When I joined the Army in 1981, Warfare was Warfare, is still is …… Warfare…… but has many cousins now. The cousins never stand together and it very difficult get a clear picture of the entire clan. The first cousins to arrive were: Conventional Warfare and Unconventional Warfare. There are many descriptions, and the best is: • Conventional warfare is stale, attritional and inappropriate to the challenges of the modern era. The Small Wars Journal • And, Unconventional warfare: typically refers to a range of military and paramilitary operations that are not part of conventional warfare (Oh!! hence the use of Un). This can include guerrilla warfare, subversion, sabotage, intelligence activities, and insurgency………. World War II had all of these so did the Indo Pak Wars and others ………. what has changed? I then started looking for the thin line that separated the two. A sentence from the ‘War Room’ of a ‘Superpower War College’ muddled the issue further: In modern warfare, the lines between regular, conventional and irregular, unconventional warfare are increasingly blurred. This statement interestingly adds a twist. It allows ‘Examiners’ of the ‘Worldwide Military Examiners Group to fish for ‘Red Herrings’ in the blurred waters. For the sake of preventing further confusion, I will exclude the forms of Warfare that get associated with ‘Domains’ i.e Land Warfare, Air Warfare, Sea Warfare, Space Warfare and Cyber Warfare from the puzzle discussion. Souring Temperatures, Unlimited Power Cuts, Neighbours Dog and the ‘Warfare Puzzle’ kept me awake all night. Close to dawn was a veni, vidi, vici moment – the rapidly expanding ‘Glossary of Warfare’ my sixth sense told me is a game being played on the ‘Staff Course’ aspirants worldwide to later tell them that they all passed on grace marks because the @@@@@ Warfare was not the ######## Warfare that the examiner had asked. A niggling thought. If an examiner states that “the response to this question was “Below Average” should the aspirants be blamed or the examiner who had invented the ques or dug it out of a ‘yank’ document. Back to the Warfare Puzzle…… One such recent exam question spoke of the Irregular Warfare (IW). Examiner’s comment later clarified that this IW did not stand for the Information Warfare that we are quite familiar with but Irregular Warfare; obviously the confusion had been created …….. and ……. had to be clarified. It was further stated: “It was expected that the offrs would first give a brief intro about this form of conflict. It is amorphous and faceless and the national bdys have become diffused. Asymmetric and hybrid nature was also supposed to be brought out. Many and small beats little and Large and that Swarming could be the new method of Surging”. Not understood ……… have you? The Emerging trends of IW (Irregular Warfare) were listed as: “Remote Control War, No Contact War, War of Collusion, Cyber Warfare/ Digital Warfare, 4th Gen / Asymmetric Warfare, Hybrid Warfare, Small but Radical Wars, Synergised and Simultaneous War in All Six Domains, Media & Social Media Warfare, Economic Warfare”. ……… But wait, isn’t this all – Grey Zone Warfare? ……… I got the answer from https://irregularwarfare.org/ – The main distinction between the two is that irregular warfare simply uses more violence than competition…………Wah! I think it is best to conclude before it becomes overbearing: In the real world warfare remains unchanged: Brilliance of the Senior Commanders, Leadership of the Junior Leaders and Sacrifice of the Troops. Bakeee Sabh Angrezee
MUMBAI: An Army doctor saved the life of a 2 ..
palestinians gather to receive food cooked by a charity kitchen at a refugee camp in the Gaza Strip on Thursday.
Cairo, June 20
Israeli forces pounded areas in the central Gaza Strip overnight, killing three people and wounding dozens of others, according to medics, while tanks deepened their invasion into Rafah in the south, residents said.
Israeli planes struck a house in Al-Nuseirat camp, killing two people and wounding 12 others, while tanks shelled areas in Al-Maghazi and Al-Bureij camps, wounding many other people, health officials said. Nuseirat, Maghazi, and Bureij are three of Gaza’s eight historic refugee camps.
In Deir al-Balah, a city packed with displaced people in the central Gaza Strip, an Israeli air strike killed one Palestinian and wounded several others on Thursday, medics said. The Israeli military said on Wednesday forces were continuing their operations across the enclave targeting militants and military infrastructure in what it described as “precise, intelligence-based” activities.
