On February 10, China’s Defence Ministry spokesman announced that the Chinese and Indian frontline troops at the Pangong Lake in eastern Ladakh started synchronised, organised disengagement
A handout photo released by Indian Army on February 16, 2021, shows the disengagement process between Indian Army and China’s Peoples Liberation Army from a contested area in the western Himalayas, in Ladakh region. Indian Army/Handout via REUTERS
Beijing, February 18
China on Thursday said the disengagement process of the Chinese and Indian frontline troops at the eastern Ladakh border was progressing smoothly and expressed hope that both sides will make concerted efforts to achieve the goal.
On February 10, China’s Defence Ministry spokesman Senior Colonel Wu Qian announced that the Chinese and Indian frontline troops at the South and North banks of the Pangong Lake in eastern Ladakh started synchronised and organised disengagement.
“To my knowledge, things are progressing smoothly in general. We hope both sides will continue to move towards each other, strictly comply with the consensus reached and agreements signed, and ensure the smooth completion of the disengagement process,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said when asked how the disengagement process is proceeding.
“Based on the consensus reached by the Chinese and Indian sides in rounds of consultations through diplomatic and military channels, frontline troops of both sides in the Pangong Lake area started on February 10 to organise disengagement in a synchronised and planned manner,” she said.
About the timeline of the disengagement of the troops, she said: “I don’t have any at the moment and refer you to the military.”
After nine months of border standoff in eastern Ladakh, the two armies reached an agreement on disengagement in the North and South banks of Pangong Lake that mandates both sides to cease forward deployment of troops in a “phased, coordinated and verifiable” manner.
The Indian Army on Tuesday released short videos and photographs showing thinning down of troops and dismantling of bunkers, camps and other facilities by the Chinese military in the areas around the Pangong lake in eastern Ladakh in line with the agreed disengagement process between the two sides.
The visuals also showed the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) using a bulldozer to flatten some structures, and vehicles with troops and equipment preparing to retreat to rear bases as part of the infantry disengagement. PTI
Rail roko: Farmers sit on tracks in Punjab, Haryana, stopping trains at stations In Punjab, protesters sit on tracks at many places on the Delhi-Ludhiana-Amritsar railway route
Farmers on Thursday sat on railway tracks at many places in Punjab and Haryana as part of the four-hour ‘rail roko’ protest against the Centre’s three farm laws, with officials saying trains were halted at stations as a precautionary measure.
Normal movement of trains on various rail routes was disrupted as farmers squatted on tracks.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farmer unions which is spearheading the protest, had last week announced the nationwide rail blockade to seek the repeal of the three farm laws.
The farmers sat on tracks as part of the ‘rail roko’ agitation from 12 noon to 4 pm.
Farmers at Kurukshetra in Haryana climbed on the locomotive of the Gita Jayanti Express train, which had been stopped at the station.
“The train was scheduled to leave from the Kurukshetra station after 3 pm,” a railway official in Kurukshetra said, adding the farmers did not allow the train engine to change its end for some time.
In Punjab, protesters sat on tracks at many places on the Delhi-Ludhiana-Amritsar railway route, officials said.
They blocked the Jalandhar Cantt-Jammu railway track in Jalandhar.
Farmers also squatted on railway tracks at Mullanpur, Dakha and Jagraon on Ludhiana-Ferozepur rail route in Ludhiana, said officials.
Bathinda-Delhi rail track in Bathinda, Delhi-Amritsar track in Amritsar, Amritsar-Tarn Taran track were also blocked by protesters.
In Haryana, protesting farmers, including women, squatted on railway tracks at many places, including those in Ambala, Kurukshetra, Panipat, Panchkula, Rohtak, Sonepat, Hisar and Fatehabad districts, the officials said.
At some places, including those in Jind and Fatehabad districts, farmers could be seen smoking ‘hookahs’ while sitting on tracks.
Farmers block a rail track near Sector 19 in Panchkula on Thursday. Tribune photo: Ravi Kumar
On the Ambala-Delhi railway section, a group of farmers led by Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader from Ambala, Gulab Singh Mankpur, squatted on a track at Shahpur village, about 2 km from the Ambala Cantt station.
