Officers are requested to furnish their new Core Banking Solution (CBS) Savings Bank A/c No to this office, alongwith a cancelled cheque for updation of masters
Thursday, October 22, 2009
PM’s address at the Combined Commanders’ Conference
The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, addressed the Combined Commanders’ Conference in New Delhi today. Following is the text of the Prime Minister’s address on the occasion:
“On behalf of the Nation, I commend the Armed Forces for their devotion to duty in safeguarding our country’s unity and integrity. Our country is proud of our men and women in uniform, and is indebted to them for their defence of our borders on the land, sea and air.
During the past year, the Armed Forces have played a stellar role in assisting civil authority in meeting the challenges in Jammu and Kashmir and tackling the insurgencies in the North-East. You have rendered invaluable service during natural calamities, including in the recent flood relief operations. Your sacrifice, courage and bravery are a source of inspiration, and an example, for the entire country.
There have been momentous developments in our country and in the international arena since I last addressed this Conference. The country successfully held its fifteenth general election this year. This was the largest democratic exercise the world has ever seen, and is a tribute to the strength of our institutions. We have matured as a democratic, pluralistic and secular society and this is a matter of justifiable pride for every Indian.
The Nation also witnessed the horrific terrorist attack on Mumbai, and we will be observing its first anniversary in a few weeks from now. The Mumbai attack confirmed our worst fears about the lethal dimensions of terrorism and non-traditional threats to our security.
There are both State and non-State actors involved in the business of terrorism. India is a democracy and an open society and is, therefore, sometimes highly vulnerable. We have, therefore, to improve our defensive mechanisms against all forms of terrorism, asymmetric warfare and aggravated militancy. We need to be prepared to face onslaughts of this kind, but we should avoid kneejerk reactions.
The Government has taken several steps to strengthen the intelligence and security machinery and coordination between the Centre and the States.
Although there has been no major terrorist attack in India since then, there are regular intelligence reports of imminent attacks in the country. This is a matter of deep concern, and there is no room for complacency. The terrorist attack on our Embassy in Kabul on October 8 is yet another grim reminder of the forces we are pitted against. The overall situation in our immediate neighbourhood has worsened since I last spoke to you.
Beyond such an environment in our periphery, we face other challenges. The global economic and financial crisis has affected our growth, our exports, and the inflow of the foreign investment into India . The drought in several States has further impacted the most vulnerable sections of our society during the current year. There are incipient signs of recovery in the global economy, but it is not yet certain whether this represents a return to a secular and self-sustaining growth path. Despite these negative factors, the Indian economy has shown remarkable resilience. Our growth rate in the current year will be 6 - 6.5 percent. We are today the second fastest growing economy in the world.
Global efforts to combat climate change have rightly gathered momentum. However, there are concerted attempts by the developed countries to impose new obligations on developing countries like India to limit emission of greenhouse gases. This could impact on our economic development.
Food security and energy security are central to our development goals. Given our vast demands, we have to ensure that our interests are adequately protected in all international discussions on these issues.
There is a revival of interest on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation issues. We welcome this, because India was a pioneer in the campaign for a nuclear weapons free world. We, however, have to ensure that discriminatory standards and approaches are not perpetuated. As a responsible nuclear weapon state, we wish to see nuclear disarmament that is global, non-discriminatory and universal in nature. We are ready to negotiate a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty which is multilateral, non-discriminatory and verifiable.
To meet these different challenges we must be strong internally. We cannot rely on others to solve our problems for us. This requires a well thought national response and judicious policy prescriptions. It also means creative and constructive engagement with the outside world based on enlightened self-interest, and autonomy in the processes of decision making.
In a short span of one year, the G-20 process has become the most visible sign of the emerging multipolarity in world affairs. India ’s views in this forum are heard with respect. We have been able to bring the issues of concern to us on the mainstream international agenda. India is now seen as a part of the solution to overcome the global economic slowdown, and a growth pole of the world economy.
