Monthly Archives: August 2018

Indian Navy has deployed its stealth frigate INS Shivalik, anti-submarine warfare corvette INS Kadmatt and a fleet of P8I maritime surveillance aircraft in the 25th edition of the mega exercise

Indian Naval Ships Shivalik and Kadmatt arrived at Guam, an Island Territory of the USA, Saturday, August 21, 2021 as part of their on-going deployment to nations in South East Asia and the Pacific Ocean. — PTI

New Delhi, August 26

The high-voltage Malabar exercise featuring the navies of all four Quad countries—India, the US, Australia and Japan—began on Thursday off the coast of Guam in the backdrop of a resolve by the four nations to solidify cooperation for a free and open Indo-Pacific in view of China’s rouge behaviour in the region.

A range of complex drills involving warships, aircraft and helicopters will be carried out during the four-day exercise, being hosted by the US Navy in the Western Pacific, officials said.

The US Seventh Fleet, in a statement, said the exercise demonstrated the commitment among the like-minded nations to uphold a rules-based maritime order in the Indo-Pacific.

The Indian Navy has deployed its stealth frigate INS Shivalik, anti-submarine warfare corvette INS Kadmatt and a fleet of P8I maritime surveillance aircraft in the 25th edition of the mega exercise.

The US Pacific Fleet’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Barry, naval special warfare forces, maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft from Task Force 72, and military sealift command’s Henry J Kaiser-class underway replenishment oiler USNS Rappahannock are among the assets deployed by the US Navy in the exercise.

Under Commander, US Pacific Fleet, 7th Fleet is the US Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet and routinely interacts and operates with 35 maritime nations in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

“Malabar-21 would witness complex exercises including anti-surface, anti-air and anti-submarine warfare drill, and other manoeuvres and tactical exercises. The exercise will provide an opportunity for participating navies to derive benefit from each other’s expertise and experiences,” Indian Navy Spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal said.

The US 7th Fleet said the first phase of the exercise is an opportunity for the four Indo-Pacific navies to operate together to strengthen their skills in “combined maritime operations, anti-submarine warfare operations, air warfare operations, live-fire gunnery events, replenishments-at-sea and cross-deck flight operations.” “Malabar 21 is an excellent opportunity to conduct multi-national training to hone warfighting and maritime security skillsets,” said Capt. Chase Sargeant, Commander, Task Force (CTF) 71 of US 7th Fleet.

“US destroyers closely integrating with our partners and allies builds the foundation for regional security and stability that benefits all Indo-Pacific nations,” he said.

In an interactive session at the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), Commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command Admiral John Aquilino on Wednesday spoke about key challenges facing the Indo-Pacific and delved into China’s rapid military build-up including in the maritime domain.

Admiral Aquilino also hinted at the possibility of increasing the number of participants at the Malabar naval exercise if leaders of the four participating countries concur with it.

The Taliban swept across Afghanistan this month, seizing control of almost all key towns and cities including Kabul in the backdrop of the withdrawal of the US forces

Taliban fighters patrol in Kabul, Afghanistan. — AP/PTI

New Delhi, August 26

The Taliban is not allowing 140 Afghan Hindus and Sikhs to visit India on the occasion of the 400th birth anniversary of Sikh Guru Tegh Bahadur, Delhi-based think tank Indian World Forum claimed on Thursday.

According to the statement, the Sikh Guru’s birth anniversary that is scheduled to be celebrated on Sunday with a ‘kirtan darbar’, and is expected to witness attendance by pilgrims of the Hindu and Sikh communities from different parts of the world, is a “life-time event”.

“A group of 140 Afghan Hindus and Sikhs who were supposed to board a special flight yesterday evening were prevented from entering the airport at Kabul at the last minute,” claimed Puneet Singh, president of the Indian World Forum.

The Forum added that the group was travelling to India to attend the celebrations organised to commemorate the 400th birth anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur.

The India World Forum has appealed to the Taliban to facilitate an early departure for these pilgrims to ensure that they can participate in the celebrations in India, it said.

“I appeal to the Taliban to facilitate an early departure of Afghan Hindu and Sikh pilgrims in the interest of humanity at the highest level.

“The Hindu and Sikh communities in Afghanistan have significantly contributed to the development and economic growth of the islamic nation, and they should be granted free and safe access to arrive and depart,” said Singh.

The Taliban swept across Afghanistan this month, seizing control of almost all key towns and cities including Kabul in the backdrop of the withdrawal of the US forces.

