http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140116/main2.htm#2
UK’s MI-5 officers
visited Golden Temple: RAW officer’s book
Tribune News
Service
New Delhi, January
15
Former Additional
Director of the Research & Analysis Wing B Raman notes in his memoirs that
at the request of the then RAW Chief RN Kao, two officers of the British
Security Service (MI-5) had visited the Golden Temple as tourists and advised
then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to be patient and avoid action or use of
police force.
There is no
mention of a visit by members of the elite Special Air Service (SAS) of the UK,
as mentioned in the latest controversy over its possible involvement in the
military operation of 1984.
Recalling the
run-up to the Operation Bluestar by the Indian Army to flush out Jarnail Singh
Bhindranwale and his armed men from the sacred place, Raman notes there was
“some unease” in the intelligence community over the wisdom of the proposed
course of action.
“One had an impression that
Kao felt it would be better to be patient for some weeks instead of taking any
precipitate action, which might prove counter-productive...I was given to
understand that at the request of Kao, two officers of the British Security
Service (MI-5) visited the Golden Temple as tourists and gave a similar advice
to Indira Gandhi to be patient and avoid action or use the police,” Raman wrote
in chapter “The Khalistani Terrorism” in his book “The Kaoboys of R&AW:
Down Memory Lane” published in 2007. No date of the visit by these officers to
the Golden Temple is mentioned. Raman, who died last June, retired as the
Additional Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat in 1994.
“Rajiv Gandhi and two of his
close associates held a number of secret meetings, recording the discussions,
transcribing them and putting up the transcripts to Kao for briefing Indira
Gandhi. These talks failed to persuade Akali Dal leaders to cooperate with the
Government of India by persuading the Khalistani elements to vacate the Golden
Temple peacefully.
These transcripts, which were
kept in the secret archives of RAW, were very valuable records. They showed how
earnestly Indira Gandhi tried to avoid having to send the Army into the Golden
Temple. One hopes they are kept safely and would be available for future
historians” wrote Raman.
The Op that still rankles
The Army action at the Golden Temple
complex in Amritsar called “Operation Bluestar”, which continues to rankle, was
carried out between June 3 and 6, 1984
Major General KS Brar (later Lt Gen), then
GOC of 9 Infantry Division, was entrusted with the sensitive task of flushing
out Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and his armed supporters from the precincts of
the complex
Though some accounts put the casualty
figures higher, according to official accounts, a total of 83 Army personnel
lost their lives and 248 were injured during the operation, while 492 civilians
were killed and 86 injured. About 1,600 person were apprehended
The operation led to a huge backlash,
leading to the assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her
Sikh bodyguards, following which there was a large-scale violence against Sikhs
in New Delhi and at some other places
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140116/nation.htm#4
Multi-pronged plan to boost capabilities: Army
Chief
New Delhi, January
15
The Army has drawn
up a multi-pronged plan to boost its capabilities and a number of projects,
including acquiring of night vision devices, upgrading of mechanised forces and
augmentation of artillery firepower, are near completion, Army chief General Bikram
Singh said today.
He said the Army
had also submitted a time-bound plan to the government to enhance the
capabilities of its aviation corps. “We have made plans. The government has
approved many. Some of them have been completed while others will get approval
by the end of the fiscal,” he said at an Army Day function here. Stressing the
importance of superior equipment and firepower for the Army, he said a country
was respected only when it was economically and militarily powerful.
“For the country to achieve
its rightful place globally, it is must that our Army becomes a capable,
effective, responsible and contemporary power and contributes to the progress
of the country," he said. General Singh also made a mention about the
approval granted for raising a mountain strike corps to underline the growing
capability of the Army and said special attention was being paid to
infrastructure development along the borders.
In his 15-minute-long speech,
he spoke about the Army's efforts to deal with issues ranging from suicide to
shortage of officers and facilities for its present and former personnel, and
said the shortfall of officers would come down to 10% by 2018 from existing
20%. — PTI
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140116/nation.htm#7
‘Aam aadmi’ Kejriwal takes NCC
brass by surprise
The National Cadet Corps' top brass lined up
to receive newly-elected Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on his visit to
the annual Republic Day Camp (RDC) on January 8 were in for a surprise when he
arrived there almost unnoticed in his personal blue Wagon-R without the
official trimmings.
