New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday complimented the Indian Air Force for ensuring a “timely and befitting” response to the “sudden” developments in eastern Ladakh, in a reference to the Sino-India border row in the mountainous region.
During an interaction with top commanders of the IAF, the defence minister also advised them to draw up long term plans and strategies to boost combat capabilities of the force to counter future threats, officials said.
Noting that changing dimensions of war would now include advanced technologies, asymmetric capabilities and information-dominance, the minister, who inaugurated the bi-annual commanders” conference, said it was very important that the IAF”s preparations for the future must include these aspects.
“The defence minister congratulated IAF for ensuring a timely and befitting response to the sudden developments in eastern Ladakh,” the IAF said in a statement without elaborating.
As the situation deteriorated in eastern Ladakh following a fierce clash between Indian and Chinese troops in Galwan valley in June last year, the Indian Air Force deployed almost all its frontline fighter jets like Sukhoi 30 MKI, Jaguar and Mirage 2000 aircraft in the key frontier air bases in the region.
In his address, Singh also assured the IAF of “wholehearted support” from the defence ministry in achieving its goal of becoming a potent strategic aerospace force, officials said.
Referring to changing international geopolitics, Singh said the perceptible shift of focus from trans-Atlantic to trans-Pacific has become more obvious in the recent past.
He also expressed confidence that important decisions taken during the conference would enhance the combat potential of the IAF, noting that security and economic development are complementary aspects of national policy.
The defence minister appreciated the “critical focus” of the IAF towards reorienting for the future while stressing on the need to work pro-actively towards integration among the three services.
In the three-day conference at the Air headquarters in Delhi, the commanders are deliberating on finalising strategies to boost the IAF”s combat prowess besides taking stock of overall security challenges facing the nation.
“The defence minister stressed on the need to continue to work pro-actively towards the integration process currently underway, implementation of the joint logistics plan and to enhance synergy in areas of joint planning and operations,” the IAF said.
It said he urged the commanders to take stock and implement all directions issued by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the combined commanders” conference that had taken place at Kevadia in Gujarat last month.
Asserting that the IAF’s order for Light Combat Aircraft Tejas would result in a substantial boost to the domestic defence industry, he said it will be a game changer from the perspective of defence indigenisation.
In February, the government sealed a Rs 48,000 crore deal to procure 83 TEJAS aircraft from state-run aerospace behemoth Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. It is the biggest ever indigenous defence procurement program.
He urged the commanders to continue their efforts for achieving even greater results in the field of indigenous defence production and aircraft maintenance.
Issues pertaining to systems, reforms and restructuring for ensuring more efficient processes across all domains and optimised operational training are also being discussed at the conference.
The defence minister also expressed happiness that the conference coincided with the birth anniversary of the Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh.
On COVID-19 pandemic, the defence minister appreciated the role played by the IAF in assisting other government agencies in dealing with the situation.

They (Chinese) feel that by doing a little bit of shove-and-push, they will be able to compel nations to give into their demands. But I think India has stood firm on its northern borders and we have proven that we will not get pushed,” said the CDS.
China resorted to “my way or no way” policies but India stood firm in preventing a change in the status quo on its northern borders in eastern Ladakh and garnered international support for it, said chief of defence staff General Bipin Rawat on Thursday.
Speaking at the Raisina Dialogue, Gen Rawat said China feels “it has arrived” on the world stage because of its “superior” armed forces, equipped with “advanced and disruptive technologies” that can paralyze an adversary’s strategic systems as well as energy, banking, transport and communication grids.
“They (Chinese) feel that by doing a little bit of shove-and-push, they will be able to compel nations to give into their demands. But I think India has stood firm on its northern borders and we have proven that we will not get pushed,” said the CDS.
The international community has come to India’s support by affirming that every country must follow the international rules-based order, without seeking to unilaterally alter the status quo.
“China tried to change the status quo by the use of disruptive technologies without using force…They thought that India, as a nation, will succumb to the pressures that they have been putting on us because of the technological advantage that they have. But that did not happen,” said the CDS.
There has been no overall de-escalation in the year-long military confrontation in eastern Ladakh till now, with China refusing to even complete the stalled troop disengagement at Gogra, Hot Springs and Demchok despite several rounds of diplomatic and military talks.
At the Raisina Dialogue, chief of staff of the Japanese Self Defence Forces General Koji Yamazaki also slammed China’s attempts to unilaterally change the status quo in areas like the Taiwan Strait as well as the East and South China Seas.
China does not recognize the legitimate interests of Japan and other countries in the region and such an approach will heighten tensions and directly affect the stability of not just these areas but the entire Indo-Pacific region, he said.
Australian chief of defence forces General Angus Campbell, in turn, said, “(China’s) Grey zone tactics are a way to nibble away at territory. We see this in the South China Sea. It is very challenging to respond without breaching the line that leads to open conflict.”
On Afghanistan, Gen Rawat said the international community must ensure the withdrawal of the US and other forces from the conflict-ravaged country does not “create space for other disruptors to step in”.
Though he did not name Pakistan or China in this context, the CDS said there were some countries “looking at the opportunity” to step into the vacuum. “Afghanistan is a nation rich in resources. There are some nations who tend to exploit such resources for their own benefit without the benefit going to the community or the nation concerned. This should be prevented…Afghanistan should be for the Afghans,” he added.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh with top commanders of the Indian Air Force on 15 April 2021| Twitter| Snehesh PhilipText Size: A- A+

