Newsletter 13 January

Sino-Indian Standoff: Pakistan, China together form potent threat: Army Chief

India should be wary of Chinese mind games

Withdrawal from the vast Tibetan and Xinjiang military region means little in an era of stand-off weapons and long-range missiles.
The Chinese PLA has capacity to deploy troop divisions within a week with metal led roads and optical fiber cables up to the last military post and advanced landing grounds all along the Line of Actual Control.
A Hong Kong-based English newspaper has quoted “claim that China has withdrawn 10K troops from its “disputed border with India” as Beijing calculated that the chances of conflict in winter are slim.
All the troops were pulled back in military vehicles so that the Indian side could see and verify.
The withdrawal, involved troops temporarily deployed from units in the Xinjiang and Tibet military regions (South China Morning Post)
The Indian Army has also confirmed withdrawal of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) training units 1000 km to 500 km from the vast Tibetan plateau without giving out any numbers, adding there is no withdrawal from the friction points in East Ladakh with both armies locked in a stand-off since May 5, 2020.
While there is no way to verify the claims of the Chinese newspaper independently, movement of such huge amount cannot be missed either by satellite imagery or by communication intercepts.
The troops will have to be withdrawn either by vehicles or sent back to their barracks by transport aircraft.
According to national security planners, the Indian military will continue to be on alert till such time the PLA does not restore status quo ante on the East Ladakh LAC.
They have also ruled out any withdrawal of Indian troops from the contested points till the agreed disengagement and de-escalation takes place.
What is interesting to note is that the PLA conducts annual exercises at Xaidulla or Shahidullah Garrison, 94 km from Karakoram Pass, in Xinjiang military distt.
In the 19^th century, Dogra Gen Zorawar Singh had captured all areas up to this strategically-located town.
Known as Sanshili barracks and located on the caravan route between Ladakh and Tarim Basin, Xaidulla has been holding PLA training exercises annually except for 2018.
There is, however, evidence to indicate that the PLA’s work and engineering force deployed to upgrade infrastructure in occupied Aksai Chin has moved back after completion of work last month.
As many as 320 vehicles moved out and some 40-45 temporary shelters were taken out after the completion of infrastructure work such as building of roads, winter shelters for deployed troops and sophisticated military equipment like surface-to-air missiles, radars, tanks and multi-barrel rocket launchers.

BSF detects trans-border tunnel in Kathua district of J&K

The tunnel, detected along the Indo-Pak International Border in Bobbyian village, originates from Pakistan to facilitate infiltration of terrorists.
Senior BSF and police officers, including BSF IG NS Jamwal and IGP Jammu Mukesh Singh, have rushed to the spot.
On Nov 22, BSF had detected a similar trans-border tunnel in Samba sector that was used by four Jaish terrorists, who were eliminated at Ban toll plaza near Nagrota on Nov 19.
The entry to the tunnel was spotted about 300 feet from the zero line; about 65 feet from the fence on the Indian side, a senior Border Security Force officer said. The 3-feet wide tunnel appears to have been constructed at a depth of 25 to 30 feet.
But this time, the BSF did not stumble upon the tunnel.
“Given the sophistication of the last tunnel that had been found, we had figured that the Pakistan army had started building cross-border terrorists to create a new infiltration route and had constituted special teams to look for them,” the BSF officer said.
According to statistics compiled by the JnK police, there were 930 instances of ceasefire violations in 2020, a 54% increase over the 605 instances the previous year.
There was also a 22% increase in recruitment of terrorists by Pakistan’s deep state.
Only 52 of the 174 terrorists recruited in 2020 are still active. Nearly 50 of them were arrested or surrendered. Another 76 were killed in security operations,” the officer said.
HT reported citing sources, that the Pakistan army’s approach to infiltrate terrorists via tunnels reflected how desperately they wanted to keep Kashmir on the boil and Valley being in the news.

Indian Army Hands Landmark $20-Mil Deal To Indian Drone-maker IdeaForge

the Indian Army choosing to closing the door firmly on foreign drone products that were inbound to meet a basic long-standing infantry requirement at high altitudes, the Indian Army has just awarded a landmark $20 million contract to Indian drone maker ideaForge for an undisclosed number of its SWITCH tactical drones for use by infantry troops and special forces deployed at high altitudes.

