Donald Trump. Reuters file

Washington, January 2

The United States has suspended its USD 255 million military aid to Pakistan for now, the White House has confirmed, saying the fate of such assistance will depend on Islamabad’s response to terrorism on its soil.The confirmation comes on the same day when US President Donald Trump accused Pakistan of giving nothing to the US but “lies and deceit” and providing “safe haven” to terrorists in return for USD 33 billion aid over the last 15 years.“The United States does not plan to spend the USD 255 million in FY 2016 in Foreign Military Financing for Pakistan at this time,” a senior administration official told PTI on condition of anonymity.“The President has made clear that the US expects Pakistan to take decisive action against terrorists and militants on its soil, and that Pakistan’s actions in support of the South Asia Strategy will ultimately determine the trajectory of our relationship, including future security assistance,” he said.

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The US administration continued to review Pakistan’s level of cooperation, the official said.Earlier in the day, US President Donald Trump, in his first tweet of the New Year, blasted the Pakistan leadership by saying that they had given America “nothing but lies and deceit” despite having received more than USD 33 billion in the last 15 years.“They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!” Trump said, clearly indicating that Pakistan would no longer receive any security aid from the US till the time it saw a change in behaviour from them in fight against terrorism.Within hours, the Pakistani Defence Ministry fired back alleging that it had got “nothing but invective and mistrust” for all the actions it took in support of America’s war against terrorism.“Pak as anti-terror ally has given free to US: land & air communication, military bases & intel cooperation that decimated Al-Qaeda over last 16yrs, but they have given us nothing but invective & mistrust. They overlook cross-border safe havens of terrorists who murder Pakistanis,” the Pakistan Defence Ministry said in a tweet.Trump who returned to the White House from Mar-a-Lago in Florida where he spent his Christmas and New Year vacation did not respond to shouted questions from reporters on “what is your plan on Pakistan?”Several US lawmakers came out in support of Trump adopting a tough approach on Pakistan.“I support the decision today by President Trump to end aid to Pakistan,” Republican Congressman Markwayne Mullin from Oklahoma said.“You’re either with the US, or against us. We will always help our friends, but for too long, the US has propped up countries that do not share our goal to end terrorism. I’m proud to see our President take bold steps to put America first,” Mullin said.“I couldn’t agree more,” tweeted Senator Rand Paul from Kentucky. “I’ve been fighting to end aid to Pakistan for years and will again lead the charge in the Senate,” said Paul.Samantha Vinograd, CNN’s national security analyst spoke in favour of Trump’s move.“As a way to make it clear to the Pakistanis that enough is enough, if President Trump actually follows through, it could be an effective move,” she said in an opinion piece published on the CNN website.“It isn’t the only step by any means, but it could be the right one,” she said.“Great start. Why give millions to countries who would harbour our enemies?” Trump’s son Donald Trump Jr tweeted on Monday. PTI

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, January 1      

India on Monday exchanged its list of nuclear installations with Pakistan under a non-aggression treaty signed by the two neighbour that prevents them from carrying out surprise attacks on the other’s nuclear facilities.

In a press statement on Monday, the Ministry of External Affairs said that this was the 27th such exchange between the neighbours since the treaty — called Agreement on the Prohibition of Attack against Nuclear Installations — was signed between then Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and Pakistan’s Benazir Bhutto on December 31, 1988.

The list is usually exchanged on January 1. The agreement came into force on January 27, 1991.

The first such exchange took place on January 1, 1992.

