Thursday, October 15, 2009
Will COAS goto PM
If insiders are to be believed, Army Chief Deepak Kapoor is planning to meet the Prime Minister on the issue of the promotion of Lt Generals. Delay in the promotion of 17 Army officers has become the hot issue in the Ministry of Defence.
ISRO to help IAF and ground forces in against Naxals
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will assist the Indian Air Force in its fight against Naxals. ISRO will be providing technical support to the IAF and ground forces in a major offensive against Naxalites in the jungles of Chattisgarh, Jharkhand and West Bengal. The Union Home Minister is slated to launch the offensive after the Maharashtra polls.
This is the first time that the space agency will be providing its technology for such operations.
According to sources, Union Home Secretary GK Pillai said that various anti-Naxal forces on the ground will be supported by the ISRO and IAF to enhance offensive attacks on the Naxalite in dense jungle areas.
Various anti-Naxal forces on the ground will be supported by the IAF and the ISRO to fine tune the attacks on Naxal hideouts, which are deep within the dense jungles.
ISRO will provide images of the ground using its Radar Imaging Satellite or RISAT-2
The IAF has already asked for permission from the Union Defence ministry to open retaliatory fire against Naxal who target IAF planes. But fool proof intelligence will be required for this, so that civilians on the ground are not hit.
The RISAT-2 can provide images of even thick jungles, enabling the IAF to carry out surgical strikes on the ground agaionst the Naxals. These images will be processed by the National Technology Research Organisation.
This is the first time that the space agency will be providing its technology for such operations.
According to sources, Union Home Secretary GK Pillai said that various anti-Naxal forces on the ground will be supported by the ISRO and IAF to enhance offensive attacks on the Naxalite in dense jungle areas.
Various anti-Naxal forces on the ground will be supported by the IAF and the ISRO to fine tune the attacks on Naxal hideouts, which are deep within the dense jungles.
ISRO will provide images of the ground using its Radar Imaging Satellite or RISAT-2
The IAF has already asked for permission from the Union Defence ministry to open retaliatory fire against Naxal who target IAF planes. But fool proof intelligence will be required for this, so that civilians on the ground are not hit.
The RISAT-2 can provide images of even thick jungles, enabling the IAF to carry out surgical strikes on the ground agaionst the Naxals. These images will be processed by the National Technology Research Organisation.
First of 18 F-16D combat aircraft for Pakistan rolls out
Dallas (Texas, US), - The first of the 18 F-16D fighter jets for the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) rolled out from the Lockheed Martin’s aeronautic (LM Aero) facility at Fort Worth here.
Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman was present at the unveiling ceremony along with CENTCOM chief General David Petraeus, Chief of Staff US Air Force General Norton Schwartz, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the US Hussain Haqqani and several other top officials.
Speaking on the occasion, Air Chief Marshal Suleman said the state-of-the-art F-16s will bolster PAF’s fleet and will ‘enable it to undertake a wide variety of missions across the entire spectrum of operations.’
Following the trials and integration of new systems, the first batch of F-16-C’s would reach Pakistan in June 2010. All the 18 aircrafts are scheduled to arrive in Pakistan by December 2010, The Nation reports
It may be noted that Pakistan had inked a deal with the then US government in 2006 to acquire 18 Block-52 F-16 C/D combat aircrafts. (ANI)
India hits back at China: What about Tibet, PoK?
New Delhi: Despite international calls for lowering tension in the region, temperatures continued to rise with India slamming both China and Pakistan on Wednesday. In four statements, the government gave enough indication that Chinese provocations will not go unanswered, with the ministries of external affairs, home, finance and defence coming into the picture.
In apparent retaliation to Chinese criticism of prime minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Arunachal Pradesh earlier this month, the ministry of external affairs warned Beijing against going ahead with its massive hydel projects in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). So far, the protests against China's $1.5 billion investment plans in PoK have been directed at Pakistan. This may be the first time China is being warned directly.
