China nearly triggers another confrontation with US
AGLOBAL flashpoint was narrowly averted over the South China
Sea, one of the world’s most strategically sensitive areas, when a
People’s Liberation Army (PLA) fighter jet flew dangerously close
to an American military reconnaissance plane. This sabre-rattling is part
of a pattern where the Chinese military precipitates or comes close to triggering hostilities, as the Tawang and Galwan Valley incidents testify. In a
similar incident in 2001, the PLA pilot had miscalculated and the plane
had collided with a US reconnaissance plane in what is known as the
Hainan incident. The Chinese pilot had lost his life, while the PLA captured the crew after the US plane made an emergency landing. This time,
the Chinese pilot got away after coming perilously close to the US plane.
The West had then compromised over the Hainan incident. Having
transferred its supply chain to China and profiting handsomely from
it, western nations were blindsided by Beijing about its long-term
intentions. Since then, Chinese aggressiveness in the South China
Sea, through which nearly one-third of the world’s shipping trade
passes, has repeatedly threatened to disrupt merchant shipping. Further East, China conducted a strike drill around Taiwan involving
dozens of fighter jets. PLA planes entered Taiwanese airspace over
1,700 times in 2022. The unsafe and unprofessional military manoeuvres by China, whether in the high ranges of the Himalayas or in
South China Sea, make it the only nation in the Indo-Pacific region
that refuses to abide by international laws.
The South China Sea is critical to fulfilling the needs, from energy
to semiconductor chips, of almost the entire globe. This entails freedom to fly, sail and operate at sea and in international airspace with
due regard for the safety of all vessels and aircraft under international law. The failure of the recent Biden-Xi summit to defuse tensions
is another indicator of Chinese incorrigibility. The dispute is unlikely
to be resolved in the near-term and that is why the Quad should quickly enlarge and evolve into a functioning multilateral organisation that
ensures a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
Accident claim

Our Correspondent

Srinagar, January 1

Suspected militants on Sunday snatched a rifle from a paramilitary CRPF soldier in south Kashmir.

The rifle snatching incident took place at 11:45 am at Rajpora town in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, officials said.

“Suspected militants today snatched an AK assault rifle from a CRPF trooper of 183 battalion near CRPF camp at Rajpora,” official said.

Security forces have cordoned off the area and searches have been launched.

Although originally intended for desert use, the long-range self-propelled guns were deployed in eastern Ladakh at the height of tensions in 2020, prompting the Army to optimise them for use in the mountains
The K-9 Vajra is a 155 mm, 52-calibre tracked self-propelled howitzer built by L&T with technology transferred from South Korean defence major Hanwha Defence based on its K-9 Thunder
The Defence Ministry has started the process for the procurement of 100 more K-9 Vajra tracked self-propelled howitzers which are built in India by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) using technology transferred from South Korean defence major Hanwha Defence.
“The Defence Ministry issued the Request For Proposal to L&T in November. Once they respond to it, the contract negotiations will begin,” a defence official confirmed.
At the height of tensions in eastern Ladakh in 2020, the Army deployed one regiment of K-9 Vajra tracked self-propelled howitzers there to augment its long-range fire power in the backdrop of a massive build-up of forces by China across the Line of Actual Control. Buoyed by their performance, the Army is looking at eventually procuring 200 additional guns. The induction of Dhanush, K-9 Vajra and M777 Ultra Light Howitzers has enhanced the reach of artillery firepower on the northern borders, as reported by The Hindu earlier.
The repeat order could not be more than the volume of the original order, so the number was fixed at 100 howitzers, the official explained.
The K-9 Vajra is a 155 mm, 52-calibre tracked self-propelled howitzer built by L&T with technology transferred from South Korean defence major Hanwha Defence based on its K-9 Thunder. The 100th gun was delivered to the Army in February 2021, the contract for which was signed in May 2017. The contract also involved maintenance transfer of technology to an Army base workshop to support the howitzers throughout their operational life cycle.
The K-9 Vajra was mainly bought for use in deserts, but the standoff prompted them to be deployed in the mountains as well, officials had stated earlier. To ensure that these systems performed optimally in the extreme cold weather conditions of the mountains, the Army also procured winterisation kits for the regiment deployed. There are nine items including batteries, oils and lubricants which need to be insulated from extreme temperatures and don’t freeze at -20 degrees celsius, which the kits cater for.
Since the standoff, the Army has deployed its entire range of medium artillery guns and long-range rockets in the region to augment its long-range fire power as part of the reorientation towards the northern borders.