The Armed Forces must be fully equipped to deal with all threat scenarios. Our troops should be trained to fight anywhere, anytime and under any conditions. Their ability to deal with non-traditional threats must receive greater attention.
Our Government is fully committed to the modernization of Armed Forces and ensuring their military superiority and technological edge. The modernization plan should have a long term perspective, and be formulated in an integrated manner involving all the three services. Despite the progress that has been made towards jointness and synergy in various operational, training and administrative aspects between the services, there are a number of areas of congruence that need to be strengthened further.
The availability of critical technologies from foreign countries is still subject to various technology denial regimes. It is therefore vital that we achieve maximum self-reliance in the critical areas of defence technology.
I would like to compliment the Defence Research and Development Organisation for the work it has done against many odds. Today, Indian industry is in a position to participate in defence production and research and development activities, and we should devise policies to harness this vast pool of knowledge and resources efficiency.
I am aware that the procedures for defence acquisitions and procurement are a matter of concern to the Armed Forces. This is an area which requires collective action on all sides. We must ensure a balance between the needs of timely modernization and the necessity of conforming to the highest standards of transparency, probity and public accountability. Outlays on defence expenditure have progressively gone up, but they also have to be used judiciously and efficiently.
Manpower is the most important resource for war fighting. We will take all measures necessary to ensure that the Armed Forces continue to attract the brightest and the best of our youth. As senior Commanders, it should be your endeavour to ensure that these men and women constantly upgrade their skills and remain ahead of the technology curve. This will not only make them better soldiers, but also more productive citizens on the completion of their service.
I am heartened by the growing social awareness of the need to ensure the welfare of ex-servicemen. The resettlement and rehabilitation of ex-servicemen will continue to remain a high priority for the government.
The Indian Armed Forces have earned high respect for their professionalism and competence throughout the world. This is in no small measure due to the personal leadership each one of you has provided to the men and women in uniform. The Nation is united in its resolve to ensure that our military remains a modern, well-knit and invincible fighting force.
Jai Hind.”
“On behalf of the Nation, I commend the Armed Forces for their devotion to duty in safeguarding our country’s unity and integrity. Our country is proud of our men and women in uniform, and is indebted to them for their defence of our borders on the land, sea and air.
During the past year, the Armed Forces have played a stellar role in assisting civil authority in meeting the challenges in Jammu and Kashmir and tackling the insurgencies in the North-East. You have rendered invaluable service during natural calamities, including in the recent flood relief operations. Your sacrifice, courage and bravery are a source of inspiration, and an example, for the entire country.
There have been momentous developments in our country and in the international arena since I last addressed this Conference. The country successfully held its fifteenth general election this year. This was the largest democratic exercise the world has ever seen, and is a tribute to the strength of our institutions. We have matured as a democratic, pluralistic and secular society and this is a matter of justifiable pride for every Indian.
The Nation also witnessed the horrific terrorist attack on Mumbai, and we will be observing its first anniversary in a few weeks from now. The Mumbai attack confirmed our worst fears about the lethal dimensions of terrorism and non-traditional threats to our security.
There are both State and non-State actors involved in the business of terrorism. India is a democracy and an open society and is, therefore, sometimes highly vulnerable. We have, therefore, to improve our defensive mechanisms against all forms of terrorism, asymmetric warfare and aggravated militancy. We need to be prepared to face onslaughts of this kind, but we should avoid kneejerk reactions.
The Government has taken several steps to strengthen the intelligence and security machinery and coordination between the Centre and the States.
Although there has been no major terrorist attack in India since then, there are regular intelligence reports of imminent attacks in the country. This is a matter of deep concern, and there is no room for complacency. The terrorist attack on our Embassy in Kabul on October 8 is yet another grim reminder of the forces we are pitted against. The overall situation in our immediate neighbourhood has worsened since I last spoke to you.
