http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20141030/nation.htm#10
Rafale deal with IAF will be inked soon:
France
Tribune News
Service
New Delhi, October
29
Almost three years
into negotiations over price and work-share arrangement between the Ministry of
Defence and French company Dassault Aviation, the French government is positive
that the Rafale fighter jet deal will be clinched any time now.
In January 2012,
the Indian Air Force selected Dassault Aviation’s Rafale fighter jet out of six
global competitors to buy 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA). The
planes were tested for 643 parameters before the decision. When the global
tender was floated for the MMRCA, the cost was estimated to be around $10
billion.
France’s
Ambassador to India Francois Richier today said, “It is a very, very big
contract and very complex. From what we have heard from the (Indian) Defence
Ministry, we believe it is on the right course.”
When the Narendra
Modi government took over in May, Defence Ministry officials had said it would
take about three months to wrap up the contract.
Earlier this
month, Russian Ambassador Alexander Kadakin claimed that the Rafales “will be
swatted like mosquitoes in an August night” by Russia-supplied Chinese combat
planes in a war. His French counterpart Richier refused to be drawn into
commenting on Kadakin’s remarks.
Under the terms of
the global tender, the IAF will acquire 18 of the aircraft in “flyaway”
condition. The remaining 108 are planned to be built in Hindustan Aeronautics
Limited facilities in Bangalore.Dassault Aviation’s key associate, the SAFRAN
conglomerate, today entered into agreements to sponsor research projects at IIT
Delhi and the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20141030/nation.htm#14
BSF, police to shut down illegal ‘madrasas’
near B’desh border
Subhrangshu Gupta
Tribune News
Service
Kolkata, October
29
The BSF has been
directed to immediately launch a massive drive jointly with the district police
to dismantle all suspected terrorists dens in the border districts adjoining
Bangladesh.
They will also
cross-check the identity proofs of the local people for identifying terrorists
and outsiders.
The state
government has also been advised to immediately close down all illegal
‘madrasas’ and to scrutinise and monitor the functioning of the madrasas which
were sanctioned by former Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and the
incumbent CM Mamata Banerjee.
These instructions
were issued due to the spurt in subversive activities of the Jamaat-e-Islami
and other terrorists groups in the Indo-Bangladesh border area. The
instructions of the Home Ministry reached the state government today.
The NIA and other
central agencies inquiring into the recent blast at Khagraghar, in which two
terrorists were killed, also suspect that the terrorists involved in the
Khagraghar blast had a plan kill Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,
Opposition leader Khaleda Zia and others.
The BJP, Congress
and CPM separately led delegations to the disturbed areas at Makra, Khagraghar
and Parui to make an on-the-spot study of the situation. But they were denied
permission to visit the areas.
While the BJP and
Congress teams returned after failing to enter these areas, the CPM members who
included Ritabrata Bhattacharyya, MP, and Anishur Rahman, MLA, were arrested
for violating orders under Section 144CrPC.
However, a
three-member team of BJP MPs, led by Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi will make a fresh
attempt to visit the disturbed areas tomorrow, said state BJP president Rahul
Sinha. Other members are Udit Nath and Kriti Azad.
Sinha today met
the state electoral officer Sunil Gupta and demanded that the TMC should be
declared as a terrorist organisation.
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20141030/nation.htm#15
Cadre officer to head Army Aviation Corps
Vijay Mohan
Tribune News
Service
Chandigarh,
October 29
The Army Aviation
Corps (AAC), a combat support arm, will now be headed by a Lieutenant General
belonging to the corps. Earlier, the AAC Director General (DG) at Army
Headquarters was a Lieutenant General from another arm, since the senior most
AAC, holding the post of Additional DG, could not go beyond the rank of Major
General on account of the relatively smaller size of the corps.
Directing the
Central Government to move the vacancy of the AAC Director General from the
general cadre to the permanent cadre of the AAC “forthwith”, the Armed Forces
Tribunal has also ordered that a special selection board be convened preferably
before November 15, to consider eligible AAC officers for promotion to the rank
of Lieutenant General.
One of the
youngest arms of the Army, AAC operates helicopters to provide tactical air
support to Army formations, carrying out anti-tank strikes, surveillance,
airlift of troops and equipment and casualty evacuation.
Maj Gen PK
Bharali, ADG Army Aviation, had moved the Tribunal contending that the Central
Government had released 20 new vacancies for Lieutenant Generals in 2008 and
the appointment of DG Army Aviation was to be made a cadre appointment. He had
staked his claim to the post on account of being the senior-most AAC cadre
officer.
A 1977 seniority
officer, Major General Bharali had pointed out that his name was not considered
for promotion to the rank of Lieutenant General by the special selection board
held for non-general cadre officers in April 2013 on the grounds that the AAC
was a “minor corps.” Consequently to a study undertaken by the Army that showed
that the strength of the ACC had reached 650 pilots, the government finally
approved the transfer of the vacancy of DG Army Aviation to the permanent cadre
of AAC.
