Monthly Archives: August 2018

Says HAL must keep its promise of delivering 24 jets every year

Ajay Banerjee

Air Chief Marshal AP Singh addresses the media in New Delhi. Mukesh Aggarwal

In a blunt assessment vis-à-vis China, Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh on Friday said “we need to catch up” on technology, while on production speed of military equipment, “we are way behind” the eastern neighbour.

Separately, on the much-delayed production timelines of the indigenous fighter jet programme, the Tejas, the IAF Chief, who was addressing a press conference ahead of the Air Force Day (October 8), said the pace of work by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) needed to match the promise of making 24 jets every year.

Answering questions on countering China, the IAF Chief said: “We have our plans in place.” Air Chief Marshal Singh, who took over as the IAF Chief on September 30, went to compare the scenario: “In terms of the quality of manpower, we are way ahead of China. As far as technology is concerned we may be not so good, as off now. We need to catch up. In term of production rates, we are way behind.”

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On HAL and production of indigenous jets, he said: “HAL made a promise that production rates will increase to 24 aircraft per year — if that promise is kept, the delays can be caught up with.” On the dwindling fleet of fighter jets, the IAF Chief said: “Our aim is not to let aircraft strength remain below 30 (squadrons).”

Each squadron has 16-18 jets. The Cabinet Committee of Security lays down the need for 42 fighter jet squadrons to tackle a simultaneous two-front threat from China and Pakistan. The IAF presently has 32 squadrons. It has placed an order with HAL for making 83 Tejas Mark-1A jets, whose deliveries were to start in March this year. However, so far, not a single plane has been delivered. On being asked if the first plane could be expected this year, Air Chief Marshal Singh said: “I cannot comment on that.”

On the future production of indigenously designed fighter jets, the IAF Chief said it was looking at 97 more Tejas Mark-1As and also 6-7 squadrons each of the Tejas Mark 2 and Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). Asked how these many planes would be procured, he said: “Private players will have to come in. I don’t think we can continue relying only on one agency (HAL).”

LAC situation same as year ago

• On the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh said: “The situation is the same as it was one year ago.”
• The Chinese were creating infrastructure on their side at a rapid pace, he said, adding: “We are matching up by adding capacities.”

In an apparent dig at China, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today reiterated India’s “unwavering” resolve to a rules-based international order, respect for international law and adherence to the principles enshrined in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea..

In an apparent dig at China, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today reiterated India’s “unwavering” resolve to a rules-based international order, respect for international law and adherence to the principles enshrined in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). – File photo

In an apparent dig at China, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today reiterated India’s “unwavering” resolve to a rules-based international order, respect for international law and adherence to the principles enshrined in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

He did not name China, but the reference to UNCLOS made it clear who his statement was meant for. China has refused a ruling of the UNCLOS that decided on disputed maritime boundaries in the South China Sea.

“India has consistently advocated for a peaceful resolution to disputes and has sought to promote cooperation among nations in the Indo-Pacific,” the minister said while addressing the Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD), 2024, here.

Rajnath said India was committed to ensure safety and security of vital international maritime routes.

Ultras suspected to be behind killing of two soldiers on Sept 13

Arjun Sharma

A brief encounter on Thursday took place between security forces and a group of terrorists. It is suspected that the same group has been involved in multiple encounters and killing of two soldiers on September 13 in Kishtwar district.

A search operation was launched in the Chatroo forest area of the district, where many encounters have taken place in the recent past, after the police received an intelligence input. Units of the Army and Special Operations Group of the J&K Police were deployed in the area to search for terrorists, who as per intelligence were Pakistanis.

As the security forces proceeded with the searches in the forest under the jurisdiction of the Chatroo police station in Kishtwar, ultras opened gunfire which led to an encounter. Searches were continued in the area, but the terrorists likely had local help, who helped them in hiding in the forest.

Sources said after a few rounds of firing, the terrorists managed to escape from the spot, but a cordon had been laid around the forest area. The security forces are chasing these terrorists for a long time now.

