New Delhi, Sep 22: Citing “evil agenda of Pakistan” and the disturbing developments including the killing of security personnel in Jammu and Kashmir, India on Friday unilaterally cancelled the proposed meeting of two foreign ministers Sushma Swaraj and Shah Mehmood Qureshi in New York next week.
“……..the evil agenda of Pakistan stands exposed and the true face of the new Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan has been revealed to the world in his first few months in office,” MEA spokesman Raveesh Kumar said in a strongly worded statement.
“Any conversation with Pakistan in such an environment would be meaningless,” he said and referred to “disturbing developments” including the killings of Indian security personnel.
“Since yesterday’s announcement of a meeting between the Foreign Ministers of India and Pakistan in New York later this month, two deeply disturbing developments have taken place. The latest brutal killings of our security personnel by Pakistan-based entities and the recent release of a series of twenty postage stamps by Pakistan glorifying a terrorist and terrorism confirm that Pakistan will not mend its ways,” the MEA statement said.
Meanwhile, giving indications of tension mounting along Indo-Pak border, the Jammu and Kashmir government sources said in a fierce encounter at Shukbaba area in Sumlar village of Bandipora, security forces on Friday eliminated five terrorists belonging to Lashkar-e-Taiba group.
New Delhi : India is likely to give its approval to a landmark military communications agreement with the United States during high-level talks on Thursday, two Indian government defence sources said, laying the ground for Washington to sell sensitive defence equipment.
A first source said the Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) was discussed in a meeting of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet committee on security on Wednesday evening, hours ahead of a meeting between the defence and foreign heads of India and the United States.
“It will be a positive development tomorrow,” the source said, declining to be named given the sensitivity of the matter. “It will definitely be reflected in the joint statement.”
A second government defence source said there was “high expectation” that the agreement would be signed on Thursday by U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and India’s Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
The agreement has also been customised to address Indian concerns, said the second source, who had been briefed on the matter. It would only apply to equipment that India buys from the United States and not open up the rest of the Indian military to U.S. communications networks, said the source.
New Delhi, Aug 2: Charging the Government of ‘ducking’ the ‘Doklam Question’ in the Lok Sabha, the Congress on Wednesday said the Modi Government hid behind a sheet of misleading opaqueness on the issue and demanded that .Prime Minister Narendra Modi make a statement on the issue and tell about the Government’s policy on de-militarizing the Doklam plateau.
In a statement issued here, AICC media in charge Randeep Surjewala said,’Modi Government hid behind a sheet of misleading opaqueness on Doklam today. External affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj claimed in Parliament on Wednesday that the 73 day standoff in Doklamhas been “resolved with diplomatic maturity without losing any ground” and “there is no change in the status quo (on the ground). The face off at sight has been resolved on August 28, 2017.”
The Modi Government and Ms Sushma Swaraj were conspicuously silent on the Chinese military buildup and new road construction in the South Doklam region, overlooking the ‘Chicken Neck’. She said nothing about the creation of ‘a full-fledged Chinese military complex’ at Doklam right upto 10 m from Indian Army Post, reflected in the satellite imagery released earlier by the Congress party, besides media reports. ‘
Questioning the silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue, he said,’ The Prime Minister met this Chinese counterpart Mr Xi Jinping on July 26, on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in South Africa. This was the third bilateral meeting of PM Modi with his Chinese counterpart in the past four months. Disappointingly, the Modi Government could not give a conclusive reaction to the numerous media reports and developments regarding the Doklam stand-off that have compromised India’s National Security and endangered its Strategic Interests.
During the July 20th ‘No-Confidence’ Motion debate in Parliament, the PM spewed false political rhetoric but could not provide any clarity on the status of Chinese military and infrastructure build up at North and South Doklam. Earlier, both Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj visited China from April 20-24, but not a word on Doklam came out of those ‘agenda-less’ visits.’
He said that Mrs Swaraj’s statement in Parliament on Wednesday reflected the Modi Government’s uncertain Foreign Policy and continuous ‘Flip-Flops’ to the Chinese Misadventure in Doklam.
‘ Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj’s vacuous statement on Doklam in Parliament today speaks volumes about the Modi Government’s uncertain Foreign Policy and continuous ‘Flip-Flops’ to the Chinese Misadventure in Doklam which is harming India’s Strategic Interests.
In national interest, the Congress party demands that the PM make a statement and take the nation into confidence by placing the entire spectrum of facts on the floor of the Parliament. The PM must tell his Government’s policy on de-militarizing the Doklam plateau,’ he said.
New Delhi/Islamabad, May 30: Director General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan today agreed to “fully implement” the ceasefire pact of 2003 in “letter and spirit” forthwith to stop cross border firings in Jammu and Kashmir.
The two military commanders reviewed the prevailing situation along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) in J and K during a conversation over the hotline at 6 PM, the Indian Army said.
