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Gave ‘wrong info’ for high pension, retired Maj Gen faces court martial

New Delhi, March 9

A retired Major General is facing court martial after the Army found that he had produced wrong information to avail a higher disability pension, official sources said today.

The officer was serving in the Military Training Directorate until he retired in August 2017. The disciplinary proceedings against the retired officer are being initiated under the provisions of the Army Act.

The Army has mentioned four charges against him, including furnishing of wrong information that led to him receiving a high disability pension post-retirement. Officers, soldiers are entitled for an extra pension, which is non-taxable, if they meet with an injury during service. The officer had claimed that he had met with an accident in 2010. — PTI


Pulwama attack threatens to rattle Indo-Pak relations

Pulwama attack threatens to rattle Indo-Pak relations

The debris at the spot after the explosion at Lethpora in Pulwama on Thursday. Tribune photo: Amin War

Arun Joshi

Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 14

Today’s terror incident on the Srinagar-Jammu highway in which nearly 40 CRPF men were killed in a suicide attack by a Jaish-e-Mohammad recruit of Pulwama district in south Kashmir has brought forth the dangerous situation that spotlights Kashmir and the ramifications of which are likely to travel beyond the borders. The toll is the highest-ever in the state.

The toll is more than that of the 2002 Kaluchak (near Jammu) massacre in which more than 30 soldiers, their wives and children were killed in May 2002 when the Indian and Pakistan armies were in an eyeball- to-eyeball position following the December 13, 2001, terror attack on Parliament.

The attack carried out by a local youth, Adil, of Kakpora is not purely local as the Jaish-e-Mohammad group that owned the responsibility for it has its policy and planning headquarters in Pakistan protected by Rawalpindi.

The attack has come less than a fortnight after Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke of fight to finish against terrorism during his visit to the state early this month. He had specifically mentioned how the Indian forces had subdued terrorism by undertaking surgical strikes against Pakistan after the attack in Uri in September 2016. In the Uri incident, 20 soldiers were killed by Lashkar militants.

Governor Satya Pal Malik has traced the attack to inimical forces across the border, as he said, “Visibly it seems to be guided from across the border as the Jaish has claimed the responsibility for it.” He also vowed to finish the inimical forces. That is an indication of intensified counter-terrorism in the coming days and a robust response to Pakistan’s provocations on the Line of Control that separates Jammu and Kashmir from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

The Jaish-e-Mohammad outfit claimed the responsibility for the attack to spotlight its exploits and to raise the level of confrontation between India and Pakistan which were paving a path of peace and reconciliation with the Kartarpur corridor. The problem, however, is that the so-called non-state actors have the protection and patronage of state actors. No action was taken against Masood Azhar even after the terror assault on the Pathankot airbase in the opening days of 2016.

Former J&K Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah had warned the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government of the consequences of setting free Masood Azhar, then with Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, and two others in exchange of the passengers and crew of the hijacked airliner IC-814 parked in Kandahar on December 31, 1999.

He had told Vajpayee and LK Advani that it would cost many more lives than were at the stake at that moment. His prophecy has turned out to be true time and again since then.

Within weeks of his release, Azhar founded Jaish-e-Mohammad and mounted severe suicide attacks at prominent places — the first was a car suicide bombing by a local youth outside the gate of Badami Bagh cantonment, Srinagar, resulting in more than 20 deaths in April 2000. The attacks on the Legislative Assembly on October 1, 2001, and Parliament in December 13, 2001, were joint operations by Jaish and Lashkar militant outfits.

Social media is already abuzz with calls for revenge and the government would be judged by the retaliation standards that it claims to have set with the surgical strikes in response to the Uri attack. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has already warned: “Terrorists will be given a unforgettable lesson for their heinous act.”

 


Amid Rise in Tensions, IAF to Equip Su-30MKI with Israeli SPICE-2000 Bombs

At present, the IAF’s Mirage-2000 are equipped with the SPICE-2000 bombs and these aircraft were used in the pre-dawn strike on the biggest terror camp of the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in Pakistan recently.

 

 

New Delhi: The Indian Air Force (IAF) is in the process of equipping its Su-30MKI with Israeli SPICE-2000 laser-guided bombs, as part of its effort to make the fighter jets more potent, sources said.

