IAF wants anti-Naxal security shield

NEW DELHI: The IAF, which has of late seen a greater role for itself in internal security operations, including the anti-Naxalite offensive launched by the government, has sought the defence ministry’s permission “to fire in self-defence.” 

A proposal to this effect, Air Chief Marshal P V Naik said here on Thursday afternoon, has been put up before the defence ministry. It comes in the wake of an attack on an IAF helicopter soon after it lifted off from Pedia in the Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh on its way to Bijapur on November 15 last year, killing a flight engineer and injuring two others. 

With the IAF choppers being commissioned more often for casualty-evacuation and ferrying para-military forces in Jammu and Kashmir and the Naxalite-ravaged regions, there are fears that, in the absence of adequate security shield, they may become sitting ducks at the hands of the well-armed Naxalites. “IAF helicopters getting shot at is a matter of a very serious concern. To pre-empt to such strikes, we’ve decided against pressing into service light helicopters. Only armoured helicopters will be used. Even the crew will be armed. We’re are also ensuring 100% sanitisation of the area being targeted,’’ the Chief of Air Staff told newspersons while addressing the customary Air Force Day’s eve press conference. 

Air Chief Marshal Naik, in his interaction, pointed out that while the IAF was committed to playing its traditional role —that of fortifying the country against external threat— with an ever greater vigour, its role in homeland security operations was set to increase. “The IAF is already involved in Jammu and Kashmir in the insertion and extraction of troops, surveillance by the unmanned UAVs. It is now being called to evacuate casualties in the Naxal-hit areas such as Dantewada,’’ he said. 

Undertaking offensive roles in internal territory, according to him, was a far more challenging task. “In such a terrain, unless you’ve 120% intelligence, you cannot distinguish between a bad guy and a good guy. A decision needs to be taken at the highest level before we go in for the attack mode,’’ the CAS remarked. 

With China being the flavour of the day, the IAF Chief was confronted with a volley of questions on the threat from across the border. He, however, remained guarded in his responses in a clear attempt to underplay the issue. “We cannot be adversary-specific. We need to develop capabilities to meet the challenges facing the country --those capabilities which can meet the country’s aspirations,’’ he said. 

The capability-building exercise, Air Chief Marshal Naik argued, was dependent on four pillar -- see, first and farthest; reach, farthest and first; hit, accurately and hard; and protect, our assets both in peace and war. The IAF, he said, was building its capabilities keeping these factors in mind. 

On being asked about the building and reactivation of airstrips lying close to the border with China, the CAS said that plans were afoot to upgrade the advanced landing grounds in Arunachal Pradesh. “Such a plan was long overdue. Now that we’ve the go-ahead we’ll press ahead with full steam,’’ he said. 

Since the terrain was very difficult in the region, it would, he revealed, take 3-5 years to make these fully operational. 

The IAF had recently opened an airstrip at the Nyoma Advanced Landing Ground in eastern Ladakh, just 23 km from the LAC with China. Responding to another query, the IAF Chief ruled out the possibility of inducting women officers to pilot fighter aircraft “in the near future.” “We have some 790 lady officers at present in all branches of the IAF, except the fighter aircraft. In the near future, there are no plans to induct them for piloting fighter aircraft. There are certain issues involved, which have to be addressed first,’’ he said. 

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/IAF-wants-anti-Naxal-security-shield/articleshow/5079474.cms

India, China stand-off over separate visas

NEW DELHI: Taking a serious view of China’s latest move to issue “separate” visas to Indian passport holders from Jammu and Kashmir, the government has told Beijing in no uncertain terms to put an immediate end to this practice or face a similar discrimination, besides fewer and tougher visas, for its own citizens seeking Indian visas. 

The ministry of external affairs took up the matter with the Chinese embassy here and asked Beijing to stop discriminating against Indian nationals on the basis of their “ethnicity” and “domicile”. 

The MHA, which handles immigration matters, has made it clear that it will not allow Indian passport holders with a non-stamped Chinese visa to leave the country. Also, it conveyed to Beijing through the MEA to either stop the practice of issuing Chinese visas to J&K and Arunachal Pradesh residents on a separate piece of paper — as against the stamped visas issued to all other Indian citizens — right away, or face a similar discriminatory regime in processing of Chinese applications for an Indian visa. 

“How would they feel if India only offers a stamped visa to Tibetans while issuing visas on a separate paper for the applications residing in other parts of China,” commented a senior MHA official. 

The tit-for-tat threat was conveyed to the Chinese embassy here by the MEA, which has even earlier taken up the discriminatory practice followed in issue of visas to Indian passport holders from Arunachal Pradesh. However, the addition of J&K to their “separate visas” list has infuriated the authorities here, forcing them to make it clear to Beijing that it would face a similar treatment from India when it processes visa applications from Chinese citizens. 

