A MEETING between senior Indian and Chinese military leaders, scheduled for Saturday, has raised hopes of a breakthrough amid the tense standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Divisional Commander-level talks between Major General-rank officers of the two countries have already been held earlier this week. The developments indicate that both sides are keen on de-escalation of tensions, even though they have miles to go as far as resolving the territorial disputes is concerned. In a firm yet measured statement, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Tuesday that a ‘sizeable’ number of Chinese troops had moved into areas in eastern Ladakh which China claimed are its territory and India had taken ‘all necessary steps’ to deal with the situation. It’s creditable that India has held its ground in the face of Chinese transgressions over the past month or so and desisted from responding rashly to the provocations.

Both countries find themselves at the crossroads in contrasting ways. India has its hands full with Covid-19 as the caseload has crossed 2 lakh, while China is steadily rebuilding its economy after having overcome the pandemic. At this juncture, when the interests of their citizens are of paramount importance, the military one-upmanship between the nuclear-armed neighbours is uncalled for. They need to persist with talks at the military and diplomatic levels so that a middle ground can be found for the time being. The fact that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held two informal summits in two years after the 2017 Doklam confrontation shows there is room for further interaction and ironing out of differences.

India can’t be oblivious to the geopolitical reality of being hemmed in by two unreliable neighbours — Pakistan on one side and China on the other. China’s unstinting support to Pakistan is another irritant for New Delhi. With a power shift from the West to the East being foreseen as the defining feature of the post-pandemic world order, the best course for India is to keep its cards close to its chest. Peaceful coexistence, if not cooperation, with China can help India stand tall amid the Covid ruins.

IAF’s No 3 Base Repair Depot in Chandigarh, that is responsible for the maintenance and overhaul of Russian-origin helicopters, has been tasked to execute the project.

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 3

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is indigenising Russian night vision goggles that are used by pilots flying the Mi-17 medium lift helicopter. IAF’s No. 3 Base Repair Depot here, that is responsible for the maintenance and overhaul of Russian-origin helicopters, has been tasked to execute the project.

“The design and development of the NL-93 night vision goggle (NVG) variant will be done in collaboration with the Indian industry, for which the public and the private sector is being approached,” an officer said. “NVG is categorised as a critical equipment and it has to be compatible with the Mi-17’s cockpit and operating parameters,” he added.

NVG is a helmet-mounted electro-optical device based on image intensifier technology that allows images to be produced in levels of light approaching total darkness.  NVGs  can intensify ambient light to over a thousand times and can function effectively in minimal  moonlight  conditions or even starlight.

By increasing the air crew’s situational awareness due to improved visibility in the dark, NVGs enhance manoeuvrability and navigation, thereby facilitating better air-to-ground tactics and thereby enhancing mission effectiveness.

The  essential  features  of  NVG  vision include monochromatic image in a field of view reduced to a cone of 40 deg with diminished visualacuity  as  compared  to  daytime  vision. Consequently, pilots have to continually turn their heads to see to the sides.

The use of NVGs, however, also has medical and physiological implications. It adds to the weight of the helmet, causing increased stress on the neck and spine. Given the device’s limited field of view of about 40 degrees, the pilots have to constantly rotate their heads for wider arc of vision. Air crew are also required to undergo brief training capsules on the use of NVGs.

The IAF began using NVGs in helicopters in 2002 for operation flying such as special heli-borne operations, troop deployment, search and rescue and communication. It carried out its first NVG-assisted rescue in 2007, when it evacuated two injured soldiers, one of them with a serious head injury, in the north-east.

According to IAF sources, once the indigenous NVG for the Mi-17 is certified for use, it would be adapted for other helicopters in the IAF’s inventory such as the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited-developed Dhruv and Rudra as well as the upcoming Light Combat Helicopter.

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Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi June 3

In a daredevil act, an Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot rescued a team of armed forces from an altitude of 17,000 feet by hovering his copter over the ground and winching up two persons.