At present, the IAF’s Mirage-2000 are equipped with the SPICE-2000 bombs and these aircraft were used in the pre-dawn strike on the biggest terror camp of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) in Pakistan recently.
“The IAF is in the process of equipping Su-30MKI with Israeli SPICE-2000 bombs, to make the fighter jets more potent,” a source said.
The move comes amid heightened tensions in ties between India and Pakistan.

A fleet of Mirage 2000 deep-penetration fighter jets was chosen for the non-military, preemptive strike on February 26 on the camp of the JeM in Pakistan due to the combat aircraft’s capabilities of hitting long-range targets with “pin-point” accuracy and dropping a range of bombs and missiles, including laser-guided ones, government sources had earlier said.

In a statement released on February 26, foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale had said India struck the JeM’s camp in Balakot and that a very large number of JeM terrorists, trainers, senior commanders and groups of jihadis who were being trained for fidayeen action were eliminated.

The air strike had escalated tensions between the two countries, with New Delhi saying its move was a “non-military and preemptive strike”.

Meanwhile, government sources in New Delhi said on Tuesday that India will have “all options” available in case there is another cross-border terror attack, while maintaining that the counter-terror strikes in Balakot were intended to demonstrate the “capacity and will” to act against terror network in Pakistan.

 


Defence college study group calls on Malik

Jammu, January 29

A group of faculty and course members from the National Defence College led by tour coordinator Banita Devi Naorem called on Governor Satya Pal Malik at Raj Bhawan here on Tuesday.

The group of officers from armed forces and civil services who are on study trip to J&K comprised Brig Satish Dahiya, Air Cdre S Dutta, Brig V Parida, Col Sani Ahmed (Nigerian Army), Brig Sanjeev Kumar, Col Myo Htut Win (Myanmar), Col Brett Paul Chaloner (Australian Army), Brig Yogesh Chaudhary, Brig V S Sekhon, Ponugumatla Ramjee, Cdre Subir Mukherjee, Captain MD Hasan Tarique Mondal (Bangladesh Army) and Brig Ajay Kumar.

During an interaction, the Governor shared his perspective about the Kashmir issue and initiatives taken by his administration in meeting the aspirations of people about investment, environment, tourism potential, education scenario and ongoing developmental programmes in the state. — TNS


IAF pilot Abhinandan returns from Pak via Wagah border, gets hero’s welcome

Handed over by Pak after anxious wait I Reaches Delhi, says happy to be back I The Retreat put off

GS Paul
Tribune News Service
Attari, March 1

After an anxious wait stretching into hours, Wing Commander Abhinandan Vartha-man crossed into India from Pakistan via the Attari-Wagah border at 9.20 pm today. He was received by the BSF DIG, JS Oberoi, and other officials.

“It is good to be back in my country,” was Abhinandan’s first reaction as he set his foot back on Indian soil. He landed in Delhi late at night and was given a rousing welcome at the Palam airport, from where he was taken to a medical facility for examination.

Minutes after Abhinandan was handed over by Pakistan at the Attari-Wagah border, Air Vice Marshal RGK Kapoor told the media that the pilot would be taken for a medical examination.Wing Commander Abhinandan’s MiG-21 was shot and he bailed out after bringing down Pakistan’s F-16 fighter during a dogfight on Wednesday. He was in Pakistan’s custody since then. Pakistan PM Imran Khan had announced on Thursday that Abhinandan would be released on Friday as a “peace gesture”.

The BSF today cancelled The Retreat at the Attari-Wagah joint check-post because of security concerns. The national flags of both countries were lowered in the evening, as per the ritual, but nobody was allowed inside the spectators’ gallery. It is the sixth time that the ceremony has been disrupted. The ceremony was discontinued during the 1965 and 1971 India-Pakistan wars, in 1999 during the Kargil conflict, in 2014 after the blast at Wagah on the Pakistan side of the International Border and post-2016 surgical strikes by India.

Hundreds of mediapersons at the Attari border and millions of Indians remained glued to TV sets and social media accounts through the day, awaiting the pilot’s return.

