Amid growing concerns over harassment faced by Kashmiri students in Punjab and Chandigarh and other parts of the country, former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, spoke to Kashmiri student leader and National Convenor of the Jammu and Kashmir Students…

Tribune News Service

Amid growing concerns over harassment faced by Kashmiri students in Punjab and Chandigarh and other parts of the country, former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, spoke to Kashmiri student leader and National Convenor of the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA), Nasir Khuehami, to express solidarity and extend unconditional support.

In a telephonic conversation with Khuehami, Capt conveyed his deep concern over the recent spate of targeted harassment incidents involving Kashmiri students in several educational institutions.

He assured Khuehami that his home was open to every Kashmiri student in distress and emphasised that Punjab would always remain a welcoming and safe space for all communities, especially the youth from Jammu and Kashmir.

“Every Kashmiri student is like my own child. They are like my family. They are an inseparable part of India, and Punjab is as much their home as Kashmir. My doors are open to them; anytime, for anything,” Captain said during the call, reaffirming his commitment to pluralism and national unity.

“To every Kashmiri student facing intimidation or injustice, please know you are not alone. I stand with you. Whether in Punjab, Chandigarh, or anywhere else in India, I will extend every possible support to ensure your safety, dignity, and rights are protected,” he added.

Khuehami, while welcoming the gesture, said, “Captain Amarinder Singh’s outreach sends a powerful message of inclusivity and reassurance to Kashmiri students. At a time when divisive forces are trying to isolate and intimidate minorities, such statements by senior political leaders are not only timely but crucial.”

Capt’s intervention comes at a critical juncture, as several incidents of harassment have sparked panic among Kashmiri youth, many of whom travel thousands of miles from conflict-affected regions in search of education and opportunit

The withholding of the Indus Waters Treaty should have been enough to make Pakistan realise that the best course for it is to stop fomenting terrorism and focus on its economic progress.

Lt Gen (retd) Harwant Singh

The withholding of the Indus Waters Treaty should have been enough to make Pakistan realise that the best course for it is to stop fomenting terrorism and focus on its economic progress.

At stake: Tourists in the Valley bring prosperity to the local population. PTI

THE terrorist attack near Pahalgam took the Indian security and Intelligence apparatus by surprise. Abrogation of Article 370 and the ever-increasing flow of tourists to the Valley seemed to have conveyed to the Indian government that it had finally resolved the Kashmir problem, even as terrorist activities had merely shifted to other areas of J and K.

The flood of tourists in the Valley brought prosperity to the local population: from hotels, houseboats, shikaras and pony owners to labourers and shopkeepers. All this resulted in a marked change in the attitude of the local Valley residents towards the rest of India. It led to a somewhat drying up of support to cross-border terrorism in the Valley.

To deal with this new development and to draw Indian agencies’ attention away from it, Pakistan shifted terrorist activities to areas south of the Pirpanjal range, Jammu and Kishtwar region. This resulted in some laxity on the part of security and intelligence agencies in the Valley, thus giving Pakistan the opportunity to stage the attack at Pahalgam, killing 25 tourists and one local man and injuring many others. Appropriate action must be initiated against those responsible for this lapse.

The aim of targeting tourists was to discourage them from coming to the Valley and its consequent impact on the newfound avenue of prosperity for the people of Kashmir. It was expected that the resultant drop in the income of people of the Valley would once again bring back their helpful attitude towards terrorists.

The terrorist attack has caused widespread anger in India and led to demands for a strong retaliation. However, the Pahalgam attack should not be permitted to become an anti-Muslim stance within India. The government has taken a number of steps at the diplomatic level against Pakistan, which, in turn, have been reciprocated with similar action.

The more effective step on the part of India is putting the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) on hold. This issue has been repeatedly projected in these columns — that Pakistan must be warned that any terrorist attack on the Indian soil would result in the abrogation of the ITW. After all, treaties and terrorism cannot cohabit. Unfortunately, the Centre India never grasped the essence of this one tool with which it could dissuade Pakistan from carrying on with cross-border terrorism.