At another interaction, the vice-chief of the Indian Air Force, Air Marshal PK Barbora, quietly brought out the T-word: Tibet. Barbora talked about Chinese buildup in Tibet and suggested they had no business talking about India's infrastructure upgradation in the border areas.
"I haven't said anything about the Chinese having constructed any airfields on their side in the Tibet area. I don't think they should say anything about our construction or improvement in infrastructure in the north-east or in the Ladakh area," Barbora said on the sidelines of a function to launchjoint India-Oman air force exercises.
On another occasion, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee rubbished China's objections to Manmohan Singh's visit to Arunachal. The prime minister had a constitutional right to do so as the state was an "integral part" of India, he said. "I too visited Arunachal Pradesh for campaigning and considered it as a legitimate right. It's proper action on our part," he added.
Home minister P Chidambaram, on a visit to Kashmir, slammed Pakistan, saying that terrorism in the valley was directly related to infiltration from across the border. "One can see a desperation on the part of Pakistan and PoK authorities to infiltrate into India," he told reporters. The home minister also ruled out business visas for Chinese workers and said they would have to go for employment visas. "We do not need semi-skilled or unskilled workers from China. We have enough workers in India", he said.
China, for its part, continued its verbal attacks, with The People's Daily, the Communist party mouthpiece, accusing India of "hegemonic" ambitions in South Asia and "provoking" China over the border dispute. "If India really wants to be a superpower, such a policy is short sighted and immature," the editorial said.
Analysts in Delhi saw the flurry of strong statements on Wednesday as a tit-for-tat response to China's repeated efforts to flag Arunachal Pradesh as disputed territory. But they also felt that the government was responding to domestic voices, particularly the BJP's, which have been hitting out at India's "soft'' reaction to unending provocations from China and Pakistan.
On Wednesday, BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad attacked the government for adopting a "soft tone and tenor'' towards China and described its responses as "timid''.
Keeping its domestic constituency in mind, the government appears to have made a dramatic and well-thought-of turnaround in strategy. For it was not just the foreign office that protested on Wednesday, but also the home minister, the finance minister and the air force brass.
But Tibet is India's trump card and much will depend on how New Delhi finally uses this. Those who want India to take a tough stand on Tibet believe that the only way to do so would be to support Tibetan independence from China, or suggest greater autonomy within. The problem is India has always recognised Tibet as a part of China.
China has already protested the Dalai Lama's visit to Arunchal Pradesh next month. But India appears unperturbed. The Dalai Lama's office on Wednesday confirmed the dates for the week-long trip from November 8-15. The Tibetan leader will fly to Tawang on November 8 and remain in the monastery town till the morning of the 12th. That afternoon he will travel to Bomdila, which was overrun by the People's Liberation Army in the 1962 war. The Dalai Lama will be there for two nights for spiritual teachings and a lecture and leave for Itanagar, the capital of Arunachal, on the 14th. He will take a flight back to Delhi on the 15th.
The visit is sure to escalate tensions with China. Analysts believe that the intemperate language used by the Chinese foreign office spokesman against the prime minister on Tuesday was triggered by anxiety and anger over the Dalai Lama's journey to Tawang, the monastery town the Chinese claim on behalf of the Tibetans.
In fact, a major roadblock in the boundary talks between the two countries is Tawang.
China, meanwhile, continued to ratchet up its animosity to India.
China, meanwhile, continued to ratchet up its animosity to India.
BSF ‘Crocodiles’ to guard creeks
The Border Security Force (BSF) will soon get its first set of Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs) of specially trained marine commandos to guard the sensitive creek areas across Gujarat. The Gujarat Frontier of BSF has been raising these teams on the lines of the elite MarcoS of the Indian Navy for effective security along the 104-km long creek area under its jurisdiction. This crack unit will be called ‘Crocodiles’.
