The famous Gulmarg ski resort now boasts a new tourist attraction, with the inauguration of a unique museum showcasing the union territory’s rich history and heritage, along with the Army’s role in the Valley’s security and development.
The Gulmarg Army Museum ‘Gul-A-Seum’ was inaugurated by Army commander, Northern Command, Lt Gen MV Suchindra Kumar on Saturday, a Srinagar-based defence spokesperson said in a statement.
The museum would add another colourful feather to the beauty of Gulmarg and would provide an opportunity to the tourists visiting the resort and help them in learning about the rich cultural heritage of Kashmir, the spokesman said.
The museum features an extensive collection of artefacts, documents and interactive displays through which visitors can explore the cultural heritage of Jammu and Kashmir, showcasing region’s unique traditions, art and historical milestones along with the Army’s engagement in the region for nation building. — PTI
They Want To Give A Message That Peace Is Still Fragile’: Lt Gen DP Pandey (Retd) On Rise In Terror Attacks In J-K
New Delhi: Lieutenant General DP Pandey (Retd), who served as Chinar Corps Commander in Kashmir and Commandant of Army War College, referred to the rise in terror attacks in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and said that the terrorists want to give a message that peace is still fragile and show that they would operate at will.
On being asked whether the targets of the terrorists are security personnel or civilians, Lt General Pandey, in an exclusive interview with ANI, said that the target is of opportunities and to discredit the present system of governance wherein the administration claims the restoration of peace.
“I think they don’t want impact internationally. They possibly want to discredit the present system of governance or government or the claims of security agencies that peace is there. They want to tell a message that the peace is still fragile. We are here, and we will operate at will. So the targeting is of not either security forces or people but is a target of opportunities. If I can come from the upper reaches and come to a place and carry out a strike, it may be a security force that is unaware. Hit and I can escape. I will hit the security forces or I’ll hit a bus. Somewhere, I will work it out in a manner that neither I should get caught nor I should create a sensationalism which is so beyond that the masters who are controlling us across are helmed, controlled or pushed into the boundaries of FATF and they are brought into certain degree of spotlight, so maintain that temperature in a manner,” Lt General Pandey said while speaking to ANI.
Lt General Pandey further highlighted the frequency of the strikes, pointing out that they are carried out either to announce their presence or to tell that the security system is not working well enough.
“You don’t see a spate of activity you see these strikes happening over a period of time it happened today; it will happen after about two months or three months, maybe six weeks. When the memory of this incident fades away and as the area is too large so an incident will take place somewhere in Rajouri thereafter sometime it will take place in Kushahar they’re distinctly far apart to carry a memory for the population that what is happening to them but it announces their survival, arrival, presence and it also tells us that your security system is not working good enough,” he said.
On the support received by the terrorists, General Pandey said that there are no local leaders now in the UT where the strikers are taking instructions.
“Instructions, orders, rest everything can be bought and created. It can come from anywhere but the control of orders has to be from some place it is not local. There are no local leaders there are no local effort which is surviving today in which they can calibrate control operations there’s no militant group. There are local terrorists but there is no leadership per se today. They have been killed eliminated put in prison is that it or have they just disappeared,” he said.
This report is auto-generated from news service agency
INS Arighaat will bolster India’s deterrence capability
THE commissioning of India’s second nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, the INS Arighaat, on August 29 at Visakhapatnam is a significant step in India’s progression towards a credible second-strike deterrence capability.
The first SSBN (ship, submersible, ballistic, nuclear), the INS Arihant, was commissioned in 2016. It became fully operational in 2018 and India carried out its first successful submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) test in 2022. The chronology is relevant to contextualise the arduous timelines, the complexity of achieving techno-strategic benchmarks and zero-error platform integration for an SSBN to become a credible platform in the deterrence calculus.
These two ‘boats’ — as submarines are referred to — will enhance the robustness of India’s strategic posture. India became a nuclear weapon power in May 1998 when PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee boldly authorised the ‘Shakti’ tests and soon adopted a no-first-use (NFU) policy as its nuclear doctrine.
