Indian Army News & Discussions

[az.ay]

Suicide or murder? Soldier’s mom gets autopsy report

Mother of Capt Sumit Kohli has been fighting for more than four years to prove that her son, a Shaurya Chakra awardee, was killed by Army officers to stop him from revealing their role in the cold-blooded murders of four porters in a fake encounter in 2005.

Ambiguities in the Court of Inquiry (COI) and autopsy report of the Captain, who the army states committed suicide, has brought hope for his mother.

The wife and mother of the Army’s Capt. Sumit Kohli, who was found dead in Jammu and Kashmir, have alleged that their son was killed by his superior officers in order to stop him from revealing their role in murders of four porters in a fake encounter.

In June 2005, Meso Devi, a resident of Chatha hamlet of Jammu and Kashmir, received an anonymous letter in Hindi informing her that her husband Ram Lal had been killed by troops in a fake encounter in Jammu and Kashmir’s frontier district of Kupwara along with three others hired by the Army as porters. The letter was signed “Aap ka sainik, insaniyat ka pujari (Your soldier, a believer in humanity)”.

The anonymous letter named “Major Vijay Chahar” and “Colonel Rahul Pandey” as being the main accused and said the operation was led by Major Chahar, and that the others involved in the encounter were Naik Jai Singh, and Riflemen Dilip, Jasvir, Adesh Kumar and Madroop Dhaka”, all from 18 Rashtriya Rifles and posted in Lolab area of Kupwara.

The Army, immediately after a newspaper reported the content of the anonymous letter, ordered a probe into the alleged fake encounter. Meanwhile, the bodies of the slain men were exhumed in the presence of their families.

More than two years later, the Army’s Captain Sumit Kohli, working with the same counter-insurgency 18 Rashtriya Rifles, was found dead at his unit. The Army authorities reported that he had committed suicide on April 30 this year. But the incident is still being probed by the Army.

According to them, being a witness to the gory act, the young officer had vowed not only to “expose” the murderers but also ensure they were punished for taking the lives of innocent people in anticipation of rewards. He had reportedly assured the victims’ families that he would help them get justice. It is believed here that Capt. Kohli may have written the anonymous letter to the wife of one of the killed porters.

“Who says that my brave son (awarded the Shaurya Chakra gallantry award only a month ago) committed suicide,” asked Capt. Kohli’s mother, Veena Kohli. She claimed to the newspaper Greater Kashmir over the telephone from her Chandigarh home that she knew her son “was killed” by Col. Rahul Pandey “to hush up the killing of four innocent poor villagers of Jammu”. Following the sudden death of her husband a day after Capt. Kohli was cremated, she has vowed “to see the killers of my only son behind bars”.

The Army says that on April 30, at around 3.20 pm, a gunshot rang out in the army quarters in Lola valley. Doctors who rushed there found Capt. Kohli dead with an AK-47 assault rifle at his side. Both Army and police investigations reached the same conclusion — that he had committed suicide.

But Ms Deepika Kohli, Capt. Kohli’s wife asked, “If they are saying it’s an AK-47 gunshot then tell me something, how can someone’s throat and tongue remain intact if he had shot himself in the throat? Seven bullets went through at the same time. And how can there be no bruises or multiple fractures? Tell me, how is that possible?”

She added, “The Army spokesman is lying, there was no sign of a bullet injury on his face or chin, but a horizontal cut on his throat.” Endorsing her mother-in-law’s view, she claimed, “My Sumit was killed by Colonel Rahul Pandey and three other officers of the same unit.”

-via The Times of India and Sulekha.

 

[rajgoynar]

India halts defence exchanges, refuses visas to Chinese army officers



India on Friday put all future defence exchanges with China on hold after Beijing refused to welcome an army general as he had Jammu and Kashmir under his command, well informed sources said. Lt Gen B S Jaswal, who heads the Northern Command that guards the borders with China and Pakistan, had been nominated to travel to China for a regular high-level defence exchange visit.

"Sometime, in July, we were informed that it would be difficult to take the visit forward since he (Jaswal) looked after an area which is 'difficult'," said the sources, adding that it was tantamount to saying that India was in adverse possession of Kashmir.

For the last few weeks, India had been speaking to the Chinese officials to resolve the issue. But, for the time being, India has decided to stop all exchanges in the defence area, the sources said, speaking only on condition they were not identified.