“QRTs of marine commandos, who can operate effectively in the creek areas, were a long felt need of this frontier. Special training for these QRTs is on at Koteshwar and will take about a year’s time to complete,” said Frontier Inspector General A K Sinha. Official spokesperson of the BSF, DIG (Intelligence) K Srinivasan, when contacted in Delhi, said: “This is the first time that the force has decided to create QRTs of specially trained commando groups for creek and marine related operations in the country. About 30 to 40 personnel in all BSF units in Gujarat will be trained for this special task.”
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/bsf-crocodiles-to-guard-creeks/529212/
“QRTs of marine commandos, who can operate effectively in the creek areas, were a long felt need of this frontier. Special training for these QRTs is on at Koteshwar and will take about a year’s time to complete,” said Frontier Inspector General A K Sinha. Official spokesperson of the BSF, DIG (Intelligence) K Srinivasan, when contacted in Delhi, said: “This is the first time that the force has decided to create QRTs of specially trained commando groups for creek and marine related operations in the country. About 30 to 40 personnel in all BSF units in Gujarat will be trained for this special task.”
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/bsf-crocodiles-to-guard-creeks/529212/
Antony not to seal the Gorshkov deal
Defence Minister A.K. Antony will be in Moscow for three days beginning Tuesday for crucial talks with Russia.
But it emerged ahead of his visit that the much-expected agreement on the renegotiated price of aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov will not be signed.
The two sides have held several rounds of talks since 2007 to settle the issue on the price escalation of the complete modernisation of the 45,000-tonne carrier for the Indian Navy.
But so far no agreement has been reached.
Indian Ambassador to Moscow Prabhat Shukla told reporters in Moscow at a briefing ahead of Antony's visit that negotiations on the carrier's price hike were on.
He said the last round of talks was held in New Delhi this month and the next round was scheduled for mid-November in Moscow.
The deal could be signed before or during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's regular annual summit with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in December.
The deal on the complete overhauling of Admiral Gorshkov, considered to be one the most problematic defence contracts with Russia, was signed in 2004 at an initial cost of $1.5 billion (Rs 6,952 crore).
Russia was to modernise the carrier for $750 million (Rs 3,474 crore). The rest was supposed to cover the purchase of 16 MiG-29K fighters to be based on the Gorshkov. However, Russia later said it had underestimated the scale of modernisation. The agreement on additional funding is still undecided.
Courtesy: Mail Today
Corrupt Indian babus exposed in US
A US report has blown the cover off American companies bribing 'Babus' in India.
In the report, various US companies have admitted giving money to Indian officials in exchange for favours. While all the companies have already been penalised for their actions in the US, nothing has been done against Indian government employees who pocketed the cash.
Indian Ambassador to the US Meera Shankar has sent a letter to the Prime Minister's
Principal Secretary T K A Nair, which said states prominent Indian organisations that received funds. The organisations named are Maharashtra State Electricity Board (which got payments from Mario Covino of Control Companies), Indian Railways (by Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation) and Central Insecticides Board (by Dow Chemicals).
Sources in the PMO said that the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has been ordered to look into the matter. The DoPT has also been asked to co-ordinate with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Reacting to Meera Shankar's letter, External Affairs Minsiter SM Krishna said, "Meera Shankar has filed a report as our ambassadors often do. We will look in to the matter."
Meera Shankar has also cited a bribe of 61-Lakhs to Indian Navy officials by an agent of York International Corporation. The global provider of heating, air conditioning and refrigeration products has admitted to the transaction. The money was transferred over a period of six years between 2000 and 2006 for placing over two hundred orders.
The sources in the India Navy however denies any information on Meera's letter.
High placed sources in the Navy told TIMES NOW, "The Navy was not informed about the letter. The navy got to know about it today from the newspapers. We are waiting for an official memorandum from the government and then, we will begin our internal investigations. Upto today, there has not been any intimation from either the government or the Central Bureau of Investigation."
