New Delhi: India could declassify certain aspects of past military operations and wars, sooner than the earlier 25-year cut-off period, under a new policy formulated by the defence ministry Saturday.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved the policy on archiving, declassification and compilation or publication of war or operations histories by the Ministry of Defence.

According to ministry sources, there was no proper policy on this earlier and it is part of having war histories written with a clear-cut policy on declassification of military records. This was recommended by the Kargil Review Committee, set up in 1999 and headed by K. Subrahmanyam, and the N.N. Vohra Committee report, to analyse lessons learnt and prevent future mistakes.

While the new policy is for internal purposes, defence ministry sources noted that certain aspects of past operations and wars could be made public sooner, if needed.

The History Division, under the defence ministry, will be responsible for coordinating with various departments while compiling, seeking approval and publishing the war or operations histories.

The new policy mandates the constitution of a committee headed by joint secretary of the defence ministry and comprising representatives of all the Services, external affairs ministry, home ministry and other organisations and prominent military historians (if required).

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New policy fixes timelines

The policy sets clear timelines with regard to compilation and publication of war or operations histories.

According to the timeline, the above-mentioned committee should be formed within two years of completing the war or operation. Thereafter, collection of records and compilation should be completed in three years and disseminated to all concerned.

Under the new policy, each organisation under the defence ministry — Army, Air Force, Navy, Integrated Defence Staff, Assam Rifles and Indian Coast Guard — will transfer records, including war diaries, letters of proceedings and operational record books among others, to the History Division for proper upkeep, archiving and writing histories.

However, the responsibility for declassification of records rests with the respective organisations as specified in the Public Record Act 1993 and Public Record Rules 1997.

According to the policy, records should ordinarily be declassified in 25 years, the defence ministry noted in a statement. Records older than 25 years should be appraised by archival experts and transferred to the National Archives of India once the war or operations histories have been compiled.

“Timely publication of war histories would give people an accurate account of the events, provide authentic material for academic research and counter the unfounded rumours,” the defence ministry said.

Sources noted that the decision on the 25-year cut-off period will be taken on a case-to-case basis, under the new policy.

“The policy is for internal use so that everyone is aware of the history and operational aspects. In case a need arises, certain aspects of the operations can be declassified or released without compromising any operational details. This would be a decision taken by the committee,” a ministry source explained.

Another source in the defence establishment said that the new policy and the timelines mentioned will bring about a change in the workings of the History Division and will streamline a lot of issues.

“Right now there is no fixed policy. This policy would streamline a lot of issues. Certain aspects of the operations can be declassified earlier than before which will help the public to understand issues better,” the source told ThePrint.

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‘Shows intent to be transparent’

Lt Gen. Vinod Bhatia (Retd), former director general of military operations, welcomed the new policy and noted that it will bring in a proper structure.

According to Bhatia, the policy is good and shows a willingness to be transparent. However, he added, certain operations will remain classified for years to come.

“Not all aspects of the operations can be declassified. Come September, many would ask for the declassification of the 2016 surgical operations. However, certain operational details cannot come out because the armed forces may have to do the same ops all over again,” he told ThePrint.

Bhatia further noted that the structured declassification process will ensure that the enemy is not able to make use of the information to understand the strategy deployed.

At present, all records are with the History Division and the public can access non-redacted portions through proper permissions.

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Recalling the surreal encounter at Kolkata two months after the 1971 war

Representational photo

Wg Cdr JS Bhalla (Retd)

The war had ended two months back but fear was writ large on many faces because it was known that the Pakistanis had mined the approach to Chittagong harbour. The vessel arrived at Chittagong safely and with the help of the local pilot, they went up to Karnaphuli river, which was strewn with the remnants of bombarded and sunk merchant ships — a testament to the brave actions of the Indian Air Force and pilots of INS Vikrant.

In the evening, Sodhi went out for a meal and saw the local population raising slogans of “Indian-Bangla Bhai Bhai”.