Beyond such an environment in our periphery, we face other challenges. The global economic and financial crisis has affected our growth, our exports, and the inflow of the foreign investment into India . The drought in several States has further impacted the most vulnerable sections of our society during the current year. There are incipient signs of recovery in the global economy, but it is not yet certain whether this represents a return to a secular and self-sustaining growth path. Despite these negative factors, the Indian economy has shown remarkable resilience. Our growth rate in the current year will be 6 - 6.5 percent. We are today the second fastest growing economy in the world.
Global efforts to combat climate change have rightly gathered momentum. However, there are concerted attempts by the developed countries to impose new obligations on developing countries like India to limit emission of greenhouse gases. This could impact on our economic development.
Food security and energy security are central to our development goals. Given our vast demands, we have to ensure that our interests are adequately protected in all international discussions on these issues.
There is a revival of interest on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation issues. We welcome this, because India was a pioneer in the campaign for a nuclear weapons free world. We, however, have to ensure that discriminatory standards and approaches are not perpetuated. As a responsible nuclear weapon state, we wish to see nuclear disarmament that is global, non-discriminatory and universal in nature. We are ready to negotiate a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty which is multilateral, non-discriminatory and verifiable.
To meet these different challenges we must be strong internally. We cannot rely on others to solve our problems for us. This requires a well thought national response and judicious policy prescriptions. It also means creative and constructive engagement with the outside world based on enlightened self-interest, and autonomy in the processes of decision making.
In a short span of one year, the G-20 process has become the most visible sign of the emerging multipolarity in world affairs. India ’s views in this forum are heard with respect. We have been able to bring the issues of concern to us on the mainstream international agenda. India is now seen as a part of the solution to overcome the global economic slowdown, and a growth pole of the world economy.
The Armed Forces must be fully equipped to deal with all threat scenarios. Our troops should be trained to fight anywhere, anytime and under any conditions. Their ability to deal with non-traditional threats must receive greater attention.
Our Government is fully committed to the modernization of Armed Forces and ensuring their military superiority and technological edge. The modernization plan should have a long term perspective, and be formulated in an integrated manner involving all the three services. Despite the progress that has been made towards jointness and synergy in various operational, training and administrative aspects between the services, there are a number of areas of congruence that need to be strengthened further.
The availability of critical technologies from foreign countries is still subject to various technology denial regimes. It is therefore vital that we achieve maximum self-reliance in the critical areas of defence technology.
I would like to compliment the Defence Research and Development Organisation for the work it has done against many odds. Today, Indian industry is in a position to participate in defence production and research and development activities, and we should devise policies to harness this vast pool of knowledge and resources efficiency.
I am aware that the procedures for defence acquisitions and procurement are a matter of concern to the Armed Forces. This is an area which requires collective action on all sides. We must ensure a balance between the needs of timely modernization and the necessity of conforming to the highest standards of transparency, probity and public accountability. Outlays on defence expenditure have progressively gone up, but they also have to be used judiciously and efficiently.
Manpower is the most important resource for war fighting. We will take all measures necessary to ensure that the Armed Forces continue to attract the brightest and the best of our youth. As senior Commanders, it should be your endeavour to ensure that these men and women constantly upgrade their skills and remain ahead of the technology curve. This will not only make them better soldiers, but also more productive citizens on the completion of their service.
I am heartened by the growing social awareness of the need to ensure the welfare of ex-servicemen. The resettlement and rehabilitation of ex-servicemen will continue to remain a high priority for the government.
The Indian Armed Forces have earned high respect for their professionalism and competence throughout the world. This is in no small measure due to the personal leadership each one of you has provided to the men and women in uniform. The Nation is united in its resolve to ensure that our military remains a modern, well-knit and invincible fighting force.
Jai Hind.”
Appointments in MOD
Pramode Kumar Mishra has been appointed as Additional Financial Adviser(Joint Secretary level) in the Ministry of Defence. He is 1984 batch IA&AS officer.
THE AIR CHIEF URGES IAF COMMANDERS TO BUILD UP CAPABILITIES FOR CYBER SPACE
The Indian Air Force Commanders’ Conference began at the Air Headquarters (Vayu Bhavan), in New Delhi today. The conference commenced with the inaugural address of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal PV Naik.