"We should not only introspect, but there is little point in taking forward defence exchanges unless this is resolved," the sources told IANS.

Defence Minister A K Antony, however, said the cancellation of Jaswal's visit was "not the question of breaking ties."

"There are occasional problems but that will not affect our broader approach," he told reporters in Hyderabad.

As an immediate fallout of the Jaswal episode, three Chinese army officers have been denied visas. Two captains who were to visit Pachmarhi and a colonel had been invited for a guest lecture at the National Defence College here.

Meanwhile, the external affairs ministry called for "sensitivity" by Beijing and also summoned the Chinese envoy here. The Indian Army only said the general's visit had been "called off" while both the ruling Congress and the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Pary (BJP) called for an appropriate response.

This is the second time that China has raised a question mark over Kashmir. Earlier, China had started issuing visas on loose paper stapled to the Indian passports of residents of Kashmir. "That in a sense has mushroomed to include regular defence exchanges...It is not something that we can accept," the sources said.

The message given to China is that this is a question of Indian sovereignty. "This issue is as important to us as Tibet is to China," the sources added.

They also pointed out that in variance with its official stance on Kashmir, China had made it clear that it only questioned India's control of Kashmir.

"In ***************** Kashmir, they (China) are building dams and roads. Chinese engineers are present in that place. So, their line that they are not taking sides, is not true".

Indian officials said that they will continue to have a dialogue with China over the Jaswal issue, rather than open confrontation.

"We want a candid discussion with China to resolve this issue and till then, there will be no military ties with China... We want a fair resolution of all issues, which is a halt to practice of issuing stapled visas and making such statements on regular exchanges," the sources said.

According to the sources, China has to take the first step to resolve the matter. "They have tied the knot, they have to untie it," they said.

Accusing the Chinese of being inconsistent, the sources said the Chinese had issued a visa to Lt Gen V K Singh to visit Beijing when he headed the Indian Army's Eastern Command that has jurisdiction over Arunachal Pradesh, over which China has staked its claim.

They also said that Northern Command officials also had functional meetings with their Chinese counterparts during regular border meetings in the Ladakh region.

It was pointed out that China generally had an aggressive posture on boundary issues, referring to its recent position on the disputed territory in the South China Sea. "There is an increase in its assertiveness at staking claims on islands.. We are monitoring that," the sources said.




India halts defence exchanges, refuses visas to Chinese army officers - Hindustan Times

 

[Archie]

Found this article on janes regarding M777 Ultra light Howitzer for the army

Does anyone has subscription of the full version then please post

The Indian Army is to conduct 'confirmatory' trials of the BAE Systems M777 155 mm/39-cal lightweight howitzer in the western Rajasthan desert prior to acquiring 145 guns via the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme.

Military and defence industry sources in New Delhi told Jane's that the M777 trials with Indian-made ammunition were intended merely to 'validate' the FMS agreement under which India will acquire 145 units with Selex Laser Inertial Artillery Pointing Systems for USD647 million.

Industry sources anticipate the deal being signed by the end of Fiscal Year 2010-11 next March.

Thereafter, howitzer deliveries are expected to begin within 18-24 months to equip two mountain divisions for deployment along India's disputed northeast frontier with China.

Logistical and technical support for the trials will be provided by a joint venture between BAE Systems and Mahindra Defence Systems focused on armoured vehicles - a partnership formed recently with an INR1 billion (USD22.22 million) equity on a 26:74 basis favouring the latter.

BAE Systems has declined to confirm or deny the M777's date of arrival in India for testing.

India to test M777 lightweight howitzer

 

[rajgoynar]

Visa row: India reads out riot act to Chinese envoy


NEW DELHI: India summoned the Chinese ambassador on Friday and has refused to allow visits of two Chinese military officials to protest against Beijing's refusal of a visa to a general in the Indian Army.

The discussion came after India, as reported by TOI on Friday, cancelled defence exchanges to protest against China refusing to allow the visit of an Indian Army general on the ground that his jurisdiction included "disputed" J&K. In a tit-for-tat response, India refused to allow the visits of two captain-level Chinese officers to Pachmarhi, and one colonel-level officer to National Defence College.

India was also cold to China's fence-mending bid by offering to send a colonel-level official to New Delhi for talks with joint secretary (international cooperation) in the defence ministry. With passions running high, there was no certainty that the government would allow the visit scheduled for September 7.