“Our protest will continue in a peaceful manner till the farm laws are repealed,” said Manakpur.
Security was beefed up in both Haryana and Punjab with the government railway police and state police personnel having been deployed at many places in the two states, officials said.
Ferozepur’s Divisional Railway Manager Rajesh Aggarwal said farmers are staging ‘dharnas’ at around 50 places.
He, however, added that neither any train was cancelled nor diverted because of farmers’ agitation.
The Ferozepur division of the Northern Railways halted some trains at stations so that passengers face less inconvenience during the ‘rail roko’ protest.
The halted trains included Malwa Express at Phagwara railway station, Super Express train at Jalandhar Cantt (in down direction), Malwa Express (up direction) at Pathankot Cantt station and Paschim Express at Ludhiana railway station.
Farmers block a railwtrack at Jalandhar railway station. Tribune ohoto: Malkiat Singh
Trains which were to run between 12 noon and 4 pm, were also halted at their respective stations, he further said, adding such trains included Dhanbad Express stopped at Ferozepur Cantt and Shahid Express at Amritsar.
Railway officials said train services would be resumed with necessary security protocols as and when farmers’ dharna’ is lifted.
The officials said the movement of trains to their destinations would be delayed because of the farmers’ rail blockade.
In Haryana, besides railway police personnel, the Haryana Police had deployed its staff in large numbers near protest sites and at various railway stations.
Divisional Railway Manager, Ambala Division, G M Singh said no train had been cancelled due to the rail roko’ agitation.
The Ambala DRM, however, said mail and goods trains were stopped at Saharanpur (UP), Ambala (Haryana) and Sirhind (Punjab).
These three railway stations fall in Ambala Railway Division of the Northern Railways.
In Jind, the railway tracks were blocked near Barsola village, where a large number of farmers, including women, squatted on them.
In Yamunanagar railway station, farmers squatted on Yamunagar-Jagadhri rail track while in Bahadurgarh, farmers, including women, with many of them carrying tricolour in their hands, sat on tracks.
In Sirsa too, farmers sat on railway tracks. Carrying placards, some of which read “Kheti Bachao, Roti Bachao” in their hands, they raised slogans against the government demanding the repeal of laws.
Farmers staged dharnas also on Hisar-Sadulpur, Hisar-Bhiwani, Hisar-Sirsa and Hisar-Jakhal rail tracks.
Protesters including women sitting on rail tracks and carrying flags of farmers’ bodies shouted slogans against the Centre and sought repeal of the farm laws.
BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) general secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokrikalan said they blocked railway tracks at 22 places, including at Nabha, Mansa, Barnala, Bathinda, Ferozepur, Jalandhar and Tarn Taran, in Punjab.
Haryana BKU chief Gurnam Singh Chaduni had earlier appealed to the farmers to assemble at designated spots in their respective districts to make the protest a success.
He had also appealed to the farmers to protest peacefully. PTI
Officials stop Malwa Express at Phagwara and Super Express at Jalandhar Cantt
MOGA: Farmers staged protests on rail tracks at 50 locations falling under the Ferozepur railway division in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir, said senior railway authorities.
Rajesh Aggarwal, divisional manager, said the farmers protested at 50 locations due to which the railway authorities stopped Malwa Express at Phagwara and Super Express at Jalandhar Cantonment.
Similarly, the trains were also stopped at Pathankot, Ludhiana, Barhi Brahman, Kathua and Vijaypur towns.
He said the trains were stopped at their stations of halt at noon, and would be regulated later in the evening.
The Dhanbad Express has been regulated from Ferozepur Cantonment railway station, Shaheed Express from Amritsar and Begampura train from Jammu Tawi railway station.
Aggarwal said the trains halted at various railway stations would be allowed to commence their journey after 4 pm by following all protocols of security.
