Home Ministry too objected to any further opening up of skies
Days before the drone attack on the Jammu air base, top officials in the armed forces and the Home Ministry had objected to any further opening up of the skies for civilian drone operations. File photo
Ajay Banerjee
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, June 28
Days before the drone attack on the Jammu air base, top officials in the armed forces and the Home Ministry had objected to any further opening up of the skies for civilian drone operations.
The use of drones by civilian operators came up for discussion last week during a meeting on Unmanned Aircraft System Rules, which came into effect on March 12. The rules allow flying of drones under certain conditions. There are 34 green zones in which drone operations are permitted after intimation about the time and location of flight.
“Yellow zones” require permission to operate drones, but “red zones” are no go areas. The use of drones for civilian operations across the country is being discussed as part of a policy to regulate small drones, their ownership and permission to operate.
Sources said the Home Ministry officials wanted that drone operations should have 80-km buffer from any military, strategic or high-value targets. The armed forces maintained that the country, or even the world, didn’t have any technology to detect, destroy and prevent a drone from being a threat in an area as vast as India. Solutions could be applied only to close tactical areas, provided manned surveillance and quick response teams were in place.
The new Indian drone regulations, titled UAS Rules-2021, ask drone operators to adhere to a set of rules. This includes having a student pilot licence, remote pilot licence and a permit for becoming an unmanned aircraft operator.
The drones have to be “no permission, no take-off” (NPNT) compliant. The NPNT is a software that enables every remotely piloted aircraft to obtain a valid permission through “DigitalSky” platform before operating in India
BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) members protest in Bathinda on Saturday. Tribune photo
Tribune News Service
Bathinda, June 26
On a call given by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, scores of farmers under the banner of BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) carried out a protest march in Bathinda to mark the completion of seven months of farmers’ agitation against the three agricultural laws at Delhi borders.
Protesters, including a number of women, on tractors, motorcycles, cars and other vehicles took out a march and raised slogans against the Centre.
Shingara Singh Mann, state secretary, BKU (Ekta Ugarahan) said: “On June 26, the farmers’ agitation completed seven months. To mark the occasion, we have carried out a protest march in the city. This day also holds historical significance as on June 26, 1975, the Emergency was imposed by the government of the day. However, today there is an unannounced emergency.
“Anti-people laws are being made and then forcibly imposed on us. When people protest, they are booked and sent to jails to stifle the voice of dissent. Even intellectuals and activists, who speak for the protection of basic rights, are being labelled as anti-nationals and booked under serious laws such as UAPA. Now the government is hell-bent on giving the reins of the agriculture sector to big corporate houses. We will not let that happen.”
“We are firm in our resolve and will continue our fight until the laws are repealed,” said Mann. Members of the Theka Mulazam Sanghrash Morcha also extended support to today’s protest. Gurvinder Singh, a Morcha leader said: “We are against the privitisation of government sector enterprises and will stand united with farmers in their just cause.”
Pakistan seeks ‘civilised’ and ‘even-handed’ relationship with US like the one that exists between America and India: Imran
Pakistan is seeking a “civilised” and “even-handed” relationship with Washington like the one that exists between the US and the UK or with India “right now”, Prime Minister Imran Khan has said, underlining the role Islamabad could play in the region, including in Afghanistan after America leaves the war-torn country.
Khan made the comments during an interview with The New York Times in which he also expressed his disappointment that his bid to normalise ties with India did not make any progress though he approached Prime Minister Narendra Modi soon after assuming office in August 2018.
In the interview that comes as US President Joe Biden had his first face-to-face meeting with his Afghan counterpart Ashraf Ghani at the White House on Friday, Khan recalled that Pakistan had had a closer relationship with the US than other nations in the region, such as India, and was a US partner in the war against terrorism, Dawn newspaper reported.
“Now, after the US leaves Afghanistan, basically Pakistan would want a civilised relationship, which you have between nations, and we would like to improve our trading relationship with the US,” he said.
Asked to elaborate his concept of a civilised relationship, Khan said he was seeking relations like the one that existed “between the US and Britain, or between US and India right now. A relationship which is even-handed”.
“Unfortunately, the relationship during the war on terror was a bit lopsided,” he said.
“It was a lopsided relationship because the US felt that they were giving aid to Pakistan, they felt that Pakistan then had to do US’ bidding.
“And what Pakistan did in terms of trying to do the US bidding cost Pakistan a lot … 70,000 Pakistanis died, and over $150 billion were lost to the economy because there were suicide bombings and bombs going on all over the country,” he said.