Chinese ambassador Zhang Yan met joint secretary (east Asia) Gautam Bambawale in the foreign office to discuss the issue against the backdrop of outrage in India over the the provocation and Beijing's anxiety to de-escalate tensions. The message India gave was that China was solely responsible for the current fracas and that the onus of untying the knot rested with it, said sources.

With the Congress and the BJP joining hands to lambast China over the refusal of visa to Lt General B S Jaswal, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Northern Area Command, government made it clear that it was not going to let go of Beijing's latest effort to meddle in J&K. "The defence minister has taken a strong view. Talks on the issue will go on," minister of state for external affairs Preneet Kaur said.

Congress spokesperson Manish Tiwari reacted to the report in TOI by saying that the Chinse envoy should be summoned by the government and be told of the resentment its action has generated.

CPM, known for its sympathetic views on China, refused to react, arguing that there was no official word on the issue yet.

The BJP, however, came out strongly against China. Party spokesperson Prakash Javdekar said, "We must strongly condemn the Chinese on the issue. It is the worst kind of insult inflicted upon India by denying visa to Jaswal. It should be made clear to China that Kashmir is an integral part of India and not a disputed territory."

Party leader and former foreign minister Yashwant Sinha said, " Government of India should retaliate in kind. A very strong message should go to China that India will not take such pinpricks lying down."

The anger was in accord with the mood in the government which seems to be determined to engage in some bluntspeak with China. Until then, military exchanges will be on hold, sources said.

In a statement on Friday, the MEA spokesperson said, "While we value our exchanges with China, there must be sensitivity to each other's concerns. Our dialogue with China on these issues is ongoing." This is diplomatese for India's determination to refuse to negotiate on this issue.

However, the government was clear that this issue would not spill over to other sectors. For instance, border personnel meetings would not be cancelled or put on hold.

India has a modest defence relationship with China but with an intention to improve it so as to gain a greater understanding of each other's defence systems. However, on Kashmir, the PLA takes a stand that is designed to infuriate India and placate Pakistan's equally powerful military.

The Chinese approach to the Indian part of J&K is markedly different from its activities in ***************** Kashmir where it is engaged in construction work. This has already been protested by India, with little effect on Chinese behaviour.

Visa row: India reads out riot act to Chinese envoy - India - The Times of India

 

[sudhir007]

Media a potent force multiplier: Indian Army chief

The media should be viewed not only as a synergy partner but as a ‘potent’ force multiplier and the military should take formal steps to acknowledge the role of the media by establishing formalized accreditation and training processes, the Indian Army chief, Gen. V.K. Singh said Tuesday.

‘It is prudent to view media not only as a synergy partner but as a potent force multiplier,’ he said in his keynote address at a two-day seminar on Media-Military Synergy being conducted by the Army Training Command, here.

He set the pace of the seminar, by highlighting the role of media as the guardian of democratic values. He also acknowledged that a journalist is a trustee of the society and that he must always uphold that trust.

Realising the urgency of graduating into a more open and supportive relationship with the media in future, the army chief said that the military should take formal steps to acknowledge the role of the media by establishing formalized accreditation and training processes.

In his opening remarks, Lt. Gen. A.S. Lamba, the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Army Training Command said: ‘War is won by military force, the general’s strategic acumen, diplomatic resolve and skill; but it is the media that gets the message through to the public and strengthens public opinion.’

The services need to appreciate the media’s potential influence to mutual benefit, he added.

The key to convergence, Lamba pointed out, lay in understanding each other and rising above institutional cultures and compulsions and willingness to endure a few setbacks.

‘The seminar is aimed at identifying comprehensively respective viewpoints towards achieving desired synergy, fostering mutual understanding and setting the ground for maximising desired influence on this important issue,’ a defence ministry statement said.

‘While the perspective session revealed lessons relating to varying viewpoints and standoffs that project military operations and day-to-day events, the follow on session identified timelines and transparency as an imperative,’ the statement added.

Focusing on existing models and examples in media military convergence the world over, the speakers drew parallels in our own context. There was a visible need to elevate the synergy from the tactical and operational to the strategic level to ensure image and perceptions are appropriately facilitated.

Ethics, deadlines and competition among the media needed to be understood by the military, the speakers said.

Amongst the participants Tuesday were Mark Tully (former BBC bureau chief), Suhasini Haidar (CNN-IBN), K.V. Prasad and Sandeep Dikshit (The Hindu), Sanjay Ahirwal (NDTV), former Indian Navy chief Admiral (retd) Arun Prakash and noted defence analyst Commodore (retd) Uday Bhaskar.

