[NATIONAL]

After a security breach, PM’s visit to Punjab’s Ferozepur canceled, MHA seeks report

Major security breach during Prime Minister visit to Punjab. Punjab Police fails to provide smooth passage via road to National Martyrs Memorial at Hussainiwala from Bathinda. No contingency plan in place by Punjab Govt. The road was blocked on the flyover by protesters. The Ministry of Home Affairs taking cognizance of this serious security lapse has sought a detailed report from the state govt. State Govt has also been asked to fix responsibility for this lapse and take strict action.

Defence Minister received a detailed presentation on CDS chopper crash inquiry on Wed

ANI – The tri-services inquiry team headed by an Indian Air Force officer is scheduled to make a presentation to Union Defence Minister on the reasons behind the Mi-17 chopper crash that took place on Dec 8 which led to the death of CDS General Bipin Rawat, his wife, and 12 other military personnel. It is being suggested that since the entire crew was ‘master green’ category, it seems they were confident that they would be able to wriggle out of the situation as there was no distress call made to the ground stations to suggest an emergency.

Indian Navy deploys P-8I aircraft on western seaboard in Goa

ANI – Amid increasing activities of Pakistan and Chinese navies in the Arabian Sea and nearby waters, the Indian Navy has now deployed its frontline P-8I anti-submarine warfare and surveillance aircraft on the Western seaboard in Goa on Tue, giving a boost to its snooping capabilities in that area. The aircraft were inducted after the fitment of indigenous equipment and Flight Acceptance Trials, the Navy said. Indian Navy had acquired the first batch of 8 P-8I aircraft in 2013 that are stationed at INS Rajali, Arakkonam. The 2^nd batch of 4 additional aircraft will be based at Indian Naval Air Squadron 316, to be commissioned. In recent times, the Pakistani and Chinese Navy have been holding a lot of hardware cooperation along with joint exercises in the region. Indian Navy’s move to deploy the P-8I surveillance aircraft is being seen as a significant move in this backdrop.

Jaishankar, Lavrov discuss follow up of annual summit, bilateral cooperation

ANI – Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a telephone conversation on Tue and discussed practical issues of bilateral cooperation as a follow-up to the results of the Russian-Indian summit held in Delhi on Dec 6. The two confirmed the intention to consistently strengthen relations of the special and privileged strategic partnership between the two countries. The two ministers agreed on further steps to expand interaction in regional and international affairs, including cooperation in the SCO, BRICS, RIC, as well as in the UN and UN Security Council. They also exchanged views on preparations for upcoming high-level contacts including a meeting of the Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade and economic, scientific, technological, and cultural cooperation.

India’s TS Tirumurti assumes the chair of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee

TS Tirumurti, India’s permanent representative to the UN was named the new Chair of the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) on Tue (local time). Before taking up his current position, in May 2020, Tirumurti served as Secretary in the MEA, handling the Economic Relations portfolio, according to the UNSC statement. He previously served at the Embassy of India to Egypt, in Cairo; at the Permanent Mission of India to the UN in Geneva; as the first Representative of India to the Palestinian Authority, in Gaza; as Counsellor in the Embassy of India to the US, in Washington. DC; as Deputy Chief of Mission in the Embassy of India to Indonesia, in Jakarta; and as High Commissioner of India to Malaysia, in Kuala Lumpur, the statement further said. This Committee was formed in Sept 2001 soon after the tragic terrorist attack of 9/11 in New York, while India had chaired this Committee in the UNSC in 2011-12. In 2021, India has been asked to Chair 3 important Committees of the UNSC, which include the Taliban Sanctions Committee, CTC, and the Libyan Sanctions Committee.

3 JeM Militants were killed in an encounter at J-K’s Pulwama

Three militants of terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) including one Pakistani national were killed in an encounter that broke out in the Chandgam area of Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir early on Wed, informed Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir. Incriminating materials, arms, and ammunition including two M-4 carbines and one AK series rifle had been recovered in the encounter, added the IGP. “A big success for us,” said IGP.

J&K police warn against social media misuse, reviews policy

The security agencies have long claimed that social media is being used to promote terrorism in Kashmir. It was also a source of law and order problems in various regions of Kashmir. People are asked not to post anything contentious on social media networks. The advertisement appeared in numerous local newspapers as well as on social media. Wion (source)-Pakistan has been unable to deploy terrorists into the valley with rifles and ammunition due to tight security along the Line of Control so that that terror handlers across the border are using social media as a tool to radicalize the Kashmiri youth.