The efficacy of effective deterrence and the NFU policy is predicated on a credible second-strike capability, meaning that the nation must acquire the ability to first deter a potential adversary from embarking on an apocalyptic nuclear weapon path. This calls for prudent signalling regarding WMD (weapons of mass destruction) competence, as in the ability to deliver nuclear ordnance in an appropriate manner and the national resolve to take this ultimate step if deterrence fails.
To make deterrence more robust, the Cold War experience is instructive. The US used atomic weapons in Hiroshima-Nagasaki (1945) and the USSR soon joined the nuclear club. These two superpowers amassed WMD missiles in a frenzied manner and took the world to the brink of a nuclear war during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. This scary experience compelled both nations to work towards stable deterrence models and this was arrived at by way of the techno-strategic options provided by a nuclear-propelled submarine carrying nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles — the SSBN.
In summary, because of its intrinsic stealth features, a nuclear-propelled submarine can remain submerged for extended periods and is relatively undetectable. Hence, it is the ideal platform to carry the ‘second strike’ capability by way of long-range, nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles.
The core function of the SSBN is to ensure peace through deterrence — not to engage in sabre-rattling or war-fighting — and this was the essence of what Rajnath Singh highlighted at the Arighaat commissioning, when he noted that the SSBN would “establish strategic balance and peace in the region and play a decisive role in the country’s security”.
India began its nuclear-propelled submarine programme in 1984 when Vice-Admiral MK (Miki) Roy was appointed the first DG of what was then called the ATV (advanced technology vessel) project. This was a top-secret mission and then PM Indira Gandhi had accorded this project the appropriate degree of national priority and support.
India was placed under US-led technological sanctions after the 1974 peaceful nuclear explosion (PNE) and this was a period when Delhi could not import as much as a screwdriver! And for a country that lacked an advanced domestic industrial ecosystem and did not design and manufacture even a scooter or a car, India embarked upon what many critics thought was a leap of madness. It decided to design its own nuclear reactor and build its own submarine and — hold your breath — this would be an SSBN.
While all nations that acquired SSBNs before India (the US, former USSR, now Russia, the UK, France and China) first built conventional boats with diesel-electric propulsion, then moved up the ladder to design nuclear-propelled boats (SSN) and then, finally, mated the ballistic missile with nuclear warheads, thereby making the platform a potent SSBN. India plunged into the SSBN quest in the first instance, albeit with valuable help from Moscow. This was audacious.
The success of the Indian SSBN programme must be assessed against this geopolitical and techno-strategic framework and, hence, the long gestation from 1984 to 2024 for India to acquire its second SSBN. The technical characteristics of the Arighaat are similar to the Arihant: powered by an 83-MW pressurised light-water nuclear reactor and displacing 6,000 tonnes, the boat can attain a maximum speed of 12-15 knots (22-28 km/h) on the surface and up to 24 knots (44 km/h) when submerged. It is currently armed with missiles of 750 km and the boats are also designed to carry a longer range 3,500-km missile, the K-4.
Acquiring an appropriate level of nuclear deterrence that is effective, sustainable and affordable is an onerous responsibility for the higher defence management of the nation — the CCS (Cabinet Committee on Security) headed by the PM. This is even more so for India that is committed to the NFU policy and is located in a difficult strategic geography. The China-Pakistan-North Korea WMD proliferation triangle goes back to the 1980s. This opaque partnership can pose complex security challenges in this decade.
India’s entire nuclear capability, posture and long-term profile have to be reviewed periodically and necessary funding be made available. Acquiring more platforms and honing the efficacy of the first two boats so as to build on the currently modest SSBN capability is a first step.
The underwater domain will be a contested arena to maintain peace in the uneasy Indo-Pacific. Delhi will have to be proactive to be able to ‘deter’ potential nuclear adversaries without fear of escalation. The SSBN is the most effective option in the national quiver and India will have to be cognisant of this abiding imperative.
