Newsletter 15 February

Sino-Indian Standoff: PLA shore up weaponry at India Border as Xi wants it ‘combat ready’

‘Disengagement slightly ahead of schedule on some LAC positions’-TOI

India is keeping an eagle-eye on the mutual disengagement underway between Indian and Chinese soldiers in Pangong Tso area of eastern Ladakh, tallying it with the phased pullback specified in the written agreement inked between the two countries last week.
“The disengagement on both sides of Pangong Tso is progressing well so far… it is slightly ahead of schedule in some positions. The effort is to complete this Phase-I of disengagement by Feb 20,” an official said on Sun.
India insisted on a written pact for the Pangong Tso disengagement, which was approved by the country’s high-powered China Study Group just before the actual pullback kicked off on Feb 10, due to the continuing trust deficit with China.
Within 48 hours of completing the Pangong Tso disengagement, India and China will hold the tenth round of corps commander-level talks to focus on the strategically-located Depsang Plains as well as the continuing ‘friction points’ like Gogra and Hot Springs.
“Patrolling Points 15 and 17 at Hot Springs and Gogra are unlikely to pose a major problem. They are relatively less soldiers in an eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation there.
But Depsang, where the two sides have amassed infantry brigades and tank regiments, will be quite tricky,” another officer said. [see last newsletter]
Some in the defense establishment feel India should have used the bargaining leverage provided by occupation of the Kailash range heights for negotiations on the Depsang imbroglio, instead of squandering it just for the Pangong disengagement pact.
But the Govt says Depsang is an old, lingering problem that has to be tackled separately.
Under the current disengagement pact, both armies have already withdrawn their tanks, howitzers and other heavy weapons from the south bank of Pangong Tso-Kailash range in the Chushul sector.
Now, a thinning of the rival troops is taking place in different stages.
Indian troops had proactively taken 6-7 tactical heights on the ridge line there, stretching from Thakung to Gurung Hill, Spanggur Gap, Magar Hill, Mukhpari, Rezang La and Reqin La (Rechin mountain pass), in end-August.
In the scramble for the heights along the Line of Actual Control, which also saw at least 4 incidents of warning shots being exchanged, Chinese troops had also taken a couple of features like Helmet Top and Yellow Bump.
These heights on the LAC had been left unoccupied since the 1962 war due to a mutual understanding, as was earlier reported by TOI.
On the north bank of the Pangong lake, which is frozen now, Indian soldiers are now pulling back westwards in phases to their Dhan Singh Thapa post between Finger 2 and Finger 3 (mountainous spurs). PLA troops, in turn, are withdrawing to their old positions east of Finger 8 at Sirijap.
The 10-km stretch in between Finger 3 and Finger 8 will be designated a temporary ‘no-patrol area’ till both sides reach an agreement in the diplomatic and military talks to be held subsequently.
“As per the pact, the PLA also has to demolish the multiple fortifications, bunkers and pill-boxes it built after occupying the 8-km stretch between Finger 4 and Finger 8 in early-May. This will take a little time,” said an officer.

India’s Rustom-2 UAV gets massive upgrade, will soar to 27,000 feet in April

Rustom-2, India’s medium-altitude long-endurance drone being developed by the Defense Research and Development Organization, is targeted to achieve a huge milestone in April when it will take off from its test range in Karnataka’s Chitradurga to fly for more than 18 hours at a height of over 27,000 feet, people familiar with the development said.
Rustom-2, also known as Tapas-BH (Tactical Airborne Platform for Aerial Surveillance-Beyond Horizon 201), successfully completed the last flight test in Oct last year when it successfully flew for eight hours at an altitude of 16,000 feet.
“This will be a huge step,” said a senior Govt official about the indigenously-developed unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) designed for strategic reconnaissance and surveillance operations. Rustom-1
India’s previous efforts to develop military hardware hadn’t been very successful in the past, forcing the country to import more than 60% of its military requirement.
India is the world’s third-biggest military spender in the world after the United States and China.
The drones, officials said, was one of the areas where India lagged behind and ended up relying on pricey imports from countries such as the USA and Israel.
China, which has invested heavily in military equipment over the years, has raced ahead in this sector also.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), which tracks global arms flows, China has not just built drones for the People’s Liberation Army but also exported 163 large weapons-capable UAVs to 13 countries from 2008 to 2018.
It even gave four Wing Loong II armed drones to Pakistan to protect the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and Gwadar port.
The hard push to Rustom-2 is seen in the context of the continuing efforts to indigenously produce cutting-edge military equipment.
Last year, the government unveiled plans to ban the import of 101 types of weapons and ammunition over the next five years ranging from artillery guns to conventional submarines and missiles.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally handed over the indigenous battle tank Arjun Mark 1A to the Indian Army as part of this renewed focus on achieving self-reliance in the defense sector.
Less than a fortnight earlier, the Cabinet Committee on Security headed by PM decided to award Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) a ₹48,000-crore contract to supply 83 LCA (light combat aircraft) Mk-1A jets to the Indian Air Force.

