http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/jammu-kashmir/obama-visit-unified-hq-to-review-security-in-j-k/30967.html
Obama visit:
Unified HQ to review security in J-K
Azhar Qadri
Tribune News
Service
Srinagar, January
16
The Unified
Headquarters – a joint command structure of security agencies in Jammu and
Kashmir – will meet next week to discuss the situation in the state ahead of
the US president Barack Obama’s visit to the country.
Governor NN Vohra
is scheduled to chair the high-level meeting on Tuesday next week, in which top
officers of the security forces and intelligence agencies will brief him about
the prevailing security scenario in the state, sources said. Intelligence
agencies have already warned about the possibility of an attack coinciding with
Obama’s visit.
A series of
warnings and the past pattern of terror attacks coinciding with such
high-profile visits is keeping the security grid in the state on an alert.
The alarm was
signalled by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and 16 Corp commander Lt Gen KH
Singh, both of whom had yesterday expressed concern about the possibility of an
attack coinciding with Obama’s visit to the country later this month. “They
(terrorists) may try to do something to create news. But we are well prepared,”
the Defence Minister had said yesterday.
Lt Gen Singh, who
is the General Officer Commanding of the Nagrota-based 16 Corps, yesterday
hinted at the track record of past attacks but also said that the Army had
inputs that militants might strike in the region. “There have been instances
when such attacks took place during eminent leaders’ visit to the country in
the past,” he said.
Even as the number
of militants significantly declined in the recent years, they have succeeded in
carrying out several high-profile attacks killing several security forces
personnel. Sources in the security agencies believe that the militants have an
underground presence in parts of north and south Kashmir and near Srinagar.
The latest threat
perception is rooted in the history of several deadly attacks, some of which
were aimed at soft targets, which have taken place in the region when a
dignitary visited the state or the country. One of the deadliest attacks took
place in March 2000 when the then US president Bill Clinton was on a visit to
the country and 36 Sikhs were killed in south Kashmir’s Chattisinghpora
village. The attack targeting civilians overshadowed Clinton’s visit and was
suspected to have been carried out by militants belonging to the Pakistan-based
LeT.
The attacks coinciding
with high-profile visits have also taken place when Prime Ministers have toured
the state in recent years and their recurrence has increased in past two years.
In June 2013, two militants carried out an ambush on Srinagar’s outskirts
killing at least 13 soldiers when the then PM Manmohan Singh was in the city.
In November 2014,
militants launched a fidayeen raid and killed civilians and soldiers in the
Arnia sector when PM Narendra Modi was scheduled to address a rally the next
day in a nearby district and a month later militants stormed an artillery unit
in north Kashmir three days ahead of Modi’s visit to Srinagar.
http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/obama-s-r-day-visit-iaf-not-to-cancel-flypast-over-rajpath/31101.html
Obama’s R-Day
visit: IAF not to cancel flypast over Rajpath
Ajay Banerjee
Tribune News
Service
New Delhi, January
16
In what could have
robbed the Republic Day parade of much-watched and appreciated flypast, US
President Barack Obama’s security detail wanted a “no-fly zone” that would have
meant cancelling the flypast of fighter jets, helicopters and surveillance
planes over Rajpath in New Delhi.
Sources have
confirmed that the US security teams were in talks with the Directorate General
of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and wanted a 5-km “no-fly zone” around Obama when he
will sit at Rajpath watching the Republic Day parade.
This is first time
that a US President is attending the Republic Day parade on January 26.
The matter reached
the Indian Air Force headquarters which intervened and told the DGCA and the US
security teams that a “no-fly-zone” would mean “no flypast” and cancelling this
was not possible.
Sources said yes
there was a request from the US, but agreeing to this was not possible. “The
flypast will be conducted and as per earlier decided protocol only twin engine
planes and copters will be flying,” a source said.
The civilian
flights at Delhi will be affected for a period of some 90 minutes but that
happens on each Republic Day when the flypast is taking place. This is done as
the IAF and Navy planes will fly in from various airbases and rendezvous just
West outside Delhi to fly in over President’s House Rajpath. Hence, any
interference with civilian flying can be dangerous.
Besides the
flypast on Republic Day, there is round-the-clock “no-fly zone” over Lutyens
Delhi that houses the Rashtrapati Bhawan, the Prime Minister’s office and
residence, besides the offices of the three services and the Ministries. On
Republic Day, this ‘no-fly-zone’ is relaxed to ensure that pilots fly in over
Rashtrapati Bhawan and down the Rajpath.