“A group of 140 Afghan Hindus, Sikhs were scheduled to arrive later today at Delhi from Kabul on an annual pilgrimage tour and to attend the celebrations organised to commemorate the 400th birth anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur.

“A ‘kirtan darbar’ is scheduled for August 29. Many members of our community from various parts of the world have already arrived to attend the same. Unfortunately, the Taliban has denied them access to the Kabul Airport,” the statement quoting Partap Singh (Afghan Origin), President of Gurdwara Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji in New Mahavir Nagar, said.

Guljeet Singh (Afghan Origin), president of Gurdwara Guru Nanak Sahib Ji at Vikaspuri said it is sad to note that our brothers and sisters from Afghanistan aren’t being allowed the pilgrimage.

“Each year, our Afghan origin community organises tours to India to visit historical gurdwaras. After suspension of commercial international flights from Afghanistan due to the political situation, we had requested the Indian government to facilitate their attendance at the celebrations.

“Regret to note that last night the pilgrims were turned back by Taliban security forces from the airport after waiting for more than 15 hours in their convoys,” the statement quoting Singh claimed.

Meanwhile, several gurdwaras across India, including those in Simla, Bhopal, Kanpur and Jammu organised ‘sukran ki ardas’ to express gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian government for ensuring the return of three copies of the Sikh holy book Guru Granth Sahib that were flown in from Kabul on Tuesday. — PTI

The government today notified the new liberalised drone use policy rules

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 26

The government today notified the new liberalised drone use policy rules, as Minister for Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia said with these norms in place cities could soon witness the running of air taxis.

Easing rules

• Forms to be filled to operate drones reduced from 25 to 6
• Pilot licence fee cut from Rs3,000 to Rs100
• No licence needed for micro drones

The progressive and liberalised rules aim to promote drone usage across sectors, including transportation, logistic, defence and infrastructure, officials in the Ministry of Civil Aviation said, adding that these would ensure ease of using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as several of the regulations have been done away with. Scindia, while briefing media on the issue, said the new rules aimed at simplifying procedures and reducing compliance burden for drone operation. “We are all set to usher in a new era of drone usage in India… Our aim is to make India a global drone hub by 2030,” he said.

The minister said the new drone rules were very likely to make air taxis traversing the airspace in the coming days.

“Air taxis are being researched and invented globally and many startups are coming up…. That time is not far when taxis that you see on roads, you will see in the air under the drone policy. I believe this is very much possible,” he said. Under the new rules, the regulator has done away with too many approvals and the number of forms to be filled to operate drones has been reduced from 25 to 6.

PM Narendra Modi tweeted to highlight the significance of the new rules. “The new drone rules usher in a landmark moment for this sector in India. The rules are based on the premise of trust and self-certification. Approvals, compliance requirements and entry barriers have been significantly reduced,” the PM said.

New Delhi, August 26

Keeping in view inordinate delay in deciding and finalising disciplinary actions against cadre officers, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued an order directing the country’s largest paramilitary force CRPF to take immediate action for incorporating the provisions of “Security Force Court” in the “Act and Rules” for expediting the process against Group ‘A’ personnel.

What MHA’s August 23 order says

• The Home Ministry order said ‘a large number’ of disciplinary action cases of officers in the CRPF pertained to “unauthorised absence or desertion” from duty and these were taking a long time to conclude.
• It said including the ‘security force court’ provisions by the CRPF will help in “initiating disciplinary action against the delinquent officers, so that such cases are finalised within minimum time”.

In the order titled “Disciplinary action against Group A officers of CRPF”, which the MHA had sent on Monday to the Inspector General (Personnel) of the force and Legal Officer of the Ministry, it underscored that the officers were governed by the provisions of Central Civil Service (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965. “It has been observed that the disciplinary cases being initiated against Group ‘A’ officers of the CRPF take a very long time to reach the finalisation and a large number of such cases pertain to unauthorised absence/desertion from duty,” the order read.

In forces like the BSF, Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and the ITBP, there is a provision for “Security Force Court” where disciplinary action is concluded in a short period of time. “Undue long time in finalisation of disciplinary cases in the CRPF has been viewed seriously by the competent authority,” the MHA said. — TNS

It is to be believed that the Kabul airfield would have had some qualified military personnel to alert the pilot about trespassers in the wheel bay or on the runway. Then how could such an unsafe takeoff be allowed by the authorities? It is providential that the surge of people in the vicinity of a plane on its takeoff did not cause an even more catastrophic incident on the runway.