This was unlike
the arrival of other customary VVIP visitors like the Vice-President, Prime
Minister, Defence Minister and the service chiefs, who troop in at the camp
with their heavy cavalcades and entourages. This also happened to be Kejriwal's
first function that had been organised by a central government organisation.
Clad in open toes sandals, maroon pullover and grey trousers, the CM was
accompanied by his wife Sunita, an Indian Revenue Services officer.
The couple mixed
freely with children and photo opportunities followed. Incidentally, for the 15
preceding years, the camp had been receiving the same Delhi Chief Minister,
Sheila Dixit. Kejriwal looked the "aam aadmi," that he claims to be.
Considered the
most prestigious of all NCC camps, over 1,500 cadets from across the country
attend the RDC in the Capital after a tough selection process at the state
level.
Army fatalities go
down
There has been a
decrease in the number of fatal casualties suffered by the Army over the past
five years. The list of martyrs released on Army Day 2014 reveals that 64
personnel, including three officers, had lost their lives in the line of duty
in 2013. The figure for the preceding year was 75, including six officers.
The fatalities are
primarily on account of continuing counter-terrorist operations in Jammu and
Kashmir and the north-east, though this year there were also several casualties
due to Pakistani troops resorting to heavy cross-border firing in violation of
the ceasefire agreement or their so called border action teams sneaking across
the Line of Control and targeting Indian soldiers. In the recent past, the
bloodiest year for the army was 2010, when it lost 187 men, including 14 officers.
The year before
that it had lost 107 men, including 10 officers. The dip in the fatalities over
the past couple of years has been attributed to an improved security
environment in the hinterland, though some security experts have cautioned that
the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan this year could affect the
situation.
Army Chief avoids
controversy
At his press
conference in New Delhi on January 13, Chief of the Army Staff, Gen Bikram
Singh, avoided any controversy and making any comment on his predecessor, Gen
VK Singh, or the statements of the political leadership. A journalist referred
to Gen VK Singh's claims of giving bribes to Kashmir politicians and asked the
Chief "There are bizarre allegations that the Indian Army has been bribing
Kashmiri separatist leaders to buy peace?" "No comments,"
retorted the Chief.
The journalist
tried again, asking, "Is it correct on part of the J&K Assembly to
summon a former Chief?" The reply was on same lines. When questioned about
Aam Aadmi Party leader Prashant Bhushan's statement on Kashmir, the Chief said,
"I never comment on statements of political leaders".
He avoided any
comments on what the Army will do or is doing along the Line of Actual Control
(LAC) with China. "It's our policy that the Ministry of External Affairs
comments on this. The Army's duty is to maintain peace and tranquility. We have
to work as per national strategy and not come out and speak what we have done
along LAC," he said.
Priority treatment
for battle casualties
Polyclinics under
the Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) are apparently ignoring
directions to give priority to the war disabled, battle casualties and
physically disabled veterans during consultations, check-up or issue of
medicines.
A letter issued by
the ECHS Central Organisation a few days ago states that ECHS authorities are
continuously getting complaints and representations in this regard.
The Central
Organisation has directed all ECHS regional centers to issue necessary
instructions to the officers in charge of polyclinics to ensure that such
veterans are accorded priority treatment, keeping in mind their physical
condition and old age.
It has also
advised regional centers to set up a 24-hour helpline to redress the grievances
of the ECHS clientele.
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140116/nation.htm#10
International Crisis Group meets today
Ajay Banerjee
Tribune News
Service
New Delhi, January
15
The International
Crisis Group (ICG) meets here tomorrow with a single-point agenda. And this
agenda is to get Afghanistan agree on having international forces in a supportive
role of training and counselling after the international forces start
withdrawing in June this year.
The ICG on
Afghanistan and Pakistan will discuss security situation in the war-torn
country that is gearing up for the polls in April amidst US-led international
troops withdrawal. So far Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has refused to
sign Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) with the US. Several leading political
figures and civil society groups have urged Karzai to sign the BSA as it will
pave the way for presence of some forces.
German Ambassador
to India, Michael Steiner, speaking on the sidelines of function at the German
Embassy, today confirmed: “We need the agreement of the Afghanistan Government
for that. I am confident that this will come about. It’s important that
Afghanistan agrees to modalities as this is a pre-condition to have forces
there”.