 

[sudhir007]

New RFP Expected For Indian Wheeled Guns | AVIATION WEEK

The Indian defense ministry is expected to reissue the request for proposals (RFP) for the third time for 140 wheeled guns within the next two weeks.

Retrials will be held for the same guns that participated in earlier rounds to evaluate performance in extreme hot and cold conditions in the harsh desert terrains of Rajasthan and Ladakh. Firing rate and command and control will be assessed.

Bidders being named include Kerametal of Slovakia, with its Zuzana gun, and Germany’s Rheinmetall RWG-52.

The latest development, however, comes amid ongoing confusion and allegations regarding so-called “blacklisting” of some contenders in the past (Aerospace DAILY, April 2). For instance, Singapore Technologies Kinetics was not invited to participate in the RFP after being named in a report related to an Ordnance Factories Board (OFB) scandal. But Rheinmetall, which was rejected on another tender for being involved in the same OFB report, was called to participate in trials for bi-modular charges in Pokhran, and now for the wheeled guns.

Rheinmetall recently denied any wrongdoing regarding the acquisition of defense contracts in India, saying it had broken no rules. A Rheinmetall spokesman says it has not received any notification as to the basis of the corruption allegations.

“With regard to future projects, as well, the company is eager to clear this matter up,” a Rheinmetall representative says.

Armed with 155-mm. ordnance, the 48-ton Rheinmetall Wheeled Gun (RWG)-52 is designed to be a mobile 6x6 artillery system for flexible fire-support operations. The vehicle has a maximum road speed of 80 kph. (50 mph.), and can reach speeds of up to 70 kph. when operating off-road. Its strategic range is 700 km. (435 mi.) and its tactical range is 300 km. A built-in tire pressure management system further enhances the vehicle’s off-road performance, according to a Rheinmetall spokesman.

Its autonomous turret is equipped with the L/52 Rheinmetall gun used in Germany’s PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzer in service with the armed forces of Germany, Italy, Greece and the Netherlands, the latter having deployed it in combat operations in Afghanistan.

While BAE Systems’ Archer does not fit the Indian army requirements for the wheeled gun bid, the company has submitted a response to the latest request for information for towed 155-mm. howitzers, following previous tenders that were canceled due to the inability of other potential suppliers to meet the requirements.

The company’s offer will be based on the FH77 B05 155-mm. howitzer, and a significant number will be manufactured in India to meet the specific needs of the Indian army.

BAE representative Guy Douglas told AVIATION WEEK earlier that the 155-mm. FH77B05 howitzer was the best choice for India since it has proven itself in previous trials. “It is the big sister of the FH77 B02 that performed well in the Kargil conflict, so its pedigree is unquestionable,” according to the company spokesman.

Meanwhile, BAE’s M777 ultra lightweight howitzer is now in the U.S. foreign military sales process for purchase by India.

 

[RPK]

The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) | Frontpage | Bofors back in artillery race

New Delhi, Sept. 1: The Bofors gun is back in the competition for a record fourth time for a multi-billion dollar heavy artillery gun order from the Indian Army.

BAE Systems, the current owner of Bofors, has said that that it has “submitted a response to the Indian ministry of defence’s latest RFI (request for information) for towed 155mm howitzers, following previous tenders which were cancelled because of the inability of other potential suppliers to meet the tender conditions.”

Along with its Indian partner, Mahindra and Mahindra, the company has offered a version of the FH77 B05 155mm howitzer. It says “a significant proportion will be manufactured in India to meet the specific needs of the Indian Army.”

In the last trial, which was cancelled by A.K. Antony’s defence ministry in July, the Bofors gun and ST Kinetics’s iFH 2000 were the only guns in the competition.

Army sources said the trial was cancelled because STK’s gun was not calibrated to fire Indian ammunition. But STK sources say they were not given the time sought to re-calibrate their weapon for the summer trial in the Rajasthan desert.

The tender was cancelled because STK’s disqualification made BAE Systems the only vendor and the Defence Procurement Policy (DPP) lays down that procurement must be based on competition, defence ministry sources said.

The guns — the Bofors GH 77 B05 and STK’s iFH 2000 — that the companies had brought for the trials are still in India. The cancellation of the tender pushed the Indian army’s field artillery modernisation programme, already behind schedule by 10 years, at least two more years behind.