Sources in the Army intelligence said that many terrorists from Kishtwar and adjoining Doda district had fled to Pakistan-occupied J&K (PoJK) in early 2000 and settled there. It has been learnt by the intelligence agencies that these ultras were making arrangements and providing local help for the ultras infiltrating from Pakistan into J&K.

On September 21, the security forces based on specific intelligence about the presence of terrorists, launched a joint search operation near the Danna Dhar forest area under the jurisdiction of the Kishtwar police station. Subsequently, an encounter ensued when terrorists were spotted in the forest.

The following day on September 22, security forces launched a search operation near the Danna Dhar forests in the upper reaches of the Chatroo area, where another encounter broke out.

Intelligence agencies believe that it might be the same group of terrorists, who are moving from one place to another within Kishtwar through the forests. Also, the role of over ground workers (OGWs) in hiding these terrorists and providing food to them has not been ruled out.

In Ganderbal district, the Army’s Wussan Battalion of the 34 Assam Rifles in the Kangan area has launched an inspiring initiative for Agniveer aspirants in the Valley. The Army is training around 20 aspirants, now gearing up for their physical..

In Ganderbal district, the Army’s Wussan Battalion of the 34 Assam Rifles in the Kangan area has launched an inspiring initiative for Agniveer aspirants in the Valley.

The Army is training around 20 aspirants, now gearing up for their physical test after a successful initial assessment. The dedicated team at the Kangan unit is actively supporting their preparation, offering guidance and resources to ensure the candidates are well-equipped for the challenges ahead. In a remarkable display of commitment, the Army is providing comprehensive support, including breakfast and necessary train tickets for travel to training locations.

Lending a helping hand

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• Army’s Wussan Battalion of the 34 Assam Rifles in the Kangan area is training 20 aspirants for selection under Agniveer scheme
• Army team is actively supporting their preparation, offering guidance and resources to ensure the candidates are well-equipped for the challenges ahead
• The initiative not only fosters a spirit of camaraderie and discipline among the youth but also reinforces the community’s connection to the armed forces

The initiative not only fosters a spirit of camaraderie and discipline among the youth but also reinforces the community’s connection to the armed forces. The aspirants have expressed immense gratitude for the assistance, highlighting how this programme has boosted their confidence and motivation.

Aspirants feel a renewed sense of purpose as they prepare to serve their country. One of the aspirants, Farooq Ahmad, said, “I’m currently graduating and heard about the Agniveer scheme. I was very excited to join the Army. As soon as I heard about the Agniveer scheme, I filled out the form. I have passed the written test, and now I am preparing for the physical exam.”

Another aspirant, Sajad Ahmad, said, “I am trying to pass the exam and get a job. I have completed my B.Sc. I come here at 6 am, and we have training till 9 am. Those who are aspiring to join the Army should also come and join the training.” Aijaz Ahmad, an aspirant, said, “Many youngsters participate in the training. A daily practice of 2-3 hours is being provided to us.”

Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General MV Suchindra Kumar visited Kashmir on Friday and urged troops to maintain a high level of vigilance. The visit comes shortly after the three-phase elections concluded in Jammu and Kashmir, marking the first elections in…

Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General MV Suchindra Kumar visited Kashmir on Friday and urged troops to maintain a high level of vigilance. The visit comes shortly after the three-phase elections concluded in Jammu and Kashmir, marking the first elections in a decade.

During his visit, Lt Gen Kumar, along with the Corps Commander, visited a Rashtriya Rifles Battalion. The Army posted on X (formerly Twitter) that the Northern Commander commended the troops for their well-executed operations in Baramulla and Kulgam, where five militants were killed in recent anti-militancy actions.

In the Baramulla operation on September 13-14, three militants were eliminated, while on September 28, two local militants were killed in Kulgam. Lt Gen Kumar praised the meticulous planning involved and stressed the importance of maintaining constant vigilance moving forward.