Germany is one of
the leading nations in the ICG on Afghanistan and its representative will lead
the talks tomorrow. India will be represented by its Special Envoy for
Afghanistan-Pakistan SK Lambah. As many as 53 countries will be at the meeting
tomorrow.
He cited how at
the Bonn conference it was decided that Afghanistan needs 10 more years of
attention.
Single-point
agenda: To make Karzai agree on having forces beyond 2014
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140116/edit.htm#2
Needless battles
MoD driving
ex-soldiers to litigation
A department set
up for the supposed welfare of ex-servicemen and war widows in 2004 has decided
that in six categories of litigation, including disability pensions, the
Ministry of Defence will automatically appeal against unfavourable verdicts up
to the Supreme Court level. Much of litigation can be avoided if the department
is run by officers who are efficient, pragmatic and humane. Even if litigation
becomes inevitable, the department should accept the first unfavourable court
judgment gracefully and rectify the wrong.
However, the bunch
of officers manning the department seem to believe that they can't go wrong and
should lose no battle even if it takes years of litigation and wastage of the
taxpayers' money and courts' time. To deter such officers from mindlessly
persisting with needless litigation, courts should impose hefty fines payable
by them from their own pockets. At the MoD level there should be investigation
of, and punishment for, apparently wrong decisions, overturned by courts, which
make the retired soldiers or their dependents run from pillar to post just to get
what they think is their due.
Already,
ex-servicemen with modest means and unable to fight the might of the
institution they once proudly served give up legal cases midway. Now it seems
to have become the official policy of the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare
to tire out the soldiers who dare challenge its decisions. The department,
headed by a Secretary-level officer and functioning under the Minister of State
for Defence, Jitendra Singh, is well aware of the plight of former soldiers. Lt
Gen Vijay Oberoi, whose disability entitlement was raised by just 5 per cent by
the 5th Pay Commission, was denied his dues and his case dragged on for years.
The MoD, perhaps, wanted to set an example for others thinking of entering a
legal battle. Why so many soldiers are forced to move courts against what they
perceive as arbitrary decisions and injustice to them needs to be looked into.
http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/despite-army-chief-s-restraint-pakistan-gets-hard-line-message-114011600027_1.html
Despite army
chief's restraint, Pakistan gets hard-line message
Army chief General
Bikram Singh's unmistakably optimistic assessment of the situation on the
borders, in Afghanistan, and in Jammu & Kashmir has ironically evoked a
sharp rejoinder from the Pakistani military's public relations wing. The reason
- with the Indian media reporting only hard line statements, cherry-picked from
the army chief's overall positive appraisal, the sense conveyed was of hawkish
posturing, rather than the positive mood that Gen Singh tried to strike.
Speaking at his
annual Army Day press conference on Monday, the army chief had made an
important statement on ceasefire violations. Insisting the army would not be
easily provoked, he stated: "Our country wants to move head. These
(ceasefire violations) are issues at the tactical level. And, tactical level
operations should not impinge on the strategic initiatives of the nation, which
are for growth of the nation in a regional context. They are part of the grand
strategy of the nation. My job is to ensure that I engage the adversary where
necessary to the quantum of force that is required and do not escalate the
situation into one that will impinge on the strategic initiatives."
He said after the
two armies' operational chiefs, the director generals of military operations
(DGMOs), held talks last month, relative calm had been restored on the Line of
Control (LoC). He stated: "I think it is a move in the right direction to
ensure that the ceasefire holds and the environment over there is conducive for
development on both sides and the aspirations of the locals. A large number of
locals in those areas suffer (in firing incidents) and the ceasefire looks
after their aspirations."
The army chief
added, "At the moment I am quite positive… We are having the meeting of
two brigade commanders the dates for which have not been fixed. The DGMOs are
speaking to each other on the hotline on a regular basis. We are hopeful that
this will result in ensuring ceasefire along the LoC."
At the same time,
Gen Singh revealed the Indian Army was responding to firing with firing.
"Let me assure you that action has been taken. If you see the Pakistani
media, I was watching Geo TV on 23rd December, they were talking of one
(Pakistani) officer and nine jawans being killed, and 12 or 13 being wounded.
This has happened due to the firing of your soldiers on the ground," he
asserted.