Andrew Gallagher managing director and chief executive of BAE Systems India said, “BAE Systems is confident that the FH77 B05 is the best heavy towed howitzer in the world today and meets the requirements of the Indian Army”. The Indian Army used the earlier version of the howitzer in the 1999 Kargil war.

The army plans to buy and produce a total of 1,580 guns of the 155mm/52caliber category. For 23 years now, the army has not added a single big gun to its arsenal since the Bofors FH77B02, contracted by the Rajiv Gandhi government, raised a row over kickbacks.

The old guns are now rusty and the artillery regiments often resort to cannibalisation to keep some of them firing.
Top

 

[RPK]

Indian Army chief to pay five-day visit to Sri Lanka | The Asian Age

Seeking to give a fillip to bilateral military ties, army chief General V.K. Singh is set to undertake a five-day visit to Sri Lanka from Sunday to discuss defence cooperation.

During his visit, Singh is scheduled to meet Defence Secretary, Mr Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, his Sri Lankan counterpart, Mr Jagath Jayasuriya, and other senior defence officials.

The Indian army chief, who was awarded the 'Yudh Sena Medal' for his distinguished service during 'Operation Pawan' against the LTTE in Sri Lanka, would also visit the war-ravaged Vavuniya in the island nation's north.

His visit to Sri Lanka comes close on the heels of a four-day trip here by Foreign Secretary, Ms Nirupama Rao.

According to sources, as many as five high-level Indian delegations from various fields are slated to visit Sri Lanka this month.
Foreign minister, Mr S.M. Krishna, is scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka in October end to inaugurate consulates in Hambantota and Jaffna. He will also be attending the India-Lanka joint commission meeting.

Also on the anvil are visits by Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal, P.V. Naik and Defence secretary, Mr Pradeep Kumar, media reports said.

Naval chief Admiral Nirmal Verma had visited Sri Lanka in June.

Besides an annual defence dialogue, India and Sri Lanka would be looking to step up maritime-security cooperation and would consider increasing the level and frequency of defence exchanges, the reports said.

 

[marcos98]

Army to boost electronic warfare capability​

Chandigarh, September 1
With electronic warfare becoming central to all military operations, the Army is planning to procure helicopter-mounted electronic warfare systems to augment its capabilities, which, at present, are restricted to land-based systems.

Sources said some firms have already briefed senior officers concerned at Army Headquarters about the operational aspects of such systems The Army has now sought technical details of available systems for evaluation. The Army, like its sister services, is already into electronic warfare, with the Corps of Signals being the nodal agency in the force for using the electromagnetic spectrum for military gains. Currently, the systems with the Army are vehicle mounted.

Electronic warfare involves use of the electromagnetic spectrum, including radio waves and infrared, to interfere with, intercept, degrade or dominate an adversary’s communication, data-transfer or surveillance network for attaining battlefield superiority, while protecting one’s own networks.

Heli-borne electronic warfare systems, sources said, would allow greater operating flexibility as they can cover greater distances in shorter time without the impediment of traversing difficult terrain like deserts and mountains. They would also be less vulnerable to anti-radiation missiles that static ground based systems.

Sources added that heliborne systems could also play an important role in counter-terrorist operations by pinpointing remote terrorist radio transmitting points or jamming their communication. They would also cut down the response time vis-à-vis vehicles. Electronic warfare suites are already retro-fitted in combat aircraft as well as helicopters and transports. Depending on the type of aircraft, some systems are for offensive operations while those for transports are primarily for self-defence.

The Army’s quest for electronic warfare systems assumes significance as its aviation corps is being expanded. Besides additional indigenous Dhruv ALHs, process is underway to acquire over 80 medium utility helicopters for the force.

 

[marcos98]

New RFP Expected For Indian Wheeled Guns​

The Indian defense ministry is expected to reissue the request for proposals (RFP) for the third time for 140 wheeled guns within the next two weeks.

Retrials will be held for the same guns that participated in earlier rounds to evaluate performance in extreme hot and cold conditions in the harsh desert terrains of Rajasthan and Ladakh. Firing rate and command and control will be assessed.

Bidders being named include Kerametal of Slovakia, with its Zuzana gun, and Germany’s Rheinmetall RWG-52.