Services growth slows in Dec, inflation pressures persist

India’s services sector expanded for a fifth straight month in Dec, albeit at a slower pace than in the previous month, as demand rose but concerns over another wave of Covid-19 and inflationary pressures cast a shadow over the outlook, a survey showed.

Won’t discuss the reason because it involves national institutions: Kerala Governor on quitting Chancellorship

ANI – Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan on Tue refused to discuss the reason behind his stepping down from the post of Chancellor of Universities citing the involvement of national institutions. The Kerala Governor said, “Something definitely has happened.” Earlier on Dec 18, Khan slammed Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Higher Education Minister, R Bindu over the issue of appointment in universities. “I find too much political interference in the working of universities.”

[ NEIGHBORHOOD ]

The private sector should oppose Chinese genocide: the US on Tesla opening showroom in Xinjiang

The White House has urged private companies to oppose the human rights abuses and genocide by China in Xinjiang. This comes after Tesla, a US-based vehicle manufacturer, opened a showroom in the region in China, Kyodo News reported. At a news conference, Press Secretary Jen Psaki said that private sector companies that fail to address forced labor and human rights abuses within their supply chains face “serious legal, reputational, and customer risk,” both internationally and in the US. In recent times, the US has ramped up its campaign against China for repressing religious minorities in Xinjiang.

China’s outgoing EU envoy to lead Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. Can the group punch its weight?

Zhang Ming is to take over as secretary-general, making him the first Chinese to head the Eurasian grouping since 2006. His appointment could extend China’s influence in the group, which – much like the European Union – has sometimes been described as a ‘talking shop’. Zhang, until recently China’s ambassador to the European Union, is the new secretary-general of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, one of the world’s largest political and economic groupings. The appointment makes Zhang the first Chinese head of the group since veteran diplomat Zhang Deguang left office in 2006. Few have described him as a Wolf Warrior, a tag commonly foisted on a new wave of diplomats using social media to aggressively push their positions and lash out against criticism.

Pakistan is getting Chinese J-10Cs, which have an Israeli connection but are no match for Rafale

Pakistan is reportedly inducting 25 J-10C fighter jets from China by March. An announcement was made by the country’s Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed at an event last week.

Myanmar has ‘ingredients for civil war’, Asean chair Cambodia warns

Cambodia’s top diplomat Prak Sokhonn said the ‘political and security crisis in Myanmar is deepening’ as Prime Minister Hun Sen prepares to visit Naypyidaw. The upheaval has bad implications for ‘regional stability … Asean’s image and credibility,’ he added.

After a security breach, PM’s visit to Punjab’s Ferozepur canceled, MHA seeks report

ANI – Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Punjab’s Ferozepur was called off citing “major security lapse”. The PM was stuck on a flyover for 15-20 minutes due to the road being blocked by some protesters, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said in a statement.

• The MHA has taken cognizance of this serious security lapse has sought a detailed report from the state govt.
• PM Modi was scheduled to visit Ferozepur on Wed to lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth more than Rs 42,750 crore.
• The PM had landed at Bathinda this morning from where he was to go to National Martyrs Memorial at Hussainiwala by helicopter.

Due to rain and poor visibility, the PM waited for about 20 minutes for the weather to clear, but no improvement in the weather conditions, the decision to visit the Memorial via road was taken after which PM Modi proceeded to travel by road after necessary confirmation of necessary security arrangements by the DGP Punjab Police.

MHA- “Around 30 km away from National Martyrs Memorial in Hussainiwala, when the PM’s convoy reached a flyover, it was found that the road was blocked by some protestors.

• The PM’s schedule and travel plan was communicated well in advance to the state Govt.
• As per procedure, they have to make necessary arrangements for logistics, security as well as keep a contingency plan ready.
• Also given the contingency plan, Punjab Govt has to deploy additional security to secure any movement by road, which were not deployed.
• The PM headed back to Bathinda airport after the security lapse.
• The State Govt has also been asked to fix responsibility for this lapse and take strict action,” the statement said.

At the Bhatinda airport, PM said to officials at the airport, “Say thanks to your CM that I was able to return to Bhatinda airport alive”

• The question is PM program had changed at the last moment, after waiting for 20 min, so how could the road plan have leaked?
• Noting that No CDS is there, makes this ‘lapse’ quite significant.
• Reacting to the allegations, CM Channi told News18, “There was no security lapse. PM Modi had a plan to arrive by air but came by road without informing us. I had requested protesters to clear the roads by 3 pm.“
• The CM further said, “They had put 70,000 chairs but only 700 people came. So they made the excuse of rain and the other excuse, and the rally got canceled.”