The army chief was
upbeat about the Line of Actual Control (LAC) between China and India, stating
the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement the two countries signed last October
would ensure "better understanding and bonhomie and peace and tranquillity
on the borders."
Taking a broader
strategic view of patrol violations on the ground, he said, "This
agreement is going to further strengthen the understanding at the LAC level and
even at the army headquarters level and also at the national level. Our
endeavour is to move ahead in right earnest to ensure that we maintain peace
and tranquillity to enable the strategic and national initiatives to fructify
and consolidate."
In contrast to the
foreign ministry's pessimistic assessments about Pakistani influence growing in
Afghanistan after the NATO troop drawdown this year, the army chief believes
the Afghan National Army (ANA) would hold its own against any challenges.
"Given the capacity that has been given by the international community,
along with our contribution, the ANA and police forces should be able to deal
with the situation."
While Indian
intelligence agencies have sounded dire warnings about jihadi fighters from
Afghanistan being funnelled into J&K after NATO leaves, the army chief was
far less pessimistic, conveying this was no more than a possibility. "A
good army man hopes for the best but caters for the worst. From that point of
view, it is axiomatic, it is imperative that we see that there might be a
certain spillover from Afghanistan into Jammu & Kashmir. There are certain
inputs alluding to this already. And therefore we need to be on our
guard," he said. Asked about the possibility of withdrawing the Armed
Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from J&K, the army chief did not reject
the idea as flatly as the army has done in the past. He said, "We need to
look at what happens in Afghanistan in 2014 before we can (consider revoking
AFSPA). Perhaps it may be prudent to watch and wait for a while."
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/indian-army-lt-gen-sanjiv-chachra-us-withdrawal-from-afghanistan-pakistan-crisis-chinese-incursion/1/336391.html
Lt Gen Sanjiv
Chachra terms 2014 as 'challenging year' for Army
Northern Command
Army Commander Lt Gen Sanjiv Chachra Wednesday termed year 2014 as 'challenging
year' in the backdrop of withdrawal of US troops from the Afghanistan and
internal conditions of Pakistan.
Asserting that
Army is fully prepared, the General said, "US troops will withdrawal from
Afghanistan in 2014 and the impact in the neighbouring country will also have
impact on Jammu and Kashmir, but Army is prepared to fight any situation".
"Pakistan has
the capability to calibrate violence," he told reporters during media
interaction at Akhnoor after investiture ceremony adding that on the LoC,
troops are given directions to remain alert and foil any nefarious designs.
He said that
terror infrastructure is in place across the border but Army is efficient
enough to meet any challenge and give a befitting reply to the enemy any time.
On Border Action
Team's attack on Indian posts in August last year in Poonch in which five
soldiers were killed, the Army Commander said, "we have ensured that such
BAT actions do not take place in future. Three days back Pakistani tried BAT
operation but we foiled their attempt following alertness and defence prepared
by us".
The Army Officer
further said that peace and tranquility has restored in the state and it was
only possible due to the elimination of 'tanzeem' (outfit) leaders in
assistance with the local police, para-military forces and other agencies.
However, on
militants reaching Jammu and Kashmir via Nepal route, the GOC-in-C termed it as
'threatening' and said that measures are being undertaken and check is also
being maintained.
The General
further said that in the year 2013, there was spurt in ceasefire violations
from Pakistan's side and rise in infiltration bids but all attempts were
successfully foiled.
On Chinese
incursion along the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh region, Lt Gen Chachra
said, "there is peace and stability along the LAC. We are patrolling at
our perceptions and there is a very clear and comprehensive border mechanism
put in place."
He however, also
ruled out any migration from Damchuk area of Ladakh in view of Chinese
incursion.
http://www.firstpost.com/india/afghanistan-withdrawal-jk-polls-pose-challenges-army-1341957.html
Afghanistan
withdrawal, J&K polls pose challenges: Army
Akhnoor, Jammu and
Kashmir: Due to the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan and polls in
Jammu and Kashmir, this year will be a challenge for the security forces, a top
Army commander said today in Akhnoor. "I must say that once the troops in
Afghanistan leave, once the people are out of job, they (militants) will try to
come to this side. We are aware of that reality. We are a responsible
professional Army," Lt Gen Sanjiv Chachra, GOC-in-C Northern Command told
reporters.