More than eight months into the war in Gaza, Israel’s advance is now focused on the two last areas its forces had yet to storm: Rafah on Gaza’s southern edge and the area surrounding Deir al-Balah in the centre. The operations have forced more than a million people to flee since May, the vast majority already displaced from other parts of the enclave.
In Rafah, near the border with Egypt, Israeli tanks stationed deep in the western and central areas of the city stepped up bombardment, forcing more families living in the far coastal areas to flee northward. Some residents said the pace of the raid has been accelerated in the past two days. — Reuters
rjun Sharma
Jammu, June 20
Terrorists, many of them belonging to J&K and based in different areas of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), have been coordinating with the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to launch terror attacks in the Jammu division for the last one year.
Based on the inputs received from overground workers (OGWs) during their interrogation, the intelligence agencies have come to the conclusion that at least seven to eight terrorists based in Pakistan were behind the attacks, specifically the ambushes on Army and civilian vehicles in the districts of Jammu division over the last year.
Many of these individuals have already been designated as terrorists by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). They are behind the recent and older attacks in Rajouri, Poonch, Reasi and other parts of Jammu, the agencies have said.
Intelligence sources have informed that four such ultras, including Sajit Jutt, a resident of Kasur in Pakistan, Rafiq Nai, a resident of Mendhar in Poonch who resides in Pakistan, Mohammad Qasim, a resident of Reasi but residing in Pakistan, and Abu Qatal, also a resident of Pakistan, are the “masterminds” of most of these attacks.
These terrorists not only coordinate the attacks that take place in Jammu division, but have also been planning the locations for dropping arms, ammunition and drugs via drones. These ultras have been instrumental in strengthening the network of OGWs in the Rajouri and Poonch region. The OGW network helps the infiltrated militants by providing them logistical support.
The NIA had in February this year chargesheeted Sajid Jutt, Mohammad Qasim and Abu Qatal in the January 2023 attack at Dhangri village in Rajouri, in which seven members of the Hindu community were killed.
Their names have also appeared in the incidents involving ambushes on vehicles. Three ambushes took place on military vehicles since April last year in Poonch, while a bus of pilgrims was attacked on June 9 in Reasi. Many soldiers and civilians lost their lives in these attacks.
As per reports, the four terrorists belong to the proscribed Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit and are helped by the Pakistan Army and ISI in detecting locations for attacks in Jammu. Sources said that after coordinating with local OGWs about the movement of military vehicles, the ultras hiding in forest areas are contacted by these handlers from Pakistan and informed about the target.
Sajid Jutt, who was born in 1982 in Kasur, has been associated with the LeT and its offshoot, The Resistance Front (TRF). Rafiq Nai of Poonch has been able to convince some radicalised locals to help the ultras infiltrating from Pakistan.
Associated with Lashkar-e-Toiba
In a significant development for commuters and locals in Himachal Pradesh, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has restored the Gramphu-Kaza highway for two-way traffic movement in Lahaul and Spiti district. On June 18, the district administration Lahaul and Spiti had allowed traffic movement on this highway for all kinds of vehicles.
This crucial route, which connects Kullu to Kaza via Kunzum Pass (14,931ft), had been disrupted due to heavy snowfall between Gramphu and Losar during winter. The restoration efforts by the BRO will now pave the way for the resumption of regular bus services by the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) along this vital stretch between Kullu and Kaza.
The Gramphu-Kaza highway, a lifeline of Spiti residents and a key route for tourism, had blocked in November after snowfall, causing inconvenience to travellers besides having an adverse economic impact on the inhabitants of the region. The relentless efforts of the BRO personnel, working under challenging conditions, resulted in the restoration of the road for travel.
Announcing the reopening of the highway, Deputy Commissioner Lahaul and Spiti Rahul Kumar highlighted the extensive repair and clearance operations undertaken by the BRO to enable restoration of traffic in the route which is popular among tourists and the used by the locals alike.
“BRO teams have worked tirelessly to clear snow and debris from the Gramphu-Kaza highway. The BRO understands the importance of this route for the local communities,” the DC said.