Addressing the Commanders, the Air Chief brought forth his vision of the Indian Air Force in view of the enhanced capabilities being acquired and a three pronged approach towards the modernization process of the IAF. A modernization process that would include preserving, maintaining, upgrading and improving the current assets as well as processing the cases for acquisitions and replacements on a fast track. The IAF has made rapid strides towards attaining net centricity and has to be capable of dominating the entire spectrum of information, cyberspace and air space, he said. He emphasized that the IAF besides continuing to air maintain troops and delivering more than 37,000 tons annually should continue to sharpen its core competencies to interface with the other services to generate the requisite capabilities.
The Commanders’ Conference would see the Air Officers Commanding-in-Chief of the IAF Commands carry out a data based review.
The Conference is attended by the top brass of the Indian Air Force comprising Air Officers Commanding-in-Chief of IAF Commands and the Principal Staff Officers of Air Headquarters. During the Commanders’ Conference the operational challenges before the IAF are discussed. Apart from this Flight Safety, Maintenance, Administrative and Logistical issues which impinge upon the operational effectiveness of Air Force would also taken up for discussions.
Addressing the Commanders, the Air Chief brought forth his vision of the Indian Air Force in view of the enhanced capabilities being acquired and a three pronged approach towards the modernization process of the IAF. A modernization process that would include preserving, maintaining, upgrading and improving the current assets as well as processing the cases for acquisitions and replacements on a fast track. The IAF has made rapid strides towards attaining net centricity and has to be capable of dominating the entire spectrum of information, cyberspace and air space, he said. He emphasized that the IAF besides continuing to air maintain troops and delivering more than 37,000 tons annually should continue to sharpen its core competencies to interface with the other services to generate the requisite capabilities.
The Commanders’ Conference would see the Air Officers Commanding-in-Chief of the IAF Commands carry out a data based review.
The Conference is attended by the top brass of the Indian Air Force comprising Air Officers Commanding-in-Chief of IAF Commands and the Principal Staff Officers of Air Headquarters. During the Commanders’ Conference the operational challenges before the IAF are discussed. Apart from this Flight Safety, Maintenance, Administrative and Logistical issues which impinge upon the operational effectiveness of Air Force would also taken up for discussions.
RF, India to begin 5th generation fighter R&D by yearend-Def Min.
MOSCOW, October 17 (Itar-Tass) - Russia and India have agreed to draft in the near future a mutually acceptable decision on upgrading the heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser The Admiral Gorshkov for the Indian Navy, as follows from an agreement that was was reached in the course of the 9th session of the Russian-Indian intergovernmental commission on military-technical cooperation, co-chaired by the two countries' defense ministers.
"The commission also came to an agreement to solve all technical issues concerning research and development of an advanced fifth-generation multipurpose jet fighter and launch practical work along these lines by the yearend," an official of the Russian Defense Ministry's press service told Tass.
"The parties are also ready to cooperate in the sphere of joint development of helicopters and an advanced armoured personnel vehicle.
Participants in the session showed interest in upgrading MiG-27 and Su30MKI fighters, T-72M1, T-90S main battle tanks and personnel armored vehicles BMP-2 for the Indian Armed Forces," the official said.
The commission noted the success in cooperation within the framework of the Russian-Indian organization BrahMos. "The anti-sheep missile system developed by BrahMos has been authorized for service in India and its batch production has been launched," the official said.
Russian Defense Minister Anatoli Serdyukov and his Indian counterpart Arakkakarambil Kurian Antony signed a final protocol setting guidelines for bilateral military cooperation and ways of fulfilling current projects. (Itar-Tass)
5,279 troopers killed in India-controlled Kashmir in 20 years
SRINAGAR, India-controlled Kashmir, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- At least 5,279 police and paramilitary troopers have been killed in India-controlled Kashmir in the past 20 years, police spokesman Wednesday said.