India to start trials of 160 km strike range Astra missile this year-ANI

In a step that would establish its superiority in air combat over China and Pakistan, India would start testing the Astra Mark 2 beyond visual range air to air missile, which would be capable of taking down enemy aircraft from a range of 160 km.
The extended range Astra Mark 2 would give India an edge over its adversaries and would add more lethality to its fighter jets in aerial combat, like the one which happened a day after Balakot airstrikes on Feb 26, ’19.
“The trial for the Astra Mark would be starting in the second half of this year and we are hoping to see the missile fully developed by 2022,” officials told ANI.
The Astra is a beyond visual range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM), which flies over four times the speed of sound at Mach 4.5. Efforts are now on to integrate the over 100 km strike range missile on the indigenous fighter aircraft LCA Tejas.

Major attack averted in Jammu on Pulwama anniversary

A major terrorist plan to set off an explosion at a crowded place in Jammu on the 2^nd anniversary of the Pulwama attack was scuttled with the recovery of a powerful IED from a nursing student who was arrested along with 3 others, a top police officer said on Sun.
Police said Sohail, Nursing Student from Chandigarh, arrested along with 6.5Kg IED from Bus stand, Jammu. Terrorist Sohail is a resident of Kashmir and he was planning to plant this IED to main locations of Jammu viz Raghunath Bazar, Lakhdutta Bazar, Bus stand and Railway station.

JeM planned terror attacks in Delhi: J&K DGP

Following the arrest of a top terrorist who had made a video of National Security Advisor Ajit Doval’s office, it has come to light that Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad is planning a strike in Delhi, J&K police chief Dilbag Singh said on Sun.

The Jammu and Kashmir DGP also disclosed that the terrorists in Kashmir have begun procuring weapons from Bihar.

Govt's 2022 J&K plan: Resettlement of Kashmiri Pandits, 25k jobs

The Home minister, Amit Shah said that the Govt provides Rs 13,000 per month to the families of 44,000 “Kashmiri Pandits” who have relief cards.
“The Govt also provides free ration and has plans to settle them back in their houses in the Valley by 2022.”
The minister was replying to the discussion on the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization (Amendment) Bill of 2021 in the Lok Sabha.
The minister also presented a fact sheet on the development work done, post abrogation of Art 370.
Shah said that 25,000 government jobs will be created for the youth of JnK by 2022 and that almost 3,000 jobs have already been given in the last 17 months.
The 8.45 km Banihal tunnel is planned to be opened this year and that “we are also going to connect the Kashmir Valley with the railways by 2022.”
The minister said the Central Govt has allocated Rs 881 crore from the ministry of health under PMDP (Prime Minister’s Development Package) to JnK.
Panchayati Raj has been restarted in JnK after the BJP Govt came to power. Around 3,650 sarpanches and 33,000 panchs were elected.

RJD slams Centre over house arrest of J-K leaders ANI

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), a state based patry’s MP Manoj Jha on Mon slammed the Centre stating that house arresting of political leaders in JnK is a very serious issue and raised concerns over the Govt claims that situation in the region is normal.

India to organize another visit by foreign envoys to J&K

The Govt is likely to organize another visit by foreign ambassadors to J&K this month.
While the modalities are still being worked out, it is learnt that the group will comprise ambassadors from European and Gulf nations.
The proposed visit follows India’s Feb 5^th move to restore 4G mobile internet services in the UT exactly 18 months after India amended Article 370.