"We know that
there is threat inside JK and threats from these inimical elements to peace. We
are prepared for it—it is prudent to plan for it also—there are no such (Al
Qeada) indicators, but yes we will be prepared for this eventuality," he
said. Lt Gen Chachra said this year may pose serious challenges before the
Army. "2014 is a challenge for us. If there are problems in the
neighbouring country, the affect would be found here also. They (militants)
want to pollute democratic process in J&K. Terrorists inspired incidents
are taking place, but you see that they are targeting soft targets or those
areas where they want to achieve success and run away. We are prepared for
it," Lt Gen Chachra said. The officer was here to attend concluding
ceremony of Investiture Ceremony held at Sangha Auditorium, Akhnoor border belt
today. "The militants will make efforts to vitiate atmosphere in Kashmir
Valley. We should not give them the cause to vitiate atmosphere so that they
cannot start a cycle of violence in Valley or anything to trigger a communal
tension," the Northern Command chief said. "See, the fact is that the
terror infrastructure is in place. A day before we killed three of the top
terrorists including a big leader. We are going after the leaders," he
said. Lt Gen Chachra was replying to a volley of questions about militants'
plans this year, when Assembly and Lok Sabha polls are going to be held,
cross-border infiltration, spillover of militants of Taliban and Al Qaeda from
Afghanistan after the troops withdrawal. Referring to terror infrastructure in
Pakistan and infiltration attempts, he said, "Number of militants across
keep changing, but we know how many camps, how many launching pads are there.
Militants are ready to infiltrate, recently their focus has changed from North
(Kashmir) to South (South) due to weather conditions. "There are reports
that attempts were made from North area to infiltrate taking benefit of bad
weather. "The pattern of infiltration has not changed, the numbers have
increased, the attempts have increased, they are still making attempts. It is
only that we have put in place a comprehensive counter infiltration strategy
which has ensured enhanced security guard on the borders."
http://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/know-why-indian-army-celebrates-army-day-32508.html
Know why Indian
Army celebrates Army Day
New Delhi: The
Indian Army is celebrating 66th Army Day
on Wednesday, reaffirming its pledge to defend the nation against all
adversaries, external and within.
January 15 is the
day on which 15th Lieutenant General K M Cariappa became the first Indian Commander-in-Chief
in 1948.
Since then It is
celebrated every year at all the Army Command headquarters and national capital
by organizing army parades including many other military shows.
It is observd to
pay homage to and salute the brave jawans and officers who sacrificed their
lives for protecting the country.
Indian Army
General Kodandera Madappa Cariappa succeeded the British Indian Army General
Roy Butcher and became the first Commander-in-Chief of armed forces in
independent India.
http://truthdive.com/2014/01/14/indian-army-a-national-asset-article.html
Indian Army: A
national asset (Article)
New Delhi, Jan.14
(ANI): The Indian nation celebrates Army Day on January, 15, every year with
great fervour. January, 15, has been chosen for this event due to its
historical significance. It was on this day in 1949, that the Indian Army
divested itself of British control with General (later Field Marshal) K. M.
Cariappa taking over as the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Army from
Sir Francis Butcher.
A number of
parades, memorial lectures, equipment displays, investiture ceremonies
organised by the army on this day elicit tremendous response from the general
public.
The Army Day is
also a time to revisit the achievements of the army in the year gone by. The
pace for this exercise is set, in no small measure, by the traditional press
conference of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS).
This year, the
press conference by General Bikram Singh, COAS, was held at the Field Marshal
Sam Manekshaw Convention Centre in New Delhi on January, 13. Many issues of
relevance came up during the press conference.
The COAS made a
short introductory statement where he spoke of enhancement of combat power and
gave out figures of the amounts expended for the purpose through the year.
His focus was on
the raising of an additional corps in the North-East that has been on the
drawing board for some time now. It has got a denomination (17 Corps) and the
skeleton is in place. This constitutes good news, since its raising is imperative
to cover strategic gaps in the nations defence.
Other points
covered by the COAS were the strides being made by the army in the domain of
human resource management where the thrust has been on work culture and
maintaining the secular profile of the force.
The COAS dwelled
on the importance of “jointness” in the evolving strategic thought process
globally and the efforts being made by the Army in this direction.