Made to record video statement

Lahore: The handing over of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was delayed as he was asked to record a statement on camera by Pakistani authorities before he was allowed to cross the border. It was not clear whether he was made to record the video under duress. At 8.30 pm (local time), Pakistan released the pilot’s video message to the local media in which he said as to how he was captured. He said he entered Pakistan’s space to “find a target” but his aircraft was shot down. “Army men saved me from the mob. Pakistani army is very professional,” he said, while criticising the Indian media. PTI

Pak describes wg cdr as ‘prisoner of war’

Islamabad: Pakistan’s Foreign Office on Friday announced the returning of Indian Air Force Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman to India, but described him as a “prisoner of war” (PoW). In a statement issued minutes after the pilot crossed over to India, the FO said, “While in captivity, he was treated with dignity and in line with international law.” “The captured IAF Wing Commander has been returned to India,” it said. PTI


Over two years after launch, war heroes memorial and museum in Amritsar battles poor footfall

 Footfall of tourists is low as awareness about the memorial has not been created. Against the projected average daily footfall of around 5,000, we only get 200 on weekdays and 500-600 on weekends. COL HP SINGH (RETD), project director

AMRITSAR: More than two years after it was inaugurated in October 2016, footfall at the state-of-the-art Punjab State War Heroes Memorial and Museum is bitterly short of expectation. Officials from the Sainik Welfare department, which maintains the memorial, say that average footfall has been around 300 visitors per day since inauguration against the projected 5,000. Amritsar itself sees tourist football of 50,000 each on weekdays and around a lakh on the weekends. The then chief minister Parkash Singh Badal had inaugurated the memorial, with work pending on two of its galleries.

“Footfall of tourists is low as awareness about the memorial has not been created. Against the projected average daily footfall of around 5,000; we only get 200 on weekdays and 500-600 on weekends. Since inauguration, around 2 lakh people have visited the memorial,” said Col HP Singh (retd), project director, of the memorial, spread in 7 acre opposite the India Gate on the GT road.

The ₹150 crore project covers the heroism and sacrifices in Punjab from the days of Alexander the Great to the Kargil War. It also covers the origins of Miri Piri, which evolved at the time of the sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind Singh.

“We are short of funds. Once we get these, we will publicise the memorial properly to increase its footfall,” the Col added. There are nine galleries in the memorial. Visitors have access to only six. Construction work on its fourth gallery, which will depict the battle of Saragarhi, Jallianwala massacre, and battles in the World War-I and II remains suspended.

The eighth gallery, which displays the history of Kargil War in the form of paintings, art work, and two and threedimensional (2D and 3D) projections, is waiting for inauguration. The ninth gallery is meant to inspire the youth to join the armed forces; its status is unclear. “We need ₹1 crore to complete the fourth gallery. However, the Kargil gallery will soon be thrown open. Work will start, once we get funds,” the Col added.

The others six galleries are dedicated to information about Antiquity (ancient times), the era of Guru Hargobind Singh till the rise of the Sikh Empire, the Sikh Empire and the Anglo-Sikh Wars, Jammu & Kashmir Operations (1947-48), Indo-China War (1962), Indo-Pak War (1965-1971) etc.

Another 45-metre high mild steel sword stands in the middle of the memorial. It represents the strength and courage displayed by at least 3,500 Punjab soldiers, while defending the nation. The memorial also has an original Mig -23 and a model of the decommissioned INS Vikrant.

The memorial authorities have also written to the government to sanction ₹60 lakh to inscribe names of 4,000 martyred soldiers, including 54 of Punjab (who have been missing since the first Indo-Pak War (1947-48) on the boundary walls of fountains inside the memorial with stainless steel plates.


MLA: Rs 50-lakh aid for havildar’s kin

MLA: Rs 50-lakh aid for havildar’s kin

Havildar Baljeet Singh (35), who was killed in a gunfight in Jammu and Kashmir recently.

Tribune News Service

Karnal, February 21

Gharaunda MLA and Hafed chairman Harvinder Kalyan on Thursday said the state government would extend a financial assistance of Rs 50 lakh to the family of havildar Baljeet Singh (35), who was killed in a gunfight in Jammu and Kashmir recently.

He said a government job would also be provided to one of members of the martyr’s family. “As per the government policy, Rs 50 lakh will be given to the martyr’s family. The process to provide a government job and naming the government school in the village after Baljeet Singh has already been started,” said the MLA.

 


India steps up defence diplomacy, offers CSRS to more countries

Smita Sharma
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, January 21

India is expanding its Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) and offering the Coastal Surveillance Radar Technology (CSRS) to several countries as it increases its defence diplomacy.