New Delhi: Top commanders of the Indian Air Force on Thursday began a comprehensive review of the security challenges facing India, including along the Line of Actual Control, on the opening day of a three-day conference.

The bi-annual commanders’ conference was inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at the Air Headquarters in Delhi.https://54719452ab0c2194abf2d7ae4b7ff99d.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html

In his remarks, Singh complimented the IAF for its overall efforts to maintain combat readiness and its approach to deal with future challenges, sources said.

The commanders reviewed the overall security challenges facing the nation including the situation in eastern Ladakh, the site of a standoff between the Indian and Chinese militaries.

The Indian and Chinese armies have been engaged in negotiating disengagement from the remaining friction points in the region after completing withdrawal of troops and weapons in the north and south banks of the Pangong lake in mid-February.

In the course of the conference, the commanders will also discuss strategies and policies relating to further enhancing capabilities of the IAF in view of the future challenges facing the country.

The commanders will also deliberate on various welfare and human resource measures to improve administrative efficiency in the force.

The conference is being attended by the Air Officers Commanding-in-Chief of all commands of the IAF, all principal staff officers and all director generals posted at the Air Headquarters in Delhi.

Also read: Quad navies can come together if needed in almost ‘plug and play’ manner, Navy chief says

Synergy between navies will bolster maritime security

The prolonged standoff between Indian and Chinese troops was confined to the Line of Actual Control, but there is another expanse where things are not looking hunky-dory. In his address at the Raisina Dialogue on Wednesday, the Navy Chief, Admiral Karambir Singh, said it was not surprising that China was trying to expand its presence in the Indian Ocean region as ‘its energy sources, markets and resources are located to the west’. He acknowledged that most threats in the maritime domain were transnational and it was not possible for any nation to go solo. The Admiral stated that the navies of the Quad countries — India, Australia, Japan and the US — had the capability and capacity to come together almost in a ‘plug and play’ manner. This assertion reaffirms the growing clout of the Quad, which held its first summit-level talks last month. The four-nation alliance is perceived to be a countervailing force against China’s rampant muscle-flexing in the Indo-Pacific region, though its members insist that there are several areas of convergence — right from vaccine collaboration, climate action, maritime security and emerging technologies to counter-terrorism.

In an impressive show of strength and synergy, the Quad navies had carried out the Malabar exercise in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea in November last year. The four nations have repeatedly pledged to ensure an open and inclusive Indo-Pacific and a rules-based international order. While China has every reason to be wary of the grouping, India’s old ally Russia is far from enthused by it, with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov referring to it as an ‘Asian NATO’ with apparently militaristic designs.

Despite the time-tested ties with Moscow, New Delhi has been quick to counter criticism of the Quad. During the India-Australia-France trilateral dialogue on Wednesday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar made it clear that the purpose of coming together was to find ways of working for national, regional and global benefit. India is rightly banking on the Quad to safeguard its strategic and economic interests. As long as the arrangement is mutually beneficial, it seems to be a win-win situation for all members.