No train has been cancelled or diverted from their original route, he clarified. TNS
Pakistan’s plan was brilliant, but it didn’t factor in India’s air power: IAF chief on Battle of Longewala India is celebrating the 50th anniversary year of the country’s victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war
Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria. — File Photo
New Delhi, February 18
Recalling the decisive Battle of Longewala, IAF chief Air Chief Marshal R K S Bhadauria on Thursday said the plan of armoured thrust by the Pakistan army was “brilliant” and could have changed the course of the 1971 war, but the only thing it probably forgot to factor, was India’s air power.
The Pakistan army forgot what half a squadron of Hunter aircraft sitting in Jaisalmer could do, and that was probably their “only mistake”, he said.
India is celebrating the 50th anniversary year of the country’s victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) chief was speaking at the launch of a book ‘The Epic Battle of Longewala’ authored by Air Marshal (retd) Bharat Kumar at the IAF Museum at Palam.
The dais and chairs for audience was placed centrally in an open courtyard flanked by two T-59 tanks of the Pakistan army damaged during the battle, and Hunter and Krishak and other aircraft, which played a critical role during the battle.
“A lot has been said about the Battle of Longewala. And, the plan of armoured thrust by Pakistan army itself was brilliant in terms of the area and axis chosen, the Longewala-Jaisalmer axis, and if it had succeeded, it would have changed the course of the war on the western front and the final result,” Bhadauria said.
“The only thing the Pakistan army probably forgot to factor, was India’s air power. And, they thought what half a squadron of Hunter aircraft sitting in Jaisalmer could do, and that was probably their only mistake,” he said.
The IAF chief also said the Battle of Longewala brings to light a scenario where air power can bring “asymmetric results if time and place chosen correctly”.
“On air power, over the decades, we have learned our lessons well, and graduated to a stage where it has been incorporated deep into our plan, synergy and interaction with the services,” he said.
The IAF chief said it was important that stories of valour are documented in books and passed on to the next generations. — PTI
Disengagement process in eastern Ladakh in final phase: Top defence officials to parliamentary panel Meeting gets ‘stormy’ as opposition members shoot several questions at defence officials
Indian and Chinese troops pulling back in eastern Ladakh. PTI File
New Delhi, February 18
The disengagement process between India and China in eastern Ladakh is in final stages and on the brink of completion, top officials of the country’s defence establishment told a parliamentary panel during a meeting on Thursday.
The meeting, said sources, turned “stormy” amid several questions asked by opposition members, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, top officials from the three armed forces and Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar on Thursday deposed before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence chaired by BJP leader Jual Oram.
The meeting witnessed an argument between Oram and Gandhi when the Congress leader asked some specific questions to the officials deposing before the panel, which the chairman felt was not on the agenda of the meeting, sources said.
The agenda of the meeting was to examine demands for grants of the Defence Ministry in this year’s Budget.
In the presentation before the panel, officials informed that Indian Air Force (IAF) for the year was planning to acquire Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), Avro transport aircraft replacement, upgrade of UAV systems, Harop (P-IV), Avionics upgrade of IL-76, IL-78 among others, according to sources.
The committee was also informed that the 83 Tejas aircraft, acquisition of which was approved by Union Cabinet last month, will be inducted in four squadrons. Induction of these aircraft would augment the present overall fighter squadron strength of IAF and would partially offset the phasing out of MiG-21 and MiG-27 squadrons, said sources.
Responding to members’ question, top officers from armed forces also informed the panel that the disengagement between armed forces of India and China in eastern Ladakh was in final stages and on the brink of completion, sources in the panel said.
Earlier in a statement given to both Houses of Parliament during the first part of the Budget Session, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had said India and China have reached an agreement on disengagement in the north and south banks of Pangong lake in eastern Ladakh to “cease” forward deployment of troops in a “phased, coordinated and verifiable” manner.
Singh had also assured that India has not conceded anything in the sustained talks with China and it will not allow even an inch of its territory to be taken away by anyone. PTI
Govt gives financial powers to armed forces’ command heads to clear projects up to Rs 200 cr Financial powers have been delegated to Deputy Chief of Army Staff, Air Officer Maintenance, Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff, additional director general of Indian Coast Guard.
he Ministry of Defence at South Block in New Delhi | Commons
New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved financial powers to clear projects worth up to Rs 200 crore to the deputy chiefs and command heads of the armed forces for capital procurement projects, officials said.