The IAF and Navy
flypast will include the Sukhoi-30MKI, the Mi-17 helicopters and US-made
special operations plane, the C-130-J Super Hercules, the heavy lift plane, the
C-17 Globemaster-III and the naval maritime plane Boeing P-8I.
A pair of
Russian-origin naval MiG-29K Naval fighters will also make their maiden
appearance, the first for Naval fighters over Rajpath since the Sea Harriers
hovered at the “Beating Retreat” on January 29, 1985.
http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/china-needs-to-be-handled-carefully-says-diplomat/31104.html
China needs to be
handled carefully, says diplomat
Tribune News
Service
Chandigarh,
January 16
Stating that India
has to carefully manage its relationship with China from a position of relative
strength as South Asia must remain an essentially Indian preserve, noted
diplomat Nalin Surie said the jury was still out whether China would exercise
its growing power and influence in a responsible manner.
Speaking on “The
Evolving Dynamics in the India – Pacific” at the Centre for Research in Rural
and Industrial Development here today, Surie said, “Though indicators suggest
that China may be rethinking its policy of being overaggressive in the region,
there is no sign that it is redefining or willing to compromise on its core
interests that cover defence of state sovereignty, national security,
territorial integrity, political system and development interests.
Surie, who has
served as Ambassador to China, Poland and High Commissioner to the United
Kingdom, said defence modernisation was an integral part of China’s
modernisation and was enhancing its maritime, cybersphere, space and nuclear
triad capabilities. As geopolitical and geo-economic environment evolves,
China’s jockeying for a pole position in the India-Pacific region has
intensified.
On the issue of
Pakistan being able to sustain itself, he said, “India has to be prepared for
all eventualities.” While being hard-headed yet generous when necessary, he
says India will have to manage and guard against terrorist activities emerging
from Pakistan.
The other areas of
immediate concern in the region for India, he said, include the future of
Afghanistan, the situation in Iraq and the challenge posed by the ISIS and the
reunification of the two Korea. “Of the top 10 conflict prevention priorities
listed by the US, six fall in the India-Pacific region. Global economic and
financial crisis, energy security, terrorism, navigation along sea routes of
trade, cyber security and climate change are the factors that have a direct
impact on the region,” Surie said.
http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/terror-threat-for-obama-visit-defence-minister-parrikar-says-we-are-well-prepared-649252
Terror Threat for
Obama Visit? Defence Minister Parrikar Says 'We Are Well Prepared'
Amid reports that
terrorists may try to attack soft targets in India, including schools, ahead of
US President Barack Obama's visit, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today
said, "We are well prepared."
Five terrorists
were killed today in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian after a 10-hour operation by
the army and the police, who had been tipped off about the presence of heavily
armed militants in dense forests.
"There are
terrorists who may try to do something before the Obama visit to create news
but we are well prepared for it," Mr Parrikar said, referring to the
operation in Kashmir.
A top army
commander had earlier said that 200 militants are waiting to cross over to
India and strikes are being planned in terror "war rooms" in Pakistan
led by the ISI.
"The
structure of the war rooms is that they are led by the ISI and have representatives
of local commanders of the army and the terrorist groups and then they decide
which operations to conduct, when and where to conduct - there are inputs that
militants can hit soft targets like schools," said Lt General KH Singh, a
senior army officer posted in Jammu and Kashmir.
"There is
every possibility that Pakistan will try to divert some of the fringe elements
of home-grown terrorist outfits to India," he added.
Intelligence
agencies had warned last month that the terror group Lashkar-e Taiba might plan
an attack in India to coincide with President Obama's visit and a security
alert has been issued.
President Obama
will arrive in India on January 25 for a three-day visit, sources have told
NDTV. He will be accompanied by his wife Michelle.
A final security
and protocol meeting on the president's visit will be held tomorrow.
http://www.thenewstribe.com/2015/01/17/balochistan-separatists-have-indian-passports-pakistan-defence-minister/
Balochistan
separatists have Indian passports: Pakistan Defence Minister
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan’s Defence Minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, said that indiscriminate
military operation is in progress in North Waziristan. Khawaja Muhammad Asif
said that the persons belonging to separatist organizations in Balochistan have
Indian passports which show that they go to India and they have contacts with
India.
He said that today
government, army and the all stakeholders are on the same page due to last
eight years democratic process, saying that , at present, civil-military
relations are just like as they should be.
