Indian Army Chief General Mukund Naravane in an exclusive interaction with the BW Businessworld’s Manish Kumar Jha, denied that there was any reinforcement across in the contested part of LAC and at the buffer zone across the border along Arunachal Pradesh. He put his strong worded statement: “Not a brick has been placed in the part of contested areas”
Indian Army Chief General Mukund Naravane in an exclusive interaction with the BW Businessworld’s Manish Kumar Jha, denied that there was any reinforcement across in the contested part of LAC and at the buffer zone along the border of Arunachal Pradesh. He put his strong worded statement: “Not a brick has been placed in the part of contested areas.”
China has been building concrete military post right next to the unsettled conflict zone at LAC in Ladakh along, artificially building settlements in the sensitive buffer zone like in Arunachal Pradesh. Isn’t it a cause of major concern? What is Indian army’s strategy to neutralize such vicious tactics by PLA?
“Both sides have gone back to agreed position. There is not settlement in the disputed areas—buffer zone either in eastern Ladakh at LAC or in Arunachal Pradesh”, said Chief of Army Staff. He added that there is a misinformation about such reports.
Reports from different media have caused ripples that China’s PLA is closing in across the hotly contested part of eastern Ladakh at LAC. Adding to the fire is the report from the Arunachal Pradesh that China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is building up concrete structures along the buffer zone. It is no guess that in the world of army what it means— a breaking boundary and that calls for immediate confrontation.
While Chief has not denied that that China has been reinforcing along the line with permanent military establishment, added: ‘that can do so within their territory.”
Military Positions
So far, India and China have disengaged from the contentious Pangong Tso area in March. But despite the Note verbale and agreement (Moscow agreement) by China in last year, Chinese troops are still holding the other contested areas of Hot Springs and Gogra Post and Depsang Plains. While China was the aggressor and responsible for the situation, India also agreed to pull back its troops as Indian army had to deploy military against the PLA’s gross violations.
During that meeting, India and China had come up with a so-called ‘Moscow Agreement’ under which a five-point agenda was agreed on easing tensions along the border that have now lasted for over a year.
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) reaffirmed such agreement as that took place in Moscow between EAM S. Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart and State Councillor Wang Yi said: “Recalling their last meeting in Moscow, in September 2020, the External Affairs Minister emphasized the need to follow through on the agreement reached then and complete the disengagement, resolving the remaining issues along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh at the earliest.”
Jaishankar and Wang are currently in Tajikistan capital Dushanbe for the SCO foreign ministers’ meeting and the conference on SCO Contact Group on Afghanistan. India and China have held 11 round of the military corps commander level talks. The schedule for 12th round meeting between the corps commanders is being worked out.
In June, at a virtual meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on border affairs, India and China agreed to hold the next round of military talks at an early date to achieve the objective of complete disengagement in remaining friction points.
On the side of Arunachal Pradesh, China is ramping up its infrastructure on war footing.
Recently, China operationalised its first fully electrified bullet train in the remote Himalayan region of Tibet, connecting the provincial capital Lhasa and Nyingchi, a strategically located Tibetan border town close to Arunachal Pradesh. The 435.5-km Lhasa-Nyingchi section of the Sichuan-Tibet Railway is seen as the built up towards carrying military deployments and logistics bordering Indian States — Arunachal Pradesh. Nyingchi is prefecture-level city of Medog which is adjacent to the Arunachal Pradesh border.
In November, Chinese President Xi Jinping had instructed officials to expedite construction, instigating the PLA to build up constructions sites near the border. It led to believe that China will begin the push-over as they did at LAC in Eastern Ladakh by breaking the sanctity of the border settlement mechanism with India. It is no secret in the maritime world that China has been frequently breaking the well-established norm under UNCLOS in the waters of South China Sea. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) is an international treaty which was adopted and signed in 1982. Over 160 countries follow the UNCLOS except China.
South China Sea though belongs to many countries in around China but China claims all illegally and often Chinese navy pushes the civilian fishing boats of nearby country which they have the rightful claim –even within the set norms of 200 nautical miles. China has already refused to abide by the unanimous decision taken by the international Court of Justice which says the South China Sea must be shared by all these neighbouring countries, including Vietnam and Philippines. The South China Sea is the reflection of what China intends to do with India on the land border.
It has been nearly six decades since the 1962 War, and three decades since negotiations began, but the issues remain unresolved. Over the years, China has built up intensive infrastructure, especially metalled roads right up to their perception of LAC. While India too has taken immense steps and built up military and civilian infrastructure to tackle any possible aggression by the Chinese military. The strengthening of positions has taken place at all levels in the armed forces including both the Indian Army and Air Force. Indian Military is well placed for such troops movement in the various strategic locations across Zojila pass, the world`s new highest motorable road Umling La, Marsmik La, or Khardung La among others areas inside the Indian territory.
The Air Force has established two major bases in Leh and It has deployed troops at the forward locations all along the eastern Ladakh sector including the Nyoma advanced landing ground and the air field in Daulat Beg Old.