This is not all. India has also threatened to pay back China in the same coin by ensuring tougher scrutiny of employment visas sought by the Chinese to work here. According to MHA sources, India was far more liberal in admitting Chinese workers than Beijing has ever been in allowing Indians to work in China. As against 25,000 Chinese working on several business projects here, no more than 2,000 Indians have been granted employment visa to work on Chinese soil. 

What is more, the 25,000 Chinese workers were being allowed to work here on a business visa. Some of them were even travelling to Pakistan and Bangladesh during the visa period, only to come back a day before expiry of their business visa, which is completely illegal. 

“Legally speaking, we can take police action against such Chinese admitted on a business visa only to get employment here, and travelling with impunity outside India during the validity of their business visa,” an official pointed out. 

With the deadline for converting from a business visa to an employment visa expiring on October 31, the Chinese citizens who continue to work on a business visa will face immediate action by the immigration authorities. 

The government is also contemplating a stricter scrutiny of employment visas, which will also be cut drastically if Beijing continues with its pinprick of issuing separate visa to the residents of J&K and Arunachal.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Politics/Nation/India-China-stand-off-over-separate-visas/articleshow/5079473.cms

PROMOTION ARMY OFFICERS : PM clears file of Army Officers

I WONDER : THOUGH SOMETHING IS BETTER THAN NOTHING. BUT THE FACT REMAINS ITS TOO LITTLE TOO LATE. IN CIVIL SERVICES INCLUDING OTHER GP A SERVICES THEY BECOME COL EQUIVALENT WITHIN 13 YRS OF SERVICE INCL TRAINING PERIOD AND WITHIN 18 YEARS OF SERVICE THEY ARE GETTING SAG WITH GP OF 10000/- . SINCE MOST OF THE PERKS START BEYOND THE GP OF 10000. THERE IS HARDLY ANY ADVANTAGE OF THIS MOVE EXCEPT FOR RED COLLARS AND INCREASE OF GP BY 700/- RS. LASTLY FULL DETAILS ARE NOT YET KNOWN !!!!

Prime Minister is believed to have approved substantive time scale promotion to the rank of full Colonel and equivalent in Army, Navy and Air Force after 18 years of service. Thus Col will not be a select rank any more.

1994 Batch IPS Offrs to be DIG (GP 8900)

1994 batch IPS officers belonging to the Uttar Pradesh cadre are soon going to be elevated as DIGs. There are 14 vacancies of DIGs in UP.(whispers)

Army ready to deal with Chinese intrusion, says Jaswal

Shimla, September 30
“The Indo-China border has always been a sensitive area and there is no cause for “undue” alarm over the reported recent incursions by Chinese forces,” asserted Lt-Gen BS Jaswal, before leaving for Udhampur to takeover as the Army Commander of the Northern Command.
“With its vast undemarcated stretches, the Indo-China border was and continues to be a sensitive area. There has been no increase in its sensitivity as such in view of the reported developments. The Army is fully prepared to take on any challenge on this count,” he said with a sense of assurance.
A thoroughbred infantryman, Jaswal, with his enormous experience in counter-insurgency operations in the North East, is eager to make his mark in the militancy-ridden Kashmir valley. He spelt out a three-pronged strategy to defeat the designs of terrorists and help create an environment conducive to smooth functioning of the civil administration. The emphasis would be to effectively check infiltration from across the border and carry out relentless operations against terrorists still active in the valley. The emphasis would be on training of troops and keeping up their morale, which was the key to successful counter-insurgency operations.
With state-of-the-art surveillance equipment and modern weaponry, the Army was better equipped to deal with insurgents and any threat from across the border. Preparation had been an ongoing process, which involved persistent training and evolving new doctrines with the changing environment.
Referring to the recent incident of a woman gunning down a terrorist in Kashmir, he said it only reflected the changing attitude of the local people and their resolve to take the militants head on. More significant was the fact that the woman had no training in weapons and she learnt to fire gunshots from television.


http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20091001/himachal.htm#4

India to get Israeli killer drones by 2011

India will get its first set of lethal drones designed to take down high-value targets like missile sites, radars and even senior enemy personnel by 2011, adding a new dimension to its combative capabilities.

While India already has a fleet of Searcher and Heron Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), these are not equipped with offensive weapons and are confined to being used in

reconnaissance missions. Now, for the first time India will get the capability to attack enemy positions and even moving targets deep inside enemy territory without having to send across a fighter aircraft.