The radar surveillance that was conceived post the 2008 Mumbai attacks to strengthen coastal security through electronically transmitted data and integrated stations has been now offered to some additional 30 countries of which nearly 12 have inked agreements and it is under active implementation in some 10 countries. According to sources, India is now close to commissioning a chain of stations in the island nation of Maldives, which saw the ouster of pro-China autocratic President Yameen in elections last year and a friendly Solih government took shape. Incidentally, Maldives was a major stumbling block for CSRS cleared in 2011.

Maldivian Defence Minister will be in Delhi on an official visit next week and the second round of dialogue mechanism formed at level of Defence secretaries in 2016 will soon happen.

While an older version of the radar stations systems is already functional in Srilanka and Mauritus, the process is under way in Seychelles and capabilities have been offered to Mozambique and Madagascar, said sources. Discussions are also underway with Bangladesh and at an advanced stage with Myanmar which is acquiring military equipments too from India, sources added.

“We have offered this to Thailand. And we have offered a pilot project to Indonesia to develop it for an island, which can be scaled up later,” said an official privy to discussions adding that the White Shipping agreements data will be collated into this integrated system.

Defence sources added that military engagements have increased significantly with West Asian countries.UAE is looking at India as a potential source of defence equipments with some key contracts signed, while India is exploring possibility of a first ever joint army exercise with Egypt.

“Egyptians have strong commitment to counter terrorism, so we hope they will have some spare capacity. Jordan and Morocco are engaging more actively with us,” an official remarked.

However, sources underlined that India is not ready to step up its military exercises at level of Quadrilateral grouping or to include Australia in Malabar exercises despite Canberra’s keenness.

Sources say India would like to see further enhancement of bilateral military ties with Australia which saw Indian Air Force for the first time participate in Exercise Pitch Black last year in Darwin. Meanwhile, procedures have been cleared for India to soon depute a Defence Attache to the US Naval Forces Central Command in Bahrain as was agreed upon during the inaugural Indo-US 2+2 dialogue last year, said sources.


The search for a tailwind by Vivek Katju

The search for a tailwind

A STEPPING STONE: Both governments are bound to come up with infrastructure, but modalities for pilgrims will define the corridor’s success.

Jadhav case will test Pakistan’s intentions for durable peace
Vivek Katju
Ex-secretary, ministry of external affairs

India-Pakistan relations are in the doldrums. There are no tailwinds to propel them, howsoever briefly, in a positive direction; the Kartarpur Sahib corridor ‘fizz’ had the durability of a Navjot Sidhu quip in the larger context of bilateral ties. There is a danger of headwinds arising out of heightened tensions and intense exchanges of fire along the Line of Control (LoC) and the international border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir but neither government would like these winds to gather momentum in the Lok Sabha election season. The Indian media, too, has presently no great appetite for India-Pakistan issues as political matters offer far more lucrative prospects for grabbing eyeballs, though the Kulbhushan Jadhav case hearing at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on February 18-21 may be an exception.

These points made, the present stage of preparations for the Kartarpur Sahib corridor, the situation along the LoC and the IB in J&K and upcoming Kulbhushan Jadhav hearing merit serious attention. So do the verbal volleys hurled by Prime Minister Imran Khan against India and his Indian counterpart as does the sparring between the two foreign ministries on Afghanistan and Pakistan’s Supreme Court’s order on Gilgit-Baltistan.

Both governments will have to put in place the physical infrastructure to enable Indian pilgrims to visit Kartarpur Sahib. A Pakistani official told an Indian newspaper recently that 35 per cent of the work has been done. The first phase, expected to be completed by September, would enable the pilgrimage to commence. Union Minister for Urban Development Hardeep Singh Puri assured the media recently that the main road to the international border and the specific corridor will be completed in a ‘time-bound manner’. There is little doubt that neither government would like to give the other a handle for propaganda on account of incomplete physical works. Hence, infrastructure of some kind will come up.
The more problematic aspect would relate to working out the modalities of the pilgrimage. Indian officials would have to ensure that Pakistan does not misuse the pilgrimage for damaging India’s security and promoting anti-India sentiment, especially by giving free play to Khalistani propaganda. Reports indicate that Pakistan has already given a draft agreement to India, limiting the number of daily pilgrims to 500 in groups of at least 15. The pilgrims would need passports but no visas for India would have to give advance lists of names for Pakistani vetting. Puri has correctly said these issues need to be discussed between the two sides, though according to a section of the media, PM Modi indicated that Indian pilgrims would be able to go to Kartarpur Sahib without visas. In this season of elections, the PM could also not resist implicitly blaming the Congress for allowing Kartarpur for going to Pakistan in 1947, though Puri pointed a finger at an ‘insensitive cartographer’.