No rickshaw-wallah or restaurant owner accepted any money from him. It was the valour displayed by the Indian armed forces that generated respect in the hearts of the local population, he thought.

The following day, 1,500 PoWs, escorted by the Army, were brought to the ship. Officers up to the rank of Major were assigned the space meant for lady passengers in the ship. The senior officers were kept in the ship hospital, which could accommodate about 10 of them. The PoWs cooked their own meals in the galley while senior officers were brought to the officers’ mess and were served the same food as the ship officers.

When the ship berthed at Kolkata’s King George dock, an Army Colonel took charge and went through the list of the PoWs. He wanted to meet the senior-most officer, who was of the rank of Commodore. Sodhi was detailed to bring the Commodore from the ship hospital.

When the Colonel saw the Commodore, both of them saluted and addressed each other as “Sir”. They shook hands with moist eyes but neither could utter a word; their body language indicated that they knew each other.

Later it was revealed that before Independence, the Colonel was a cadet in the same training institute where the Commodore was an instructor. At the time of Partition, the two had gone on separate paths but MV Andaman had brought them face to face once again, though this time their loyalties, like the circumstances, were all too different.

According to new policy, records should ordinarily be declassified in 25 years

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. TRibune file

New Delhi, June 12

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday approved the policy on archiving, declassification and compilation of histories of wars and operations by the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

“Timely publication of war histories would give people accurate account of the events, provide authentic material for academic research and counter the unfounded rumours,” the MoD’s statement noted.

According to the policy, each organisation under the MoD such as tri-services, Integrated Defence Staff, Assam Rifles and Indian Coast Guard, will transfer the records, including war diaries, letters of proceedings and operational record books, to the History Division of MoD for proper upkeep, archival and writing of histories.

“The responsibility for declassification of records rests with the respective organisations as specified in the Public Record Act 1993 and the Public Record Rules 1997,” the MoD’s statement noted.

According to the policy, records should ordinarily be declassified in 25 years.

“Records older than 25 years should be appraised by archival experts and transferred to the National Archives of India once the war/operations histories have been compiled,” it stated.

The History Division will be responsible for coordination with various departments while compiling, seeking approval and publishing of histories of wars and operations, it mentioned.

“The policy mandates constitution of a committee headed by Joint Secretary, MoD and comprising of representatives of the tri-services, MEA (Ministry of External Affairs), MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs) and other organisations and prominent military historians (if required), for compilation of war and operations histories,” it noted.

The policy also set clear timelines with regard to compilation and publication of histories of wars and operations, it mentioned.

“The above-mentioned committee should be formed within two years of completion of war/operations. Thereafter, collection of records and compilation should be completed in three years and disseminated to all concerned,” it stated.

The requirement of having war histories written with clear cut policy on declassification of war records was recommended by the Kargil Review Committee headed by K Subrahmanyam as well as N N Vohra Committee in order to analyse lessons learnt and prevent future mistakes.

“Post-Kargil War in 1999, GoM (Group of Ministers) recommendations on national security also mentioned the desirability of authoritative war history,” the statement mentioned. PTI

Step taken in the backdrop of alleged sexual assault of a woman activist

Farmers at a protest site on Delhi border. PTI file

New Delhi, June 12

Samyukta Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of over 40 farmer unions, on Saturday formed committees to address complaints and issues raised by women farmers at the protest sites in the backdrop of alleged sexual assault of a woman activist.

The committees formed at all the protest sites on Delhi borders will “look into redressal of any complaints,” the farmers’ body said in a statement.

The announcement was first made in May to form “Mahila Suraksha Samiti”, days after the alleged sexual assault of a woman activist at Tikri border protest site, who later died due to Covid-19 at a private hospital in Haryana.

“Committees have been formed at all protest sites to look into redressal of any related complaints and to prevent any occurrence of harassment or any other violation… 9818119954 is the phone number where related issues can be raised,” SKM said in the statement.