A top Indian Air Force (IAF) official confirmed that the first batch of Harop killer drones had been ordered from Israel and would be inducted by 2011.

While reports of a $100-million deal between India and Israel’s IAI for the Harop have been floating around for several months, this is the first official confirmation from the IAF that the drones have been ordered and would be inducted within three years. 



In the past, India had inducted an earlier version called the Harpy but the UAV only had an anti-radiation seeker and was designed to loiter, detect and home in on enemy radar positions.


The Harop, however, will be able not only to take on enemy radars but also has an electro-optical sensor that allows it to target moving vehicles, missile positions and other military installations. It also has a high endurance and can ‘loiter’ over enemy airspace for over five hours in search of a target.


However, unlike the Predator drones being used by the US against Taliban forces in Afghanistan and Pakistan that fire missiles and can return after the mission, the Harop self-destructs itself onto the target, making it much more expensive.


While efforts are on to develop indigenous Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs) like the Predator drone, India is years away from having the capability of taking on targets deep inside enemy territory without committing fighter aircraft.


As per the IAF’s procurement plans, a new generation of UCAVs would only be purchased in the next Five Year Plan that starts in 2012. 


http://www.indianexpress.com/news/india-to-get-israeli-killer-drones-by-2011/522675/

IAF rescues 5 boys trapped in stream

HYDERABAD: Three persons were washed away while five students, trapped in a stream, were rescued by an Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter in separate incidents in Mahaboobnagar district on Wednesday as water levels in tanks and rivers rose due to incessant rains lashing several parts of the State.

Of the three, two youngsters were swept away in a stream in Balanagar while the third met with the same fate in Kalwakurthy.
The IAF helicopter, after rescuing the five students belonging to Kothareddypally in Vangoor mandal who were caught in the Dindi stream, had to make an emergency landing at Maheshwaram on the city outskirts due to inclement weather. The five youngsters, studying in a private college in the city, went home for Dasara.
They visited the nearby Dindi stream this afternoon for swimming.
They got trapped after the water level rose suddenly. They took shelter on a tree. Efforts of local residents and the district administration to rescue them proved unsuccessful. On learning about the incident, Chief Minister K Rosaiah ordered the officials to use helicopters to rescue the marooned youngsters. “An IAF helicopter was rushed to the spot and all the five were airlifted to safety,” District Collector Damayanthi said.
After the operation, while returning to its base at Hakimpet Air Force Station, the chopper was forced to land in an open site at Maheshwaram due to bad weather. “The two pilots and two crew members in the helicopter are safe,” Maheshwaram police inspector M Narender Reddy said.
In the Balanagar incident, three youngsters - Janaki Ramulu, his brother Naveen Goud and their friend Raghurama Reddy - went to swim in a rivulet at Gundlapotlapally. Ramulu got caught in a whirlpool and the other two tried to rescue him. However, only Naveen managed to swim to safety,” SI Jangaiah said.



http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=IAF+rescues+5+boys+trapped+in+stream&artid=6Rj11iVhySU=&SectionID=e7uPP4|pSiw=&MainSectionID=fyV9T2jIa4A=&SectionName=EH8HilNJ2uYAot5nzqumeA==&SEO=

Containing Infiltration, Terrorism Top Priority – General Jaswal GOC Northern Command

Shimla: With a task cut out, Lt General BS Jaswal, who moves to head the sensitive Northern Command said that the priority would be to contain infiltration, deal with any terrorists in a most severe manner, maintain cordial relations with the civilians and the state government, and keep the morale of the troops high so as to maintain the battle worthiness of the command.

Speaking to the media today, after relinquishing charge of the ARTRAC command, the general said “the Indian army was prepared to take any challenge.”

On being questioned about the sensitivity of Indo-China border, he said, ‘the borders there have not been demarcated and would remain sensitive.” However he dismissed any cause for alarm saying, “there have been no incursions on the border.”

He said that his new assignment mandated maintaining the territorial integrity of the country, which the command would do with honour.

He said that the army’s role was for the people of India, which it would live upto with a human face.

“While heading the command every effort would be made to maintain synergy with the para-military forces, the state government and the people,” said general Jaswal.

Training and equipping Village Defense Committee’s (VDC) in Jammu & Kashmir was proving worthy of fighting and eradicating terrorism in the state, he said

At ARTRAC, which worked as a think tank for the army, he said revolutionary and military affairs were strategized according to the needs of forces. Realistic ‘war gaming’ was one of the functions that the command was developing; devising ways to counter as well as launch electronic warfare was another area on which work was being done, he said.

http://himachal.us/2009/09/30/containing-infiltration-terrorism-top-priority-%E2%80%93-general-jaswal-goc-northern-command/16227/news/ravinder