A student takes a selfie in front of the statue of Indian pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman (2R), put on display at Pakistan Air Force Museum in Karachi on November 12, 2019. — AFP

Karachi, November 13

Pakistan has displayed a mannequin resembling Indian Air Force pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who downed its jet during an aerial combat and was held captive for three days, in an exhibit at a museum run by the Pakistan Air Force in Karachi, according to a media report.

Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan this week inaugurated an entire new section of Pakistan Air Force Museum where a mannequin painted to resemble Varthaman with his singature handlebar moustache has been put on display, the Express Tribune reported.

Close to his statue are placed a tea mug and the fuselage and tail of Varthaman’s aircraft, MiG-21.   

The gallery named “Operation Swift Retort”  also contains images re-enacting the moment  Varthaman’s aircraft was shot down, and photographs showing him being handed back to India at the Wagah border crossing.

Varthaman was captured by the Pakistani Army on February 27 after his MiG-21 Bison jet was shot down in a dogfight with Pakistani jets during aerial combat.

Before his jet was hit, he downed an F-16 fighter of Pakistan. He was released on the night of March 1 by Pakistan.

Varthaman, who showed courage and grace in handling the most difficult circumstances, was conferred the Vir Chakra, India’s third-highest war time gallantry medal. — PTI 

The opening of the Kartarpur corridor connecting devotees to their cherished shrine marks a new beginning. Another man-made border has fallen, albeit only for a narrow passage and specific purpose, on the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. The Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan inaugurated their end of the facilities. The former saw off the first batch of devotees that included former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, ministers and others. The latter received them. The twain, expectedly, did not meet, but worked in coordination.

The tremendous enthusiasm among the devotees has left great goodwill, which could well be used as political capital to bridge the vast chasm that exists between India and Pakistan. Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Imran Khan both spoke on the occasion. The momentum of the occasion, coming as it does on the eve of the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, was not enough to set aside differences and discord for the moment, even as Imran Khan raked up the Kashmir issue. In focus was the vast infrastructure built at break-neck speed to facilitate the pilgrimage, and the spirit of the people who were getting a chance to visit the land of their prayers.

The road to the Kartarpur corridor has gone through many twists and turns. It has somehow survived the vicissitudes of Indo-Pak relations. However, the danger of the hijacking of what has become a bridge between two peoples will remain. The security agencies have flagged a number of concerns, and due attention has to be paid to them. The piety of the devotees should be allowed to be a balm that heals the rifts, not be exploited, or allowed to be exploited. Due care will have to be taken by the security agencies, and any attempt to subvert the spirit of Kartarpur would have to be nipped in the bud. The 4-km journey to Kartarpur has taken 72 years to traverse. In consonance with the teachings of Guru Nanak, let it showcase the triumph of hope and goodwill between fellow beings.

http://

Tribune News Service
Gurdaspur, November 9

On Kartarpur stage, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Saturday warmed Pakistan asking the neighbouring country to stop interfering in Kashmir and Punjab.

He said: “We will retaliate. We are not wearing bangles.”

Capt had on Wednesday also stuck to his stand that India needed to be cautious of the hidden agenda of the Pakistan Army.

Referring to the official song released by the Pakistan government, welcoming Sikh pilgrims, which have posters of Sikh separatist leaders like Jarnail Singh Bhinderanwale and Amrik Singh Khalsa, besides Maj Gen Shabeg Singh, in the background, the Chief Minister said: “On one hand Pakistan shows love and on the other they do this. This is very inappropriate.”

A video song, which was on Wednesday released by Pakistan government prior to the opening of the Kartarpur corridor, has run into a controversy as it showed Khalistani separatist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale amongst other leaders.

The video song had been released by Pakistan’s Ministry of Information & Broadcasting on November 4.

As the video of ex- Adjutant General, Lt Gen Ashwani Kumar’s recent interview to a private news channel was being repeatedly shared on social media, a disgruntled viewer commented if it is the worst time to be a soldier or rather a veteran. AG’s statements have not gone down too well within the fraternity. The last couple of years have been tough for the soldiers of the Indian Army, serving and retired both, for the reasons we all are well aware of. The AHQ seems highly insecure and has ended being up and against its very own soldiers. Why?