Of the 5,279 deceased personnel, 889 personnel belonged to India-controlled Kashmir police, 470 special police officers and 131 members of village defense committees, said the spokesman.
"The number also includes personnel from Indian paramilitary forces like Central Reserve Police Force, Border Security Force and so on. All these people have died during the violence in last 20 years," said police spokesman.
The figures were released by the police during a ceremony Wednesday to commemorate the deceased policemen in Srinagar.
Indian police and paramilitary troopers have been fighting militancy in the region since 1990.
The police recruited Special Police Officers on a nominal salary to get inputs from the ground. However, the paramilitary troopers raised force like Village Defense Committees to get vital information about the presence militants in hilly areas.
The Special Police Officers are working in tandem with regional police, while Village Defense Committee members are active in the mountainous terrains of Jammu and assist army and paramilitary troopers to restrict militant movement.
According to the police officials most of the fatalities have been inflicted during the gunfightings. Apart from gunfightings militants in the region target Indian police and paramilitary troopers through grenade attacks, target shootings and by exploding improvised explosive devices.
Gunfighting between militants and Indian army troopers in India-controlled Kashmir takes place intermittently.
Police and defense officials maintain that most of the times the operations triggering gun fights are carried out on prior information about presence of militants in specific areas.
This year, 36 police personnel have been killed in the region fighting militancy.
According to official figures, so far 40,000 people have got killed during the last 20 years in violence between troops and militants. However, rights bodies and separatists put the figure around 100,000.
India and China bristle over politics, purr over trade India and China bristle over politics, purr over trade
Relations between the world's two fastest-rising superpowers are suddenly as chilly as their snowy mountain border, with China and India trading blows in a high-stakes verbal war.
Border tensions between the two nations are inflamed, the disagreement over disputed territory that China calls “southern Tibet” and which India governs as its state of Arunchal Pradesh. Each country claims huge chunks of the other's territory along the 3,500-kilometre Himalayan boundary in a dispute that stems from their brief war in 1962.
India reports a sharp rise in Chinese “incursions” into its territory over the past 18 months, which has prompted new troop deployments and upgrades to fortifications.
In Beijing, meanwhile, hostility to India has risen in the state-run media in recent weeks, with the People's Daily calling India “narrow-minded,” accusing it of “provocations” and adding that “India turned a blind eye to the concessions China had repeatedly made over the disputed border issues, and refused to drop the pretentious airs when dealing with neighbours like Pakistan.”
“This level of harsh words between two sides has never happened in the past,” said Sun Shihai, dean of South Asian culture at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
Beyond the border dispute, China's grievances centre on the shelter India provides to Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, and tens of thousands of other Tibetan exiles in the town of Dharamsala. Although India has gone so far as to recognize Tibet as part of China, the platform the Dalai Lama has from his Indian base infuriates Beijing, and China's verbal attacks on India have escalated since violent riots last year in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa, which Beijing claims were organized by Tibetan exiles based in Dharamsala.
China also reacted angrily to an Oct. 3 visit by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Arunchal Pradesh, calling it a deliberate snub. A proposed visit by the Dalai Lama to the area next month is already attracting condemnation from Beijing.
But in Delhi, Beijing watchers believe there is an underlying cause to this bellicosity: China is uneasy with India's increasingly friendly relationship with the United States. The deterioration in relations began, they say, when India inked a historic nuclear-power deal with the United States in 2006, and shortly thereafter agreed to a new defence framework.
“Since then, the mood changed in Beijing. There has been a pattern of ratcheting up threats and going back on agreements,” said Brahma Chellaney, a security expert at the Center for Policy Research in New Delhi. It's ironic, he added, since many in government in New Delhi believe the U.S. administration is bending over backwards to make nice with Beijing.