Two Army personnel were injured in a landmine blast near the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Friday, officials said. “In the wee hours, during patrolling at Googaldara near LoC in Trehgam area of the…

Two Army personnel were injured in a landmine blast near the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Friday, officials said.

In the wee hours, during patrolling at Googaldara near LoC in Trehgam area of the north Kashmir district, two Army personnel got injured in a landmine blast,” the officials said.

The two personnel have been admitted to the Army hospital in Drugmulla and their condition is stable.

All major powers must put pressure on Netanyahu to not take any riskier steps as that could take the world to the brink of a huge disaster.

AFTER Israel killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and other leaders in Beirut on September 27, Iran fired around 200 missiles at Israel on October 1 without warning the USA. While most missiles were stopped by US and Israeli defence systems, a few hit Israel’s Nevatim air base, damaging about 30 F-35 fighter jets. No one was killed, but a few people had minor injuries.

Not to escalate the conflict further, the Biden administration is trying to belittle the success of the Iranian attack, urging Israel to be proportionate in its response. Israel, on the other hand, is angry that Iran had the audacity to lob missiles at its nuclear plant in Dimona (producing nuclear weapons) and three critical air bases. It is mulling a tough response.

Iran’s attack came after a series of killings by Israel of the senior leadership of Hezbollah, other cadres in pager explosions, the bombing of Yemeni ports, power plants and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in recent months. Iran realised that its lack of response had whetted the Israeli aggressiveness in killing its proxies in Lebanon, Gaza, Yemen and Syria and it had to act this time.

The Iran-Israel war has taken a dangerous turn as the two countries are now readying themselves for a direct fight, which they have avoided in the past. Iran reportedly looted an Israeli oil tanker in the Persian Gulf recently and Israel is contemplating an attack on its oil installations.

Iran has made it known that it does not want to attack Israel any further, but if the latter destroyed its oil facility, it would destroy oil wells of the pro-American Gulf states and US military bases in Middle East.

Most US allies want a ceasefire and no further escalation of hostilities. Several Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain. Kuwait and Qatar, have declared their neutrality in the war and assured Iran that they would not allow the USA to use military bases on their soil against her.

Israel does not have the capability to take on Iran and its proxies together on its own. Even the attacks on Hezbollah leaders in Lebanon and targets in Yemen and Syria were undertaken mostly by American fighters, with Israeli pilots playing a symbolic role.

The US can’t allow Israel to lose and does not want a full-scale regional war at this time when it is readying for the presidential elections next month. Any Israeli loss will affect the support for Democratic candidate Kamala Harris as Republican candidate Donald Trump has promised to solidly rally behind Israel. Also, the US does not want to get involved in a major war in Middle East as it would affect its ability to prepare for a war against China in East Asia.

Israel can’t allow Iran to walk away with a victory nor allow its “strategic superiority” against Iran to be weakened as it considers that crucial for the maintenance of peace and stability in the region. Iran has already suffered a huge fall in its prestige and military capabilities with the decimation of the top leadership of its proxies. Israel was keen to destroy Iran’s nuclear facility, but that looks difficult as Iran has secured Russia’s S-400 air defence system. However, Israel thinks that it has a golden opportunity now to weaken Iran by destroying its proxies and it must not let it go.

Russia is sympathetic to Iran, with the latter having supplied drones and missiles to her, but has its hands full with the Ukraine war. Russia and China will assist Iran to ensure that the USA gets bogged down in West Asia and damage its military capabilities. Russia is considering supplying long-range Onyx anti-ship missiles to Houthi rebels to attack western shipping in the Red Sea.

Prime Minister Modi has been in touch with PM Netanyahu and has supported him in taking strong measures against the terrorist groups. But External Affairs Minister Jaishankar has cautioned Israel against taking any actions which could precipitate large-scale casualties, particularly of civilians. India favours a two-state solution to the Palestinian problem, which even the USA and other countries want, but Netanyahu does not favour ceding any land to them.