Nothing justifies treacherously targeting their brother officers and taking away their hard-earned honour. With seemingly strong leadership, we expected the Indian Army to further strengthen the force to reckon with! An army that believed in itself and its soldiers.

An army where every family felt secure and well cared for! An army where the trust in the organization ran several notches higher than the God himself! But what we get to see is a deeply resentful army. Peeved at the way some decisions have been taken, restrictions issued, without taking into consideration that it would impact the morale of the soldier on the ground; many soldiers have taken to social media to express their disappointments. From demonizing the disabled soldiers to intemperate statements in media to the down gradation of our soldiers who defended the sovereignty of the nation to unfounded allegations to having a code of conduct for our veterans, demeaning our men in Olive greens seems to be the flavor of the season.

In the name of restructuring the army, the soldiers are being hit where it hurts the most. A deep divide is being made between the serving and the retired, the top brass and the junior ranks. Indian army is no longer one big happy family, it used to be. And that is where the biggest damage lies. In times when the country is facing threats from in and outside, shouldn’t it be our priority to be well prepared and comprehensively improve the morale of our soldiers to ensure they come back as winners whenever; whatever the situation is! For this, greater involvement of veterans will come handy. Imagine a group of highly skilled workforce deeply rooted in the military ethos, mutual respect and their commitment towards the organization which goes beyond any financial gain. Shunning them will certainly not help.

No, it is not the worst time to be a soldier. It cannot be. We should not let views of a select few deter us. We cannot. And I will quote the famous Urdu poet Rahat Indori Sahab, here- 

“Jo aaj saahibe masnad hain kal nahin honge

Kiraaydaar hain zaati makaan thodi hai”

We should aim to become a major global military power. Enhancing Defence capabilities should be our focus area.

Soldiers are trained to be a part of something greater than themselves and for them, nothing is greater than their country. The onus lies on the top brass of our coveted organization to stop sending such adverse messages and treat the entire fraternity as a family.

Concerns regarding the honour and dignity of soldiers can certainly not be resolved until the officers in the higher ranks of the Indian Army remain indifferent and apathetic. Together we can and we will become the best military power in the world. Othering each other will only strengthen the enemies of the organization, address the soldiers, address the issue, don’t let it simmer. Let the country before self, be our cementing factor.

Best is yet to be.

Jai Hind.

http://

http://

Militants lobbed a grenade in a busy market in the heart of the city, killing one person on Monday, almost three months since the Kashmir Valley shut down in response to the Centre revoking the special status of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, police said.

At least 13 people were injured in the grenade attack, the second in less than a month, and were rushed to the nearby SMHS hospital where the condition of two is critical, officials said. The attack took place at 1.20 pm, a time the Hari Singh High Street market was crowded with people and roadside vendors.

On October 12, militants injured five people in a similar grenade attack in the area.

Security forces have cordoned off the area.

Traffic was scarce in the city with the capital of the newly created union territory of Jammu and Kashmir shifting to Jammu for the winter.

On August 5, the Centre announced the revocation of the erstwhile state’s special status under Article 370 and the bifurcation of the state into two union territories, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

On Monday, almost three months to the day, normal life remained disturbed.

Shops and other business establishments opened early in the morning but downed their shutters around 12 noon due to fewer customers following shifting of the capital to Jammu as part of bi-annual ‘darbar move’, officials said.

While public transport was off the roads in most parts of the Valley, the movement of private vehicles in the city was less than usual as a large number of government employees have shifted base to Jammu.

A large number of roadside vendors set up their stalls on the TRC crossing-Batamaloo axis in the city but the number of customers was less, the officials said.

Efforts of the state government to open schools have not borne any fruit as parents continue to keep the children at home due to apprehensions about their safety. However, board examinations for Classes 10 and 12 are going on according to schedule.

Landline and postpaid mobile phone services have been restored across the valley, but all internet services continue to remain suspended since August 5.

Most top level and second rung separatist politicians have been taken into preventive custody while mainstream leaders including two former chief ministers—Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti—have been either detained or placed under house arrest.

The government has detained Farooq Abdullah, former chief minister and sitting Lok Sabha MP from Srinagar, under the controversial Public Safety Act, a law enacted by his father and National Conference founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah in 1978 when he was chief minister. PTI

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 1

The Air Force’s MiG-27 strike aircraft would fly into the sunset on the last day of this year, bringing to an end the era of ‘swing-wing’ fighters in the IAF.