New Delhi: India Friday formally received the first two of the 24 MH-60 ‘Romeo’ anti-submarine helicopters at the San Diego’s Naval Air Station North Island in the US, which the Indian Navy said will enhance its “three dimensional capabilities”, i.e. on the surface, in the air and underwater.

The handover is a sign of growing relations between the US and India — the two aircraft are from the US Navy’s stock, given to India to ensure faster induction.

According to sources in the Indian defence and security establishment, the first batch of the helicopters, also known as ‘submarine hunters’, will land in India only mid next year. This is because the helicopters will be used for training an Indian crew in the US.

More will be handed over to India in the coming months under a USD 2.4 billion deal.

India had ordered 24 of these helicopters under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) from the US government last year.

FMS is the American equivalent of the government-to-government contracts India has carried out with Russia for various systems and with France for the Rafale fighter jets.

The helicopters will also be modified with several equipment and weapons unique to India, the Navy said in a statement.

Sources said these relate to the sensors and specialised weapons package, which includes Hellfire air-to-surface missiles and Mark 54 anti-submarine torpedoes.

ThePrint had reported in April that these helicopters will be delivered in July despite the Covid-19 pandemic.

Hamid Salim, vice president, Sikorsky Maritime & Mission Systems, which was bought over by Lockheed Martin, said the delivery of the first two MH-60R Romeo helicopters to the Indian Navy marks the beginning of a new era of collaboration and partnership between the United States Navy, the Indian Navy and Sikorsky.

William L. Blair, vice president and chief executive, Lockheed Martin India, said, “MH-60R is the most advanced maritime multi-mission helicopter in operation — deployed globally, and its mission performance by far, second to none. We stand committed to making this program a tremendous success in partnership with the United States Navy and the Indian Navy.”

Also read: US clearance for anti-sub chopper sale to India comes as Pakistan bets big on submarines

Flip to Navy’s three-dimensional capabilities

The 24 Romeo, ordered by India last year, is meant to meet the immediate requirement of the Navy which currently relies on its P-8i aircraft for anti-submarine operations amid China’s increasing forays into the waters around India.

This will replace its fleet of the ageing British-built Sea King helicopters, which is now mostly used for transport rather than its actual role — anti-submarine warfare.

The Boeing P8i aircraft, that is currently deployed, operates from land and is used to keep vigil on enemy submarines and for reconnaissance missions.

The Navy, though, is in dire need of ship-borne helicopters. It is also pursuing a separate programme for 123 Naval Multi-Role Helicopters (NMRH) under the ‘Make in India’ initiative. However, the programme has not made much headway.

The Romeo choppers also have anti-surface warfare capabilities, which means they will be capable of detecting surface threats and taking action against enemy ships too.

Besides tracking submarines and engaging them, these choppers are also capable of performing other maritime roles such as search and rescue, logistics support, personnel transport, medical evacuation and surveillance.