Holding in abeyance the IWT requires the conversion of the Salal Dam back to storage dam (it was recently converted from storage dam to run-of-the river dam after Pakistan raised this issue with the World Bank). To start with, stop the flow of waters from it till the dam is filled. In this, India will have to stop the operation of turbines which generate electricity. Once the dam is filled, release the waters such that it adversely impacts agriculture in the Pakistan areas that are dependent on these waters. Also, control the flow of the waters of the Jhelum and its tributary, the Neelam river.

As a long-term plan, the waters of the Chenab river (known as Chandrabhaga in Himachal Pradesh) can be diverted into the Beas river in the Kullu Valley. Also, construct mini-dams on the Indus river and its tributaries to generate electricity and irrigate the barren stretches of land in the surrounding valleys. At the same time, prevent the flow of waters from the eastern rivers (Beas, Sutlej and Ravi) by replacing faulty sluice gates at various canal headworks.

Following the Pahalgam attack, Prime Minister Modi cut short his visit to Saudi Arabia. Soon after landing, he held an emergency meeting at the airport itself, followed by the Cabinet Committee on Security meeting in New Delhi.

Thereafter, instead of going to the Kashmir Valley, he went to Bihar to address an election rally, where he talked of India taking a very strong retaliatory action against Pakistan.

Given these developments and the general angst in India, the demand for a strong kinetic action against Pakistan is being projected. These developments have put Pakistan at full alert along the LoC and the International Border with India. Possibly, Pakistan has pulled back some of its troops deployed against Afghanistan and Balochistan and redeployed them on its eastern front against India.

The Army is short of over one lakh personnel. There is a large deployment of troops in Eastern Ladakh against China. The Indian Air Force is down to 32 squadrons, with a good many overdue for replacement. Some squadrons are deployed along the northern and eastern borders as well.

Any attack across the International Border or the Line of Control in J&K could easily conflagrate into a larger conflict and, in the worst case, a full-scale war.

There may be some misconception in Pakistan that China would come to its aid. Such hope is completely misplaced. At the very best, China may supply some military equipment and limited cyber support and show some movement of troops in Eastern Ladakh to prevent India from pulling out some troops for deployment against Pakistan. It need expect nothing more from China. China knows that any added involvement in Pakistan would go against its own interest. Because of the tariff war with the US, India is the only other major market for its exports.

Any action by India at the scale of the ‘surgical strike’ or ‘Balakot air strike’ will not dissuade Pakistan from carrying on with its policy of a “thousand cuts” against India.

Any enhanced action by India across the border has its own implications, with the possibility of an escalation of the conflict into a war-like situation or, maybe, war itself.

Given the situation, India’s better option is to further secure its borders with Pakistan and be prepared to effectively deal with any mischief by Pakistan across the IB or the LoC.

Holding the IWT in abeyance and going ahead with other connected steps is enough to make Pakistan give up its policy of a thousand cuts against India and come to live with the present split of J & K, between India and Pakistan.

Going by the PM’s speech at the election rally in Bihar and given the previous record, where the ‘Balakot strike’ was played out during the elections that followed, a major strike against Pakistan could surface. Such a step in response to the Pahalgam massacre needs to be avoided.

The withholding of the Indus Waters Treaty should have been enough to make Pakistan realise that the best course for it is to stop fomenting terrorism and focus on its economic progress. Good relations with India will work in the best interests of Pakistan.

Lt Gen Harwant Singh (Retd) is former Deputy Chief of Army Staff.

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Amid ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan along the northern borders, Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma, a decorated officer with extensive operational experience, assumed charge as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of the Army’s Northern Command on Thursday, officials said. The…

Amid ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan along the northern borders, Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma, a decorated officer with extensive operational experience, assumed charge as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of the Army’s Northern Command on Thursday, officials said.

The Northern Command oversees the borders with Pakistan and China in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. It has been actively formulating strategies to counter Pakistani terrorists who have infiltrated deep into the forested areas of the Jammu region. Since the Pahalgam attack on April 22, the Command has been closely monitoring Pakistan’s manoeuvres along the Line of Control (LoC).

Lt Gen Sharma is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla, the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, and the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington. He was commissioned into the Madras Regiment in December 1987. He is qualified in the Higher Command Course and has also attended the National Defence College, New Delhi. The General Officer brings with him a wealth of operational experience.

He has commanded an Infantry Battalion, a Brigade, and a Division along the Line of Control, and also led a Strike Corps in the Western Sector. “He has held a range of staff and instructional appointments, including serving as a staff officer in a UN mission,” an official stated.