The main problem with this lopsided relationship was that “Pakistani governments tried to deliver what they were not capable of,” and it led to a “mistrust between the two countries”, Khan said.
“And people in Pakistan felt they paid a heavy, heavy price for this relationship. And the US thought Pakistan had not done enough.”
The prime minister said that his government wanted the future relationship to be based on trust and common objectives, including a peaceful and stable Afghanistan.
In the interview, Khan also claimed that Pakistan would have had a better relationship with India if it had a different government and they would have resolved all their differences through dialogue.
“When I assumed office, the first thing I did was I made this approach to Prime Minister Modi (to seek) a normal, civilised trading relationship…We tried but didn’t get anywhere,” he said.
“Had there been another Indian leadership, I think we would have had a good relationship with them. And yes, we would have resolved all our differences through dialogue,” Khan claimed.
The strained ties between India and Pakistan deteriorated further after India announced withdrawing special powers of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcation of the state into union territories in August 2019.
On the Status quo in Kashmir, Khan said, “I think it’s a disaster for India because it will just mean that this conflict festers on and on… and (prevents) any relationship—normal relationship—between Pakistan and India.”
India has told Pakistan that it desires normal neighbourly relations with it in an environment free of terror, hostility and violence.
Khan said the US assumption that India would be the bulwark against China is wrong. “I think it would be detrimental for India because India’s trade with China is going to be beneficial for both India and China.”
Pakistan, he said, is “watching the scenario unfold with a bit of anxiety”. PTI
IAF, ISRO developing real-time aircraft tracking system for transport fleet
The technical specifications for the system have been framed by ISRO
Vijay Mohan
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, June 26
The Indian Air Force, in collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), is developing a real time aircraft tracking system (RTATS) that will be retrofitted in its transport fleet.
The technical specifications for the system have been framed by ISRO and the development and fabrication of the prototypes would be done by the industry, according to IAF sources. The trials and evaluation would be done by the IAF on AN-32 aircraft at one of its bases.
The RTATS is required to be compatible with the Global Navigation Satellite System of India’s GAGAN regional satellite navigation system and Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC), as well as America’s Global Positioning System, using both standard positioning services as well as restricted services.
GAGAN was conceived by the Ministry of Civil Aviation for management and surveillance of the Indian airspace, while NavIC has a wider footprint, covering south Asia, south-east Asia, China, the Middle East, south-western Europe and the Indian Ocean region, including the eastern coast of Africa and Western Australia. Both these systems have been developed by ISRO.
Many military as well as civilian organisations across the globe use various kinds of RTATS for tracking aircraft movements as well as managing airspace. Contemporary tracking systems use a network of satellites and ground receiving stations. Flight data transmitted from an aircraft is captured by an overhead satellite and beamed to the earth, where it is recorded and disseminated to the stakeholders. It can also be used to transmit distress signals in an emergency.
The IAF is also equipping some of its larger transport aircraft with the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B), a new generation, highly accurate satellite-based aircraft positioning and tracking system, the use of which has already become mandatory in some countries.
Real-time tracking using ADS-B and other open source information is also available to aviation enthusiasts and the general public though many websites and mobile applications. These give out an aircraft’s flight path, location, speed and altitude. Though primarily focused on civilian aircraft, some military aircraft also show up on these applications.
The IAF had earlier installed emergency beacons in some of its transport planes, but these are activated only in case of an accident to transmit the location of the site and do not beam flight data.
India, Greece recognise threat posed by cross-border terrorism
Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias signs an agreement as his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar looks on, in Athens on Saturday. AP/PTI
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, June 26
India and Greece demonstrated a commonality of positions on a number of issues, including terrorism and freedom of navigation, during External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s interaction with his counterpart Nikos Dendias in Athens. The similarity of views on a number of issues led the two sides to agree to work together to establish a strategic partnership.
Jaishankar is visiting Greece on his way to Italy to attend the G-20 meeting of Foreign Ministers.
In particular, the two countries recognised the threat posed by extremists, including cross-border terrorism. They also concurred on the vision for a free, open, inclusive and cooperative Indo-Pacific, which will ensure connectivity and development for all in the region. The two sides also reiterated the urgent need for reform of the UN, including the enlargement of the Security Council, as well as other multilateral institutions, to make them more inclusive and effective.
Jaishankar also called on Greece Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. He also unveiled a statue of Mahatma Gandhi that will “serve as a powerful symbol of friendship between the two countries,’’ said a joint statement.
On the contentious issue of migration, the two sides emphasised the importance of moving people in a smooth and lawful manner and agreed to work for an agreement on migration and mobility.