The financial powers have been approved for projects under the ‘Other Capital Procurement Procedure’ category, they said.
Financial powers to clear projects worth up to Rs 200 crore have been delegated to Deputy Chief of Army Staff, Air Officer Maintenance and Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff as well as to additional director general of Indian Coast Guard.
“This delegation of powers within service headquarters and up to command level for items of capital nature such as overhauls, refits, upgrades etc. will enhance the utility of existing assets and will facilitate faster processing and implementation of projects,” the defence ministry said.
As per the approval, financial powers for capital procurement projects worth up to Rs 100 crore have been delegated to General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C), Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-in-C), Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) at services commands and regional commands, officials said.
rmy Chief General M.M. Naravane flags off the howitzer in Surat, Gujarat, on 18 February 2021 | Source: L&T
New Delhi: Leading Indian private defence major Larsen and Toubro (L&T) Thursday successfully completed delivery of the last and 100th K9 Vajra 155mm/52 calibre Tracked Self-Propelled Howitzer, which was flagged off by Army Chief General M.M. Naravane at Hazira near Surat in Gujarat.
With the company delivering ahead of schedule the massive Armoured Systems Complex (ASC) at Hazira, which has its own track, it is likely to go into hibernation mode with no new contract expected in the immediate future.
The ASC is spread over 40 acres within the L&T’s 755-acre Hazira Manufacturing Complex.
Sources in the defence and security establishment said the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the L&T are in talks with each other to possibly convert the Tracked Self-Propelled Howitzer into a light or medium-weight tank that could be used in mountain regions like Ladakh.
Three of its howitzers have already reached Leh for high-altitude trials, which could eventually pave way for the Vajras to be converted into a tank.
While India currently operates the T-72 and T-90 tanks, it is felt that there is a need for lighter tanks, which can operate more easily in mountainous terrains.
The Army is internally looking at the possibility and the practicality of having a light tank, which could come handy in situations similar to the Ladakh stand-off.
But the Army, sources said, is unlikely to go in for the more formidable K9 Vajras as the plan was to have only five regiments, which are meant for the desert area.
L&T had in 2017 won the Rs 4,500-crore contract to supply 100 units of K9 Vajra under the ‘Make in India’ initiative for which they had signed a transfer of technology contract with South Korean company, Hanwha Corporation.
Talking about the possible ‘Vajra tank’, defence sources said the idea is to replace the heavy 155 mm gun with a 105 mm or 120 mm gun.“The chassis or the hull remains the same. The massive 155 mm gun can be replaced by a 105 mm or even 120 mm gun, which will reduce its weight drastically as the design of the turret also changes,” a source said.
“More weight reducing technology and material can be used, which will bring down the weight by at least 10 tonnes. This means that the Vajra tank can actually weigh around 30 tonnes or somewhere close, which can be deployed in the mountains,” the source added.
Lt Gen. P.R. Shankar (retd), who is the former Director General of Artillery, had last year pitched for the Vajra to be turned into a light tank, saying the current China-Indian stand-off has highlighted the lack of a suitable tank for high altitudes.
‘Ready to indigenously develop India’s future capabilities’
Meanwhile, J.D. Patil, whole-time director and senior executive vice president (defence and smart technologies), L&T, said in a statement, “We hope and believe that under the Atma Nirbhar Bharat policies of the Government of India, the national asset created in the form of the Armoured Systems Complex to execute this ambitious contract, will provide sustenance to the painstakingly built supply chain of more than 1,000 MSME partners.”
He added that the production of complex platforms like the K9 Vajra contributes to the Indian economy with a large multiplier effect, creates new job opportunities and plays a significant role in enhancing India’s industrial ecosystem.
“With the experience, track-record, skills, capabilities and infrastructure that L&T has built, we are ready to indigenously develop, and build India’s future capabilities,” he said.
The company added that the K9 Vajra systems are delivered with more than 80 per cent indigenous work packages and above 50 per cent indigenisation (by value) at the programme level.