It added that SKM “respects the rights of women protesters, wants their safety protected in all ways, and welcomes their active participation in the current movement”.

Protesting farmer unions will be organising dharnas at governor houses across the country on June 26 to mark the completion of seven months of their agitation against the three new central agri-marketing laws.

“Save Agriculture, Save Democracy” will be the main message of the day, and sit-ins will be organised at Raj Bhavans in all states and memoranda will be submitted. Detailed action plan for Mission UP and Uttarakhand will also be taken up soon within SKM,” it said.

Thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, have been camping at Delhi’s borders for more than six months now in protest against the three laws that they say will leave them at the mercy of big corporates and end the MSP regime.

The government has said all these concerns are baseless and that the new laws are pro-farmer.

The Supreme Court has put on hold the implementation of the laws till further orders and set up a committee to examine the issues. PTI

High Court had on May 31 imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on petitioners for wasting its time by filing a ‘motivated’ petition

Construction work underway as part of the Central Vista Redevelopment Project, at Rajpath in New Delhi. PTI file

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 12

Terming the Rs 1 lakh cost imposed by the Delhi High Court as “exorbitant”, petitioners Anya Malhotra and Sohail Hashmi have moved the Supreme Court challenging the lower court’s decision refusing to halt construction work on the Central Vista project in the national capital.

“The impugned judgment, especially the imposition of exorbitant costs, has a chilling effect on public spirited individuals raising genuine issues of public health and on the right of citizens to question the actions of the government and to hold it to account, which it is submitted is the bedrock of democracy,” they submitted.

Describing the Central Vista project as “vital and essential”, a Bench headed by Delhi High Court Chief Justice DN Patel had on May 31 imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on the petitioners for wasting its time by filing a “motivated” petition.

The legality of the project had already been upheld by the Supreme Court and the Delhi Disaster Management Authority also allowed the work to continue, the high court had said, adding the workers were already present at the site and, therefore, “we see no reason to stop the work”.

The petitioners said they were aggrieved by the “unsubstantiated” findings and adverse observations, particularly the comment that their petition was motivated, ill-intended and lacked bona fides.

Earlier, advocate Pradeep Kumar Yadav—who was not a party to the case — had moved the Supreme Court challenging the high court’s order, terming it a “matter of serious public health concern”. Yadav contended that the high court was not justified in holding the Central Vista redevelopment project as an “essential activity”.

The Central Vista redevelopment plan – which aims to free up 75 acre land in the heart of the capital – involves demolition of around 10 buildings, including Shastri Bhawan, Udyog Bhawan, Krishi Bhawan, Vigyan Bhawan, Vice-President’s House and Lok Nayak Bhawan.

Announced in September last year, it envisages a new triangular Parliament building, with seating capacity for more than 1,200 MPs, expected to be constructed by August, 2022 when the country will be celebrating its 75th Independence Day. The common Central Secretariat is likely to be built by 2024.

Refusing to set aside the clearances given to the Central Vista Redevelopment Project, the Supreme Court on January 5 said it can’t venture into policy matters and areas reserved for the Executive without any legal basis.

Rat-hole mine in East Jaintia Hills district, was flooded after a dynamite explosion on May 30

Search and rescue operations underway at the coal mine where five miners are trapped in East Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya. PTI file

Shillong, June 12

The Indian Navy, which was able to pull out three bodies from a flooded mine in Meghalaya using a sophisticated machine in 2019, will be joining operations to rescue five miners trapped for 13 days in another such illegal coal mine in the state, an official said on Saturday.

The water level in the mine at Umpleng in East Jaintia Hills district, which was decreasing for the past few days due to dewatering exercise, has gone up again to 37.5 metre following rain affecting rescue operation.

Around 60 personnel of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and various state agencies are waiting for the water level to come down to about 10 meters in the 152 metre deep pit, as that is the maximum level in which they can work.