(Edited by Manasa Mohan)

Also read: ‘Romeo’ is just the first of hundreds of helicopters Indian military desperately needs

The AL-55I engine successfully powered an Indian HJT-36 combat trainer that took to the skies during demonstration flights at the Aero India international aerospace show in February 2021
MOSCOW: Russia’s United Engine Corporation (part of the ROSTEC state tech corporation) delivered two AL-55I turbojet engines to India’s HAL Corporation for the final stage of certification tests of the Indian HJT-36 combat trainer plane, the ROSTEC press office announced on Wednesday.
The United Engine Corporation carried out work to bolster the potential of the two engines that had logged over 5,000 hours of operation during bench tests. The customer’s representatives were present at the acceptance/delivery trials, the press office said in a statement.
“The plans also envisage conducting similar work to boost the potential of 16 AL-55I engines already supplied to HAL Corporation. Besides, considerable work has been carried out to arrange the licensed production of AL-55I engines at HAL’s enterprises,” the press office quoted United Engine Corporation Deputy General Director Yuri Shmotin as saying.
The AL-55I is a double-circuit turbojet engine developed on order from India’s HAL Corporation for HJT-36 jet trainer planes. The engine features a modular design that ensures its high performance efficiency and a low cost of operation. The engine’s advanced digital control system ensures safe piloting and easy maintenance, the statement says.
The AL-55I engine successfully powered an Indian HJT-36 combat trainer that took to the skies during demonstration flights at the Aero India international aerospace show in February 2021.
The AL-55I engine will be showcased on the display stand of the United Engine Corporation at the MAKS-2021 aerospace show that will run in the suburban town of Zhukovsky outside Moscow on July 20-25.

Former Navy chief Admiral Arun Prakash (Retd), former IAF chief Air Chief Marshal Fali H. Major (Retd) and former defence secretary NN Vohra were among the experts debating the theaterisation process.

New Delhi: Setting up of the integrated theatre commands should not be a rushed affair, even as bringing about jointness among the three defence services on various aspects should remain a priority, top defence and security experts said as they debated India’s national security challenges Friday evening.

The webinar on challenges in higher defence management reforms was organised by India International Centre.

The panellists included former Navy chief Admiral Arun Prakash (Retd), former Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Air Chief Marshal Fali H. Major (Retd), former Northern Army Commander Lt Gen. D.S. Hooda and former Chief of Integrated Defence Staff Lt Gen. Satish Dua (Retd).

N. N. Vohra, former defence secretary and governor of the erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir, also participated in the session.

However, the services, particularly the Indian Air Force (IAF), and Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen. Bipin Rawat have not been on the same page over the role of the IAF in theatre commands.

This became evident earlier this month when Gen. Rawat labeled IAF as a support arm to the ground forces — likening it to the role of artillery and engineers in the Army. In response, the IAF chief said air power has a huge role to play in any of the integrated battle areas and is not an issue of support alone.

Aside from discussing the contentious issue of dividing air assets in the theaterisation process, the experts also discussed the roles of the service chiefs and the Department of Military Affairs and how different elements of the security apparatus, such as the paramilitary forces and the Indian Coast Guard, will fit in the theatre commands.

Also read: What are military theatre commands and why does India want to switch to them

‘Should not be rushed’

During the discussion, Vohra said there should be no tearing hurry in setting up of the integrated theatre commands.

“If we do anything in a hurry or leave some element of dissatisfaction amongst the stakeholders, then this venture may not meet with total success, and it is important that it does,” he said.

On the issues coming to the fore in establishing theatre commands, Vohra said there should be a clarity on what the defence minister should do in case of an operational contingency — will he speak directly with the theatre commanders or with the service chiefs or only with the CDS. He also said clarity is needed on the role of the defence secretary.

He further said there needs to be an assessment of how the internal and external security will be managed under the theatre commands, given that there are lakhs of paramilitary personnel and the Indian Coast Guard.