He was thereafter
considered for promotion in October 2013, but not approved. His name was again
omitted from consideration in the board held in April 2014 on the grounds that
the post of DG was shown as a general cadre vacancy and not a cadre vacancy.
The Tribunal, in
his orders a few days ago, held that the rational of the respondents to
determine the cadre strength of the AAC and whether he could be headed by a
cadre officer was contradictory and discriminatory in nature. The Tribunal
observed that the respondents’ themselves were not sure of figures relating to
cadre strength and comparison with other arms and corps and the whole exercise
undertaken by them was not based on any cogent reason and was contrary to the
decision taken by the government when the post of DG was sanctioned.
AFT orders special
board to select Lt Gen
AFT directs the Centre to convene a special
selection board before November 15 to consider eligible Army Aviation Corps
(AAC) officers for promotion to the rank of Lieutenant General
Earlier, the AAC Director General (DG) was
a Lieutenant General from another arm, since the AAC cadre officer could not go
beyond the rank of Major General due to the smaller size of the corps
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20141030/edit.htm#5
Keep watch on
Afghan situation
Transitional
period poses serious threats
Inder Malhotra
ON Sunday at a
ceremony - not announced in advance for fear of an attack - Britain and the
United States handed over to the Afghan government and its security forces two
major and adjacent military bases in Helmand province of the country which has
seen the worst of fighting during the 13 years of war and where the rebellious
Taliban are still in a strong position. Between them the US base named
Leatherneck and the British one called Camp Bastion formed the international
coalition's regional headquarters and housed 40,000 military personnel and
civilian contractors all of whom were flown back home by Monday evening. For
Britain it was the end of its combat role in Afghanistan. The British Defence
Secretary used the occasion to announce that no British troops would be sent
back to Afghanistan ever. For America, the combat role will end in two months.
But, under the Afghanistan-US Defence Security Agreement (DSA), around 10,000
American troops will remain in the war-ravaged country up to the end of 2016.
The departing
international coalition seems encouraged because it sees the formation of a
government of national unity in Afghanistan - after a hotly disputed election
-- as a good augury. That would surely so if it lasts. Many are doubtful if it
can because the formation of the united government is less voluntary and more
America-brokered. President Ashraf Ghani lived in America and worked for the
World Bank. His rival, Abdullah Abdullah, has been made the CEO for which there
is no provision in the Afghan constitution. Many of his strong supporters,
belonging to ethnicities other than Pushtoon, are opposed to this arrangement.
Should it break down, Afghanistan would return to armed conflict among
warlords. But let us hope that this danger would be averted. But there will
still be several other challenges.
For one thing, the
Afghan National Army - which, along with the police - numbers 3,50,000, is
American-trained, like the Iraqi Army that has virtually collapsed. Could the
ANA meet the same fate, especially because it does not have air cover, and is
unlikely to get it? Its other equipment is also inadequate. The international
community has therefore to do something to ensure the safety of post-US
Afghanistan. The Afghan economy is in bad shape. According to the World Bank,
the rate of growth of the Afghan GDP plummeted from 14. 4 per cent in 2012 to
3.1 per cent in 2013 and is likely to be 3.5 per cent this year. No wonder President
Ghani has rushed to a three-day visit to China where he will meet his opposite
number, Xi Jinping, signalling the pivotal role he expects Beijing to play not
only in economic reconstruction of Afghanistan but also in a strategic foreign
policy aimed at building peace in a region torn by war and conflict for three
decades. China does have a stake in peace and stability in Afghanistan where it
owns one of the biggest copper mines in the world and is waiting to start
operating it. Also Beijing knows that the rebels in its Xinjiang province get
much assistance from the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. To this extent India’s
and China’s interest is the same. But we have to be watchful about what China
actually does there, as we have difficulties with Chinese activities in other
neighbouring countries.
Time was when the
US used to criticise this country for not helping it to overcome its biggest
strategic problem, Afghanistan, by settling all its numerous disputes with
Pakistan and letting America leave after settling the Afghan imbroglio. Later,
however, Washington welcomed India's “larger footprint” in Afghanistan. For it
saw how popular India and Indians were there because this country was
concentrating on Afghanistan’s reconstruction and development, building its
parliament, university and other institutions and providing electricity to even
its remote villages. Altogether, India has invested two billion dollars in
Afghanistan. It has also trained Afghan military officers in Delhi, not Kabul.
As for Pakistan
the wide world knew that all through his dictatorial rule Gen Pervez Musharraf
was “double-crossing” the US and yet he and his successors, operating through
the notorious Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), got away with this perfidy.