It was also agreed that the next round of consultations between the Foreign Ministries and the Joint Trade Committee will take place soon.
The Greek Foreign Minister signed and handed over the framework agreement for the International Solar Alliance.
Letter said the 150 retired Gorkha soldiers who died of Covid in Nepal were yet to receive a single dose of vaccine. They have asked for 3 lakh shots from India.
Representative Image | File Photo of the Gorkha Regiment marching contingent passing through Rajpath on Republic Day | WikipediaText Size: A- A+
New Delhi: Gorkha soldiers from Nepal, formerly serving in the Indian Army, have requested India’s Chief of Army Staff General M.M. Naravane to provide them and their dependents with Covid-19 vaccines. The request came even as Nepal reels under the effects of the pandemic that include not just infections and deaths but also financial distress for many.
In a letter written earlier this month to Naravane and the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) central organisation, the retired Nepal-domiciled Gorkha soldiers (those who are permanent residents of Nepal) said more than 150 of them have died of Covid without receiving any vaccines.
The letter, of which ThePrint has a copy, further said the pandemic has massively affected the people of Nepal and might claim more lives.
The retired soldiers also said the Nepal government was not in a position to prioritise or provide vaccines to them and their dependents, as it itself was dependent on other countries for the vaccines.
“The ex-servicemen (ESM) have served (the Indian Army) with their full loyalty, but now they are dying,” the letter said, adding that neither the Government of India nor the Nepal Government was giving them priority and providing them anti-Covid vaccines.
The letter pointed out that while the ECHS was providing vaccines to ESM and their dependents through ECHS polyclinics in India, retired Gorkha soldiers of Nepal, were yet to get even the first vaccine dose.
The former soldiers questioned whether it was not “most unfair” to the “world famous Gorkha soldiers”.
The retired soldiers, who wrote the letter under the banner of the Nepal Ex-servicemen Association, said it was the responsibility of the ECHS to provide vaccines and medical help to the ESM and their dependents.
They sought General Naravane’s intervention in requesting the ECHS to provide them and their dependents with vaccines on humanitarian grounds.
“Approximately, three lakh vaccines should be enough to take care of the present situation,” the letter stated. It added that the move will save thousands of ex-servicemen “who have given their youth for India”.
Nepalese ex-servicemen who have served in the Indian Army draw pension from the Government of India.
The Indian Army recruits about 1,300 Gorkha youths every year and 30,000 to 35,000 Nepal-domiciled Gorkha soldiers serve in the seven Gorkha Rifles regiments of the Indian Army.
In November last year, Gen. Naravane was conferred the honorary rank of General of the Nepali Army by President Bidya Devi Bhandari.
Former Indian President Pranab Mukherjee had said Gorkha soldiers and ex-servicemen were the ‘foundational pillars’ of the India-Nepal friendship.
Earlier, this month, the Army conducted a vaccination drive for ‘Veer Naris’ or soldiers’ wives killed in the line of duty, ex-servicemen and their dependents in Jammu and Kashmir.
In March this year, the Indian Army reportedly gifted 1 lakh doses of anti-Covid vaccines to the Nepal Army.
Nepal started vaccinating its population in January, after it received 1 million doses of Covishield vaccines from India as a grant. Subsequently, the country placed an order for additional vaccine doses from India, to be bought by the neighbouring country. Nepal, however, received only half of the number ordered for as the second Covid wave in India resulted in a domestic shortage.
ThePrint had earlier reported that New Delhi is aiming to release at least those vaccines that have been bought by Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal and that are yet to be delivered, by July-end or August.
China also plans to give 1 million vaccine doses to Nepal, of which 80,000 has been delivered.
Indigenously developed by DRDO, the rockets were fired from multi-barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) on salvo mode meeting all the mission objectives India successfully test-fired an advanced version of Pinaka rocket system and 122-mm calibre rocket from a test facility off Odisha coast. As many as 25 extended range Pinaka rockets and four 122-mm rockets were launched in quick succession against targets at different ranges. Indigenously developed by DRDO, the rockets were fired from Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) on salvo mode meeting all the mission objectives. Defence sources said while 22 rounds of Pinaka rocket were test-fired on Thursday, three rounds of the same system and four rounds of 122-mm rockets were tested on Friday. The enhanced range version of the Pinaka system can destroy targets at distances up to 45 km. This was the first mission in the last three months and it was conducted amid the Covid-19 restrictions. “The flight test of rockets were tracked by range instruments including telemetry, radar and electro-optical tracking system deployed by ITR and Proof and Experimental Establishment,” said a defence official. Pinaka has been developed jointly by Pune-based Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) and High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) with manufacturing support from Economic Explosives Limited, Nagpur. The new rocket will replace the existing Pinaka Mk-I rockets. The 15-foot long rocket weighs around 280 kg and can carry warheads up to 100 kg. The trials were conducted with some improvements in the system making it more lethal. The unguided rocket system can neutralise large areas with rapid salvos. DRDO Chairman G Satheesh Reddy said the quick reaction time and high rate of fire of the system will give an edge to the armed forces during a low-intensity conflict situation. The development of the extended range Pinaka system was taken up to achieve longer range performance, he added. Developed by ARDE and HEMRL, the upgraded 122-mm rocket system will replace the existing 122-mm Grad rockets. The rockets have been developed for Army applications and can destroy targets up to 40 km. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO and Industry on the successful launch of both the rocket systems. He also commended the efforts of the teams involved in the mission.