The Mumbai based DE- Nocil Protection - a subsidiary of Dow Cemicals has admitted to paying about a crore to an official in India's Central Insecticides Board to expedite the registration of three of its products.
The Maharashtra State Electricity board has also allegedly received over four crores in bribes. Mario Covino - an American firm which makes valves has also admitted to the pay-offs.
Indian Railway Employees are also under the scanner. Pioneer Friction Limited has also admitted to making payments of 63-lakh rupees.
In the report, various US companies have admitted giving money to Indian officials in exchange for favours. While all the companies have already been penalised for their actions in the US, nothing has been done against Indian government employees who pocketed the cash.
Indian Ambassador to the US Meera Shankar has sent a letter to the Prime Minister's
Principal Secretary T K A Nair, which said states prominent Indian organisations that received funds. The organisations named are Maharashtra State Electricity Board (which got payments from Mario Covino of Control Companies), Indian Railways (by Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation) and Central Insecticides Board (by Dow Chemicals).
Sources in the PMO said that the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has been ordered to look into the matter. The DoPT has also been asked to co-ordinate with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Reacting to Meera Shankar's letter, External Affairs Minsiter SM Krishna said, "Meera Shankar has filed a report as our ambassadors often do. We will look in to the matter."
Meera Shankar has also cited a bribe of 61-Lakhs to Indian Navy officials by an agent of York International Corporation. The global provider of heating, air conditioning and refrigeration products has admitted to the transaction. The money was transferred over a period of six years between 2000 and 2006 for placing over two hundred orders.
The sources in the India Navy however denies any information on Meera's letter.
High placed sources in the Navy told TIMES NOW, "The Navy was not informed about the letter. The navy got to know about it today from the newspapers. We are waiting for an official memorandum from the government and then, we will begin our internal investigations. Upto today, there has not been any intimation from either the government or the Central Bureau of Investigation."
The Mumbai based DE- Nocil Protection - a subsidiary of Dow Cemicals has admitted to paying about a crore to an official in India's Central Insecticides Board to expedite the registration of three of its products.
The Maharashtra State Electricity board has also allegedly received over four crores in bribes. Mario Covino - an American firm which makes valves has also admitted to the pay-offs.
Indian Railway Employees are also under the scanner. Pioneer Friction Limited has also admitted to making payments of 63-lakh rupees.
'China has settled all land border disputes except with India and Bhutan'
He has also authored a book on China's border disputes, Strong Borders, Secure Nation: Cooperation and Conflict in China's Territorial Disputes. A Rhodes Scholar who studied at Oxford University, he has a PhD from Stanford University and a graduate degree from the London School of Economics.
In an interview with rediff.com's P Rajendran, Dr Fravel argues that China has beefed up border security and associated infrastructure along all of its borders not just the one with India, although it has settled all its land border disputes, except those with India and Bhutan. He also suggests that India has tried to make most of the concessions that China was willing to offer, thus influencing the intensity of the conflict.
Dr Fravel believes that while territorial disputes are always intensely emotional, both sides need to sit down and reach a mature compromise on the matter.
As you see it, what is the genesis of India's border problem with China?
The problem goes back to the period of state formation of both modern India and the People's Republic of China.
Are you referring to issues over the McMahon Line?
No, I'm referring to the period after which independent states were established in India and in China, and the efforts by the states to define their boundaries.
You mean this involves only India and China and not the British role when deciding the border?
That's the primary problem (in the India-China border dispute). The McMahon Line and other British policies are a contributing factor. But even in the absence of the McMahon Line the two States would still need to define their boundary and agree upon that boundary.
The McMahon Line provides a reference point for doing so, but, as you know, the history of the Line itself is contested by China today.
http://news.rediff.com/slide-show/2009/oct/13/slide-show-1-china-has-settled-all-land-border-disputes-except-with-india-and-bhutan.htm
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