Capt Amarinder Singh. File photo

Chandigarh, December 22

The year 2017 saw Congress storming to power in Punjab and the Amarinder Singh-led dispensation announcing a slew of measures on austerity and ending red tape and the drug menace.Putting up its second best performance after 1992, the Congress won 77 seats in the 117-member Assembly while the SAD-BJP alliance was relegated to third spot with 18 seats.The AAP-LIP grouping secured 22 seats.After guiding the party to victory, 75-year-old Amarinder Singh was sworn-in as the state’s 26th chief minister along with nine ministers, including Navjot Singh Sidhu and Manpreet Singh Badal.The winning streak of the Congress continued during the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha by-election and civic polls.Amarinder Singh claimed “empty coffers” remained the main challenge for his government even as the opposition parties– the SAD, the BJP and the AAP–charged the new regime with reneging on poll promises, including implementation of farm debt waiver and smartphones.The Congress, which promised to end all kinds of mafia in the state, found itself in a tight spot when one of the cabinet ministers Rana Gurjit Singh faced allegations of impropriety in the multi-crore sand mining, forcing Amarinder to set up a one-man commission to probe the charges.Amarinder had also to deal with his bete noire–Rajya Sabha MP Partap Singh Bajwa–who fired a salvo against him alleging that he was “not acting” against some Akali leaders.Though Amarinder downplayed Bajwa’s displeasure saying he had no idea what grudge the MP was nurturing, he was often of the view that he was waiting for evidence to act against those guilty.After assuming charge, Amarinder took over 100 decisions, including announcing the end to VIP culture by deciding to stop use of red and other coloured beacon lights, besides a two-year ban on foreign travel of all ministers.His government also announced the formation of a Special Task Force (STF) under the leadership of ADGP Harpreet Sidhu to tackle the drug menace.Sidhu’s continuation as a celebrity-judge in a TV show also came under cloud during the year. However, Punjab’s Advocate General did not find any conflict of interest between Sidhu’s office as state cabinet minister and his work on television shows.After the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat fell vacant following the death of actor and politician Vinod Khanna in April, the Congress put up its senior leader Sunil Jakhar who handed down a crushing defeat to BJP candidate Swaran Salaria from the constituency which was considered a stronghold of the saffron party.The AAP chose to appoint Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann as chief of its state unit as part of an organisational revamp.But the party faced a setback when former convenor of the state unit Gurpreet Singh Waraich resigned from its primary membership.AAP MLA and noted Supreme Court lawyer HS Phoolka gave up the post of the Leader of Opposition in the Punjab assembly for fighting 1984 anti-Sikh riot cases. Later, the AAP chose Sukhpal Khaira as leader of opposition.However, the firebrand Khaira was summoned by a court in October in a drug case which he termed as “planned political vendetta” against him for raising voice against sand mining.The state also witnessed murders of two Dera Sacha Sauda followers in Khanna, a priest, RSS leader Ravinder Gosain in Ludhiana and Hindu outfit leader Vipan Sharma in Amritsar.In the later part of the year, Punjab Police claimed to have solved targeted killing cases, including the sensational murder of RSS Jagdish Gagneja with the arrest of five accused, including a British national. The state police blamed Pakistan’s spy agency ISI for hatching a conspiracy to destabilise the state.The stubble-burning issue also attained political overtones when Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal sought a meeting with Amarinder to discuss it.But Amarinder refused to meet the AAP leader while asking him to refrain from trying to “politicize” such a serious issue and sought intervention of the Centre to resolve crop residue burning problem.On the vexed Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue, Amarinder sought its resolution through negotiations with Haryana even as the opposition party in Haryana INLD vowed to undertake digging of the canal.However, several leaders of the party were stopped from marching into Punjab in February.During his visit to Amritsar in December, London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the British government should apologise for the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar, calling it a tragedy one “must never forget”. PTI

Moga, December 16

A 52-year-old former Army man was allegedly beaten to death by some unidentified persons at Maur Nau Abaad village in Baghapurana sub-division of the district, the police said.The body of Gurbachan Singh was recovered from the outskirts of the village. His brother Harjit Singh said he had gone the village gurdwara in the morning and later his body was found. The police said a case of murder under Section 302 had been registered against unknown persons. — TNS

The apex court said the Constitution Bench would commence final hearing from January 17 on the petition challenging the Aadhaar scheme itself.

New Delhi, December 15The Supreme Court on Thursday extended till March 31 next year the deadline for mandatory linking of Aadhaar with various services and welfare schemes.A five-judge Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, in an interim order, also modified its earlier order with regard to linking of Aadhaar with mobile services and said the deadline of February 6 next year for this purpose also stood extended till March 31.The bench, which also comprised Justices AK Sikri, AM Khanwilkar, DY Chandrachud and Ashok Bhushan, said that for opening new bank accounts, an applicant would not be required to provide Aadhaar number to the bank.

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However, the applicant would have to show the proof to the bank that he/she had applied for the Aadhaar number, Justice Chandrachud, who wrote the unanimous interim order, said.The apex court said the Constitution Bench would commence final hearing from January 17 on the petition challenging the Aadhaar scheme itself.On Thursday, Attorney General KK Venugopal had submitted before the top court that the deadline of mandatory linking of Aadhaar with various services and welfare schemes could also be extended up to March 31 next year.Recently, a nine-judge constitution bench of the apex court had held that Right to Privacy was a Fundamental Right under the Constitution. Several petitioners challenging the validity of Aadhaar had claimed it violated privacy rights.Some petitioners in the top court have termed the linking of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) number with bank accounts and mobile numbers as “illegal and unconstitutional”. PTI

Punjab CM Amarinder Singh addresses the gathering during the two-day national meet, organised by The Tribune Employees Union, at Chandigarh University, Gharuan on Saturday. NITIN MITTAL