It added that L&T had started indigenisation, right from the inception of the programme by replacing 14 critical systems in the Korean ‘K9 Thunder’ with indigenously developed and produced systems for the trial gun fielded for user evaluation trials.
Lt Gen. Y.K. Joshi says PLA was refusing to vacate area between Fingers 4 & 8, but after India occupied Kailash heights, China was forced to negotiate on its terms.
ew Delhi: The India-China disengagement at the Pangong Tso in Ladakh is under conditions favourable to India, which is a success, Northern Army Commander Lt Gen. Y.K. Joshi has asserted.
Joshi told ThePrint that the Army’s action to occupy heights on the southern bank of the lake last August turned the tables on the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and forced it to come to the negotiating table.
“The agreements and protocols that existed between India and China were unilaterally violated by China. The PLA tried to unilaterally change the status quo along the LAC by mobilising, deploying and using force,” said Lt Gen. Joshi, who oversaw Operation Snow Leopard, India’s response to the Chinese aggression.
A Kargil War hero and former defence attaché in China, Joshi said the Northern Command responded to the transgressions by “speedily mobilising, pitching strength opposite the friction points and posturing”.
He said five rounds of talks at the corps commander level and a series of talks at other levels failed to create any headway.
“The PLA again resorted to an aggressive move on 29/30 August night in the areas opposite south of Pangong Tso. In a quid pro quo action, Northern Command occupied the most dominating features of Rechin La and Rezang La on the Kailash range. These are the features that overlook areas up to Moldo Garrison and other areas beyond LAC well in depth,” he said.
Lt Gen. Joshi, who commanded the Leh-based 14 Corps before taking over as the Northern Army Commander, said that in a simultaneous action, heights that dominate Finger 4 on the northern bank of the lake were also occupied.
“This action turned the tables on PLA and PLA was forced to come to the negotiating table. During the 9th round of talks, PLA agreed for disengagement under conditions favourable to us,” he said.
Explaining the disengagement process, which he said has been put in writing, ratified by the headquarters, and put into action, Lt Gen. Joshi said it consists of four steps, each of which is to be followed up by monitoring and verification.
The officer, known to be proficient in Mandarinandregarded as someone who understands the Chinese psychology, said step 1 of the disengagement process involves armoured and mechanised units moving back beyond the designated lines. Step 2 and 3 include moving the infantries from the northern and southern banks of Pangong Tso, and Step 4 is disengagement from the Kailash range.
Only once a step is complete to the satisfaction of both armies will they graduate to the next, he said.
“Every day begins with a flag meeting to confirm the day’s activities, and at the end of the day, hotline messages are exchanged to confirm that each side has done its part. We are continuously monitoring from the vantage points and UAVs. As and when required, satellite images and Air Force photo recce missions are also undertaken. In case of any grey area or doubt, the same is clarified in the flag meeting,” Joshi said.
The Northern Army Commander added that a review of the implementation of the disengagement plan is also carried out during the next day’s flag meeting, and contentious issues, if any, are raised and discussed.
He said the progress so far has been satisfactory and the PLA has “shown sincerity of purpose”. Over 200 tanks and artillery pieces have been moved back.
“This activity has been verified through satellite images and photo recce missions of the Air Force. It can be seen from the vantage points that PLA has started removing the shelters, dismantling the fortifications and helipads,” Joshi said.
Confirming ThePrint’s 15 February report on the state of disengagement, he said the Chinese-made jetty at Finger 5 has been moved out and the related infrastructure removed.
“It has been agreed upon that all the structures that were created post April will be removed, and they are seen adhering to this commitment. We can say that step 2 has been completed and step 3 is in progress,” he said.
No-patrol zone
Lt Gen. Joshi also addressed the no-patrolling zone area between Finger 4 and 8, and refuted the criticism that India has lost out to China.
He underlined that both sides have gone back to their April 2020 positions — the Indian Army was occupying the Dhan Singh Thapa post (between Finger 2 and 3) and the PLA was east of Finger 8, he said. The PLA used to patrol till Finger 4, he pointed out, adding that India’s perception of the LAC runs along Finger 8, whereas the Chinese perception is till Finger 4.