Major issues came
up during the question and answer session. As is usual, it was security in
Jammu and Kashmir that elicited the maximum questions.
With regard to
continued Chinese belligerence along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the COAS
said that the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement signed by the two countries
recently would strengthen existing mechanisms and interface at the theatre
level.
When asked to
elaborate on the crucial aspect of an imbalance in infrastructure between India
and China in the border regions, he tacitly admitted to the need for more
effort in this direction, and added that a plan has been submitted to the
government whereby, development of infrastructure would be outsourced. Efforts
are also being made to enhance the capability of the Army’s Border Roads
Organisation.
On the recent
meeting between the Director Generals of Military Operations, COAS held forth a
view that India agreed to the meeting in view of the aspirations of the local
population on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC) who were the worst
sufferers of the frequent ceasefire violations and wanted an end this
continuous harassment, loss of life and property. He emphasised that as a fall
out of the meeting ceasefire violations have reduced substantially.
On the subject of
barbaric acts by Pakistan Army soldiers coming across the LoC to kill Indian
soldiers, the COAS clarified that Indian soldiers on ground have been given the
freedom to retaliate appropriately.
He said that India
would desist from all actions that can escalate the conflict and would also
follow rules of engagement as specified in the civilized world by statutes like
the Geneva Conventions.
However, if rules
are not followed by the adversary, then Indian Army would also not follow them.
The critical aspect
of continuing enabling legislations like the Armed Forces Special Powers Act
(AFSPA) in Jammu and Kashmir were covered by the COAS in the context of the
overall security situation of the region.
The drawback of
ISAF forces from Afghanistan and the possible resurgence of the Taliban that
could give a boost to terrorist activity against India in Kashmir dictates a
wait and watch policy. Hence, for the moment, dilution of the security
threshold in the region is not an option.
When queried on
the issue of human rights violations the COAS reiterated that the policy of
zero tolerance to human rights violations is being followed by the army
assiduously. This is evident from the court martial ordered in the Machil
incident which would have a “salutary effect.”
As mentioned, Army
Day is the time to revisit all achievements of the army in the year gone by.
There are some critical aspects that were left uncovered in the press
conference. On the issue of combat power, the most critical aspect of
acquisition of major military hardware like artillery guns, air defence
equipment etc was not touched upon.
The number of our
brave soldiers who attained martyrdom in the line of duty was not mentioned nor
was their bravery and sacrifice acknowledged.
An assessment of the
security situation in conflict ridden zones, especially Jammu and Kashmir was
not provided; this is most important in view of the two major elections to be
held in the state in 2014.
The army’s role in
disaster management was not highlighted; this was especially necessary in view
of the sterling contribution made by the brave soldiers in the Uttarakhand
calamity. Equally significant is the contribution to international peace
keeping initiatives through the United Nations; a major factor this year was the
sacrifice made by two brave Indian soldiers in the line of duty in South Sudan.
The strides being made in the crucial arena of sports and adventure went wholly
uncovered.
It becomes quite
apparent from the issues discussed that India is going through some testing
times and that the Indian Army is prepared for all eventualities.
It has the
capacity to effectively perform its responsibilities towards the nation. On the
occasion of Army Day, it is only befitting to remind the nation about its
bounden duty to ensure that the blood spilled by its brave soldiers as also
their contribution to the national cause does not go waste.
To ensure the same
all out efforts should be made to maintain this valuable national asset at the
highest pedestal professionally, socially and psychologically. By Jaibans Singh
(ANI)
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/why-general-kalashnikov-couldnt-sell-the-ak-47-in-india/1/333532.html
Why General
Kalashnikov couldn't sell the AK in India
Russia's greatest
small arms designer Lt General Mikhail Timofeyvich Kalashnikov was buried with
full state honors in Moscow on December 27. The ceremony for the legendary gun
designer, who died aged 94 on December 23, was attended by President Vladimir
Putin.
General
Kalashnikov visited India only once, in February 2004 where he kicked up a row.
The star attraction at Defexpo, a biennial defence exhibition in the capital,
was being escorted around the stalls at Delhi's Pragati Maidan. He stood
transfixed at the Indian Ordnance Factory board pavilion. On display there was
a knock-off of his assault rifle with its distinctive banana shaped magazine.
The pretense was so thinly veiled that the weapon was even called the 'AK-7'.