India’s first indigenous machine pistol ASMI developed jointly by DRDO (Defense Research and Development Organization) and Indian Army displayed today at the Army’s innovation display event. The gun would be offered to replace the 9mm pistols in the defense forces. The machine pistol can fire at a range of 100m and is in the class of the Uzi series guns of Israel. The prototype has fired over 300 rounds in the last four months of its development.

The Cabinet Committee for Security, (CCS) chaired by PM Narendra Modi today approved the largest indigenous defense procurement deal worth about 48000 Crores to strengthen IAF’s fleet of homegrown fighter jet ‘LCA-Tejas’. This deal will be a game changer for self-reliance in the Indian defense manufacturing. Defense Minister Raj Nath Singh informed through tweeter.

'Keep Adultery A Crime In Armed Forces': Top Court To Study Centre's Plea

The Supreme Court today also issued a notice to the petitioner on whose plea adultery was decriminalized in 2018.
The SC on Wed agreed to examine the Central Govt’s request to keep adultery a crime in the armed forces.
A bench of the top court today requested the Chief Justice of India to set up a five-judge constitution bench to issue clarification on the Centre’s plea.
“The Supreme Court verdict (2018) on adultery may cause instability within the armed forces as defense personnel are expected to function in peculiar conditions and have to stay separated from their families for long duration,” the Centre’s plea today said, fearing for discipline in the ranks.

Farmer Protest Row

Govt is in favor of continuing talks with protesting farmer groups as it believes a solution can be found only through dialogue: Union Minister of State for Agriculture, P Rupala

CJI irked by absence of unions’ counsel

Lawyers Dushyant Dave, Prashant Bhushan, Colin Gonsalves and H S Phoolka – on Tue did a vanishing act before the Supreme Court less than 24 hours after promising to get back with the response of farmer unions on their willingness to appear before the proposed committee on farm laws.
CJI SA Bobde reprimanded them saying that they should show some loyalty to the court.
‘Farmers won’t participate’: Protestors reject SC order for talks with panel. Union leaders claimed the members of committee formed by the top court are “pro-Govt”.
Designated Khalistani terror group Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) in a statement asks Punjab farmers protesting at Singhu border to raise Khalistan flag at India Gate on Jan 26^th to disrupt the Republic Day parade. SFJ offers reward of $250,000.

In 8-point action plan against terrorism, Jaishankar slams Pak, takes a dig at China

Describing terrorism as the greatest threat to mankind, foreign minister S Jaishankar on Tue proposed an 8-point action plan at the UNSC to ensure effective action against the menace of terrorism.
Even without naming either Pakistan or China, the minister slammed the former for aiding terrorism and took a dig at the latter as he said that there can be no double standards on the issue of terrorism and that the practice of blocking requests for designation of terrorists “without any rhyme or reason” had to end.
China had earlier at least on 4 occasions blocked a UN ban on JeM chief Masood Azhar even though he headed an organization already designated by a UNSC sanctions committee.
The minister accused Pakistan of providing 5-star hospitality to the 1993 Mumbai blasts accused.

1. There must be no ifs and buts in this fight. “Nor should we allow terrorism to be justified and terrorists glorified.
2. Not countenance double standards in this battle as there are no good or bad terrorists.
3. A reform of the working methods of committees dealing with sanctions and counter terrorism, saying transparency, accountability and effectiveness were the need of the day.
4. We must firmly discourage exclusivist thinking that divides the world and harms our social fabric.
5. The council should be on guard against new terminologies and misleading priorities that can dilute our focus.
6. He called upon countries to walk the talk against terrorism and commit to zero tolerance to the menace.
7. The FATF should continue to identify and remedy weaknesses in anti-money laundering and counter-terror financing frameworks and the enhanced UN coordination with FATF could make a big difference.
8. An adequate funding to UN counter-terrorism bodies from UN regular budget required immediate attention.

India-B'desh agree to enhance fight against global terrorism

India and Bangladesh agreed to enhance their work jointly against terrorist entities including global terrorist groups, as well as other fugitives, wherever they are present and active, an official statement said.
Both sides reiterated the need for sharing of real time intelligence and feedback through the designated ‘nodal points’, while appreciating each other’s ongoing action against insurgent groups operating in the region.