He said that the
trust of United States (US) on Pakistan is increasing day by day. He said that
Pakistan army is carrying out military operation indiscriminately, saying that
US has admitted it and even the France has also admitted it.
He said that if
Afghans are satisfied with military operation of Pakistan then it is evident
that its positive effects will reach everywhere, saying that Pakistan and
Afghanistan both the countries have important coordination in the entire
matter.
Khawaja Asif said
the visit of US Secretary of State John Kerry was satisfactory and dialogues
were made with him in pleasant atmosphere. He said that it is based on fact
that India uses the Afghan land against Pakistan.
He said that
Pakistan has a lot of sacrifices in the war against terrorism while the entire
world is taking advantage of these sacrifices.
He further said
that increasing tension on the line of control by India is not without any
reason, saying that India wants to divert the attention of Pakistan. Defence
minister said that Pakistan has strong defence but Pakistan wants peace.
Khawaja Asif said
that it has been proved that the incident of Samjota Express was pre-planned
and the Indian colonel was found to be involved in the incident, saying that
India is leveling baseless allegations against Pakistan.
Khawaja Muhammad
Asif was expressing these views in an interview with a private TV channel
http://www.financialexpress.com/article/economy/defence-purchases-to-be-hit-as-funds-go-for-overheads/30973/
Defence purchases
to be hit as funds go for overheads
The finance
ministry has cut around Rs13,000 crore out of the Rs 94,588 crore allocated to
the defence ministry in the Union Budget last July.
A defence ministry
official, who has knowledge of the revised budgetary allocation which was
finalised in December last, told the FE, “We are re-appropriating Rs 13,000
crore from the armed forces’ capital outlays towards revenue expenditure.”
What this means is
that the finance ministry has decided to take away some funds meant for buying
weapons and equipment to pay off the salaries and recurring maintenance
expenses, which has grown beyond manageable limits. In July, finance minister
Arun Jaitley had allocated Rs 1,34,412 crore towards revenue expenditure of the
defence ministry.
The capital budget
for the Indian Navy and the Air Force have been cut between Rs 4,000 crore to
Rs 5,000 crore, which means that no new defence acquisition contract may be
signed this fiscal, including the much-awaited deal for 126 Medium Multi-Role
Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) ‘Rafale’ from the French firm Dassault Aviation. Also,
sources revealed that the Indian Navy which is currently in talks with the
US-based Sikorsky for 16 helicopters has been asked to go slow as there are no
funds for new acquisitions.
Even the Indian
Army is faced with a nearly Rs 4,000- crore cut in its capital budget this
fiscal, forcing it to bring down its more than 100 proposals for weapons and
equipment acquisition to 20 important ones, of which seven critical ones are
being fast-tracked by the government.
The Chief of Army
General Dalbir Singh, at his annual press conference earlier this week, said
the force has “over 100 projects for weapons and equipment, but has identified
20 important ones, of which seven critical ones are being fast-tracked.”
The army chief
listed seven critical acquisitions, including the already-cleared mounted-guns
systems, which would be the first that India would buy if this procurement goes
through. Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) headed by defence minister Manohar
Parrikar has given the nod for the purchase of 814 mounted artillery guns at a
cost of Rs 15,700 crore.
The others on the
list, all of which have already been approved by the government, are the
8,000-odd Spike third-generation anti-tank guided missiles to be bought from
Israel; 131 light utility helicopters that will be a ‘Make in India’ project
now; upgradation of the entire fleet of battle tanks and infantry combat
vehicles; assault rifles for the infantrymen; bullet-proof jackets and helmets,
again for infantrymen; and night-vision devices for the mechanised forces and
the infantry.
A December 2014
report on the Budgetary Demands for Grants for 2014-15, submitted by the
parliamentary standing committee on defence, noted that “growth in the budget
is not sufficient for the projects and modernization” of the forces. The
committee was headed by BJP MP Maj Gen (retd) BC Khanduri.
“The committee perceives it to
be a grim and unacceptable situation, which is affecting all the services of
defence forces considerably. The committee desires that the ministry should
raise the bar and gradually increase defence expenditure to the level of three
per cent of the GDP so that modernization of the armed forces can become a
reality and not remain a mirage,” the report said.
It also noted that as money
for high-value acquisitions like the MMRCA is not available under the current
allocation, additional funds will be sought. It has to be seen if the defence
ministry makes the additional demand this fiscal or in the next, beginning
April 2015.
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