Nicosia: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has said that the world appreciates the role of Indian peacekeepers serving under the UN Flag.
He said this during his visit to Cyprus while walking along a street in Larnaca dedicated to General K S Thimayya, who is regarded as one of the most distinguished combat officers of the Indian Army.
“So nice to see the street in Larnaca named after General K S Thimayya,” tweeted Jaishankar on his official Twitter handle @DrSJaishankar on Friday.
“Indian Peacekeepers serving under the UN flag are appreciated around the world,” he wrote sharing a picture of himself under the street signage.
General Thimayya was India’s Chief of Army Staff from 1957 to 1961. He is regarded as one of the most distinguished combat officers of the Indian Army. He is the only Indian to command an Infantry brigade in battle during the Second World War.
During Jaishankar’s three-day visit to Cyprus, he also met the country’s former Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides.
Jaishankar in a tweet on Friday wrote, “Good to catch up with an old friend, former Foreign Minister @Christodulides.”
Jaishankar while addressing a business community event in Limassol, Cyprus on Friday, thanked the country’s Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides and Deputy Shipping Minister Vassilios Demetriades for joining the event.
At the event, he spoke about expanding the India-Cyprus bilateral economic relationship. He thanked Cyprus for supporting India’s EU engagement.
Cyprus Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides on Friday said that his country supported the momentum of negotiations on the EU-India Free Trade Agreement.
Speaking at a business event in Cyprus, Kasoulides said, “There is recognition of the great scope for further cooperation to relations between the European Union and India. In this respect, we support the momentum of the negotiations of the EU-India Free Trade Agreement. Cyprus is a strong voice within the EU, and there is a need to strengthen tangibly EU-India relations.”
S Jaishankar and his Cyprus counterpart Ioannis Kasoulides signed an MoU on Defence and Military Cooperation, in Nicosia on Thursday.
“We have signed a number of important agreements today. One is the MoU on Defence and Military Cooperation between our two countries,” Jaishankar said during a press conference alongside Kasoulide.
This agreement was signed during Jaishankar’s first visit to the country. The two sides also inked the Letter of Intent on the Migration and Mobility Partnership.
He said this deal will help provide a common framework of arrangement and cooperation to facilitate the mobility of students, business people and professionals. “It will also help in combatting irregular migration,” he said.
Jaishankar also welcomed signing the framework agreement on the signing of the International solar alliance by Cyprus.
“I believe, our cooperation in the field of renewable energy will gain as a result,” he added.

Islamabad: A London-based rights group has expressed alarm over reports of mass arrests and the imposition of emergency law in Pakistan’s Gwadar amid large-scale protests against “illegal fishing through trawlers”.
“Amnesty International is alarmed by reports of mass arrests and the imposition of emergency law following protests in Gwadar. People have the right to express discontent peacefully and the state has an obligation to facilitate this right,” Amnesty International said in a statement posted on its twitter handle.
The group said putting a “blanket ban on all forms of public gatherings amounts to repression of the right to protest and sends a chilling message that there is no room for dissent.” “It is imperative that the Government of Pakistan upholds the human rights of everyone, including their rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly in the country,” the statement added.
A total of 100 people have been arrested in Gwadar as the provincial government struck with an iron fist at protesters and imposed an emergency law that prohibits gathering five or more people.
The arrests come after the provincial government imposed Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code in Gwadar, the Dawn newspaper reported. “There will be a ban on all kinds of rallies, protests, sit-ins and gatherings of five or more people in the port city of Gwadar,” the Baluchistan home department said in a statement.
On Friday, The Express Tribune newspaper reported that cellular services and mobile networks have remained suspended in Gwadar for the fifth consecutive day as business centres and shops remained shut.
Security was tightened in and around Gwadar on Friday and policemen were deployed to maintain law and order in the city. According to the Pakistan newspaper, the Balochistan government has also imposed Section 144 on pillion riding and the display of weapons in Gwadar to maintain law and order.
Tensions continued to simmer in the Pakistan port city with protests continuing after clashes with supporters of the ‘Haq Do Tehreek’ (HDT). The clashes occurred this month between locals and security forces in Gwadar as protests against illegal fishing turned violent after some people were arrested.
The provincial government had contacted Jamaat-i-Islami leader Liaquat Baloch to help restore normalcy and resolve the issues that have become a bone of contention between the government and the HDT, the Dawn reported citing sources.