Following the restoration of this highway, the HRTC is now gearing up for the resumption of bus services between Kullu and Kaza. The bus service will come as a huge relief to the residents and businesses dependent on the transport link for daily commuting for trade and tourism between Kullu and Kaza.
“The HRTC will resume its bus service between Kullu and Kaza within the next few days. Passengers will be able to travel comfortably and reliably between these two important destinations,” said a senior official from HRTC.
Radha Devi, Regional Manager HRTC Depot at Keylong in Lahaul and Spiti, said “We conducted a bus trial on this route yesterday. A few stretches of the road were found unfit for the movement of bus. We will take up this matter with the BRO for road maintenance at key points after which bus service will be resumed between Kullu and Kaza.”
The resumption of bus services is expected to give boost to local economies that rely heavily on tourism. Kaza serves as a gateway to the picturesque Spiti Valley and its numerous attractions. With the road cleared, tourists can once again explore the stunning landscapes and cultural treasures that the region has to offer.
HRTC bus service on the route soon
Chandigarh, June 19
The Army has ordered disciplinary proceedings against 11 soldiers for their alleged role in the leak of the question paper of an internal entrance examination to a diploma course being conducted by the Corps of Engineers.
The paper leak happened at the Bombay Engineers Group and Centre, Khadki, near Pune in 2021. Based upon reports, a court of inquiry was ordered to investigate the matter, which held the soldiers “blameworthy”. The soldiers are being tried by court martial under various provisions of the Army Act.
Srinagar, June 19
The Valley has been witnessing a surge in encounters in the past few days. A day after the Army said security forces had killed a top militant in Bandipora, another encounter broke out in Sopore area of north Kashmir on Wednesday. The police said two militants were killed in today’s encounter.
The militants were killed by the security forces in the Hadipora area of Sopore, around 60 km north of Srinagar. The identity of the militants was yet to be ascertained, the police added. The gunfight broke out after a joint team of forces intensified searches towards a suspected spot and the hiding militants fired at the forces. A soldier and a policeman were also injured in the encounter. They were shifted to a hospital, where doctors said their condition was stable.
On Tuesday, Commander, 3 Sector Rashtriya Rifles (RR), Brigadier Vipul Tyagi, had said that based on inputs, the Indian Army, CRPF and J&K Police had launched a joint operation on the night of June 16-17 in Bandipora. During the ambush, he said, the party saw suspicious movement and after a thorough check-up, the ambush party opened fire. “In this encounter, one terrorist, Umar Lone of Husankhoie Pattanwas was killed,” the Army officer had said on Tuesday.
For the past few weeks, the Army officer had said: “Indian Army, police and CRPF forces have maintained high operational momentum and have killed terrorists who have been operating for a long period of time. We are getting the full support of people in this.”
THE recent demise of Gen Claudio Graziano, Italy’s former chief of the defence staff, sent shockwaves within my battalion, 15 Punjab. He was our force commander in Lebanon when I was leading the battalion on a United Nations mission in 2007. The Israel-Lebanon war had just wound up; however, violations by Israel of the ‘Blue Line’ (border between Israel and Lebanon) were the order of the day. He helped our battalion get a grip on the situation amidst frequent clashes between Hezbollah fighters and the Israeli Defence Forces. 15 Punjab comprises Sikh soldiers. They admire officers who lead from the front. Gen Graziano was one such officer.
No violation by Israelis went unnoticed by our force commander. He always rushed to the ground seeking a briefing from me and my company commander to brainstorm how best to handle the situation. 15 Punjab was his favourite unit. One late night, I got a call from him. He said: ‘I am getting the UN Secretary-General to visit your battalion tomorrow. He has time to visit just one unit out of 18 here. Don’t let me down.’ He sent five of our soldiers, the best in drill and military bearing, to Italy to march on the National Day parade, where they turned out to be the cynosure of all eyes. He never missed any chance to get photos clicked with Sikh soldiers. Our troops were happy to oblige him.
We had one special mess cook named Manphool. Somehow, he came to know that the favourite dish of our force commander was pasta. The cook spent an entire week on the Internet, learning the intricacies of this dish. And lo and behold, during one of the force commander’s visits, he gave a pleasant surprise to Gen Graziano by serving him pasta. He was so impressed by our cook’s culinary skills that he called for him and made a magnanimous gesture by awarding him a hefty sum from his pocket.