India has blamed Pakistan for 2,936 ceasefire violations in 2018, the most since 2003 when both countries agreed to desist from such transgressions. On this New Year’s Day, Pakistan lodged a formal protest against the ‘ruthless’ firing by Indian security forces which killed a woman. Pakistan also claimed ‘ceasefire violations by India are a threat to regional peace and security and may lead to a strategic miscalculation’. India formally protested against Pakistani firing that led to the death of an Indian woman. It also said, ‘We protest Pakistan’s continued support to cross-border terrorist infiltration into India, including supporting cover fire provided by the Pakistani forces.’ Both countries’ statements are in keeping with their traditional positions on the issue.
During the first three weeks of this year, sniper and general firing as well as IEDs have caused fatalities, including those of a BSF Assistant Commandant and an Army Major, besides several civilian deaths. India’s responses have led to Pakistani deaths too. However, the situation, while regrettable, is not alarming and both countries will not allow it to go out of hand, though spikes may take place.

The Jadhav case hearing will be focused on the applicability to the Vienna Convention’s provision of consular access to him in the context of Pakistani charges (clearly false) of espionage and terrorism against him. Pakistan will press the precedence of the bilateral consular agreement over the convention. The case will give India and Pakistani media an occasion to trade charges on terrorism and political actors in both countries will get involved in statements and counter-statements. Pakistan has desisted from publicly giving out the names of the 13 Indians it wants to interrogate in connection with this entire concoction. It is believed that National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and senior R&AW officers figure on the Pakistani list. Will Pakistan show prudence and avoid making the list public? This will be a test of its intentions.

Imran Khan’s invective against the BJP and his uncalled-for allusions against Modi have not been in consonance with his proclaimed desire for a serious dialogue to improve ties. He told a US newspaper that the BJP has ‘an anti-Muslim and anti-Pakistan’ approach. He was critical of India’s treatment of its minorities. He also said the Indian elections prevented a dialogue. Modi has done well to reiterate that the resumption of the full dialogue process depends on Pakistan giving up terror.

In a far-reaching order, the Pakistan Supreme Court upheld that Gilgit-Baltistan can be given the status of a provisional province of Pakistan through a Presidential order and in so doing, Pakistan will not be in violation of UN resolutions. In reality this seeks to permanently change the area’s status. India has correctly rejected the move and recalled that it is Indian territory in Pakistan’s continued illegal occupation. The Pakistani step requires detailed attention.


Army displays equipment in ‘Know our forces’ event

Army displays equipment in ‘Know our forces’ event

Equipment displayed for children and youth of Ludhiana at the Dholewal Military Station. Tribune Photo

Ludhiana, January 18

An equipment display was organised for children and youth of Ludhiana at Dholewal Military Station today. The theme of the event was ‘Know our forces’ and the aim was to deepen a sense of patriotism and motivate the children to join Armed Forces.

The equipment display was inaugurated by Brigadier Manish Arora, Station Commander, Ludhiana Military Station. The event was well received by the students and NCC cadets who attended the event.

A motivational lecture showcasing the ethos, achievements, and values of the Indian Army was also conducted during the event. The equipment display was in continuation with Military Band display at Khanna and a mini-marathon for children at Jagraon on January 15. — TNS

Vajra Air Defence Brigade showcases equipment

LUDHIANA : The army’s Vajra Air Defence Brigade organised an ‘Equipment Display’ for children and youths of the district at the Dholewal military station here on Friday under the theme ‘Know Our Forces’. The aim of the event was to deepen the sense of patriotism and motivate the children to join armed forces.

HT PHOTO■ Army personnel demonstrating equipment to schoolchildren at Dholewal Military Station in Ludhiana on Friday.

The event was inaugurated by Brigadier Manish Arora, station commander of the station.

The event was well received by students and NCC cadets. A motivational lecture on ethos, achievements and values of the army was also delivered during the event.

The display was in continuation of the military band display in Khanna and a mini marathon for children at Jagraon on January 15.