Tribune News Service

Mohali, December 9

“I only got love from the media. In the past around 50 years, I never complained that somebody wrote anything against me,” said Capt Amarinder Singh smilingly while addressing the gathering at a two-day national meet, organised by The Tribune Employees Union in association with the Confederation of Newspapers and News Agencies Employees Organisations at Chandigarh University in Gharuan here today.Saying that he always shared warm relations with the Press, the Punjab Chief Minister said the Congress government was against any kind of media censorship. “We want competition to grow. So people get news as they should be getting it, “said the CM, who was the chief guest at the first day of the meet.Nearly 120 delegates representing various newspapers and news agencies across the country are participating in the meet to discuss several key issues, including latest challenges before the newspaper industries and their employees, safety and security of field journalists, constitution of new wage board etc.Going down the memory lane when he was in the Army, Capt Amarinder Singh shared his experiences with the participants how they used to anxiously wait for newspapers while camping in Army bases.The CM added that the main challenges before the newspaper industry included social media, inclination of children towards Internet and TV and declining habits of reading among new generation. “Besides, it is your (journos) responsibility to present the news in the right way,” he said.Capt Amarinder also touched on the poor financial health of the state, claiming that the Punjab has no money for its schools, colleges, roads, hospitals etc. “We are doing our best to put the state back on track,” said the Chief Minister while making it clear that he would not stop the screening of the controversial film ‘Padmavati’ in the state.Earlier, after welcoming the CM, Anil Gupta, president, The Tribune Employees’ Union, apprised him of various issues/challenges related to the mediapersons.Demanding introduction of a national media safety law, the speakers, included Anil Gupta, MS Yadav, general secretary of the confederation and SN Sinha of the IJU, touched on various issues of newspaper employees, freedom of press, recent attacks on journalists, setting up a media commission, curbs on certain electronic channels by the previous government, abolishment of contract system, constitution of new wage board here etc. A souvenir of the Tribune Employees Union was also released on the occasion.Among those present were Mohali MLA Balbir Singh Sidhu, CU Chancellor Satnam Singh Sandhu, the Punjab Chief Minister’s media advisor Raveen Thukral, president of the Indian Journalists Union KB Pandit and president of the All India Newspaper Employees Federation SD Thakur.

120 delegates take part in meet on press issues

• Nearly 120 delegates representing various newspapers and news agencies across the country are participating in the meet to discuss several key issues, including latest challenges before the newspaper industries and their employees, safety and security of field journalists, constitution of new wage board etc.

Revelations of unsavoury truths and unfair dealings involving the armed forces have created ripples in the literary circles over the years. Books highligting corruption, strategic failures, political blunders, besides tell-all autobiographies have always stoked reader interest. Here’s a peep into some of the significant volumes in this realm, and what these said

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Himalayan Blunder: The Angry Truth About India’s Most Crushing Military Disaster 

by Brig JP Dalvi.

Thacker.

Among the books based on the subject of the 1962 India-China War Himalayan Blunder: The Angry Truth About India’s Most Crushing Military Disaster is considered to be the most striking and authentic version. It presents an account of the 1962 War, a war that India lost through the narrative of Brig JP Dalvi. He fought the war as the Commander of the 7th Infantry Brigade in NEFA (North-East Frontier Agency). His account of the war is graphic and telling. He was captured by the Chinese forces and was a PoW for seven months. Point of controversy: Based on his firsthand experiences, Dalvi recounts the events that occurred between September 8 and October 20, 1962. and the manner in which India’s own political leadership worked against its cause. In no uncertain terms, he held three men responsible for India’s defeat — Jawaharlal Nehru, Krishna Menon and Gen Brij Mohan Kaul. Dalvi claimed that the apathy and the sheer ineptitude of those at the helm of India’s political affairs sacrificed hundreds of valuable lives. The Indian soldiers — underfed, ill-equipped and unprepared as they were — never stood a chance against the well-prepared and well-endowed Chinese army. Brigadier Dalvi’s detailed narrative of the massacre of the Indian soldiers, a horror that he witnessed firsthand, is heart-rending. 

The War That Never Was: A Study of India’s Strategic Failures  

by Ravi Rikhye.

Chanakya.

 Journalist-turned-author Ravi Rikhye’s analytical book The War that Never Was puts the spotlight on 1987 Operation Trident/Brass Tacks where the Indian and Pakistan troops came within a hair’s breadth of a blood-soaked confrontation.   The book examines India’s ability to achieve an all out victory over Pakistan in the backdrop of Operations Brasstacks and Trident. Pointing out misperceptions of adversary’s behaviour, the author brings out, in different chapters, how same mistakes were committed by India in several crisis situations. Point of controversy: Rikhye points out weaknesses of  the armed forces and the political leadership and the strategic failures that could have had disastrous results.  

The Kargil War

by Praveen Swami.

LeftWord Books.