He has served in key positions at the Military Operations Directorate and the Military Secretary Branch at Army Headquarters. Before taking over as GOC-in-C, Northern Command, he served as the Director General of Military Operations and Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Strategy).

Meanwhile, Lieutenant General MV Suchindra Kumar relinquished command of the Northern Command on April 30. He had taken over on February 19, 2024. In a solemn departure ceremony, the outgoing GOC-in-C paid homage to the bravehearts who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.

“During his tenure, he provided strategic guidance and operational oversight for sustained operations along the northern and western borders, and also orchestrated dynamic counter-terrorism operations in Jammu and Kashmir,” an official said.

Districts such as Rajouri, Poonch, Doda, Kishtwar, and others have been rocked by encounters and ambushes on security forces since 2023, resulting in the loss of many soldiers.

On his 27th birthday, Lt Narwal’s family holds blood donation camp

Parveen Arora Tribune News Service

Heartbroken but determined, Himanshi stood before the crowd, barely days after her husband’s death. Navy officer Lt Vinay Narwal was among 26 killed in the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22.

On his 27th birthday on Thursday, Himanshi overcame her pain and made an emotional appeal for peace and unity at a blood donation camp organised in his memory.

“We do not target Muslims and Kashmiris. We want peace,” she told the gathering, while demanding justice for her husband. “Those involved in this attack must be given exemplary punishment.” Vowing to continue his legacy, she added, “I will follow the path of serving the nation that he showed me.”

At least 218 persons donated blood at the camp, while nearly 100 others had to return due to time constraints. Organised by Lt Narwal’s family in collaboration with the National Integrated Forum of Artists and Activists (NIFAA) and other groups, the event drew donors from Hisar, Bengaluru, Delhi, Kurukshetra, Panipat and Ludhiana.

Lt Narwal’s sister Srishti expressed gratitude to participants, calling the initiative a way to “save lives and honour his memory”. She affirmed her faith in the government, stating, “They are doing their job and we trust the system.”

The family, including Lt Narwal’s parents Rajesh and Asha Narwal, maternal uncle Pawan Dahiya and wife Himanshi, donated blood alongside others. Emotions ran high as local leaders, including Karnal MLA Jagmohan Anand and Mayor Renu Bala Gupta, paid tribute. Anand, visibly moved, said, “It feels like my own daughter lost her husband,” and reiterated the government’s stance against terrorism.

NIFAA president Preetpal Singh Pannu announced an annual blood drive and a new award in Lt Narwal’s name, calling him “a promising son who could have risen to leadership in the Navy”.

Lt Narwal’s father Rajesh thanked the gathering for their solidarity, while Himanshi, who had married the Navy officer just weeks earlier on April 16, stood as a symbol of resilience, urging unity in the face of loss.

Heavy firing during ceasefire violations from the Pakistani side over the past week has left residents of villages along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) in Jammu division gripped with fear, haunted by memories of a violent…

Arjun Sharma Our Correspondent

Heavy firing during ceasefire violations from the Pakistani side over the past week has left residents of villages along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) in Jammu division gripped with fear, haunted by memories of a violent past.

These border communities had witnessed a relatively peaceful period since February 2021, when India and Pakistan agreed to renew the 2003 ceasefire agreement. However, the recent violations—following a terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives—have revived painful recollections of the days when bomb shells and bullets would indiscriminately strike men, women and cattle.

Sukhdev Singh, a resident of Arnia village in Jammu district, said the renewed shelling has brought back traumatic memories of residents fleeing their homes for safety. Arnia has suffered significantly during past ceasefire violations, with casualties and widespread damage to property.

“During a war, at least people are prepared for the possibility of bombings or gunfire. But during ceasefire violations, there is no warning. We never know when or where a mortar shell might land,” Singh said.

Locals living near the IB in Jammu, Kathua and Samba districts had felt a sense of relief since the 2021 agreement, as prior violations often disrupted farming and daily life. Amid the current tensions, many villagers have harvested their crops prematurely, fearing escalation.

Residents have also begun cleaning and repairing individual and community bunkers constructed by the government before 2021. These bunkers, once a lifeline during frequent shelling, had largely been abandoned during the period of relative calm.