Lt Gen. Dua noted that modern warfare is getting increasingly complex with a multitude of threats, and so there is a need to shorten the decision loop.

“We are in the process of reorganising the military into theatre commands that will exercise operational control over the assets of three services, enable joint planning in warfighting and lead to resource optimisation,” he said.

However, Admiral Arun Prakash said the aim was to enhance jointness, and added that theaterisation could have come later.

He emphasised that there should be no limit of three years in establishing theatre commands. “There should be no rush to create theatre commands until there is complete consensus.”

ACM Fali H. Major said the very concept of an integrated theatre command is lost if one service is given primacy.

“This is the bone of contention — the ownership and supremacy issues,” he said.

He said an integrated theatre command should be a true joint tri-service command, where the theatre commander is appointed on rotation from the three services.

He further said that instead of excluding the Army’s northern command from the theatre commands, it should be the first theatre command to be raised, as a testbed, given that it has been a conflict zone historically.

Agreeing, Lt Gen. Hooda added there is a need for integration in joint warfighting and for that integrated structures are needed.

Once there is a joint warfighting doctrine in place and greater integration has been achieved at lower levels, integrated theatre commands could be established then, Lt Gen. Hooda said.

Also read: Army must ditch ‘superiority’ mindset. Distrust, animosity will only hamper military reforms

Issue of air power

ACM Major said the IAF is not used to a term like ‘allocation of resources’, referring to the division of air assets between theatre commands.

If the IAF wants to “beef up a squadron of aircraft in a conflict zone in the north from east”, it is done seamlessly as each command and squadron knows the deployment plans.

Once the IAF resources are allotted to the eastern sector, they can be pulled out anytime, but to pull out a brigade from the north will take a month, he explained.

He said the idea of an air defence (AD) command was never mooted by the IAF.

Air defence, he emphasised, is the primary task of the IAF — the air defence of the Indian skies, contiguous areas and littoral states — and that is an ongoing 24×7, 365-day job that has to be carried out, irrespective of whether it’s times of peace or war.

There are 7,500 aircraft and other flying objects crisscrossing the Indian skies on a daily basis and the IAF, along with civil surveillance radars, make sure there are no intrusions, he said.

This task is possible as they have placed all their AD assets carefully and strategically, ACM Major said. If Army and naval AD assets are integrated during war, what happens during peace, he asked.

“Air defence command is a no-brainer, since many advanced countries such as Russia and the US created them and disbanded them because they were not working out,” he said.

Admiral Prakash said air power has been an issue of contention not just in India but also other countries.

“The IAF has been quite insecure about placing its assets under any other command of any other service.

The veterans agreed that it is for the three chiefs to sit down together with the CDS and the defence minister to discuss and resolve the issue.

Lt Gen. Hooda said a joint warfighting doctrine can for instance, decide what is the best employment for air power.

The defence experts agreed that there should also be a joint doctrine on national security and that the political leadership should be more involved in defence planning.

(Edited by Manasa Mohan)

Also read: India’s military theatre commands could be delayed as there’s no consensus on basic structure

A drone was spotted near international border in Jammu around 10 pm on Tuesday, prompting the Border Security Force (BSF) to fire five to six rounds, following which it went back to the Pakistan territory, an official said.
“On intervening night of July 13 and 14, a blinking red light was observed by own troops in Arnia sector at about 0952 pm at height of 200 metres on own side. Alert troops fired from their position towards red blinking light, due to which it returned back. Area being searched. Nothing found so far,” the BSF said in a statement.
This is for the sixth time that a drone was seen hovering over Jammu after two explosions rocked the India Air Force Station in June. Two IAF personnel had suffered minor injuries in the explosions that took place at the high security airport located around 14 km from the border with Pakistan.
The Jammu and Kashmir police chief later said that another major strike was averted when a terrorist, believed to be working for the Pakistan-based outfit Lashker-e-Taiba, was arrested with an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) that was to be used for a strike “in a crowded place”. The arrest is not linked to the airport attack, Dilbagh Singh said.
A day later three suspected drones were spotted again at three different locations in Jammu. According to officials, the first drone was spotted in Kaluchak cantonment area, second in Ratnuchak cantonment area and the third in Kunjwani area between 1:30 and and 4 am.
Spotting of hexacopter was also reported inside the Indian High Commission in Islamabad on the night of June 26. It is said to have happened hours before the Jammu Indian Air Force Base drone attack.
“It was possibly recording our function which was a curtain raiser event on India’s 75th Independence Day but we can’t be sure of their intention,” a diplomat said.