A few weeks after this incident, I was in the middle of a high-profile operational briefing in a very tense war-room environment. He called me aside, winked and said with a naughty smile: ‘My dear, don’t be serious; I come to the Indian battalion to have my pasta made by your cook Manphool, not for these briefings.’ While being a true professional to the core, he never lost his sense of humour. With a heavy heart, we, the soldiers of 15 Punjab, salute him for the one final time.
Chinese made JF-17 fighter jets have had few takers and ones who bought them have expressed complete dissatisfaction with the quality and serviceability of the fighters
China has a major problem to fix as it aims to become a major defence exporter. Many nations who have purchased weapons from the dragon are now facing what can clearly only be seen as a case of buyer’s remorse. The fifth-largest global defence exporter is experiencing a fall in its share of defence sales. The primary reason for this is attributed to poor quality of equipment and ever-dismal after-sales support leaving current customers fuming and driving potential customers away.
The most prominent example of nations suffering from buyer’s remorse is that of Jordan, which put its six CH-4B armed drones up for sale within a year of acquiring the platform from China. In neighbouring Iraq, eight of the twenty CH-4B drones have crashed, while three Algerian drones of the same type crashed in as many months. Sales of weaponised drones was the only area where China was outcompeting others, but this fad has also ended. With many customers now looking at Türkiye for these drones.
Many nations that procured weapons from China have now stopped buying big-ticket items from that country, the list includes Algeria, Egypt, Iran and Sri Lanka. Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) has also reported on declining trends when it comes to Chinese defence exports.
Over 80% of Chinese weapons sales are to countries based in Asia, 17% of the sales are to countries in Africa, with residual sales to Central and America. Over 60% goes to just three countries i.e., Pakistan, Bangladesh and Myanmar. Most customers of Chinese weapons are allured by the price tag. Weapons offered by China are not only much cheaper than the ones offered by Western nations but also cost less than the weapons offered by Russia.
One of the biggest problems faced by users of Chinese weapons systems is after-sales support. Bangladesh has reported problems with it K-8 jet trainers, F-7 fighter jets, FM-90 air defence missile systems. Their army is experiencing problems with the Chinese MBT 2000 tanks. The South Asian nation also purchased 45 Multi Launch Rocket Systems from China, which will now be replaced with 36 similar systems from Türkiye. The Bangladeshi Navy is also ruing buying two China-made Frigates. Neighbouring Myanmar too regrets purchasing JF-17 fighters, these fighters are designed in China and Pakistan assembles them after sourcing critical parts from China.
Pakistan, the biggest importer of weapons from China is suffering, too from similar issues. The Pakistani Air Force (PAF) is the biggest user of Chinese-origin fighter planes outside China. It is the only foreign user of the J-10, a fighter which was pitched to Pakistan repeatedly. The air force of the Islamic Republic also operates over 150 JF-17s and plans to operate nearly 200 units. The aircraft has been through multiple groundings of the fleet and many crashes, the most recent one was earlier this month. The PAF only purchased the J-10 after it was unable to source F-16s either directly or in the second-hand market.
The Pakistanis also rejected China’s CAIC Z-10 attack helicopters in favour of the Turkish T129 ATAK helicopters. Pakistan has also got their Chinese AWACS platforms reconfigured to transport platforms after repeated disappointments.
The Pakistani Army has experienced multiple problems with Chinese equipment, most recently the VT-4 tanks. Pakistan is also dissatisfied with China-made air defence systems and required extensive help from China to fix the system.
Pakistani Navy also experienced issues with the Chinese FM-90 air defence system; also, a headache for Bangladesh. Pakistan’s Zulfiqar class frigates were non-operational on delivery as the gun system, the air defence system and many other critical systems onboard were just not functional.
The Thai Navy acquired Chinese Type071E ships without weapons, sensors and other critical systems for this reason. Opting to take the more expensive route by letting western firms fit out the ship. Other nations too are learning the lesson, which is, that cheap price tag results in sub-optimal performance.
(With Reporting by Bharatshakti.in)