The special hotline contact was initiated by the Pakistani DGMO.
Following the conversation between Indian DGMO Lt Gen Anil Chauhan and Pakistan’s Maj Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza, the two armies issued identical statements saying both sides agreed to fully implement the 15-year-old ceasefire understanding.
Kolkata, May 27 : India’s gross defence budget is expected to reach US 112 billion (bn) dollar by FY27 from 45 bn dollar announced by the Central Government in 2018-19, owing to significant steps been taken by the Centre to bolster country’s position as a major aerospace and defence power, noted a recent ASSOCHAM-KPMG joint study.
The study titled, ‘Creating a level playing field to facilitate Make in India in defence,’ jointly conducted by The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) and global professional services firm KPMG also noted that while in 2018-19 the budgetary increase was a meagre 7.8 per cent over the previous year, it is expected to clock an estimated compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 11 per cent until FY27.
The study however raised concerns that about 10 per cent of defence budget is surrendered to Ministry of Defence (MoD) at the end of each financial year owing to underutilisation as the reserved budget is not mapped with capital acquisition, an ASSOCHAM statement today said.
It said that country’s capital expenditure for defence procurement is expected to exceed 250 bn dollar over the next 10 years, primarily to replace the Soviet-era vintage equipment and meet the growing modernisation needs of Indian Armed Forces. However, out of this the domestic industry would only be able to manufacture defence equipment worth just about 80 bn dollar while rest of it would have to be imported.
Thus, the study suggested the government to incentivise private enterprises for developing large scale research and development (R&D) and manufacturing capabilities.
It said that a vibrant domestic manufacturing ecosystem that includes both public and private defence manufacturing entities is essential for success of ‘Make in India,’ in the defence sector.
The study also noted that despite large quantum of opportunities, fast growing economy and availability of skilled talent pool, India has achieved very limited success in terms of aerospace and defence self-reliance.
Pakistan Navy fired a live surface-to-surface anti-ship missile along the North Arabian Sea on Wednesday and said the successful test reaffirms its commitment to safeguard maritime frontiers “against all threats”. The frontline combat unit of Pakistan Navy undertook the live firing of Surface to Surface Anti-ship missile from Sword Class frigate PNS ASLAT which was witnessed by Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah.
“The missile successfully destroyed its intended target with pinpoint accuracy reaffirming weapon’s lethality and offensive punch of Pakistan Navy’s Fleet,” Radio Pakistan reported. Zakaullah expressed his satisfaction on the operational preparedness of Pakistan Navy Fleet and said the Live Missile Firing “reaffirms credibility of deterrence at sea and reassures Pakistan Navy’s commitment to safeguard our maritime frontiers against all threats”. The successful conduct of missile firing also demonstrates the efficacy and lethality of modern weapon systems operated by Pakistan Navy, the report said.
Last week, Pakistan successfully test-fired an enhanced version of an indigenously-designed cruise missile that can hit targets at 700 kms with all kinds of warheads, bringing many Indian cities within its range. Named after the Mughal invader and founder of the dynasty of same name, the missile is part of Babur Weapon System version – 2 as it is enhanced version of earlier missile and incorporates advanced aerodynamics and avionics that can strike targets both at land and sea with high accuracy.
It is a low flying, terrain hugging missile, which carries certain stealth features and is capable of carrying various types of warheads, according to a press statement. The missile is equipped with state-of-the-art navigational technologies of Terrain Contour Matching (TERCOM) and all-time Digital Scene Matching & Area Co-relation (DSMAC) which enables it to engage various types of targets with pinpoint accuracy even in the absence of GPS navigation. Babur weapons system is an important force multiplier for Pakistan’s strategic defence.
Leh/New Delhi, Nov 3 : Chinese and Indian troops are locked in a stand-off at the icy heights of Ladakh division since yesterday after People’s Liberation Army(PLA) personnel entered an area where an irrigation canal was being built under the MNREGA scheme and stopped the civilian work.
The incident took place yesterday afternoon in Demchok sector, located 250 km east of Leh, where the work for linking a village with ‘Hot spring’ was being undertaken under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA).
Around 55 Chinese troops arrived at the scene and halted the work in an aggressive manner, prompting the army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police(ITBP) personnel to rush to the spot and stop the high-handedness of Chinese troops, official sources said today.
The Chinese troops took positions on the perceived Line of Actual Control (LAC) and demanded that work be stopped as either side needs to take permission before undertaking any work, a claim disputed by the Indian side which says that as per the agreement between the two countries, information about construction needs to be shared only if it was meant for defence purposes.
Both sides pulled out banners and have been stationed on the ground, the sources said, adding the Army and ITBP was not allowing the Chinese to move an inch ahead despite the PLA claiming that the area belonged to China.