New Delhi: The Defence Ministry has granted yet another extension of the emergency powers, which were accorded to the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force last year, for emergent revenue procurements and works, amid the stand-off with China at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.

According to top defence sources, the emergency powers for revenue procurements —through the fast track procedure —have been extended till 31 August.

Last month, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh-headed Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) had also extended emergency powers of the defence services for capital acquisitions till 31 August 2021.

The emergency capital and revenue procurement powers were first extended upto March 2021.

Revenue procurement powers relate to the procurement of critical spares and ammunition required to sustain or maintain these assets.

“Invoking of emergency powers for both revenue and capital procurement indicates the government’s intent to enhance our fighting and engaging capabilities to the next level and also sustain them through the long term,” a source in the government said.

After the Galwan Valley clash in June last year, the defence ministry had, for the first time, given emergency capital procurement powers to the armed forces to procure weapon systems of upto Rs 300 crore on an urgent basis without further clearances to cut short the long and tedious procurement cycle.

Prior to that, emergency powers were granted to the services after the Balakot airstrike in February 2019 and the 2016 Uri surgical strike covered only revenue procurements.

Also read: Army to procure anti-drone systems as India scales up defences against new threats

CDS cited operational readiness of armed forces in Ladakh

Top defence sources told ThePrint that before Rajnath Singh approved the extension of the emergency powers, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat, cited high operational readiness of the forces in Ladakh for the move.

The CDS had noted that it is unlikely that the situation at the LAC will ease anytime soon and that would require the armed forces to be at peak operational readiness in the region, and he thus cited the need for extending the emergency powers both for capital and revenue procurement, the sources added.

In the last one year, India has deployed nearly 50,000 additional troops in the Ladakh region and deployed a large number of ground and air assets for any contingencies.

Spares, HAMMER under emergency powers

Sources said that apart from some major capital purchases, a number of spares and other smaller items will be purchased under the emergency revenue procurement powers.

“Aside from some major capital purchases, there is also a number of spares and other smaller items required to be purchased for maintenance of our assets deployed in the frontlines, its overhauls and refits,” a source said.

Some of these emergency revenue procurement powers will also be helpful in building large-scale infrastructure such as roads and bridges in eastern Ladakh.

Among the major capital procurements initiated by the defence ministry are anti-drone systems being procured by the Army which can jam the communication and navigation signals of a rogue drone or spoof it.

Defence sources also said that the IAF is planning to buy another lot of HAMMER air-to-ground precision-guided weapon system for its Rafale fighter jets using the emergency powers.

The Highly Agile and Manoeuvrable Munition Extended Range costs around Rs70 lakh and consists of a guidance kit and a range-extension kit fitted on a standard Mk 82 bomb of 250 kg.

Other procurements include armour-piercing fin-stabilised discarding sabot (APFSDS) ammunition fired by the T-72 and T-90 main battle tanks, additional Heron drones, loitering munition, Spice Bombs, and Man Portable Air Defence System (MANPADS).