UK think-tank lists India in ‘Difficult 4’

Even as UK and India appear to be resetting their relations post Brexit, a major British think tank has a word of caution for the British Govt.
Calling for a “shift in strategic focus” from the UK, the report says, should have more realistic goals about developing deeper ties with India, which it clubs with China, Saudi Arabia and Turkey as the “difficult four”.

Cabinet approves MoU between India and UAE for scientific and technical cooperation

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval to the Memorandum of Understanding on scientific and technical cooperation between National Centre of Meteorology of the United Arab Emirates and Ministry of Earth Sciences.
The MoU will enable sharing of knowledge, data and operational products for meteorological, seismological and oceanic services between both the countries.

NSA Doval visits Afghanistan for talks on strategic issues

NSA Ajit Doval also met President Ashraf Ghani and “discussed cooperation in countering terrorism and strengthening a regional consensus on the Afghan peace process”, Afghan chargé d’affaires Tahir Qadiry said on Twitter
India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval on Wed made a previously unannounced visit to Afghanistan for talks on strategic issues with the leadership in Kabul against the backdrop of a spike in violence blamed on the Taliban.
The visit comes at a time when the troubled Afghan peace process between the government and the Taliban is very delicately poised, especially in the wake of a sharp surge in violent attacks blamed on the militant group.
There was no official word from the Indian side on Doval’s visit.
India has consistently backed an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled peace process and said that the gains made in the war-torn country in the past two decades must be preserved. New Delhi has also said any solution in Kabul must ensure that Afghan territory isn’t used for terrorism directed against India.

J-K Police arrests 23 people in connection with cyber frauds, hacking ANI

The Jammu and Kashmir Police has arrested 23 people after multiple raids were conducted at different call centers in Srinagar in connection with cyber frauds and hacking.
According to police, arrests were made after a First Information Report (FIR) was registered under sections 66, 66-B and 66-C of the IT Act, and sections 419 and 420 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Consider Rao's age, health while making submissions: HC to NIA

The Bombay High Court on Wed said the NIA and the Maharashtra Govt should consider the age and health condition of poet-activist Varavara Rao, arrested in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case, while making submissions on his bail plea.
A division bench of Justices S S Shinde and Manish Pitale posted Rao’s plea seeking bail on medical grounds for hearing on Thursday.
Rao, one of the accused in the case being probed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), was last month admitted to Nanavati Hospital here following the HC’s intervention while hearing a petition filed by his wife, raising concerns over his ill-health.
Since then, the private hospital has been submitting periodical reports on Rao’s health condition to the HC.

Govt aviation site carried map marked ‘Azad J&K’

“Azad Jammu and Kashmir’’ is not a term that one would expect to find on an Indian govt website. But the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau website, until recently, had an investigation report which carried a map that identified a region in the western portion of larger Kashmir as AJK. The investigation report was of a “serious incident’’ which occurred in July 2019.

Ramesh Pokhriyal recommends constitution of task force for coordinating NEP implementation

After reviewing the implementation of New Education Policy, 2020, Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal on Wed recommended the constitution of a task force for coordinating NEP implementation between educational institutions.
The Minister suggested that a review committee and an implementation committee headed by Secretary, Higher Education be formed to ensure speedy implementation of NEP.
He emphasized the need for shifting the focus from package culture to patent culture.
He also stressed on enabling linkages between the industry and academia for better results.
Asserting that the National Education Technology Forum (NETF) and National Research Foundation (NRF) are critical for the success of policy so they should be established in the year 2021-2022, the Minister called upon the stakeholders to ensure synergy between the implementation of NEP and existing policies of the Govt.
The union cabinet had approved the NEP in July 2020 with an objective of universalization of education from pre-school to secondary level.
The policy also aims to enable an individual to study one or more specialized areas of interest at a deep level, and also develop character, scientific temper, creativity, the spirit of service, and 21^st-century capabilities across a range of disciplines including sciences, social sciences, arts, and humanities, etc.

Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa expands cabinet, 7 new ministers take oath

This was the 3^rd expansion of the cabinet since Yediyurappa assumed charge in July last year after the collapse of the Congress-JD(S) Govt. Those who took oath today are: MTB Nagaraj, Umesh Katti, Aravind Limbavali, Murugesh Nirani, R Shankar, CP Yogeeshwara and Angara S.

However, the cabinet expansion didn’t happen without controversy. Vijayapura City MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, who has been critical of Yediyurappa, alleged that the chief minister is being blackmailed and is making appointments without considering seniority or honesty.