Said he was firm on his decision even though the CM had tried to convince him to remain in service

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, April 15

After meeting Governor VP Singh Badnore, IG Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh on Friday indicated that he was firm on resigning and had convinced Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh of the same. 

The meeting with the Governor started at 11:32 am, confirmed an official of the Governor’s office.

The IG had recently resigned from the police service after an adverse order by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in the Kotkapura police firing case. His resignation was, however, rejected by the Punjab Chief Minister.

Also read: Bargari sacrilege cases: Navjot Sidhu wants SIT findings made public

The IG was the key investigator in the case that was probed by a five-member SIT.

After the meeting with the Governor, Partap said the meeting was “routine and in his private capacity.” 

On the status of his premature retirement application to the Chief Minister, he said he was firm on his decision even though the CM had tried to convince him to remain in service. Pratap added that he had assured the CM that he would continue to assist the SIT from outside, whenever the government takes any concrete step in the direction. 

The IG’s resolution has started creating a crisis for the Congress government. Congress leaders fear that the IG’s retirement over the SIT probe would work towards the party’s disadvantage in the upcoming 2022 elections.

Photo for representation only. Tribune file

Jammu, April 15

A man, who had inadvertently crossed the Line of Control into India, was on Thursday sent back to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on humanitarian grounds, officials said.

The Indian Army handed over Ghulam Qadir to authorities in PoK at the Poonch-Rawalakote crossing point in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district, they said.

The officials said the handover of Qadir, a resident of Ghim village in PoK’s Nikial area, took place around 11.55 am on Thursday at the crossing point on the Line of Control.

Qadir, who inadvertently entered India on April 11, was sent back on humanitarian grounds, they said. PTI

Opening of Atal Tunnel facilitates tourists’easy access to other snow-laden high passes

Patseu, Zingzingbar and Bharatpur City are attractive tourist attractions on the way to Baralacha

Abhinav Vashisht

Kullu, APRIL 15

If the tourists visiting Kullu-Manali are unable to visit the 13,058-feet high Rohtang Pass when it is out of bounds due to heavy snow, they now have the option of visiting the Baralacha Pass (16,040 feet) or Shinku La (16,600 feet) in the Lahaul valley through Atal Tunnel in one day from Manali.

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) set a record this year by restoring the Manali-Leh route much ahead of the normal time in March. As a result, tourists will be able to enjoy pleasant journey of the Manali-Leh road.

Darcha is 101 km from Manali and the Baralacha Pass is 45 km from Darcha. Tourist places like Patseu, Zingzingbar and Bharatpur City are also attractive tourist attractions on the way to Baralacha. Shinku La is 40 km from Darcha on the Zanskar-Padum route and it connects border areas of Ladakh to Himachal. As these passes remain covered with snow throughout the year, tourists can enjoy snow even in summers.

The snow from the Rohtang Pass is expected to melt early this year as the region witnessed lesser snowfall in the winter but the visitors will be able to witness the snow at the Baralacha and Shinku La passes during the summers.

The travel from Manali to Baralacha or Shinku La will be less cumbersome as the BRO, working relentlessly, has improved the condition of the road. A resident of Manali said tourists would be able to undertake the journey to these passes within one day from Manali. He said new tourist destinations were likely to emerge as tourist footfall in the Lahaul valley was increasing in the wake of the opening of Atal Tunnel.

There are arrangements for stay of tourists in Darcha, Jispa, Gemur, Keylong and Sissu in Lahaul. The government has also registered more than 400 homestays in the Lahaul valley and tourists can also stay in these units.

At present the tourists are rushing to the Lahaul valley to witness snow as the Rohtang Pass has not been thrown open yet. The BRO is yet to undertake the snow-clearance operation on the Manali-Rohtang road as Atal Tunnel has already been thrown open. Commander Colonel, 38 Border Road Task Force Uma Shankar, said there was forecast of snowfall in the coming days and road clearance to Rohtang Pass will be done after that.

Heavy police force deployed at toll while farmers continue to stage dharna

Farmers stage dharna at Rohad toll plaza in Jhajjar district. Tribune photo

Ravinder Saini
Tribune News Service
Jhajjar, April 15

The protesting farmers continued to stage dharna at the Aasoda toll plaza on the KMP Expressway for the second day on Thursday in order to foil any attempt made by the administration to restart the plaza while the police have booked 125 farmers in connection with the closure of the toll plaza yesterday.