Acclaimed US nuclear theorist Thomas Schelling offered sage counsel to security planners: “An early strategist’s metaphor that nuclear planners are like homebuilders remains true today. A wise architect does not design only for benign environments, but for the worst weather conditions one can reasonably anticipate. We have to consistently maintain a ‘building code’ for our strategic forces to ensure they can weather the most stressing scenarios we can reasonably postulate.” Prudent advice for South Block.
The Background to BALUCH Problem in Pakistan is very well Explained.
Balochistan: Baloch rights activist Mahrang Baloch on Sunday, urged human rights organisations to take notice of the enforced disappearance of Baloch poet, Nadeem Bewas.
She claimed that Bewas was forcibly disappeared from Nasirabad, Balochistan, on August 26, 2024
“Nadeem Bewas, a Baloch poet, was forcibly disappeared from Nasirabad, Balochistan on August 26, 2024. His family still has no information about his whereabouts. Human rights organisations must take notice of his illegal abduction. #EndEnforcedDisappearances,” Mahrang said in the post.
Earlier in the day, Mahrang Baloch shared the pictures of a woman holding the pictures of her brothers whom she alleges were forcefully detained by the Pakistani forces and demanded justice. Mahrang Baloch also demanded the release of Asif and Rasheed, the two journalists who were forsibly disappeared.
On August 29, in a post on X, Mahrang Baloch, expressed deep concerns about the mutilated bodies of enforced disappearance victims recovered from various areas of Balochistan and termed it “deeply alarming.” She also alleged that the Pakistani state forcibly disappears people, holds them for years and then kills them or throws their mutilated bodies.
Earlier this week, Mahrang Baloch, who is also the organiser of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee, appreciated the UN’s stand on the forced disappearances of Baloch members.
“Finally, the UN takes a stand for the disappeared in Pakistan. Urging Pakistan to ratify the Convention against Enforced Disappearances. The UN’s call for Pakistan to address enforced disappearances is a crucial step towards justice. We, the people of Balochistan, have waited too long for the world to see our plight. We are looking forward to more adequate pressure to meet the magnitude of the issue,” she stated.
The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination issued its findings on Pakistan, and called on the nation to take the necessary measures to investigate and prosecute reports of enforced disappearances, reported The Balochistan Post.
The committee called on Islamabad to investigate and prosecute reports of enforced disappearances involving politicians, public officials, human rights campaigners, and leaders of ethnic and ethnoreligious groups, the report added.
In Balochistan, the enforced disappearances of innocent Baloch individuals are a major issue in the area. Several Baloch activists, leaders, and Human rights groups have criticized that these disappearances are a collective punishment. They claim that such action not only affects the person but also causes significant distress to their families.
This report is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Delay In TEJAS MK-1A Induction; A Setback The IAF Doesn’t Need As Gap With China Widens
With the war clouds hovering over the Sino-Indian borders not likely to dissipate anytime soon, the year-long delay in the induction of the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas Mk1A will further add to concerns regarding India’s depleting squadron strength. This has come as an unexpected shock to the Indian Air Force (IAF). The delay has been attributed to the non-delivery of GE-F404 engines by the United States. The postponement of the induction of the indigenous TEJAS MK-1A has raised alarm in defence circles.
The postponement is likely to disrupt IAF’s combat strategies, and highlights the vulnerabilities within India’s defence manufacturing sector as well as its reliance on imports.
The induction of the TEJAS MK-1A fighter aircraft into the Indian Air Force (IAF) has faced significant delays, which are seen as a setback amid growing concerns over India’s military capabilities, particularly in light of the widening gap with China. The IAF is eagerly awaiting these advanced jets to replace its aging MiG-21 fleet, which is being phased out.
The first aircraft of the TEJAS MK-1A series, LA-5033, successfully completed its maiden flight, but the delivery of the 83 aircraft has been delayed by at least four months. The delays are attributed to various factors, including issues with the supply of engines from General Electric (GE), which are critical for the aircraft’s operation.