China first outraged India by initially opposing the removal of the restrictions on civilian nuclear trade with India at the Nuclear Suppliers' Group last September, although it did eventually let the waiver go through. More recently, China fought to block a $2.9-billion Asian Development Bank loan to India because some of the money was earmarked for an irrigation project in Arunchal Pradesh. India is also disturbed by Chinese plans for a massive dam along the Yarlung Zangbo river in southern Tibet, a project some experts say could turn a crucial Indian agricultural region into a dustbowl.
The most tangible signs of the dispute are the Chinese military incursions by helicopters or ground troops, which India says jumped to 280 in 2008 from 140 in 2007, and are at the same level this year. A 28-year-old negotiations process aimed at resolving the border dispute is effectively stalled.
The Cold War-style exchanges between the world's two most populous countries are also fuelled by China's support for Pakistan in its frequently violent dispute with India over Kashmir. China views Pakistan as a strategic counterbalance to India's rising clout in the region, and recently announced that it would upgrade a cross-border highway into Pakistani-controlled Kashmir and would lend financial aid to a hydroelectric plant in the same area.
Both investments drew protests from New Delhi, as did a move by Beijing earlier this year to start issuing special visas to residents of Indian-administered regions of Kashmir that are different from those granted to other Indian citizens. India controls about 45 per cent of historic Kashmir, while Pakistan holds roughly a third and China the remainder.
China is also fostering close military relationships with Nepal, Sri Lanka, Burma and Bangladesh – every country around India, Prof. Chellaney noted.
All of this, however, occurs against a backdrop of rapidly growing economic ties – China is India's largest trading partner, and trade between the two may hit $100-billion (U.S.) this year. As Western countries continue to struggle in the wake of the global financial crisis, these two countries have roaring economies and increasingly recognize each other as the best potential for trade.
Prime Minister Singh is to meet his Chinese counterpart, Wen Jiabao, on Saturday, on the sidelines of a regional summit in Thailand, in an effort to smooth over the recent breakdown in relations.
Experts on both sides of the border say there is little risk of the hostilities turning into full-on military conflict.
“There is no panic because of a possible outbreak of hostilities, but there is concern that because this relationship appears to be unravelling, all this effort of the past 10 years starts to look very shaky, especially in public perception,” said Alka Acharya, a professor of Chinese studies in the Centre for East Asian Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi and adviser to the Indian government on Chinese affairs.
“The last 10 years had brought it to a level where differences could be maturely and soberly discussed, but the moment a problem comes up, the whole thing looks like it's coming unstuck.”
But while jingoistic media in both countries play up the drama, she said, the reality is that political leadership in both Beijing and New Delhi “have demonstrated a will to look at these large, rising powers as inevitably competing in many areas” but as ultimately better served by good relations.
Border tensions between the two nations are inflamed, the disagreement over disputed territory that China calls “southern Tibet” and which India governs as its state of Arunchal Pradesh. Each country claims huge chunks of the other's territory along the 3,500-kilometre Himalayan boundary in a dispute that stems from their brief war in 1962.
India reports a sharp rise in Chinese “incursions” into its territory over the past 18 months, which has prompted new troop deployments and upgrades to fortifications.
In Beijing, meanwhile, hostility to India has risen in the state-run media in recent weeks, with the People's Daily calling India “narrow-minded,” accusing it of “provocations” and adding that “India turned a blind eye to the concessions China had repeatedly made over the disputed border issues, and refused to drop the pretentious airs when dealing with neighbours like Pakistan.”
“This level of harsh words between two sides has never happened in the past,” said Sun Shihai, dean of South Asian culture at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
Beyond the border dispute, China's grievances centre on the shelter India provides to Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, and tens of thousands of other Tibetan exiles in the town of Dharamsala. Although India has gone so far as to recognize Tibet as part of China, the platform the Dalai Lama has from his Indian base infuriates Beijing, and China's verbal attacks on India have escalated since violent riots last year in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa, which Beijing claims were organized by Tibetan exiles based in Dharamsala.
China also reacted angrily to an Oct. 3 visit by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Arunchal Pradesh, calling it a deliberate snub. A proposed visit by the Dalai Lama to the area next month is already attracting condemnation from Beijing.