The pilot, flying a Hindustan Aeronautics Limited-manufactured advanced light helicopter (ALH), did not have enough space to land due to soft snow and the rescue window due to the prevailing weather was narrow.

Sources said such a winching operation at 17,000 feet was rare and it was carried out in north Sikkim on May 8. Winching is done by sending down a specialised cable that is harnessed to the survivor on the ground, who is then winched up to the copter.

It all began on May 7 when an IAF Mi17V5 crashed in north Sikkim at a height of 17,000 feet where even the mid-May temperature hovers below the freezing level. All six on board, including the two pilots, miraculously survived.

There was no option of a rescue as the weather was bad.

Early on May 8, the ALH flown by Wing Commander Ajay Chauhan took off. Accompanying him were two Cheetah helicopters of the Army Aviation. The area had received fresh snow in the night and there were chances of reduced vision during the operation. The Cheetah, a single-engine copter, can carry less load than a twin-engined ALH. The two Cheetahs landed at a nearby place and evacuated four of the survivors.

Two survivors still remained on the ground and had to be moved out immediately as there were chances of fresh snow. The ALH pilot analysed that the 2.5-tonne copter could not land at the site due to the soft snow and winching was the only option left. Displaying rare courage, the pilot carried out the operation was successfully.

New Delhi, June 2

The Defence Ministry has conveyed to the three armed forces to “regularise the absence period” of their personnel who could not join duty because of the coronavirus-induced lockdown, according to an official communication.

The absence period of such personnel would now be considered as “special casual leave”, it said.

A large number of armed forces personnel who were on leave or away from their duty base could not join work due to the lockdown that has been in place since March 25 to contain the spread of coronavirus.

“I am directed to convey the sanction of the President to regularise the absence period on account of ‘lockdown’ due to orders of the Central government/state government/local authorities/service headquarters on account of anti-COVID-19 measures as special casual leave in respect to Army/Navy/Air Force personnel,” a Defence Ministry official said in a letter to the chiefs of the three armed forces.

“Personnel are permitted to utilise the fastest available means of travel (as per their entitled class/mode) so as to return to their units at the earliest, post-lifting of lockdown,” the official said.

The letter stated the grant of the special casual leave must not have any impact on current leave entitlement and permissible service of the personnel.

Nearly two lakh people have been infected and over 5,500 people killed by coronavirus in India till now. PTI

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Media reports emanating from China indicate that PLA troops have been holding night-time high-altitude exercises in Tibetan Plateau to ‘infiltrate behind the enemy lines’

Arun Joshi

Jammu, June 3

China is preparing for a massive infiltration into Eastern Ladakh amid nearly a month-long standoff between Chinese and Indian troops at the Himalaya heights where both sides claim that it is their territory.

Media reports emanating from China have indicated that the PLA troops have been holding night-time high-altitude exercises in Tibetan Plateau to “infiltrate behind the enemy lines”.

This is an unmistakable hint towards the Indian positions along the LAC in eastern Ladakh that lie adjacent to Tibetan plateau. It is for the first time that China has served such a warning of infiltration to India.

The Global Times that reflects Chinese official viewpoint and policy wrote in Wednesday’s edition that these exercises were held recently and broadcast by CCTV on Monday. The report’s opening paragraph summed up the plans of the People’s Liberation Army.

It read: “The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Tibet Military Command recently sent troops to a high-altitude region at an elevation of 4,700 metres at night for infiltration exercises behind enemy lines and tested their combat capability under a harsh environment.”

“At 1 am at an undisclosed date, a PLA scout unit began to mobilise towards its target in the Tanggula Mountains.” The Tanggula mountain range is adjacent to the Changthang region of Ladakh rich with lakes.

“During the march, vehicles turned off their lights and used night vision devices to avoid hostile drone reconnaissance, China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Monday, the Global Times reported.

The newspaper gave the graphic details of the exercises and the techniques it used. The PLA also used drones.