‘Sudden cloud cover’ led to CDS chopper crash, says probe, ruled out tech error or sabotage

ANI – The tri-services inquiry team headed by an Indian Air Force by Air Marshal M Singh has made a detailed presentation to Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on the reasons behind the Mi-17 chopper crash that took place on Dec 8 which led to the death of Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, his wife, and 12 other military personnel.

(sources)- The team has also made some recommendations for revising the standard operating procedures while operating choppers carrying senior officials of the defense forces.

IAF Chief previously said that VVIP protocols for flying will be reviewed once the probe is completed.

On the crash details– the Mi-17V5 was flying following a railway line in the hills when they entered a thick cloud cover that emerged suddenly.

The chopper was flying at a low altitude and knowing the terrain, it is emerging that the crew decided to fly out of the cloud cover rather than landing and hit a cliff in the process.

The US Federal Aviation Administration Safety defines CFIT “as an unintentional collision with terrain (the ground, a mountain, a body of water, or an obstacle) while an aircraft is under positive control”.

ThePrint (Sources)- Data from the FDR and the CVR revealed that there was nothing to indicate any kind of disorientation of the pilots — Wing Commander Prithvi Singh Chauhan and Squadron Leader Kuldeep Singh.

Mi-17V5 chopper was fully operational (not malfunctioning) at the time of the crash

(sources)- Since the entire crew was ‘master green’ category (best of pilots in the transport aircraft and helicopter fleets), it seems they were confident that they would be able to wriggle out of the situation as there was no distress call made to the ground stations to suggest an emergency.

IAF chopper crash

• On Dec 8, in a major tragedy, India lost its first Cheif of Defence Staff (CDS) General Rawat along with his and 12 others.
• Gen Rawat was on his way to Defence Services Staff College in Wellington, Tamil Nadu, to address the student officers, along with other Army personnel when the tragedy unfolded.
• Def Min briefed both Houses that Sulur Air Base Air Traffic Control lost contact with the Mi-17 V5 Helicopter at about 12.08 pm barely 5 min before its scheduled landing.
• In a span of a few minutes, the Mi-17 V5 aircraft carrying the personnel crashed in the forest area of the Coonoor taluk.
• Group Captain Varun Singh was the lone survivor in the crash, was declared dead on Dec 10.

[NEIGHBORHOOD]

Pakistan is getting Chinese J-10Cs, which have an Israeli connection but are no match for Rafale

ThePrint-Pakistan is reportedly in the process of inducting 25 Israel-inspired J-10C fighter jets from China by Mar this year, a move, which is being hyped as a response to India’s acquisition of 36 Rafale fighters.

(sources)-The figure of 25 is puzzling because a squadron has 18 fighters, adding that it is most likely that some of these fighters will be used for further research and integration by the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex and with the country’s combat training school.

While it is not yet clear if Pakistan is buying, which have been in service with the People’s Liberation Army Air Force since the early 2000s or getting them on loan.

Why J-10C and Rafale are different

• The latter is a twin-engined fighter with a globally recognized missile system and the latest electronic warfare suite.
• The J-10C is a single-engine fighter, which is in a different league than the Rafale.
• The design and inspiration for the J-10C come from a junked Israeli fighter program of the 1980s.
• The Chinese claim that the PL-15 has a range of about 140-150 km, which is similar to that of the Meteor on the Rafale, which has been tested and is recognized, unlike the former.

The Israeli connection

• It is believed that the J-10C traces its origin to Israel’s multi-billion dollar Lavi fighter jet program which was halted in Aug 1987.
• Incidentally, in 1988, then-Israeli defense minister Yitzhak Rabin had denied a report, which claimed Israel and China were working together on missiles and fighter jet programs.
• At that time, China and Israel did not have diplomatic ties, but business was still.
• The report had claimed that Israel had agreed to sell advanced missile technology to China and to help it develop a fighter plane using technology derived from the Lavi.
• One notable Israeli export from the Lavi program to China was the Python-3 heat-seeking missile, which was licensed for production by China in 1989 as the PL-8 missile, which remains in service even today.
• While China and Israel had teamed up, Tel Aviv stopped under US pressure later, and Beijing went ahead independently with the fighter program.