But in Delhi, Beijing watchers believe there is an underlying cause to this bellicosity: China is uneasy with India's increasingly friendly relationship with the United States. The deterioration in relations began, they say, when India inked a historic nuclear-power deal with the United States in 2006, and shortly thereafter agreed to a new defence framework.
“Since then, the mood changed in Beijing. There has been a pattern of ratcheting up threats and going back on agreements,” said Brahma Chellaney, a security expert at the Center for Policy Research in New Delhi. It's ironic, he added, since many in government in New Delhi believe the U.S. administration is bending over backwards to make nice with Beijing.
China first outraged India by initially opposing the removal of the restrictions on civilian nuclear trade with India at the Nuclear Suppliers' Group last September, although it did eventually let the waiver go through. More recently, China fought to block a $2.9-billion Asian Development Bank loan to India because some of the money was earmarked for an irrigation project in Arunchal Pradesh. India is also disturbed by Chinese plans for a massive dam along the Yarlung Zangbo river in southern Tibet, a project some experts say could turn a crucial Indian agricultural region into a dustbowl.
The most tangible signs of the dispute are the Chinese military incursions by helicopters or ground troops, which India says jumped to 280 in 2008 from 140 in 2007, and are at the same level this year. A 28-year-old negotiations process aimed at resolving the border dispute is effectively stalled.
The Cold War-style exchanges between the world's two most populous countries are also fuelled by China's support for Pakistan in its frequently violent dispute with India over Kashmir. China views Pakistan as a strategic counterbalance to India's rising clout in the region, and recently announced that it would upgrade a cross-border highway into Pakistani-controlled Kashmir and would lend financial aid to a hydroelectric plant in the same area.
Both investments drew protests from New Delhi, as did a move by Beijing earlier this year to start issuing special visas to residents of Indian-administered regions of Kashmir that are different from those granted to other Indian citizens. India controls about 45 per cent of historic Kashmir, while Pakistan holds roughly a third and China the remainder.
China is also fostering close military relationships with Nepal, Sri Lanka, Burma and Bangladesh – every country around India, Prof. Chellaney noted.
All of this, however, occurs against a backdrop of rapidly growing economic ties – China is India's largest trading partner, and trade between the two may hit $100-billion (U.S.) this year. As Western countries continue to struggle in the wake of the global financial crisis, these two countries have roaring economies and increasingly recognize each other as the best potential for trade.
Prime Minister Singh is to meet his Chinese counterpart, Wen Jiabao, on Saturday, on the sidelines of a regional summit in Thailand, in an effort to smooth over the recent breakdown in relations.
Experts on both sides of the border say there is little risk of the hostilities turning into full-on military conflict.
“There is no panic because of a possible outbreak of hostilities, but there is concern that because this relationship appears to be unravelling, all this effort of the past 10 years starts to look very shaky, especially in public perception,” said Alka Acharya, a professor of Chinese studies in the Centre for East Asian Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi and adviser to the Indian government on Chinese affairs.
“The last 10 years had brought it to a level where differences could be maturely and soberly discussed, but the moment a problem comes up, the whole thing looks like it's coming unstuck.”
But while jingoistic media in both countries play up the drama, she said, the reality is that political leadership in both Beijing and New Delhi “have demonstrated a will to look at these large, rising powers as inevitably competing in many areas” but as ultimately better served by good relations.
Army joins civil authorities in rescue operations at train accident site in Mathura
Mathura, Oct.21 - ANI: Army and civil authorities are carrying out rescue and salvage operations at the train accident site at Mathura in Uttar Pradesh in which at least 15 persons reportedly died and many others suffered injuries.
The accident occurred in the wee hours of the morning on Wednesday (October 21) when the New Delhi-bound Goa Express rammed into the rear part of a stationary train, Mewar Express at 5.00 a.m (local time) near Mathura city.
The wounded have been rushed to nearby hospitals.