Also read: Why setting up integrated theatre commands should not be rushed — former service chiefs explain

Representation      
Jammu: The Indian Army has been equipped with modern gadgets to tackle security threats along the Line of Control in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, defence sources said here on Wednesday.
According to them, the first-of its kind drone attack in the country on the Air Force Base and detection of UAVs in the bordering districts of Jammu and Kashmir, prompted the Indian Army to devise a comprehensive strategy to tackle new threats along the Line of Control (LoC).
“The Army has also enhanced vigil along the LoC to combat the infiltration bids in coming winters,” they asserted, adding that the Army has been put on high alert to thwart nefarious designs of Pakistan.
“Despite adverse weather conditions, troops are on toes to foil infiltration attempts being made from across the border,” the sources said.
“The Army has revamped its strategy to tackle (UAVs) movement and also to combat infiltration attempts,” they said. Pakistan, through its launching pads based on the other side of the LoC in Poonch sector, is attempting to infiltrate Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) militants into Indian side.
Poonch sector in Jammu region is strategically important because the Chinkut area in Pakistan across the border has one of the biggest launching pads whereas in the training camps, terrorists are being motivated to infiltrate inside the Indian territory and launch attacks at key locations.
On February 25, a joint statement issued by both India and Pakistan said that they have agreed to a ‘strict observance of all agreements’, understandings and ceasefire along the LoC and all other sectors.
The sources said that to thwart the nefarious designs of Pakistan, the Army has been well equipped with modern weaponry and has also installed latest gadgets to keep a close watch on any suspicious movement on the border.
“Before fresh snowfall, attempts of infiltration may increase but the Indian Army has geared up to defeat every nefarious conspiracy of the enemy,” they added.

Brigadier Kailash Prasad Pande (left) with son-in-law General Deepak Kapoor, ex-COAS

Lt Col Dilbag Singh Dabas (Retd)

During Operation ‘Cactus Lily’ on the eastern front, among the seven Brigadier-rank officers awarded the Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) was Brigadier Kailash Prasad Pande, an artillery officer who was considered more than capable to command an infantry brigade.

Affectionately known in the Gunners’ fraternity as ‘Tom’ Pande, he was born in 1925 in an illustrious Brahmin family of Gwalior in the then Central Provinces of undivided India (now Madhya Pradesh). Kailash had his secondary education at Victoria College (now Rani Laxmi Bai Government College) where Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the former Prime Minister, was his classmate. The family had a tradition of its male members joining the Army and after Senior Cambridge, Kailash was commissioned into the Gwalior State Forces on August 25, 1945.

After amalgamation of the princely states with the Indian dominion and during reorganisation of the Indian Army post-Partition, ‘Tom’ Pande, now a subaltern, joined 42 Field Regiment. The first three youngsters from the Gwalior State Forces joining the Indian Artillery were affectionately named Tom, Dick and Harry. Second Lieutenant Kailash Prasad Pande, being short and stocky and with remarkable josh, got the name Tom.

In 1964, ‘Tom’ Pande, as Lieutenant Colonel, raised and also commanded 56 Mountain Composite Regiment (Pack). He also had a two-year successful tenure at the Indian Military Academy as Battalion Commander, where he enthused many good ranking Gentlemen Cadets to join the Regiment of Artillery.

In 1970, Tom was promoted to the rank of Brigadier and was given the command of 2 Mountain Artillery Brigade deployed in Arunachal Pradesh on the border with Bhutan, Tibet and Burma (now Myanmar).

In the early stages of ‘Cactus Lily’, the battle to capture Dhalai post turned out to be fierce with unimaginable casualties. Brigadier Shiv Yadav, Commander of 61 Mountain Brigade, who was badly injured, had to be evacuated. Lieutenant General Sagat Singh, Corps Commander of IV Corps, arrived on the scene and after having taken stock of the situation ordered Brigadier Pande, who at that moment was functioning as artillery adviser to the divisional commander, to take over 61 Mountain Brigade and carry on with the attack.

After planning afresh and regrouping of the combat elements, the battle recommenced. It was a fiercely fought battle with Brigadier Pande leading from the front. After successful conduct of the battle, General Sagat Singh was highly impressed with Brigadier Pande’s personal gallantry and exemplary leadership and immediately recommended him for the award of Maha Vir Chakra. Not just that, seeing the way he led the brigade with cool courage and innovative planning that produced results, General Sagat now directed Brigadier Pande to take over the brigade formally; a rare honour for an artillery brigade commander to be given such a prestigious assignment of commanding an infantry brigade, and that too in the middle of the battle.

