft from Pakistan Navy’s No. 29 Squadron had taken off from Mehran Naval Base at 9:45 am. Around 10:51 AM, the IAF ground radar at Naliya airbase in Gujarat detected the aircraft approaching the border near Badin.
Two MiG-21s from No. 45 Squadron, the Flying Daggers, were scrambled. According to official accounts, the Pakistani aircraft intruded 10 km into India twice and was repeatedly warned. The Atlantique ignored commands and turned aggressively towards the MiG-21s.
At 11:17 am, Sqdn Ldr RK Bundela, flying the lead MiG-21 fired an R-60 infrared-homing air-to-air missile from a 3 km range, hitting the Atlantique’s port engine. The plane caught fire, descended, and crashed near the border village of Talhar.
All 16 Pakistani crew members, including five officers and 11 trainees, were killed. Sqn Ldr Bundela and the ground-based fighter controller, Wg Cdr VS Sharma were decorated with the Vayu Sena Medal.
MiG-21s were among the aircraft that were deployed to counter Pakistan’s aerial activities in the wake of the IAF’s strike on terrorist camps at Balakot in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan in the aftermath of a terrorist strike at Pulwana in Jammu and Kashmir in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed in 2019.
The MiG-21, the oldest fighter in the IAF’s inventory was pitted against the F-16, the most advanced aircraft that the Pakistan Air Force flaunts, with the IAF claim that an F-16 was shot down in an aerial duel over the skies of Jammu and Kashmir close to the Line of Control (LoC).
Two MiG-21 Bisons were scrambled from an operational readiness platform to intercept four Pakistani aircraft that intruded into Indian airspace in Rajouri sector.
One of the pilots, Wg Cdr Abhinandan Varthaman, fired an R-73 missile at an F-16 resulting in a radar blip being tracked as an F-16 from its signature vanishing from the screen, according to a top IAF officer.
Varthaman’s own MiG-21 was also hit after he reportedly transgressed across the LoC in the heat of the moment and he landed inside Pakistan Occupied Kashmir after ejecting. He was captured but later repatriated to India and was decorated with the Vir Chakra.
ndia’s proposed air defence system Sudarshan Chakra will be the “mother of all air defence systems combined together” and will include counter-drone, counter-UAV and counter-hypersonic systems among others, a top military official said on Tuesday.
In his address at a conference ‘Counter UAVs & Air Defence Systems: Future of Modern Warfare’ here, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (CISC) Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit also said that the adversary has learnt from Operation Sindoor and so “we will have to be two steps ahead” of them in military thinking and planning.
The event saw participation of senior military officers, representatives of various firms in the defence industry and domain experts.
Air Marshal Dixit gave references to the recent Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict, the Russia-Ukraine war and how relatively much cheaper drones have played a critical role in inflicting huge damage to expensive military assets of the other side.
They have created an “innovation adaption cycle” and Indian industry, think-tanks, academia job should be to think “two steps ahead” to say ahead of the adversary, as it is “like a game of chess”, he said.
Like ‘Make in India’, you have to start ‘Think in India’ and ideate, he urged the defence industry.
On Operation Sindoor, Air Marshal Dixit said certain drones which “we caught were sophisticated, using… AI, visual means, and even if we jam their GPS, they were able to reach somewhere close”.
“They are also working and becoming better, so we have to go one step ahead,” he said.
Air Marshal Dixit, however, asserted that it seems “our counter-drone and GPS-jamming systems worked well, as damage caused by these drones have been almost nil”.
So, that is a “success story in anti-drone”, but unfortunately, same thing cannot be repeated next time, the other side’s system will also grow, because “they have also learned about our capabilities”, he said.
And, this harping on self-reliance, Atmanirbharta, because, it “gives a surprise element”.
“Like all surprises, it can only be utilised once. So, next time, again, we have to give a surprise element,” he said.
In his address, Air Marshal Dixit also mentioned about India’s envisioned air defence system Sudarshan Chakra, saying it will be “mother of all air defence systems combined together, along with some weapon systems”.
“We are still in ideation phase, but counter-drones, counter-UAV… counter-hypersonic, all these kind of things, and some things else also, which cannot be spoken about, all those combined together is Mission Sudarshan Chakra, with counter drone in the lowest layer of the system,” he said.
Later, the air marshal said, “It is in ideation phase, but I can tell you that it will be all-encompassing.”
Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan in his address at a tri-service seminar in August had said that the proposed air defence system will work as “a shield and a sword’, and had suggested it will be on the lines of Israel’s Iron Dome all-weather air defense system, known as a very effective missile shield.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the 10-year project during his Independence Day address this year.
Sudarshan Chakra will entail a colossal amount of integration of sensors, missiles, surveillance apparatus and artificial intelligence tools, the CDS had said.
In his address, Air Marshal Dixit also emphasised on war’s impact on economy and commercialisation of drones.
One has to take economic view also, “I cannot go bankrupt while winning a war,” he said.