Satish Kumar, a resident of Akhnoor in Jammu district, said community bunkers had been long forgotten until now. “If shelling resumes, we’ll take cover in these bunkers. We never thought such a situation would return, but Pakistan and its proxies seem determined to sabotage peace,” he said.

In 2017, the Central government had sanctioned the construction of over 14,000 individual and community bunkers across Jammu, Kathua, and Samba districts along the IB, and Poonch and Rajouri districts along the LoC, to protect civilians during cross-border

Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh Memorial Hockey Tournament

Players of Indian Navy (white) and Indian Army in action during the 6th edition of the Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh Memorial Hockey Tournament-2025 at the 3 BRD Air Force station in Chandigarh on Thursday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: RAVI KUMAR

The hosts Indian Air Force (IAF) continued their winning streak in the ongoing 6th edition of the Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh Memorial Hockey Tournament. They recorded a 4-1 win over Naval Hockey Academy, at the Raghbir Singh Bhola Hockey Stadium, No 3 Base Repair Depot (BRD), Air Force Station.

The side was off to a slow start, before Lovedeep Singh opened the account for the hosts. Singh netted the opening goal in the 34th minute, while Ajit Pandit doubled the lead in the 48th minute. The side further gripped the match as Sukhdev Singh extended the lead to 3-0 in the 51st minute. Just four minutes later, Vinayak posted the final goal for the side and confirmed full points for the side. As the match was coming to an end, Sem Munda pulled of a consoling goal for the Naval Hockey Academy in the 60th minute. Pandit was named Man of the Match.

Quarterfinals line-up

Indian Air Force Vs Roundglass

RCF Vs Indian Army

Indian Railway Vs Naval Tata

Chandigarh XI vs Punjab and Sind Bank

In the second match, Gursewak Singh netted two goals to help Roundglass Hockey defeat Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) 4-0. The side was quick to score the opening goal in the 4th minute, as Japneet Singh successfully converted a penalty corner. The lead was soon doubled by Jerman Singh in the 21st minute. Thereafter, Gursewak (40th, 43rd) scored two goals for the side.

In the third match, Indian Navy managed to overcome the two-goal lead and play a draw against Indian Army. The Army boys were right on target, as Sunil Xaxa netted two goals. However, the Navy team made a stunning comeback to the match through Pawan Rajbhar (33rd) and Sundara Pandi (38th). Jobanpreet Singh was named Man of the Match. In the last match, Jaskaran shone for Punjab Sind Bank as they defeated Bangladesh Air Force 4-3. Jaskaran netted three goals to lead the side to victory. He netted the opening goal in the 1st minute of the game and Shahid Thakur doubled the lead in the 23rd minute. The Bangladesh lads got their act together and Shohanpur (24th), Mohammed Obidul (30th) and Mohammed Shojib (31st) scored back to back goals. However, Jaskaran helped the side made an unexpected comeback by netting a brace in the 51st minute to level the score, followed by another in the 54th minute to seal the match at 4-3.

Both students shine on national, international platforms

Two girl cadets from Mehr Chand Mahajan (MCM) DAV College for Women, Sector 36, here have brought laurels to the city by bagging national and international acclaim through the prestigious National Cadet Corps (NCC) Army Wing.

In a landmark achievement, a Senior Under Officer (SUO), Rabya, has become the first cadet from her college’s Army Wing and the only cadet from the 1 Chandigarh Girls Battalion under the PHHP&C Directorate to be selected for the NCC Youth Exchange Programme (YEP) since 2011.

Senior Under Officer Rabya (extreme left).

Representing India as part of a seven-member delegation, SUO Rabya embarked on a 10-day cultural diplomacy mission to Mauritius, participating in the island nation’s National Day celebrations.

Her itinerary included high-level engagements with Deven Nagalingum, Mauritius’ Minister of Youth and Sports, and Vimarsh Aryan, Deputy High Commissioner of India to Mauritius.

The delegation’s visit to historic sites such as the Mahatma Gandhi Institute, Ganga Talao and Île Aux Cerfs underscores the YEP’s mission of promoting cross-cultural dialogue and youth engagement among 25 participating nations.