The area had witnessed a similar incident in 2014 after it was decided to construct a small irrigation canal at Nilung Nalla under the MNREGA scheme that had been a sore point with the Chinese.
The PLA had mobilised villagers from Tashigong to pitch Rebos (tents) at Charding-Ninglung Nallah (CNN) Track Junction to protest Indian action.
This time, the sources said, there were 55 personnel from the Chinese PLA whereas nearly 70 personnel from ITBP and army had fortified the area and prevented their march deeper into Indian territory, the sources said.
The ‘Hot Spring’ is different from the one in Chashool where Police day is observed in memory of 10 CRPF men killed in 1959 by Chinese troops.
Tokyo, Nov 3 : A US military base in southern Japan went into a brief lockdown today following reports of gunshots, but declared “all clear” after finding no evidence that shots were fired.
“On November 3, 2016, at 9:33 am (0603 IST) security received a report of gunshots heard inside building 141… The building was evacuated,” Commander Fleet Activities Sasebo Japan said in a Facebook post.
“All clear, lockdown has been lifted. No evidence of shots fired or an active shooter,” it said shortly afterwards, adding that no injuries had been reported.
New Delhi, Oct 28 : The Defence Ministry has decided to “re-look” into the issue of parity between armed forces and their civilian counterparts after a controversial letter issued on the subject this month led to severe heartburn in the military.
A panel within the Defence Ministry is likely to be set up.
The Defence Ministry will re-look into the issue that has been left pending for so many years, Defence Ministry sources said today.
The panel will go though all documents concerning the issue, including the decision of the Group of Ministers in 2009 ratified by the Union Cabinet.
The 2009 GoM decision and ratification by the cabinet had corrected this anomaly but it seems it was not brought to the attention of the authorities when decision on the October 18 letter was taken and even when a re-look was taken following the uproar.
Incidentally, two days after Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar promised to look into the concerns of the military personnel, the Ministry had yesterday issued a statement saying there has been no down gradation or any change in the existing equivalence of the Service ranks whatsoever.
“The existing functional equivalence as clarified in 1991 and further reiterated in 1992, 2000, 2004 and 2005 has only been re-affirmed,” the statement said.
It, however, failed to placate the armed forces, including retired officers.
As per the circular issued on October 18, an army Major General (rear admiral in the navy and vice-marshal in the air force) was to be on par with a principal director in the Armed Force Headquarters (AFHQ) Civil Service.
A Brigadier/Commodore/Air Commodore (with about 24 years of service) was to be equivalent in rank to a director (with about 14 years of service), and a Colonel/Captain/Group Captain to a joint director in the civil service, sources in the armed forces said.
So far, a colonel was equated with a director. A Brigadier did not have a clearly defined equivalence in the civilian hierarchy. However, they were treated at par with a deputy director-general. A major general was treated as the equivalent of a joint secretary.
In the letter of 1992, it was clearly mentioned that a Major General was equivalent to a Joint Secretary and equivalent ranked civil officers in the Service Headquarters.
Defence Ministry sources said that a Joint Secretary is equal to a Principal Director in the Services Headquarters in terms of pay band.
However, sources in the Services say that the Ministry should put it in writing that a Joint Secretary is equivalent to a Principal Director.
They fear that with the letter of October 18, a Joint Secretary in the MoD will go a notch higher than a Major General.
Benaulim (Goa) : Ramping up bilateral ties, India and Russia are likely to sign key defence deals worth billions of dollars tomorrow as Moscow hopes to stave off tough competition from the Americans and the Europeans to continue being New Delhi’s foremost defence supplier.
While India and Russia will sign a “complex agreement” for production of 200 Kamov 226T helicopters domestically under a nearly USD 1 billion deal to replace the country’s ageing Cheetah and Chetak choppers, a deal on naval frigates is also likely.
Russian media reports have said other major deals will be signed too.
The most strategic important military deal will be the one for the supply of S-400 ‘Triumf’ long-range air defence missile systems which has the capability to destroy incoming hostile aircraft, missiles and even drones at ranges of up to 400 km.
Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov has been quoted as saying by TASS news agency that the deal for the air defence system will be signed.
India and Russia have been in talks for over a year for the purchase of at least S S400 systems that will be a game changer in the region.
It is capable of firing three types of missiles, creating a layered defence, and simultaneously engaging 36 targets.
If India signs the deal, it would be the second customer of the prized missile system after China which had struck a USD 3 billion contract last year.
Other contracts that both countries are eyeing relate to the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft, leasing of a second nuclear submarine by India and production of a new version of the BrahMos missile.
While Russia has traditionally being India’s main defence supplier, recent years have seen American and European companies making a big headway.
Russia has slowly fought back and offered a slew of equipment, even under the ‘Make in India’ initiative.