Gilgit: Widespread protests against the Pakistan Army and ISI has been sweeping across Pakistan-occupied Kashmir’s (PoK) Gilgit Baltistan, with largescale demonstrations against the illegal land acquisition by Pakistani security agencies.
The Pakistan Army has been grabbing land from the locals for years, but this is the first time the locals have risen against the Army.
In Minawar village of Gilgit, the locals confronted the Gilgit Scouts and Pakistan Army personnel when they came to demolish the properties of the local residents.
They even raised slogans against the Pakistan Army and accused them of occupying their land. One of the protesters said that Pakistan Army “is forcefully occupying our houses and agricultural land”.
“If any untoward incident occurred, the Pakistan Army will be responsible. The Chief Secretary must come to resolve this issue; else we will take this matter in front of the Prime Minister of Pakistan,” the protestor added.
Local residents have accused the Pakistan Army of systematically suppressing the people of Gilgit Baltistan for profits through the illegal occupation of their land.
Another protester said, “Pakistan Army comes and attacks us. They acquire our property. We have already given 12,000 Kanal of land without any compensation. We are not ready to give them an inch more.”
The residents of Minawar have received overwhelming support from all residents across Gilgit Baltistan in confronting the Pakistan Army and stopping their forceful acquisition of land.
Several protestors said they were willing to take the bullet from the army but were not ready to give even an inch of their land. One of the protesters said, “This is our ancestral land. We will not give this land without any cost”.
The people of Gilgit Baltistan are facing several challenges due to meddling by Islamabad in their affairs. Anti-Pakistan sentiments are also mounting in the region due to illegal taxation, high inflation and rising unemployment.
Atrocities against the PoK residents are widespread in the region. The people in PoK are denied basic rights in the face of high inflation, and a lack of basic amenities. The demand for fundamental rights is met with the baton of Pakistan security agencies.
Earlier this week, Human rights activist and chairman of United Kashmir People’s National Party (UKPNP) Shaukat Ali Kashmiri raised concerns over the deprivation of basic rights in Gilgit Baltistan.
Taking a sharp dig at Pakistan, the rights activist said that Pakistan’s policy in Gilgit Baltistan is weaved in such a manner that deprives people of their fundamental rights. Pakistan is a country that always uses religious sentiments, he added.
“Gilgit Baltistan is part of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir and people are deprived of basic rights. It’s Pakistani policy and fashioned to deprive people and propagation against Indian involvement. Pakistani is a country that always used religious sentiments,” Shaukat Ali Kashmiri wrote on Twitter.

Chandigarh, January 1

A sainik sabha was organised at the Indo-Tibetan Border Police’s Basic Training Centre, Bhanu, near here today to mark the beginning of the new year. Addressing the personnel, Inspector General Ishwar Singh Duhan updated them on new orders and instructions issued by the headquarters of the force.

He urged the officers to maintain high professional standards and exemplary personal conduct at all times and keep themselves physically and mentally fit. Various issues pertaining to work and welfare of the personnel were also addressed.

Samaan Lateef

Srinagar, December 30

To strengthen its security grid, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) will deploy its women personnel for counter-insurgency operations in Kashmir.

The Inspector General (Srinagar sector) of the CRPF, Charu Sinha, said after successful experiments of deploying women in non-militancy operations, the CRPF would deploy them in counter-insurgency operations, considering the “sensitivities” of Kashmiri women.

In a telephonic conversation with The Tribune, Sinha said the CRPF wanted to make Kashmiri women comfortable during the counter-insurgency and cordon and search operations. “We believe that this is the best way to deal with local women during counter-insurgency operations,” she said.

The women personnel will be given training for at least six weeks in counter-insurgency and search operations before being sent to the field. “They will operate on a par with their male counterparts,” the IG added.