They engaged in combat when approaching the target, for which they sent a sniper unit to crack enemy spotlights and a fire strike team to destroy enemy light-armoured vehicles with anti-tank rockets.

After neutralising the defences, the scout unit successfully launched the final assault on the enemy headquarters, in which commanders used a vehicle-mounted infrared reconnaissance system and guided the troops to lock in on targets and deliver fire strikes.

More than 2,000 munitions, including mortar shells, rifle grenades and rockets, were fired during the mock battle, Ma Qian, commander of the scout battalion involved in the drills, told CCTV, according to the newspaper.

It could be a subtle message to India and also to the world that China is better trained and in control of the situation or it is looking for a similar response from Delhi to its preparations in the high altitudes.

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Our Correspondent

Anantnag, June 3

Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) top IED expert Abdul Rehman, alias Fauji Bhai, who was an Afghan war participant and mastermind behind the recently foiled Pulwama 2.0 bid, was killed in a gunfight with security forces today. Two local militants were also killed.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Vijay Kumar termed Abdul Rehman’s killing as a huge success for the security forces. “Hailing from Multan in Pakistan, Rehman had been active in Kashmir since 2017,” Kumar said.

Police sources said the other two militants killed in the gunfight were locals named Javed Zargar of Rangmulla and Manzoor Kar of Sirnoo.

Today’s gunfight, which took place in the Kangan area of Pulwama district, was second in as many days in the south Kashmir district. Two JeM militants were killed on Tuesday morning in the Tral area. A senior police official said a cordon and search operation was launched in Astan Mohalla of Kangan on Wednesday morning following a tipoff.

“The house where the militants were holed up was zeroed in on and the militants asked to surrender. They, however, opened fire and were neutralised in the ensuing gunfight,” the official said.

75 militants killed this year: IGP

• According to Kashmir IGP Vijay Kumar, 75 militants have been killed this year so far
• “Two IED experts of the JeM are still active in Kashmir. They have been identified as Waleed Bhai and Lambu Bhai,” he added
• He said present JeM chief Abdullah Rashid Ghazi would also be killed or arrested soon

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Serviceew Delhi, June 3

As senior military commanders of India and China are scheduled to meet on June 6, India is readying agenda points aimed at seeking restoration of status quo ante along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh.

These points will be finalised in consultation with Director General Military Operations, the Northern Command and the Leh-based 14 Corps.

Edit: India-China talks

Sources said the Army would ask the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China to withdraw from “Finger 4” area in the north of Pangong Tso and Gogra on the edge of a flat plateau called Hot Springs.

Both sides have varying perception of the LAC in these areas. At one of the spots, the difference is around 10 km.

As per the existing framework of LAC management between India and China, troops of either side do not hold ground in disputed areas along the LAC. They come for patrol and return.

In Galwan, the third point of tension between the two armies, India is very clear that China has to vacate its newly occupied positions. The Line of Actual Control is not disputed here. India has conveyed to China that its troops were in the areas that were never disputed.

India can either pressure China by carving out a new position of its own along the LAC or reason out with it to withdraw. There are no posts in the area. Only patrolling is done here.

India will also seek that the heavy armour and artillery guns, which China has moved to various locations in the Aksai Chin area or all along the 826-km-long Line of Actual Control, be moved back.

Sources said the conduct of the June 6 meeting would be on the Chinese side of the Chushul-Moldo meeting point. Chushul is on the Indian side, while Moldo is on the Chinese side. These are around 2 km apart.

As per protocol, the visiting commander gets to read out his points first, followed by the host’s points. The points are then discussed and minutes of the meeting prepared by each side.

Govt clams up on border standoff

New Delhi: There was no comment from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on the standoff which has entered the third week. It had last spoken on the issue on May 21. China too has been reticent on speaking on the issue. A question on the standoff has frequently failed to figure at its Foreign Office’s briefings. On Wednesday, it repeated its earlier formulation: “There have been sound mechanisms and channels of communication…’’ External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar too has stayed away from webinars. TNS