Pretext: Blind anger to avenge 9/11 led the US to wreak havoc on innocents in Afghanistan. AP

Group Captain Murli Menon (Retd)

Defence analyst

The scenes of scary air evacuation of the hapless people from Kabul after the Taliban takeover should put any professional airman to shame. The reported clinging on to the aircraft fixtures and scores of aspiring evacuees running behind a C-5A Galaxy transporter was unbelievable indeed.

American President Joe Biden has gone on record to say that a chaotic exodus from Afghanistan was inevitable. But surely, any professional military would ensure flight safety and ethics of airmanship, however unplanned the airlift turned out to be?

Other clips showing a couple of people falling to their deaths from an airborne transport plane, and reportage of a 19-year-old Afghan national footballer apparently being one of them, was heartrending indeed.

These happenings only go to show the utter indifference and ensuing panic at the Kabul runway whilst the evacuation from Kabul was underway. Around 20 lives have been lost in the stampede and melee that took place.

Talking of holding an inquiry by the US authorities now is infructuous as the damage has already been done.

The buck, of course, stops with the captain of the plane or the planes involved. No pilot in his senses would leap off into the air with an uncontrolled mob of locals running alongside on the tarmac.

The manner in which the fiasco played out, it would not be unthinkable that some of the intruders could have got ingested into the huge engine intakes of the aeroplanes, besides other plausible injuries from being trampled upon by its huge undercarriage and fuselage.

Besides, where even a hovering bird on the takeoff path could cause catastrophic damage, how can the desire to evacuate from a trouble-torn locality make the operators throw caution to the wind, literally?

Quite clearly, the people controlling the evacuation military flights out of Kabul had no idea of the mob frenzy that would ensue. But then, the rustic Afghans, with little education or other worldly awareness, could not be expected to look out for danger to their lives from such inane actions of clambering on to accelerating aeroplanes on a runway. Some of them are reported to have tied themselves onto the undercarriage with the hope of staying airborne somehow. These, apparently, were the poor souls who got dislodged and fell to their deaths as the plane got airborne.

It is to be believed that the Kabul airfield would surely have had some qualified military personnel to alert the pilot about trespassers in the wheel bay or on the runway. Then how could such an unsafe takeoff be allowed by the authorities?

It is providential that the surge of humans in the vicinity of a large plane on its takeoff did not cause an even more catastrophic incident on the Kabul runway, leading to some horrendous damage to the aircraft and its occupants.

The IAF has since been able to evacuate around 390 Indians and some Afghans from Kabul to Hindon via its C-17 airlifters, an exercise bound to generate considerable goodwill all around.

More than the poor airmanship displayed by the Americans, there are larger issues about how they have caused unspeakable harm and inhuman treatment to scores of innocents, from Vietnam to Cambodia to Iraq and now Afghanistan.

From the travails of the Cold War to the blind anger to avenge the 9/11 attacks, there have been no dearth of excuses for the world’s only superpower to wreak havoc on innocents all over the weak world. Biden’s popularity rating is stated to have declined by 7.5 per cent post the Afghan fiasco.

The terrible reportage about young children being flung across barbed wire fencings by helpless Afghan mothers to the British and other soldiers on the safe side of Kabul’s airport and likewise treatment of women and minorities by the rampaging Taliban are other sights and happenings that will not be forgotten in a hurry.

Another aspect is the grossly inadequate training imparted by the Americans and NATO to the Afghan National Army, leading to their total capitulation to the opportunistic Taliban. Biden is on record as having said that they went into Afghanistan to neutralise the al-Qaeda, and not to impart democratic values to the Afghans.

Surely, India will have some soul-searching to do too in this regard as some of our arms and military training have gone to the Afghan establishment, albeit with good intent under the overhang of a Pakistan-sponsored Taliban.

In this context, whatever be the compulsions for our country to provide succour to our Afghan brethren in their days of anguish, military involvement will have to be thought through very carefully, not for the fear of getting embroiled in an avoidable war alone, but also to not have blood on our hands in the unpredictable ill-treatment that is bound to be meted out by the extremist jihadi Talibs to the war-torn populace of a well-meaning friendly nation in our neighbourhood, something we ought to cherish, considering the other ill-intentioned jackals awaiting their prey.

And, as for the Americans, their government and intelligence agencies will need to recalibrate their worldview, especially in light of their poor record with the handling of the Covid pandemic and the beating that it has caused to the world economy and US coffers overall.