Captain Deepak Kapoor, who would later rise to become the 23rd Chief of Army Staff, was then Staff Officer to Brigadier Pande at Artillery as well as Infantry brigade headquarters. A few years later, he would go on to marry Brigadier Pande’s daughter.

Under the dynamic leadership of Brigadier Kailash Prasad ‘Tom’ Pande, 61 Mountain Brigade accomplished seemingly impossible tasks, advancing 40 miles in just three days capturing all strongly-held bounds en route. On December 9, 1971, Brigadier Pande personally advanced alongside 12 Kumaon Infantry Battalion and a troop of armour and ensured that Daudkandi, a vital communication centre south-east of Dacca, was secured by the last light, taking the enemy completely by surprise.

Under the command of Brigadier Pande, the battalions daringly leaned onto the mighty Meghna river on its southern bank and captured a steamer station at Daudkandi, resulting in a great number of Pakistani troops getting trapped between Comilla and Daudkandi. Some enemy troops, however, managed to extricate themselves and got into the fortress at Mynamati; they would eventually surrender a week later to Brigadier Pande. This lightning success on December 9 also resulted in the capture of 1,500 Pakistanis, including Lieutenant Colonel Nayeem, a commanding officer of the Pakistan army. This was the first major local surrender by Pakistani troops in the eastern theatre. On December 16, Brigadier Sheikh Mansoor Hussain Attif, Commander of Pakistan’s 117 Infantry Brigade, surrendered to Brigadier Pande along with 5,000 troops.

For his bold planning and almost always advancing alongside the attacking battalions, Brigadier Pande was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra. The battle account reads:

61 Mountain Brigade, commanded by Brigadier Kailash Prasad Pande, was assigned the task of clearing a well fortified position in the eastern theatre in December 1971. The task was successfully completed mainly due to Brigadier Pande’s inspiring leadership. He was always well forward, unmindful of his safety, encouraging troops and directing the battle. His brigade group advanced 40 miles in 72 hours, effectively bottling up the enemy and capturing the key posts. When lodgment was attained in the fortress of Mynamati defences, his brigade was subjected to the determined enemy attacks supported by tanks. Against all the relentless pressure of the enemy, the brigade held onto the defences until surrender by the enemy commander.

Throughout the operations, Brigadier Pande displayed gallantry, leadership and devotion to duty of a very high order for which he was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra.

It is widely believed that during the course of ‘Cactus Lily’, Brigadier Pande was thrice recommended for the award of MVC. Finally, the government, in its wisdom, combined all three recommendations and awarded the Maha Vir Chakra to this great soldier.

Consequent to the liberation of Bangladesh, while the Indian Army was promptly withdrawn, 61 Mountain Brigade was told to stay on for pacifying the restive areas. For a good eight months, 61, now a Mountain Brigade Group, under the command of Brigadier Pande helped put down rebellions and near uprisings, especially in Chittagong Hill Tracts. During the process, his men suffered casualties but delivered the results to keep up the good reputation of the Indian Army.

After a glorious military career spanning more than three decades, Brigadier Kailash Prasad ‘Tom’ Pande, MVC, superannuated in July 1979 and settled down in Bhopal, his hometown. After retirement, the Madhya Pradesh Government appointed him as Director General of Home Guards, where he introduced many reforms. He was also appointed secretary of the Madhya Pradesh Rajya Sainik Board.

After the Bhopal gas tragedy in 1984, he was given charge of the Madhya Pradesh State Red Cross Organisation. He went beyond the call of duty, often at personal risk, in providing timely relief and succor to the maximum extent possible.

Brigadier Pande, MVC, passed away on February 4, 2010, while attending the Artillery Reunion at the School of Artillery, Deolali. General Deepak Kapoor, his son-in-law, was by his side when the Maha Vir breathed his last.