The last bogie of the Mewar Express was completely damaged as the locomotive of the Goa Express telescoped into it.
According to R D Tripathi, the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), North Central Railway's Agra Division, prima facie the train driver of the Goa Express had disregarded signals.
"The Goa Express train rammed into the Mewar Express train from behind, this is the situation prima facie. A coach of the Mewar Express was damaged, whereas, there has been damage in the pantry car of the Goa Express. As per the figures we have received till now four have been killed whereas 12 have been injured. The bodies are still being extracted," said R D Tripathi, Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), North Central Railway's Agra Division.
Senior railway officials reached the place of incident to oversee the rescue operations while the injured passengers were sent to the nearby hospitals
Meanwhile, platoons of Indian Army also rushed to the incident site to assist in the rescue and salvage operations including medical aid. The army personnel extended their technical expertise in freeing the trapped victims.
"The army platoons helped in bogey-cutting, medical care and other technical and engineering tasks. They reached on time and many casualties could be avoided because of that. The people that were stuck inside thetrain have been rescued. And the help that we have received from the civil administration especially in clearing the crowd of onlookers, has been helpful in avoiding many casualties," said Brigadier Mahendra Kumar of IndianArmy, overseeing the rescue operations.
Victims were still being extracted out of the train when reports came in. - ANI
The accident occurred in the wee hours of the morning on Wednesday (October 21) when the New Delhi-bound Goa Express rammed into the rear part of a stationary train, Mewar Express at 5.00 a.m (local time) near Mathura city.
The wounded have been rushed to nearby hospitals.
The last bogie of the Mewar Express was completely damaged as the locomotive of the Goa Express telescoped into it.
According to R D Tripathi, the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), North Central Railway's Agra Division, prima facie the train driver of the Goa Express had disregarded signals.
"The Goa Express train rammed into the Mewar Express train from behind, this is the situation prima facie. A coach of the Mewar Express was damaged, whereas, there has been damage in the pantry car of the Goa Express. As per the figures we have received till now four have been killed whereas 12 have been injured. The bodies are still being extracted," said R D Tripathi, Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), North Central Railway's Agra Division.
Senior railway officials reached the place of incident to oversee the rescue operations while the injured passengers were sent to the nearby hospitals
Meanwhile, platoons of Indian Army also rushed to the incident site to assist in the rescue and salvage operations including medical aid. The army personnel extended their technical expertise in freeing the trapped victims.
"The army platoons helped in bogey-cutting, medical care and other technical and engineering tasks. They reached on time and many casualties could be avoided because of that. The people that were stuck inside thetrain have been rescued. And the help that we have received from the civil administration especially in clearing the crowd of onlookers, has been helpful in avoiding many casualties," said Brigadier Mahendra Kumar of IndianArmy, overseeing the rescue operations.
Victims were still being extracted out of the train when reports came in. - ANI
Maritime Security Adviser to be appointed soon: Antony
New Delhi, Oct 22 (PTI) Defence Minister A K Antony today indicated that the government will soon create the post of Maritime Security Adviser (MSA) and advocated strengthening of marine police wing in all coastal states to prevent Mumbai-type terror attacks.
"We are moving in the right direction. I am personally monitoring it. So are the Cabinet Secretary and Home Ministry.
All of us are jointly doing it," Antony said when asked about delays in appointing a MSA.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Navy Commanders Conference that kicked off here, Antony said Marine Police was a new concept and all the Coastal States should a separate marine police wing.
"All coastal states should strengthen the marine police. The Navy and Coast Guard will provide them training.
It is a new force and they need all support," he said.
"We are moving in the right direction. I am personally monitoring it. So are the Cabinet Secretary and Home Ministry.
All of us are jointly doing it," Antony said when asked about delays in appointing a MSA.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Navy Commanders Conference that kicked off here, Antony said Marine Police was a new concept and all the Coastal States should a separate marine police wing.
"All coastal states should strengthen the marine police. The Navy and Coast Guard will provide them training.
It is a new force and they need all support," he said.
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