India and other developing countries would be worried at the eruption of a full-scale regional war which could play havoc with the supply and prices of oil, gas and other commodities, disrupt travel and transportation of goods, damage environment and lead to the weakening of their currencies. Modi has called a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security to discuss the implications of this war.

The USA favours a limited response by Israel, without targeting Iran’s nuclear plant or its top leadership. While the Biden administration has done the most to assist Israel by the provision of political, economic, military assistance, Biden exercises little control on Netanyahu. The latter did not listen to Biden in taking ground invasion of the Gaza Strip, Rafah crossing or ground hostilities in Lebanon and it may not listen this time, too.

The only restraining factor is that Israel does not have the military capability to undertake sustained long-range bombing of Iran. But Netanyahu has great ability to get the Biden administration to support him whenever he needs by influencing the all-powerful Jewish lobby in the USA. That introduces an element of unpredictability in the future trajectory of the Iran-Israeli war.

It is important for all major powers and influential leaders in Israel to put pressure on Netanyahu to not take any riskier steps, such as damaging Iranian oil installations, as that could take the world to the brink of a huge disaster.

India and Russia could play a vital role by asking Iran not to take any precipitate steps.

This seemed like India taking sides against Iran. Indian foreign policy gained from remaining neutral in past conflicts in West Asia.

THE Iran-Israel standoff entered a dangerous phase when Iran fired 200-odd ballistic missiles at Israel. The price of oil surged and international trade faced new worries. The question universally posed is: what next?

ronically, in October 539 BC, the Persian founder of the Achaemenid dynasty, which ruled for two centuries over today’s West Asia and Iran, conquered Babylonia. Amongst his other liberal moves, he released the imprisoned Jews, letting them return to Jerusalem. Two and a half millennia later, their descendants are foes.

The Six-Day War in 1967 ended with Israel occupying the West Bank, the Golan Heights, the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem. The UN Security Council’s Resolutions 243 and 338 have been the basis of peacemaking for half a century now.

Former US President Jimmy Carter, just turning 100, enabled the Camp David Accords in 1978, when Israel and Egypt normalised relations. Three years later, Sadat was assassinated. That track was resumed with the Madrid Peace Conference in 1991, which led to Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin shaking hands with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in 1993. The Oslo Accords followed.

Although the Palestinian National Authority was thus created, it had limited autonomy. The assassination of PM Rabin in 1995 was a setback. A five-year period of self-rule was imposed to enable a settlement of outstanding issues, like the illegal Israeli settlements and holding of elections.

But Benjamin Netanyahu becoming Prime Minister in 1996 and the rise of Hamas as a counterforce to Arafat’s Fatah hardened the positions.

Netanyahu has been Prime Minister in three phases: 1996-99, 2009-21 and since December 2022. He scoffed at the Oslo Accords and rejected a Palestinian state. In 2005, he resigned from the government of PM Ariel Sharon over Israeli pullback from the Gaza Strip and the relocation of 8,000 Israeli settlers.

The vacation of Gaza, though appearing positive, was followed by its encirclement and restriction of free access, even via its coast. Once Hamas won elections there, Israel used it to counter the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. Netanyahu fine-tuned this policy after PM Sharon had a stroke in 2006 and his successor faced corruption charges.

Israeli rightwing governments benefited from the US getting distracted by 9/11 and Al Qaeda in 2001, Iraq’s occupation from 2003, the Arab Spring and the Syrian Civil War from 2011 and the declaration of the Islamic Caliphate by the ISIS in 2014.

The US President, Barack Obama, tried to break the Iran-Israel logjam by engaging Iran and, ultimately, overseeing a nuclear deal to contain its uranium enrichment programme.

However, President Donald Trump reversed this and pandered to Israel by shifting the US embassy to Jerusalem without any precondition about Israel resuming the peace process and Oslo Accords. Netanyahu lost power, facing serious corruption charges and public ire over defying the control of the judiciary. He returned to power in 2022, having cut a deal with extreme right wing parties, suffused with bigotry and anti-Arab politics.