“Post April 2020, PLA occupied areas till Finger 4, constructed dugouts, sangars (stone fortification), helipads, pitched tents and created other structures. In the current understanding, both the sides have gone back to April 2020 scenario wherein our last post remains Dhan Singh Thapa post and PLA goes back east of Finger 8,” he said.
Lt Gen. Joshi, who also commanded the 3 Infantry Division in Leh, said some people are trying to create a misperception that by accepting this no-patrolling area, India has lost out to the PLA.
“The fact is that it is a huge success for us. First, PLA is moving back beyond our claim line, that is Finger 8. Second, this agreement denies them the advantage of patrolling till Finger 4. In fact, the PLA will not be carrying out any activity, military or otherwise, in the areas claimed by us. Third, they will be restoring the entire land form within our claim line and dismantling all the structures that were created post April 2020. Hence, the realities have to be understood in the correct perspective,” he said.
The officer added that at one point, the PLA was refusing to vacate this area between Finger 4 and Finger 8, but once the tables were turned on 29 and 30 August, “it was forced to negotiate according to our terms”.
Riding majorly on the wave of goodwill earned by the farmers protesting against the new agriculture laws on Delhi’s borders since November, the Congress in Punjab has romped home to a massive victory. With seven municipal corporations and nearly 100 of the 109 municipal councils and nagar panchayats in its bag, the Congress is firmly in the saddle. Over 71 per cent of the electorate turned out to stamp their preference in the largely peaceful urban local body polls held on February 14. While the SAD is a distant second to the Congress, the BJP and AAP — the other two major contenders — find themselves routed and pushed further to the fringes.
The writing was on the wall for the BJP from the beginning. The shadow of the farmers’ stir — that has a groundswell of support from all sections of people — loomed over the election campaigning as the saffron party and its workers faced public wrath. Sensing an alienation from the masses, its long-time ally, SAD, had already broken ties with it a couple of months earlier. Public ire translated into the defeat of the ruling BJP-JJP in the neighbouring Haryana too when it lost two of the three mayoral seats and all three posts of municipal committee president in December-end. Bucking the general trend of the ruling party emerging as the winner, the political shift in Haryana was a pointer to the party losing ground. The Punjab poll outcome has dented any hopes that the BJP may have nursed of making a comeback in the state.
Similarly, SAD and AAP need to sharpen their strategies aimed at the progress of Punjab to reconnect with the masses and win back their trust. For, the next acid test — the Assembly election — is due next year. Meanwhile, with 50 per cent seats reserved for women for the first time in the civic body polls in Punjab, the onus of improving the wards lies equally on the new (and veteran) women councillors and mayors as the male representatives. It’s time they exerted their power and not be mere puppets of their menfolk.
Congress wins Mohali MC too; BJP, SAD fail to open account The ruling Congress in Punjab won the Mohali MC polls by registering victory in 37 of the 50 wards
With this, the ruling party registered victory in seven municipal corporations and emerged as the leading party in the Moga municipal corporation, where no party got a clear majority.
Punjab minister Balbir Singh Sidhu’s brother Amarjeet Singh Sidhu won from ward number 10 of the Mohali municipal corporation.
The counting of votes for the Mohali municipal corporation was taken up on Thursday as repolling was conducted at two polling booths on Wednesday.
The Punjab State Election Commission had ordered repolling at the two booths after receiving reports of irregularities during polling on February 14.
The Congress swept the urban body polls in Punjab on Wednesday, winning six municipal corporations, emerging as the largest party in the Moga municipal corporation and bagging most of the 109 municipal councils and nagar panchayats. —with PTI
Senior army officials on Thursday briefed envoys from 24 countries visiting Jammu and Kashmir about the role of the Pakistani army in running terror factories across the Line of Control by organising training camps, officials said.
The envoys, including from member states of the European Union (EU), Brazil and Malaysia, were also briefed about the role of the Pakistani army in helping terrorist infiltrate into India, infiltration patterns and use of drones by Pakistan to airdrop weapons meant for terrorists, they said.
Use of tunnels for pushing terrorists into India, especially in the Samba sector of Jammu and Kashmir, was highlighted by the army, which also gave a detailed presentation about the weapons, bearing markings of the Pakistani army, seized from various militants.