IAF sources said the fleet is formally being retired on December 31 and a ceremony is being organised at the Jodhpur airbase, where the last remaining MiG-27 outfit, No.29 Squadron, also called Scorpions, is based. Besides squadron officers, other IAF serving and retired personnel who have been associated with the aircraft are expected to attend the event.

Nicknamed Bahadur in India, the Soviet origin MiG-27 was inducted into the IAF in 1984 and over the years served seven operational squadrons and other combat training and tactics-evaluation establishments. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) built 165 of these aircraft and in 2004, HAL began upgrading some of these aircraft, christened MiG-27 UPG, to enhance their combat capability and extend their service life.

Armed with rockets, bombs and air-to-surface missiles, the aircraft formed an important element of the IAF’s ground attack and tactical close support capability. They had last seen active combat in the sub-continent during the 1999 Kargil conflict when these were used, with limited effect though, to launch aerial attacks on enemy positions along the Line of Control.

While the upgraded version continued in service, the IAF began retiring the earlier ‘M’ and ‘ML’ variants a few years ago. The last ML versions were decommissioned in 2017 at the Hashimara airbase in North-East. Over the past few years the fleet, due to its age, was facing a serious serviceability problem. Like the MiG-21, India is among the last nations to operate the MiG-27. The remaining MiG-21s are expected to serve for another about four years.

No swing-wing jet in iaf’s inventory 

• The IAF’s tryst with swing-wing aircraft began in 1981 with the MiG-23, which came in two versions the ‘BN’ for ground attack and the ‘MF’ for air defence
• The MiG-23s were decommissioned in 2009 from the Halwara airbase in Punjab. With the MiG-27 also retiring, there will be no more swing-wing aircraft

http://

Tribune Web Desk
Chandigarh, October 31

‘Age is indeed just a number’, and the Indian Air Force proved it by sharing an inspirational video of retired Air Marshal PV Iyer, who turned 90-years-old, hitting the gym.

PV Iyer, who is an active sportsperson, is also known as the ‘Running Air Marshal’ in the IAF.

The Indian Air Force wished the retired Air Marshal a “joyous occasions”.

In a tweet, on Wednesday, IAF wrote: “It’s heartening to see the enthusiasm of Air Mshl PV Iyer (Retd), a nonagenarian. Air Mshl has been a source of inspiration to many, he is an active sportsperson & has proven that ‘Age is indeed just a number’, we wish you a very happy 90th birthday & many more joyous

http://

Ravi Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Pathankot, October 28

Prime Minister Narendra Modi flew in to the Pathankot Air Force base from Rajouri yesterday afternoon and distributed sweets to soldiers after getting the barricading placed between him and the air personal removed in his endeavour to have a direct interaction. The PM also had a look at the newly inducted state-of-the-art Apache helicopters in his brief 30 minute interaction.

Modi surprised many when he asked the Special Protection Group (SPG), which provides him with security cover, to keep aside the barricade saying “soldiers were his family members and there was no need to separate him from them.”

He also distributed sweets to celebrate Diwali.

The PM was accompanied by Army Chief Bipin Rawat, Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Ranbir Singh and Pathankot Station Commander Air Commodore IT Kurien. The PM also inspected the fleet of Apache choppers which was formally inducted into the force on September 3 during a ceremony presided over by then Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa.

The PM’s visit was kept under wraps and even top district administration officials were not kept in the loop. Deputy Commissioner Ramvir claimed that he had no knowledge of the PM’s trip.

Meanwhile, sources disclosed that ever since eight cutting edge Apache helicopters were brought to the air base, security threat has gone up considerably.

“The Integrated Perimeter Security System (IPSS) is being deployed in the air base. It will be in place by December and later it will also be deployed at five other bases across the country considered to be critical. The base is under intense scrutiny of the authorities, particularly after a report of the Parliamentary standing committee on Defense in 2017 which did not speak well about it,” said a source

The IPSS will include a smart fence, surveillance systems, thermal cameras, motion detectors and a central control and command centre. On January 2, 2016, the air base was attacked by four Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists. They gunned down seven security men before being annihilated in a 48-hour-long operation.