Govt announces radical changes to mapping policy; 'massive step', tweets PM Modi

The Centre on Mon announced sweeping changes to the country’s mapping policy, which it said will benefit Indian companies.
Announcing this on Twitter, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the policy change is a massive step in the government’s vision to make India self-reliant.
“The reforms will unlock tremendous opportunities for our country’s start-ups, private sector, public sector and research institutions to drive innovations and build scalable solutions. This will also generate employment and accelerate economic growth,” the PM further said in subsequent tweet.
He also said that the country’s farmers will benefit by leveraging the potential of geo-spatial and remote sensing data.
“These reforms demonstrate our commitment to improving ease of doing business in India by deregulation,” PM said in another tweet.
According to radical changes announced by the Govt, what is readily available globally does not need to be restricted in India and therefore geospatial data that used to be restricted will now be freely available in India, according to Ministry of S&T.
“Our corporations and innovators are no longer subject to restrictions nor do they require prior approvals before they collect, generate, prepare, disseminate, store, publish, update digital Geospatial Data and Maps within the territory of India,” it added.
The ministry also said that the Govt is looking forward to see India emerge as a mapping power.

Jaishankar says Act East Policy will make Assam more connected, energetic ANI

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Mon said the Act East Policy approach to create connectivity in Assam will make the state more energetic, contributing and employed.
“The Act East Policy is an approach to create connectivity to and within Assam, beyond to the north-east then to neighboring Myanmar and Bangladesh but eventually push all the way by road, sea, air to Vietnam to Japan.
In doing so, we must appreciate that this will not only service greater economic activity but as demonstrated in other parts of the world, actually be a driver of it.
“The role of Assam as its springboard needs to be fully realized, one way of doing that is to encourage stronger cooperation between this state and our international partners to the east, especially Japan,” he added.
The minister highlighted that Assam has long been the fulcrum of the north-east region, but as cooperation and connectivity expands beyond national politics, this potential can actually make it the center of a hub that covers neighbors like Myanmar, Bangladesh and Bhutan.
Underlining that India’s ties with foreign nations have undergone a dramatic transformation, Jaishankar said Assam can play a critical role for the larger nations in power, in transformation, in energy and the movement of people.
The minister further asserted that a modern prosperous globally connected Assam has importance well beyond the state and that recognition is what drives the Modi Govt’s commitment to the state as well as India’s foreign policy.
Jaishankar had earlier visited the Guwahati Water Supply Project in Assam with Japanese Ambassador to India, Satoshi Suzuki.

UK minister for COP26 in India to advance partnership on climate action-HT

The United Kingdom’s minister responsible for the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2021 or COP26, Alok Sharma, arrived in India on Mon for talks with interlocutors and captains of industry on strengthening the bilateral partnership on climate change.
Sharma, will meet senior ministers, business leaders and civil society to discuss climate issues and to prepare for the COP26 summit in Nov.
Sharma’s visit is expected to focus on India’s progress in climate action and clean energy transition.
In recent years, India has played a key role in setting up the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, which is co-chaired by the UK, and the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
India’s expertise is “expected to be of great value to global discussions on a clean energy transition as part of COP preparations”, the British high commission said in a statement.
Sharma will meet experts and young thinkers, to discuss challenges and solutions to climate change.
“After a year of virtual meetings, the in-person visit signals a step-change in momentum to COP26 preparations, and reinforces Mr Sharma’s ambition to run an inclusive negotiating process that incorporates the views of all countries,” the statement said.
Sharma said: “When it comes to climate action, India is a key partner and a global leader.”
British high commissioner Alex Ellis said Sharma’s visit is part of efforts to make COP26 a success and it will develop the bilateral climate partnership on clean and resilient development.
Sharma is the third UK minister to visit India since Dec; he was preceded by foreign secretary Dominic Raab and trade secretary Liz Truss.
The visits also paved the way for Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s visit later this year, during which climate cooperation will be a focus.
The UK has also committed to double its international financing to £11.6 billion over the next five years, to help developing countries to take action on climate change. The UK is looking to its presidency of COP26 in 2021 and India’s presidency of G20 in 2023 to act as key platforms for implementing the Paris Agreement.
The UK is also investing in India’s renewable and clean transport sectors, including through the joint Green Growth Equity Fund and multilateral funds.