Clearly, the US cannot afford to fight other peoples’ wars any more, concentrating instead, on their own nation-building and strengthening of their social fabric, torn asunder by irritants such as racism and gun lobbyists.

Taliban 2.0 is bound to take its toll in more ways than one and the Ahmad Massoud-led resistance movement in the Panjshir Valley would not cut much ice.

The accused attacked not just the duo but also his tenant’s wife and their two children

Sanjay Yadav
Gurugram, August 24

In what left the local Rajendera Park area of Gurugram horrified, a landlord allegedly murdered four people, including three members of his tenant’s family and his own daughter-in-law, in the wee hours of Tuesday.

The accused enraged over alleged illicit relationship between his daughter-in-law Sunita and tenant Krishan Kumar attacked not just the duo but also Krishan’s wife and their two children.

While four died on the spot, younger daughter of Krishan Kumar has been rushed to Safdarjung Hospital in a critical condition.

The accused, Rao Rai Singh, who is an ex-Army man and now a property dealer, surrendered before the police confessing to the murders.

The police immediately rushed to the spot and found four dead with evident wounds from a sharp-edged weapon. One of the children was still breathing and was thus rushed to hospital.

Forensic team was also rushed to the spot.

According to the police, Rai Singh walked into local police station to surrender confessing to killing five in their sleep.

He said that he had suspected his daughter-in-law and the tenant of having an affair and there was a constant quarrel at home since the last two years.

The tenant was neither vacating nor withdrawing from the relationship.

“This was the only end to immorality that plagued my house,” Rai Singh reportedly told police.

The police have registered an FIR and sent the bodies for post-mortem.

According to Indus Water Treaty, India has been given the right to generate hydroelectricity through run-of-the-river projects on the western rivers subject to specific criteria for design and operation

Photo for representation. — iStock

New Delhi, August 24

Pakistan has raised objections to the design of India’s Kiru hydroelectric plant, a mega 624 MW project over the Chenab in Jammu and Kashmir, but New Delhi asserts that the project is fully compliant with the Indus Water Treaty, officials said on Tuesday.

Confirming this development, India’s Indus Commissioner Pradeep Kumar Saxena told PTI that his Pakistan Indus Commissioner Syed Muhammad Meher Ali Shah raised the objections last week.

Saxena, however, asserted that the design of the project is fully compliant with the provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty. It has been certified by the Central Water Commission, an apex organisation of the country in the field of water resources.

This run of river project is being implemented by Chenab Valley Power Projects Limited, a joint venture of the National Hydropower Company and Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation (JKSPDC).

“As a responsible upper riparian state, India is committed for full utilisation of its rights and believes in an amicable resolution the issues raised by Pakistan side in letter and spirit of the treaty.

“Pakistan’s objections on this project may come up for discussions in the next meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission scheduled this year in Pakistan. In the forthcoming meeting, the Indian side will explain its position and hope that Pakistan will appreciate the same and its apprehensions will be addressed through discussions,” Saxena said.

The treaty provides Pakistan the right to raise objection on Indian design within three month of the receipt of the information. India has supplied the information on this project in June to Pakistan.

Under the IWT signed between India and Pakistan in 1960, all the waters of the eastern rivers—Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi—amounting to around 33 million acre feet (MAF) annually is allocated to India for unrestricted use. The waters of western rivers—Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab—amounting to around 135 MAF annually has been assigned largely to Pakistan.

According to the treaty, India has been given the right to generate hydroelectricity through run-of-the-river projects on the western rivers subject to specific criteria for design and operation. The treaty also gives right to Pakistan to raise objections to designs of Indian hydroelectric projects on the western rivers.

India is permitted to construct the run of the river plants on western rivers with limited storage as per criteria specified in the treaty, Saxena said.

Earlier this year, during the meeting between Indus Commissioner of India and Pakistan, Shah also raised objections on the designs of Pakal Dul and Lower Kalnai hydropower projects in Jammu and Kashmir. To this, India said the designs are fully compliant with the treaty.

Pakistan has also raised objections on hydropower projects in Chilling (24 MW), Rongdo (12 MW) and Ratan Nag (10.5 MW) are in Leh; while Mangdum Sangra (19 MW), Kargil Hunderman (25 MW) and Tamasha (12 MW) are in Kargil. India had said the designs of these projects are also fully compliant with the treaty. PTI

Will replace grenade No. 36 of World War I vintage design

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh being handed over the scale replica of a multi-mode hand grenade by Chief of the Army Staff General MM Naravane in Nagpur on Tuesday. PTI

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 24

The first batch of multi-mode hand grenades (MMHG) that have been manufactured by a private company using the transfer of technology from Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL) were handed over to the Indian Army in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at Nagpur on Tuesday.