“A team of rescuers from the Indian Navy are on their way to (district headquarters) Khliehriat to assist us,” East Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner E Kharmalki told PTI.

A magistrate posted at the site said that the Navy team has divers and is equipped with machines.

However, it is not immediately known whether the Navy divers will bring the remotely operated vehicle (ROV), with the help of which they had managed to locate three bodies weeks after the shaft of another mine at Lumthari in the same district was filled with water from a river on December 13, 2018.

The unmanned ROV had been sent down the flooded rat- hole coal mine to determine visibility inside it.

At least five people have been identified by the district administration – four from Assam and one from Tripura – who got stuck somewhere inside the rat-hole mine after it was flooded following a dynamite explosion on May 30.

The rat-hole mine at Umpleng, about 20 km from Khliehriat, the headquarters of East Jaintia Hills district, was flooded after a dynamite explosion on May 30.

Hazardous rat-hole coal mining is not permitted in Meghalaya after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) banned it in 2014.

A deep vertical shaft is dug till coal seams are found in the rat-hole mining. Once the seams are found, coal is taken out through small holes along the horizontal line of the coal seams.

Six co-workers of the trapped miners escaped the tragedy as they were outside the mine at the time of the incident and they have been escorted to their homes in Assam.

The police have arrested the owner of the coal mine, Shining Langstang, and charged him with violation of the NGT order banning unscientific mining and transportation of coal.

The ‘Sordar’ (mine manager) is on the run and a lookout notice has been issued since he was the one who brought migrant workers from Assam and Tripura to work in the illegal mine, a senior police officer said.

Based on the account of the survivors, an FIR was registered. PTI

The Asian Age 9 Jun 2021https://www.asianage.com/opinion/columnists/080621/syed-ata-hasnain-turbulent-afghanistan-could-impact-kashmir.html?fbclid=IwAR2Nct_JaqDRiGiWuE_YiXwh-tdNoTYvoJRuVDe5iyp0ffUTh9gZF7uJq1s

Chanakya Forum 5 Jun 2021

https://chanakyaforum.com/himalayan-blunder-2020-this-time-its-china/?fbclid=IwAR0nGgLRTrTBttNv0qNfPcczJ4XrgWDvhqDrnQv-kcGCKmrJxesVX29XbWs

The New Indian Express 1 Jun 2021https://www.newindianexpress.com/opinions/2021/jun/01/eastern-ladakh-a-year-after-galwan-faceoff-2310037.html?fbclid=IwAR3Qdfmdj4rJJL-_pVfDDfgMZkNOfgw9cmFK-HlZci37rOXsq-M9zvp8208

Situation on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh and relative calm at the Line of Control (LOC)in Jammu and Kashmir will figure prominently during the three-day Army Commanders’ conference starting here on June 16.
Incidentally, the conference will take place a year after 20 Indian army personnel including the commanding officer on June 15 were killed in a bloody brawl with the Chinese soldiers in the Galwan valley in eastern Ladakh. More than 40 Chinese soldiers were also killed but Beijing is yet to officially confirm number of casualties.
Moreover, the conclave comes at a time when the Chinese are conducting their air force exercise comprising fighter jets on their side of the LAC in Eastern Ladakh. Recently, they also conducted large scale army drills in the Tibetan plateau there.
The aerial and ground exercises took place more than 100 km away from the LAC, sources said here. However, given the continuing stand-off at some friction points for the last one year, India is not taking any chances and keeping a watchful eye on the Chinese activities.
More than one lakh troops from both the sides are deployed on the LAC for the last one year since the face-offs began in early May. Eleven rounds of talks between the Corps Commanders of both the sides have taken place so far to defuse tension.
The Army commanders will review their operational preparedness during the conference to deal with any challenge from China, sources said here on Friday.
The top brass will also review the situation on the LOC after India and Pakistan agreed to ceasefire on February 25 this year. No bullet has been fired since then besides nil infiltration bids by terrorists from across the LOC.