“Rabya’s achievement is not just personal, it symbolises the power of Indian youth, especially young women, to serve as cultural ambassadors on the world stage,” said the college spokesperson, Dr Manjot Kaur Josan.

While SUO Rabya made waves abroad, another SUO Manya Bahl stood tall at home, bringing pride to the nation during the Republic Day Camp (RDC) 2025 held at Cariappa Parade Ground, New Delhi. Honoured with the Director General’s Medallion, one of the highest awards conferred upon NCC cadets, SUO Manya’s excellence in the cultural event category highlights the powerful blend of discipline and creativity that defines the new face of NCC.

College’s glorious past

With a history dating back to 1968, MCM DAV College’s NCC unit is the largest in Chandigarh, boasting of 160 cadets across Army and Naval wings. In recent years, the institution has witnessed a string of outstanding achievements. In 2022, SUO Prerna and Under Officer Srishti Rana participated in the Republic Day parade; in 2024, cadets Rabya and Khushi represented the PHHP&C Directorate in the 75th Republic Day celebrations.

The college has also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Mai Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Institute (AFPI), Mohali, allowing cadets to pursue higher education alongside structured defence training, a model of integrated excellence.

Daughters marching ahead: College prez

“As India strides confidently into the future, these daughters of the nation are not merely marching on ceremonial grounds, they are shaping the national narrative, lifting the Tricolour high with unwavering resolve. They have proven that when opportunity meets determination, young Indian women soar beyond borders,”

said Padma Shri Dr Punam Suri, President, DAV College Managing Committee.

The decision to allow the Army and IAF fleets to fly means that a majority of the 330-strong ALH fleet will resume operations

Ajay Banerjee Tribune News Service

After nearly four months of grounding, the Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) fleet used by the Army and Indian Air Force has been cleared for flying amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan. These helicopters are utilised for logistics, transport, search and rescue, medical evacuation, reconnaissance, and anti-submarine warfare. A combat version of the copter is also armed for ground troop support.

The decision to allow the Army and IAF fleets to fly means that a majority of the 330-strong ALH fleet will resume operations. The Army operates around 200 of these copters, while the IAF has 75. However, the ALH versions used by the Navy and Coast Guard have not yet been cleared for flying.

The fleet was grounded following a Coast Guard copter crash on January 5 that killed three personnel. The investigation revealed a fracture in the ‘swash plate’ as the probable cause. Over the past 25 years, there have been 28 ALH crashes, with 13 attributed to technical reasons and 13 to human error.

An ALH is considered a major success in indigenous military equipment manufacturing. It has four variants—ALH Mark 1, Mark 2, Mark 3, and ALH-WSI (Weapons Systems Integrated)—all twin-engine machines. Due to the grounding, ALH did not participate in the Republic Day flypast or Aero India in February.

His remark comes amid heightened tension between India and Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack and Islamabad’s apprehension of retaliatory action by New Delhi

Pakistan Army chief Gen Asim Munir on Thursday warned that any “military misadventure” by India will be met with a “swift, resolute and notch-up response” as he visited a firing range to witness a high-intensity field training exercise conducted by the armed forces.

His remark comes amid heightened tension between India and Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack and Islamabad’s apprehension of retaliatory action by New Delhi.

“Let there be no ambiguity: any military misadventure by India will be met with a swift, resolute and notch-up response,” the army chief was quoted as saying by the state-run news agency Associated Press of Pakistan.

“While Pakistan remains committed to regional peace, our preparedness and resolve to safeguard national interests is absolute,” he said while addressing troops at the Tilla Field Firing Ranges (TFFR).

Gen Munir visited the TFFR to witness Exercise Hammer Strike – a high-intensity, field training exercise conducted by Pakistan Army’s Mangla Strike Corps, the news agency reported, citing a press release issued by the army’s media wing.

The exercise was designed to validate combat readiness, battlefield synergy, and the operational integration of cutting-edge weapon systems under near-battlefield conditions, it said.

A diverse array of advanced capabilities, including multirole fighter aircraft, combat aviation assets, long-range precision artillery, and next-generation field engineering techniques, were employed to simulate conventional battlefield scenarios, it added.

Pakistan warned on Wednesday that the next 36 hours would be critical due to the threat of Indian action.

However, the US secretary of state called leaders of both countries and urged them to cooperate to defuse the tension while following restraint.