Tunnels were being used following a drop in the number of terrorists sneaking into India from across the Line of Control (LoC) due to heightened vigil and changed tactics in the army’s counter-infiltration grid, the officials said.
On the situation in the Kashmir Valley, the army officials highlighted Wednesday evening’s incident when the son of a prominent eatery owner was shot and critically wounded by terrorists at his shop in a high-security area of the city.
This was part of the terrorists’ game plan to silence either moderate voices in Kashmir or those who refused to follow their diktat, they said.
The army also gave a detailed briefing on how internet-warfare was used by Pakistani establishments to brainwash youngsters through social media platforms.
Coming to the situation post the abrogation of the special status of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir and its bifurcation into union territories of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir in 2019, the army officials said there had been no loss of life due to the action of security forces.
There had been a marked decrease in law and order problems and incidents of stone-pelting had seen a sharp decline, the army officials told the visiting envoys, and also shared their experience during the recent District Development Council elections, which were conducted successfully.
Besides terrorism and the situation along the LoC, the officials informed the envoys about the assistance being provided to people living in far-flung areas. They were also informed about the tourism sector in the Kashmir Valley and achievements of the Kashmiri people in various fields.
The envoys from the EU, France, Malaysia, Brazil, Italy, Finland, Bangladesh, Cuba, Chile, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Sweden, Senegal, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Ireland, Ghana, Estonia, Bolivia, Malawi, Eritrea and Ivory Coast arrived here on Wednesday amid heightened security arrangements in the city and elsewhere in the Valley. PTI
State Stalwarts
DEFENCE MINISTER
Minister Rajnath Singh
ALL HUMANS ARE ONE CREATED BY GOD
HINDUS,MUSLIMS,SIKHS.ISAI SAB HAI BHAI BHAI
CHIEF PATRON ALL INDIA SANJHA MORCHA
LT GEN JASBIR SINGH DHALIWAL, DOGRA
SENIOR PATRON ALL INDIA SANJHA MORCHA
MAJOR GEN HARVIJAY SINGH, SENA MEDAL ,corps of signals
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PATRON ALL INDIA SANJHA MORCHA
MAJ GEN RAMINDER GURAYA ,MADRAS REGIMENT
sanjhamorcha303@gmail.com
PRESIDENT SOUTH ALL INDIA SANJHA MORCHA
COL SS RAJAN BOMBAY SAPPERS,
PRESIDENT UTTARAKHAND ALL INDIA SANJHA MORCHA
COL B M THAPA ,BENGAL SAPPERSS
PRESIDENT HARAYANA STATE CUM COORDINATOR ESM
BRIG DALJIT THUKRAL ,BENGAL SAPPERS
PRESIDENT TRICITY
COL B S BRAR (BHUPI BRAR)
PRESIDENT CHANDIGARH ZONE
COL SHANJIT SINGH BHULLAR
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PRESIDENT PANCHKULA ZONE AND ZIRAKPUR
COL SWARAN SINGH
INDIAN DEFENCE FORCES
DEFENCE FORCES INTEGRATED LOGO
INDIAN AIR FORCE
Air Officer C-in-C WESTERN AIR COMMAND
AIR MSHL S PRABHAKARAN AVSM VM
AOC-IN-C, EASTERN AIR COMMAND
Air Marshal Inderpal Singh Walia
AOC-in-C SOUTH WESTERN AIR COMMAND
Air Marshal Vikram Singh
AOC-IN-C, SOUTHERN AIR COMMAND
Air Marshal J.Chalapati
AOC-IN-C TRAINING COMMAND
AIR MARSHAL SK GHOTIA VSM
AOC-IN-C MAINTENANCE COMMAND
Air Marshal Jagdish Chandra
Flag Officer Commanding in Chief, Western Naval Command
ice Admiral R Hari Kumar, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Flag Officer Commanding in Chief, Eastern Naval Command
Vice Admiral Sanjay Bhalla, AVSM, NM
Flag Officer Commanding in Chief, Southern Naval Command