The general made his disgust known. The OFB had illegally copied his design.
His protest had an instant impact. OFB shelved the AK-7. Izhmash, the Russian factory that has
produced the rifle since it was accepted for service in 1947, however did not
pursue the copyright violation. Andrey Vishnyakov, Izhmash's fast-talking sales
manager told me it was purely business. Russia hoped to sell the OFB the rights
to make genuine AK-47s. Roughly two-thirds of India's military hardware, MiG
fighters, T-72 tanks and Kilo-class submarines, were of Soviet origin.
What had baffled
the arms factory executive was that India had however not purchased the
pinnacle of Soviet engineering design, the ruggedly simple AK-47 from Russia.
They had instead, Vishniyakov told me ruefully, bought poorer cousins made in the
Eastern Bloc. The Soviet Union had aggressively exported AK designs along with
its ideology. But had not patented the design as rigorously. Now, its
capitalist successor, the Russian Federation, felt the pinch from over a dozen
countries that continued to manufacture the rifle.
The Indian army
had discarded its bolt-action .303 Lee Enfield rifle after the debacle of the
1962 war. The venerable rifle had been outgunned by Chinese variants of the AK
rifles. The Belgian FN-FAL L1A1 7.62 mm Self Loading Rifle license produced by
the OFB since the 1962 war was obsolete by the 1980s when the Indian army found
just why militants in Punjab, Kashmir and Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka favored the
AK-47. Optimized for close range combat, light, easily-concealed, its
tremendous firepower of over 600 rounds a minute, leveled the playing field for
inferior forces. The rifle was rugged and required little maintenance and
survived after being buried in muddy fields and immersed in water. These were
lessons the US army had come up against fighting in Vietnam in the 1960s. But
while the US replaced the bulky, self-loading M14 with the lighter M16 in the
early years of Vietnam, the DRDO-designed indigenous Indian Small Arms Systems
or INSAS assault rifle that promised deliverance, was still years away from
induction in the 1980s. The Indian army looked at short term solutions. It
equipped itself with some of over 12,000 AKs it had captured from insurgents in
the mid-1990s. Many of these captured weapons were ironically, made in Russian
factories like Izhmash and Tula.
The army then
turned to Romania, Bulgaria and erstwhile Czechoslovakia that made cheap AK
variants. Among the first AKs purchased for the Indian army were the Czech-made
VZ-58, an assault rifle that outwardly resembled the AK.
The rifle also
filtered into Indian folklore. Sanjay Dutt was first jailed for possessing an
'AK-56' in 1993 (actually, a Norinco Type-56, the Chinese variant of the AK).
The Rashtriya Rifles, an army formation that fights insurgency in J&K since
1990, has two crossed AK-47s as its unit insignia. Despite the induction of the
indigenous INSAS rifle after the Kargil war in 1999, Indian army units in
militancy affected regions continue to be equipped with the AK. India continues
to be one of the world's largest importers of AK-type rifles. Again, these
weapons aren't from Kalashnikov factories in Russia but from Bulgaria. The home
ministry has bought over 100,000 Bulgarian-made AKs in the past decade to equip
police and paramilitary units.
A Bulgarian AK-47
with its distinctive black plastic finish cost just Rs.22,000 in 2011. This was
significantly cheaper than the Russian AK variant made in Izhmash and Rs.5000
less than even the INSAS assault rifle. One home ministry official told me that
the Bulgarian manufacturer, Arsenal, ran three shifts a day to keep up with the
Indian order. Against this AK onslaught
from the erstwhile Eastern Bloc, Russia's Izhmash had only a small glimmer of
hope, a modest sale of AK-103s, to the Marine commandos, a decade ago. Hopes of
selling newer AK variants to the Indian army have faded. The Indian army is
looking at a multi-calibre rifle, one that can shoot both 5.56 mm and 7.62 mm
bullets, as the weapon to replace the INSAS and the AK-47. Izhmash now
belatedly called the Kalashnikov concern since August this year, is out of the
contest because it does not have such a weapon. Even Russia's other option,
India's vast paramilitary forces, may soon be weaned away from AK imports. The
OFB has developed yet another AK-47 clone, the Trichy Assault Rifle. India's
fascination for the AK-47 continues. Only that General Kalashnikov's design may
not roll out of a Russian factory.
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