India and China troops and tanks disengage from the banks of Pangong lake area in Eastern Ladakh
The Army made the comments as part of a statement trashing a media report that said the Chinese military has again crossed the LAC in eastern Ladakh at several places.
There has been no attempt by the Indian or the Chinese side to occupy the areas in eastern Ladakh from where they disengaged in February and both sides are engaged in talks to resolve the remaining issues in the region, the Army said on Wednesday.
The Army said it has been monitoring activities by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) including turnover of troops in the region.
The Army made the comments as part of a statement trashing a media report that said the Chinese military has again crossed the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh at several places and that there has been at least one incident of clash between the two sides.
“Ever since the disengagement agreement in February this year, there has been no attempt by either side to occupy the areas from where the disengagement had been undertaken. There have been no clashes in Galwan or any other area, as reported in the article,” the Army said.
It also said that the report mentioning that agreements with China have collapsed is “false and baseless”.
“Both sides have continued with negotiations to resolve the balance issues, and regular patrolling in respective areas continues. The situation on ground continues to be as hitherto fore. PLA activities, including turnover of troops continue to be monitored by the Indian Army,” the Army said.
India and China have been locked in a military standoff at multiple friction points in eastern Ladakh since early May last year. The two sides completed the withdrawal of troops and weapons from the North and South banks of Pangong lake in February following a series of military and diplomatic talks.
The two sides are now engaged in talks to extend the disengagement process to the remaining friction points.
There was no visible forward movement in disengagement of troops in the remaining friction points as the Chinese side did not show flexibility in their approach on it at the 11th round of military talks.

New Delhi: The Army has denied reports of any fresh clash between Indian and Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh, stating that no attempt has been made by either side to occupy the areas from where the forces had disengaged after the agreement in February this year.

The statement came in view of reports quoting sources that Chinese troops have crossed the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh at several places and at least one clash has taken place between the two sides.https://e6dcd74b1df4dcffeb444b88a8e022d0.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html

The Army said both India and China have continued with negotiations to resolve the existing issues in eastern Ladakh while regular patrolling has continued in the respective areas along the LAC. It also noted that there have been no clashes in Galwan or any other area since June 2020.

“PLA activities, including turnover of troops, continue to be monitored by the Indian Army,” the Army said in its statement Wednesday.

Also read: 2 drones, 2 kinds of IEDs, separate strikes — How Jammu air force station attack was planned

China’s build-up of troops

While India and China disengaged from the contentious Pangong Tso area in March — after multiple rounds of talks at the military and diplomatic levels — there has been no further breakthrough, with China refusing to pull back its troops from Hot Springs and Gogra Post and Depsang Plains.

Defence sources told ThePrint that despite the disengagement of troops at Pangong Tso, there has not been any de-escalation in the area.

“There has been a gradual build-up of Chinese troops and equipment on their side of the LAC. India has also proportionately put in thousands of troops and deployed additional assets in the region,” a source said.

A second defence source explained that minor skirmishes between the troops take place at times when they are in close proximity or bump into each other while patrolling in their respective claim lines along the LAC.

“However, such incidents are far and few and extremely localised. They are immediately brought under control by the subordinate commanders at the local level and do not impact the overall situation,” the source said.

According to a report in The Hindu, Chinese nationals earlier this week protested against Indian villagers celebrating the birthday of the Dalai Lama in Demchok in eastern Ladakh by displaying banners from across the Indus river.

Next round of talks awaited

Last month, at a virtual meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on border affairs, India and China agreed to hold the next round of military talks at an early date to achieve the objective of complete disengagement in remaining friction points.

It was also decided at the meeting to hold the 12th round of the military corps commander talks for complete disengagement from all friction points along the LAC. 

The final date for the next round of military talks is still awaited.

Last month, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was briefed on India’s military preparedness in eastern Ladakh during his three-day visit to the Union territory.

(Edited by Amit Upadhyaya)

Also read: What are military theatre commands and why does India want to switch to them