The TBRL, headquartered at Chandigarh, is under the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO). The grenades have been produced by Economic Explosives Limited (EEL).

The MoD says the grenade has a distinctive design that gives flexibility of employment in both defensive and offensive modes. These new grenades will replace grenade No. 36 of World War I vintage design, which had been continuing in service till date. The EEL had signed a contract for supply 10 lakh such grenades.

IAF C-130 fleet to be maintained by US firm

US company Lockheed Martin said it has been awarded a $328.8 million five-year contract from the IAF to provide dedicated and comprehensive support for the IAF’s fleet of C-130J Super Hercules Aircraft. Lockheed Martin is the manufacturer of the plane. The contract is a continuation of a five-year support contract signed earlier.

Modi, Putin discuss Afghan, agree to form bilateral channel | 14-day quarantine for Afghan evacuees

Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri and two others carry saroops of Guru Granth Sahib brought from Kabul, at IGI Airport. PTI

Sandeep Dikshit

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 24

US President Joe Biden turned down pleas from other G7 leaders for extending the deadline for the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan.

A tweet from the White House skipped the deadline extension aspect and said Biden discussed at G7 a continuation of “our close coordination on Afghanistan policy, humanitarian assistance and evacuating citizens and vulnerable Afghans”.

• Also read: Hope Pak terror groups don’t use Afghan soil: India at UNHRC
• Taliban to send team to Panjshir for talks

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the G7 had agreed on a roadmap for “future engagement with the Taliban, but are currently insisting on ‘safe passage’ beyond the August 31 deadline”. Sensing US firmness in pulling out, India and Russia have decided to set up a permanent bilateral channel for consultations to discuss Afghanistan.

“It is important for the two strategic partners to work together,’’ said an MEA readout of the 45-minute conversation between PM Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

PM Modi had on Monday conferred with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Afghanistan. Along with Italy and Spain, Berlin is playing an important role in evacuations from Kabul and has soldiers on the ground.

Separately, NSA Ajit Doval flagged to his BRICS counterparts, including from Russia and China, cross-border terrorism by groups such as Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) which enjoy state support and threaten peace and security.

Their activities tend to slip under the radar during global talks on terrorism in the region and were flagged by Doval at the virtual meeting of “BRICS High Representatives Responsible for National Security”, which he had hosted.

CIA Director meets Taliban top leader

CIA chief William Burns travelled to Kabul this week for talks with Taliban leader Mullah Baradar, US media reported as the US came under pressure from allies to extend withdrawal deadline

78 more evacuated from Afghanistan

India on Tuesday brought back 78 persons, including its 25 nationals and some Afghan Sikhs and Hindus, from Dushanbe, a day after they were evacuated from Kabul

Taliban to send team to Panjshir for talks

On a tense day around Panjshir when the resistance forces stalled Taliban march, reports said the insurgents agreed to send a team for talks with Ahmad Massoud

India on Tuesday spoke about the “grave humanitarian crisis” unfolding in Afghanistan and hoped that the situation does not pose a challenge to its neighbours nor is its territory used by terrorist groups such as Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) to threaten any country. – File photo

New Delhi, August 31

India on Tuesday spoke about the “grave humanitarian crisis” unfolding in Afghanistan and hoped that the situation does not pose a challenge to its neighbours nor is its territory used by terrorist groups such as Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) to threaten any country. Speaking at the UN Human Rights Council’s (UNHRC) special session on “Serious human rights concerns in Afghanistan”, Indian diplomat Indra Mani Pandey called upon all parties concerned to allow unhindered access to international assistance because “stability in Afghanistan is linked to the peace and security of the region”.

UNHRC chief Michelle Bachelet sought a mechanism to closely monitor Taliban’s actions following credible reports of serious violations by the insurgent group, including summary executions of civilians and Afghan security forces. A fundamental “red line” will be the Taliban’s treatment of women and girls and freedom of self-expression and employment, she added.

The special session

was convened following a joint request by Pakistan, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and Afghanistan. Unsurprisingly, the draft resolution penned by Pakistan is mildly worded, doesn’t name the Taliban and doesn’t call for a fact-finding mission. As for monitoring, it has suggested a report after nine months.