All through these years the then Afghan President, Hamid Karzai, went on
protesting publicly not only against Pakistan unleashing on his country its
officially sponsored and nurtured terrorists but also for having become a haven
for terrorists of all kinds. Neither the US nor Pakistan cared. The bitter
truth is from the very beginning Pakistan has treated Afghanistan as its
backyard that gave it “strategic depth” against India. After the first Afghan
jihad when the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan to preserve a government friendly
to it, it was Pakistan that organised the Taliban. It has also played host to
the Taliban’s icon, Maulana Umar.
Today Pakistan’s
main objective is to ensure that after America's full exit Afghanistan is ruled
by the Taliban friendly to Islamabad. It might be making sweet noises but its
actions are totally opposite. In fact, its determination to keep India out of
Afghanistan and virtually rule Afghanistan is much the stronger than before.
Indeed, its enmity with India has increased greatly, as its aggressive
behaviour along the Line of Control and the international border which the
state of Jammu and Kashmir demonstrates.
The United States
knows and witnesses all this. But so great is President Barack Obama's need to
cut his losses and get out of Afghanistan - the American people are fed up with
America's longest war that has cost it heavily in both blood and treasure -
that he is prepared to pay any price to Pakistan for the latter's help to
enable the US to wash its hands of Afghanistan. This is the source of the
greatest trouble and challenge we are going to face fairly soon. I hope our
policymakers have noticed that in the list of Pakistani terrorist outfits
mentioned in the Modi-Obama joint declaration there is no mention of Taliban.
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/ladakh-organises-inter-school-competitions-to-celebrate-spirit-of-indian-army/
Ladakh organises
inter school competitions to celebrate spirit of Indian army - See more at:
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/ladakh-organises-inter-school-competitions-to-celebrate-spirit-of-indian-army/#sthash.PsuaTUcV.dpuf
Inter school
competitions like debating and painting contests, Polo, Tent Pegging and
Archery were some of the events held in Ladakh during the last 20 days so as to
commemorate the bravery and sacrifice of the Indian Army troops and the local
people in defending Ladakh against Pakistani raiders after the 1947 partition.
The celebrations
commenced with an inter school competition including football, volleyball,
handball matches, besides debate and painting contests which were organized at
Ladakh Scouts Regimental Centre, Phyang, from October 8-10, said a Defence
Ministry spokesman Lt Colonel Manish Mehta here. These were followed by T-20
cricket tournament at the newly constructed picturesue Colonel Sonam Wangchuk,
MVC, Stadium. Eight teams from all over Ladakh region participated in the
tournament, he added.
Polo, Tent Pegging
and Archery competitions were also conducted from October 20 – 26. While eight
teams from entire Ladakh participated in Polo event, 23 teams participated in
Archery and 21 riders in Tent Pegging Competition. The grand finale of the
event was conducted on October 26 and it was witnessed by a huge audience, the
spokesman added.
Various events
conducted during the grand finale included 16 kms and five kms run for both men
and women, pipe band display by Pipe Band of Ladakh Scouts, cultural programme
by students of TCV (SOS) School, melodious “Op Sadbhavana’’ song by Ladakh’s
famous singer Phunchok Ladakhi. The main attraction of the event was finals of
Polo match between teams of Drass (A)
and Ladakh Scouts (Red), the spokesman said, adding that the keenly contested
match was won by latter by a comfortable margin of 12-01.
Pointing out that
all these events were conducted by Army under Op Sadbhavana to give an impetus
to traditional sports of Ladakh especially Polo and Archery, the spokesman said
that in a departure from the usual
trend, the chief guest of the grand finale event was neither any officer from
military or civil administration, nor politician. The chief guest and the
guests of honour were those war veterans and war heroes who fought against
Pakistani raiders in 1947 as part of “Nubra Guards’’ under the son of the soil
Colonel Chhewang Rinchen, MVC. Seven such war heroes were present to grace the
occasion including Honorary Lieutenant Sonam Joldan (chief guest), Padam Shree
Sonam Wangial, Lance Naik Sonam Stobdan, Lance Naik Mutup Gurmet, besides
Havaldar Punchok Stobdan, and Naik Dorjey Phunchok (Both Vir Chakra), and Naik
Abdul Rahman, Sena Medal.
At the end of the
event, Rigzin Spalpar, Chief Executive Councillor of the Leh Hill Development
Council, felicitated the war heroes and conveyed his appreciation to the entire
Fire and Fury Corps and Ladakh Scouts Regimental Centre for successfuln conduct
of the event. A memorial service was also held at Leh war memorial where floral
tributes were paid to brave martyrs by senior army and civil officers, besides
veteran soldiers, gallantry award winners and veer naris.
Speaking on the
occasion, Lt General B S Nego, General Officer Commanding of the Fire and Fury
Corps stated that the Defenders of Ladakh Remembrance
- See more at:
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/ladakh-organises-inter-school-competitions-to-celebrate-spirit-of-indian-army/#sthash.PsuaTUcV.dpuf
Day celebrations
would be held every year.
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