The contract with GE for the supply of engines has faced challenges, with concerns about global supply chain disruptions affecting timely deliveries. Although HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited) has alternative plans to mitigate these delays, the reliance on reserve engines for initial flights underscores the urgency of receiving new engines.
The IAF has expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of the TEJAS MK-1A program, highlighting the potential risks to its combat effectiveness due to the delays. The IAF’s current operational strength is below the sanctioned squadron levels, making the timely induction of the MK-1A crucial.
The delays in the TEJAS MK-1A induction could have significant implications for India’s defence strategy. The IAF is transitioning away from the MiG-21s, and without the timely arrival of the MK-1A, there is a risk of a capability gap that could be exploited by adversaries, particularly China. The IAF’s leadership remains committed to the TEJAS program, viewing it as essential for India’s defence indigenization efforts.
The delay in the TEJAS MK-1A induction is a pressing issue for the IAF, which is striving to maintain its operational readiness in a challenging geopolitical environment. As the situation develops, the focus will be on HAL’s ability to meet its delivery commitments and the IAF’s strategies to mitigate any potential gaps in its combat capabilities.
Two persons, including a woman, were killed and nine others hurt when suspected militants launched a gun-and-bomb attack in Manipur’s Imphal West district on Sunday, the police said.
Militants fired indiscriminately from hilltop positions towards the low-lying valley areas of Koutruk and neighbouring Kadangband killing two persons and injuring nine others. Several houses were also damaged due to heavy shelling by the militants, they added.
Of the nine injured, five sustained bullet wounds, while the others suffered splinter injuries from bomb explosions, hospital officials said. The sudden assault on the unsuspecting village caused widespread panic, forcing many residents, including women, children and the elderly, to flee to safer areas, the police added.
The body of the deceased woman, identified as 31-year-old Ngangbam Surbala Devi, has been taken to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) for post-mortem examination. The identity of the other victim is yet to be ascertained, the police said.
Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Sunday appealed to the alumni and the Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC) fraternity to act as a think tank and instil a spirit of nationalism in the youth while addressing cadets at the institution in Dehradun.
“Act as a think tank and imbibe in the youth a spirit of nationalism and take all steps to neutralise anti-national pernicious designs who are disconnected from the ground reality and not acknowledging the phenomenal economic growth, great developmental journey and the unprecedented rise of Bharat on the global stage,” he said.
The event was attended by Lt-Gen Gurmeet Singh, Governor of Uttarakhand, Col Rahul Agarwal, Commandant of RIMC. The Vice-President told cadets, “Bharat-Mata beckons you. The nation’s future rests on your shoulders. Always keep national interest foremost. Your conduct must exemplify discipline, decorum and empathy,” he added.
Dhankhar further said strength and conscience make a formidable combination that generates impregnability when challenged.
11 die while undertaking physical tests during govt recruitment drive in Jharkhand
Cases of unnatural death registered, probe under way: IG (Operations) Homkar
Ranchi, September 1
Eleven candidates died while undertaking physical tests during a drive to recruit excise constables in Jharkhand, police said on Sunday.
Physical tests under the Jharkhand excise constable competitive examinations began on August 22 in seven centres across Ranchi, Giridih, Hazaribag, Palamu, East Singhbhum and Sahebganj districts.
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Four deaths happened in Palamu, two persons each died in Giridih and Hazaribag, and one person each in Ranchi’s Jaguar centre, and East Singhbhum’s Mosabani and Sahebganj centres, said IG (Operations) Amol V Homkar.
He said cases of unnatural death were registered and investigations under way.
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A total of 1,27,772 aspirants appeared for the physical tests till August 30, out of which 78,023 cleared it, he added.
Homkar said adequate arrangements, including medical teams, medicines, ambulance, mobile toilets and drinking water, were ensured at all centres.
Alleging that the deaths happened due to mismanagement by the authorities, the BJP youth wing demonstrated against the JMM-led government in Ranchi’s Albert Ekka Chowk.