In the police complaint lodged by Prem Chand, Senior Manager (KMP expressway project), the farmers have been accused of manhandling the toll plaza employees and threatening them of dire consequence.

The complaint also alleged that the protesters also disconnected the wires of toll booths.

A case under section 109 (abetment), 147 (rioting), 149 (unlawful assembly), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharging duty), 188 (disobedience to the orders), 427 (mischief causing damage), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 283 (danger or obstruction in public way) has been registered against Rakesh of Jind, Vikas of Hisar, Suman Hooda of Gurugram, Narendra Ahlawat of Gochhi (Jhajjar), Jasvir Bhatti and Ballu Mandothi along with 125 others.

The administration had reactivated the Aasoda toll plaza on Tuesday in the presence of heavy police force.

Next day, the farmers forced the toll employees not to charge the toll from commuters and ensured free passage to the commuters.  

Meanwhile, BKU leader Gurnam Singh Chaduni said the police action was nothing except a scare tactic but they were not afraid of it and would ensure closure of the toll plazas across the state.

“The police case will not affect our spirit in any manner as we are fighting a battle for a noble cause. Today too, we staged dharna at Aasoda toll plaza as a large number of police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed there with an intention to reactivate the toll but we will not let the administration to do so,” said Suman.

Jasbir Singh, SHO, Aasoda police station, said the case would be probed before arresting the accused.

Some farmers allegedly saw a man running away; police verifying claim

A fire broke out at farmers’ protest site at Singhu border.

Sonepat, April 15

Three to four temporary structures were damaged in a fire on Thursday at a protest site in Haryana’s Kundli area where farmers are demanding the repeal of the Centre’s three agri laws.

A fire department official said the cause of the fire is being ascertained.

However, farmer leader Baldev Singh Sirsa alleged that there was a conspiracy and someone had deliberately started the fire.

“Some farmers saw a man running away,” he said.

A police official said claims of the farmers are being investigated.

The fire was put out by the fire fighters and farmers had also assisted in the operation, he said.

Sirsa said that refrigerators, fans, cots and other articles were damaged in the fire.

Thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, have been camping since last year at three border points of Delhi—Singhu, Tikri (along Haryana), and Ghazipur—demanding a repeal of the three farm laws enacted by the Centre in September.

The Centre says the new farm laws will free farmers from middlemen, giving them more options to sell their crops.

The protesting farmers, however, say the laws will weaken the minimum support price (MSP) system and leave them at the mercy of big corporates. PTI

Biden and the US first lady were joined by several lawmakers in greeting Indian-Americans

Joe Biden. Reuters file

Washington, April 14

US President Joe Biden led his country in greeting Indian-Americans, South Asians and Southeast Asians on the eve of their New Year.

“(First Lady) Jill (Biden) and I send our warmest wishes to the South Asian and Southeast Asian communities who are celebrating Vaisakhi, Navratri, Songkran and the incoming New Year this week. Happy Bengali, Cambodian, Lao, Myanmarese, Nepali, Sinhalese, Tamil, Thai, and Vishu New Year!” Biden said in a tweet on Tuesday.

Biden and the US first lady were joined by several lawmakers in greeting Indian-Americans and Sikhs on the occasion of Baisakhi

“Wishing a happy and healthy Vaisakhi to the Sikh community celebrating across the country!” Indian=American Congressman Ami Bera said.

Another Indian-American lawmaker, Ro Khanna, tweeted, “Wishing the Sikh community in America and around the world a happy Vaisakhi!”

“Wishing a happy Vaisakhi to all those celebrating in New Jersey and around the world!” said Congressman Frank Pallone.

Pallone and Congressman John Garamendi have introduced a resolution honouring the Sikh community’s celebration of Baisakhi.

“Wishing a happy Vaisakhi to all the Sikhs and Sikh Americans celebrating in Illinois and across the world,” tweeted Senator Dick Durbin.

“Warm wishes on Vaisakhi to everyone in the Sikh community who call New Jersey home. This is a time to focus on what matters most – family and standing in solidarity with our neighbours,” said Senator Bob Menendez, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. PTI