Vidhwansak is an indigenously developed anti-material sniper rifle. It is speculated that the South African Denel NTW-20 served as the inspiration for its design
by Joseph P Chacko
An indigenously developed anti-material sniper rifle known as the Vidhwansak is currently in limited service with the Indian Army. It is speculated that the South African Denel NTW-20 served as the inspiration for its design. “Destroyer” is what the name Vidhwansak means when translated from the ancient Sanskrit language.
On the battleground, the large and heavy firing system is intended to fulfil the role of supplemental equipment capable of dealing with light vehicles, structures, enemy defences, ammo disposal, and countersniper fire.
The Indian Army began using the rifle in 2007 to fulfil its requirements for a weapon system of this kind. It is believed that approximately one hundred copies are currently in operation.

At first, the Indian Army entered into negotiations with the South African defence business Denel to determine whether or not Denel could supply the Indian Army with a choice of weaponry whenever they needed them. One of the requirements included having an anti-material rifle from the Denel NTW-20 family. The contract called for the delivery of 398 000 rounds of ammunition, 700 NTW-20 anti-material guns, and knock-down kits for an additional 300 rifles. As soon as it was discovered that Denel had made illegal payments to the Indian government in order to acquire lucrative defence contracts, the company was immediately barred from supplying services to the Indian military. Before the ban was issued in 2005, the Army had inducted 400 guns into its inventory.
Because of this, the Indian Army was left with a variety of military deficiencies, the most serious of which was the need for a tried and tested anti-material weapon system.
As a result, the Ordnance Factory Tiruchirapalli (OFB) and the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) of New Delhi worked together to develop an indigenously conceived viable alternative.
By the end of 2005, a workable prototype had been built using South African NTW-20 as a basis for further development. The evaluation started in 2006 and went well enough to result in a contract for the supply of one hundred Vidhwansak to the Indian Border Security Force (BSF). Beginning in February of 2007, the Vidhwansak series of weapons were developed, and the weapons weren’t handed over to the government until October 2008. The total number of such rifles with the BSF is not known. Another paramilitary, the Central reserve police force (CRPF), is also known to field these rifles. The Indian Army did not select the rifle due to weight issues. It weighs 25 kilogrammes, which reduces operating flexibility due to its portability.
The basic weapon system of the Vidhwansak is capable of accepting three different calibres with only minor modifications to the primary components – the barrel and bolt. In addition, the operator is allowed to install a proper optical system for the selected calibre and is required to provide a magazine of ammunition of the relevant calibre. The ability to shoot 12.7mm, 14.5mm and 20mm ammunition makes the Vidhwansak a highly versatile tactical weapon system.
The Vidhwansak, like other heavy rifles in its class, is a manually controlled bolt action rifle. The weapon is fuelled by a detachable box magazine placed into the left side of the receiver, regardless of the selected calibre.
The receiver incorporates a buffer breech to mitigate the excessive recoil common to such firearms. In addition, a muzzle brake has been installed at the end of the barrel to reduce recoil by around fifty percent. The barrel and receiver are contained within the receiver’s frame. The design of Vidhwansak allows it to be separated into two major components for transporting by two personnel.
The Vidhwansak weighs a respectable 55 pounds, measures 1700 millimetres in length, and has a barrel length of 1100 millimetres. A power-adjustable optical sight with 8×42 magnification comes as standard equipment. According to estimates, the velocity measured at the muzzle is approximately 3,411 feet per second. There is a maximum range of 2180 yards, with an effective range of 1961 yards.
The New DRDO AMR Rifle
In 2020, Ordnance Factory Tiruchirappalli released a brand new indigenous anti-material weapon, which is also called Vidhwansak.
The new AMR is a large calibre sniper rifle that comes in two different calibres: 14.5 millimetres and 20 millimetres. As an anti-material weapon, the rifle can be used to destroy enemy bunkers, lightly-armoured vehicles, radar systems, parked aircraft, and a fuel storage facility, among other targets.
The weapon has a range of 1,800 metres when using a calibre of 14.5 mm, and 1,300 metres when using a calibre of 20 mm. The AMR features a magazine that holds three rounds and can be removed. The advantage of this weapon is that it can be swiftly disassembled and transported in two portable man-packs, each of which weighs between 12 and 15 kilogrammes.
The weapon’s weight is significantly less when compared to the AMR manufactured in South Africa that is currently used by the Army. The latest Vidhwansak rifle is equipped with sophisticated optical telescoping sights.