Want Karwar naval base to be Asia’s biggest, will try & raise budget if necessary, says Rajnath
Rajnath Singh at the Karwar Naval Base, reviewing the progress of ongoing infrastructure development under ‘Project Seabird’ | Twitter
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Karwar (Karnataka): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said the naval base being developed here under “Project Seabird” should be Asia’s biggest, and he would try to get budget allocation enhanced for it, if required.
He also said India should aim to be among one of the top three naval powers in the world in the next 10-12 years time.
“I had a curiosity before visiting Project Seabird to see and understand it…I’m happy seeing Karwar closely and can say that my confidence level has increased towards this naval base,” Singh said.
Addressing the Indian Navy officers and sailors, he said, with the completion of the project, not only India’s defence preparedness will be strengthened, but also the country’s trade, economy and the humanitarian assistance that it provides will also get more strength.
“It is said that this will become India’s largest naval base, but I have said not only India’s, our wish is that this should become Asia’s biggest naval base, and I will try to get budget allocation increased if required for this,” he added.
Singh, accompanied by Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Karambir Singh, undertook an aerial survey of project area and sites, prior to arriving at INS Kadamba Helipad here.
Stating that during the aerial survey of the project, he could see its future, the Defence Minister said, the future of this naval base is “very bright” and the credit for this has to go to the officers and sailors.
“I have also seen the country’s first sealift facility, which will improve our maintenance compared to earlier…so I say this naval base is different from the rest,” he said.
Noting that India’s strength is growing, Singh said, “..India is now among the five major naval powers in the world, we should aim to be among the top three in the next ten to twelve years.”
Indian Navy’s contribution in maritime and national security is immense, Singh said.
Not only him, but those with the knowledge on security-related issues are of the view that the Navy will play the most important role in the country’s security in the future, he added.
Citing the role played by the navy in the past like the liberation of Goa, and India-Pakistan wars, among others, he said there is Navy’s role in improving diplomatic relations and recalled the service rendered by it during the COVID pandemic, which has gained appreciation from other countries too.
“Some countries have come close to us, it is because of you,” he said, adding, in this way not only as a defence power, the Navy has also safeguarded the country’s global interests.
Highlighting the Navy’s role in improving trade and cultural ties with other countries, Singh said, “we have 7,500 km of coastline, 1,100 islands, 25 lakh sq km of exclusive economic zones that can play an important role in the development of the world with the help of our capabilities and capacity.”
“Sometimes we forget our own capability in front of other global powers…..with courage we can achieve things, victory can be achieved during a fight with courage and not only because of ammunition.”
“You might have seen, we have proved it (victory with courage).. this time, I don’t want to take any names, you are aware of it, it is in our defence forces,” he said.
Noting the Navy’s role in maintaining peace and development in the Indian Ocean Region, and in realising the PM’s vision of ‘SAGAR’ (Security & Growth for All in Region), Singh said, at the time when economic and political relations are fast changing, there is a need for Indian Navy to be strengthened further.
“We have to be prepared for the future, we will have to improve our capacity and capability,” he said.
There are no shortcomings in mutual coordination between the country’s tri-services, “but we have thought about further improving it.” Singh said that the Defence Ministry is also taking up certain reforms.
Speaking on self-reliance in the defence sector, he said 64 per cent of the capital procurement budget will only be for domestic procurement and several changes have been made in the defence acquisition procedure.
As many as 46 out of 48 ships and submarines being procured are being built in Indian shipyards, Singh said, adding, Indigenous Aircraft Carrier, INS Vikrant will be completed soon and is likely to be commissioned as the country completes 75 years of Independence.
The Defence Minister is also scheduled to visit Kochi to review the progress of construction of the indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) there.