India wants to achieve status quo ante along the border with China in Ladakh and revert to the situation on the border as of April 2020, the nation’s Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat told WION in an exclusive interview.
“Yes, we wish to achieve status quo ante,” General Rawat said while speaking to WION’s Executive Editor Palki Sharma. “Our bottom line is that we want to revert to the April 2020 situation.”
“This is what has been communicated to the Chinese. So the ultimate aim is to ensure that we reverse to status quo ante.” If that happens, he said, “there will be some kind of belief in each other, satisfaction that it’s not likely to lead to further escalation.”
Noting that reversing the status quo will be a gradual process, General Rawat said, “I’m quite sure both sides are looking to return to status quo ante. Let’s hope for the best because efforts are being made at all levels, be it political, diplomatic or at the military front.”
He said the lower commanders of both sides are “constantly in contact to make sure that the situation does not turn ugly”.
The border tensions in eastern Ladakh intensified last June, leading to the deaths of twenty Indian soldiers and four Chinese troops in Galwan Valley.
Talks to restore the status quo prior to the standoff have been slow with twelve rounds of military dialogue being held on disengagement. There have been reports of military replenishments and buildup on the Chinese side.
Asked about reports that the Chinese military conducted exercises near eastern Ladakh, India’s CDS described the exercises as a “regular feature” on both sides.
“All armies, during peace time, carry out training activities and conduct of exercises is one such event,” CDS General Rawat said.
“Whenever you have new troops coming to the area, you normally familiarise them to their operational tasks. And the best way is to conduct exercises. This is what the Chinese are doing, and what we have been doing,” he pointed out.
“In our case, we frequent our borders more often, whereas on the Chinese side, they have a large conscript army. So it takes time for them to get acclimatised, get familiar with the terrain and kind of operations they’re expected to carry out in such high mountain areas,” General Rawat informed.
“We keep a close watch on them. And we are monitoring the situation very carefully. But exercises are a very regular feature and I think it should not be a cause for concern,” General Rawat said.
“But at the same time, we should not lower our guard. We have to continue to monitor the activities of the Chinese and make sure they do not come to the areas which have been vacated earlier,” he added.

Both India and China have agreed on the need to resolve the outstanding issues in an expeditious manner to ensure full restoration of peace and tranquillity in border areas, said MEA.

New Delhi: India on Thursday once again called for completion of the disengagement process at the remaining friction points in eastern Ladakh to pave the way for both the Indian and Chinese troops to consider de-escalation and ensure full restoration of peace and tranquillity in border areas.

At a media briefing, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, referring to the last rounds of military and diplomatic talks, said both sides agreed on the need to resolve the outstanding issues in an expeditious manner in accordance with the existing agreements and protocols.

“We have repeatedly stressed that completion of disengagement in other areas would pave the way for the two sides to consider de-escalation of forces and ensure full restoration of peace and tranquillity and enable progress in bilateral relations,” he said.

Bagchi was replying to a question on the status of the talks between the two sides on the border standoff.

“During these meetings, both sides agreed on the need to resolve the outstanding issues in an expeditious manner in accordance with the existing agreements and protocols,” Bagchi said.

India and China are locked in a military standoff at multiple friction points in eastern Ladakh since early May last year.

However, 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 at the remaining friction points as the Chinese side did not show flexibility in their approach towards this end at the 11th round of military talks.

Last month, Army Chief Gen MM Naravane said there can be no de-escalation without complete disengagement at all friction points in eastern Ladakh and that the Indian Army is prepared for all contingencies in the region.

Gen Naravane also said that India is dealing with China in a “firm” and “non-escalatory” manner to ensure the sanctity of its claims in eastern Ladakh, and that it was even open to initiating confidence-building measures. India has been insisting on complete disengagement at the remaining friction points to de-escalate the situation in eastern Ladakh. –PTI

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