Farmer’s protests

“In an industrialist vs farmer fight, who do you think will win? Will a farmer ever get justice?” asked Congress Gen Secy Priyanka Gandhi Vadra at ‘kisan mahapanchayat’ in Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh
Transit bail application filed by Nikita Jacob in Bombay High Court against the non-bailable warrant issued against her. Matter to be heard tomorrow.
Mo Dhaliwal, Poetic Justice Foundation founder, contacted Nikita Jacob via his colleague Puneet. Motive was to create a Twitter storm ahead of R-Day. There was a zoom meeting before Republic Day tha was attended by Mo Dhaliwal, Nikita, Disha & others: ANI citing sources.
Four days ago Special Cell team went to Nikita Jacob’s house. Her electronic gadgets were examined. Delhi police said that they would visit again to question her but she is not available.
After Disha, Delhi Police looks for ‘absconding’ lawyer Nikita Jacob, claims she created toolkit.
Many screenshots of the toolkit were available on open source & were investigated. When probe was able to fetch enough information, a search warrant was obtained from Court on 9^th Feb, against Nikita Jacob, one of the editors of the toolkit google doc: Prem Nath, Jt CP Cyber Cell
A team reached Mumbai and conducted searches at her (Nikita Jacob) residence on 11^th She and her associates Shantanu & Disha had created the doc. The email account created by Shantanu is the owner of this doc & all others are its editors.
A woman named Puneet who is based in Canada connected these people to the Pro-Khalistani Poetic Justice Foundation. On 11^th Jan Nikita and Shantanu attended a Zoom meeting organized by Poetic Justice Foundation in which modalities were chalked out.
Police also claimed the possession of certain replies from google in which toolkits had shared.
Disha was produced in a Delhi court on Sunand has been remanded in police custody for 5 days.
During the hearing at the Patiala House Court before Metropolitan Magistrate Dev Saroha, she said, that she did not create the toolkit and only made two edits to the document. Ravi sent ‘toolkit’ document to Greta Thunberg through Telegram app: Delhi Police at press conference
The opposition, mostly from Congress and Aam Admi Party Chief, meanwhile demanded Disha’s release, calling it a “shocking” and “atrocious” act.

SC: Right to protest can’t be anytime, everywhere

Holding that there cannot be a right to protest “anytime and everywhere” and rights of other people affected cannot be neglected, the Supreme Court has refused to re-examine its Shaheen Bagh verdict in which it had said public roads could not be blocked during the protest. The SC order comes in the midst of a prolonged protest by farm unions opposed to new farm laws.

"You May Be A Trillion Dollar Company But...": Supreme Court To WhatsApp

“People have great apprehension over loss of privacy,” Chief Justice of India SA Bobde said.
The SC today told social media firm Facebook and its messaging app, WhatsApp, that it will have to intervene to protect people’s privacy in the wake of the latter’s new policy in this regard.
Issuing a notice to the Centre, along with the two platforms, the court is now set examine the popular service’s fresh course on this front.
In Jan, WhatsApp renewed its terms of service & privacy policy, which were to come into effect on Feb 8. According to it, users must agree to its new data sharing norms, which includes business conversations, with Facebook.
Since this is not optional, users have been left confused and concerned over privacy.

13 more bodies, a blanket and a phone — snapshots from 8th day of rescue ops in Uttarakhand

Security forces and administration have set up ways to get people & supplies across Rishi Ganga & Dhauliganga Rivers, such as a temporary bridge and a ropeway.
The official death toll in the Uttarakhand deluge crossed 53 on Sun after 13 more bodies were recovered, while 151 still missing at the Tapovan-Vishnugad and Rishi Ganga hydroelectric power projects sites in Chamoli district.

Modi dedicates to nation BPCL's petrochemical complex in Kerala

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sun dedicated to the nation a Rs 6,000 crore petrochemical complex of oil major Bharat Petroleum here and Ro-Ro vessels of Inland Waterways at Willingdon Islands.
On a brief visit to Kerala, PM also inaugurated Cochin Port Trust’s International Cruise Terminal and Cochin Shipyard’s Vigyana Sagar, a campus for Marine Engineering Training Institute.

NEIGHBORHOOD/ WORLD

Armored vehicles deployed to Myanmar cities after protests

Security forces in Myanmar deployed with armoured vehicles in major cities and cut internet access on Monday after protests over this month’s coup and the detention of elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi drew hundreds of thousands onto the streets.

‘Shame on you China’: Protest outside Chinese embassy in Myanmar

Chanting ‘Shame on you China’ in unison, dozens of youths gathered outside the Chinese embassy in Yangon on Sun to protest against Beijing’s support to the military dictatorship in Myanmar, local media reported. The young protestors were seen holding handmade and printed placards, while demanding China to stop supporting the military, according to Myanmar Now.