Illegal settlements multiplied in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian Authority was compromised and weakened. Gaza was believed to be permanently enslaved and subdued.

A serious intelligence failure resulted in Hamas jumping the security fence and killing, raping and abducting Israeli civilians and defence personnel on October 7, 2023. Since then, Israeli defence forces have killed civilians, repetitively displaced Gaza’s population and failed to eliminate Hamas or get all hostages released.

Netanyahu’s unpopularity rose. His address to both Houses of the US Congress on July 24, 2024 had half the Democrats and Vice-President Kamala Harris missing. At that stage, two-thirds of the Israelis wanted Netanyahu to quit. The ongoing hostilities against Hamas and Hezbollah kept him in power.

One week later, Israel managed to kill the top Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in Teheran. Then followed the exploding pagers in Lebanon, injuring thousands and killing some Hezbollah cadres. Finally, Hezbollah’s top leader Hassan Nasarallah was killed in a massive air attack on September 27.

Israel, reportedly, wants to use the confusion amongst Hezbollah and the international sympathy due to the Iranian missile attack on it, to destroy Iranian nuclear facilities and inflict heavy infrastructural damage. The aim being to trigger public uprising against the Islamic government. Israeli forces are already in Southern Lebanon to push the Hezbollah fighters north of the Litani river, as required by the UNSC.

The twin assassinations of top leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah would have elevated Netanyahu’s popularity and mended Israeli intelligence’s reputation. However, it has landed the region in a crisis that can transition quickly to widespread hostilities.

If attacked, Iranian people will rally behind the government and not challenge it. Shias have a history of martyrdom, relating back to Prophet Mohammad’s grandsons. Pricking that instinct in a nation of 88 million, with a strong sense of their past glories, is dangerous. The Shia crescent today, running from Iran to the Mediterranean, merely replicates the Achaemenid empire.

Iran has apparently warned that an attack on its oil infrastructure would invite retaliation against similar facilities of the US allies in the Gulf. Iran has, in any case, the military capability of blocking shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Oil supply disruption can be lethal for the global economy.

There are three possible scenarios. One, a notional Israeli aerial attack on some Iranian military bases. Two, an attack to damage Iranian nuclear facilities. Three, an all-out onslaught to damage Iranian oil, nuclear and port infrastructure.

The US would be working to limit Israel to the first one. Even the UAE and Saudi Arabia, though happy to see Iran suffer, would not want it provoked into total retaliation against Israel and its supporters.

This seemed like India taking sides against Iran. Indian foreign policy gained from remaining neutral in past conflicts in West Asia, ie the Iran-Iraq war. China, if anything, has been neutral with a pro-Iran tilt. Even if the governments of oil-rich Arab states empathise with Israel, their people may not.

Thus, the region and the world face a tricky standoff, with a lame duck US President and four weeks to a critical presidential election.

Troops spot suspicious activity in Gugaldhar and challenge the intruders, leading to an exchange of fire

Security forces foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district, the Indian Army said on Saturday.

The army’s Srinagar-based Chinar Corps in a post on X said troops spotted suspicious activity in Gugaldhar and challenged the intruders, leading to an exchange of fire.

The operation is still on and is being led by a joint team of J-K Police and the army, it said.

An Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter on flood relief duty made an emergency landing in a waterlogged area in Aurai block of Muzaffarpur district in Bihar on Wednesday after it developed a snag. SSP Rakesh Kumar said the helicopter was…

An Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter on flood relief duty made an emergency landing in a waterlogged area in Aurai block of Muzaffarpur district in Bihar on Wednesday after it developed a snag.

SSP Rakesh Kumar said the helicopter was coming from the adjoining Darbhanga area after air-dropping relief materials to flood-affected people.

“All the occupants were IAF personnel, who were pulled out by locals by the time officials reached the spot,” said the SSP.