The latest development, however, comes amid ongoing confusion and allegations regarding so-called “blacklisting” of some contenders in the past (Aerospace DAILY, April 2). For instance, Singapore Technologies Kinetics was not invited to participate in the RFP after being named in a report related to an Ordnance Factories Board (OFB) scandal. But Rheinmetall, which was rejected on another tender for being involved in the same OFB report, was called to participate in trials for bi-modular charges in Pokhran, and now for the wheeled guns.

Rheinmetall recently denied any wrongdoing regarding the acquisition of defense contracts in India, saying it had broken no rules. A Rheinmetall spokesman says it has not received any notification as to the basis of the corruption allegations.

“With regard to future projects, as well, the company is eager to clear this matter up,” a Rheinmetall representative says.

Armed with 155-mm. ordnance, the 48-ton Rheinmetall Wheeled Gun (RWG)-52 is designed to be a mobile 6x6 artillery system for flexible fire-support operations. The vehicle has a maximum road speed of 80 kph. (50 mph.), and can reach speeds of up to 70 kph. when operating off-road. Its strategic range is 700 km. (435 mi.) and its tactical range is 300 km. A built-in tire pressure management system further enhances the vehicle’s off-road performance, according to a Rheinmetall spokesman.

Its autonomous turret is equipped with the L/52 Rheinmetall gun used in Germany’s PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzer in service with the armed forces of Germany, Italy, Greece and the Netherlands, the latter having deployed it in combat operations in Afghanistan.

While BAE Systems’ Archer does not fit the Indian army requirements for the wheeled gun bid, the company has submitted a response to the latest request for information for towed 155-mm. howitzers, following previous tenders that were canceled due to the inability of other potential suppliers to meet the requirements.

The company’s offer will be based on the FH77 B05 155-mm. howitzer, and a significant number will be manufactured in India to meet the specific needs of the Indian army.

BAE representative Guy Douglas told AVIATION WEEK earlier that the 155-mm. FH77B05 howitzer was the best choice for India since it has proven itself in previous trials. “It is the big sister of the FH77 B02 that performed well in the Kargil conflict, so its pedigree is unquestionable,” according to the company spokesman.

Meanwhile, BAE’s M777 ultra lightweight howitzer is now in the U.S. foreign military sales process for purchase by India.


note: Rheinmetall is one of blacklisted co.
this will further delay purchase..

 

[rajgoynar]

Chinese troops in ***: India concerned



New Delhi: Renewed tensions between India and China have been dominating diplomacy in Delhi. Anger over China's refusal of a visa to a top Indian Army General serving in Kashmir last week, gave way to concerns over a New York Times report which said, eleven thousand Chinese soldiers are present in Gilgit in the northern areas of Pakistan occupied Kashmir(***).

A permanent Chinese deployment in *** which is India's core area of interest has a potential to escalate the tension in the already fragile Sino-Indian relations.

China however, denied the story, saying the troops are there to help Pakistan with flood relief work.

"The story that China has deployed some military in the northern part of Pakistan is totally groundless and out of ulterior purposes some people are making fabrications to destroy relations between China, Pakistan and India. But their attempt will arrive nowhere," Chinese Foreign Office spokesman, Jiang Yu.


On Friday, India's ambassador to Beijing conveyed concerns over the report as well as over what Delhi is calling "a pattern" of Chinese activity in relation to Kashmir including the issuing of separate, stapled, paper visas to Kashmiris.

In the past, concerns were raised over reports of China helping build large infrastructure projects in ***. But the fresh tension is only making Beijing a party to the India-Pakistan dispute, something it had avoided for decades.

"For China to say they can't give visa to Indian General who is in command in the region and going to China for defence related talks, is a frontal challenge bilaterally to India's sovereignty in J&K , which is unacceptable," said Kanwal Sibal, Former Foreign Secretary.

The development in *** comes in the immediate aftermath of the controversy over Beijing refusing to welcome an Indian Army General since he is commanding troops in Jammu and Kashmir.

Furious with the Chinese argument, India has already put on hold military exchanges with the People's Liberation Army. But that may not be enough. South Block will have to look at a more nuanced but tougher response to the China's frequent attempts at needling India at regular intervals.


Chinese troops in Azad Kashmir: India concerned

 

[az.ay]

Two Generals cry foul after not being made Corps Commanders

Miffed at not being appointed as Corps Commanders, two serving Lieutenant Generals have approached the Armed Forces Tribunal against the Defence Ministry decision.Eastern Command's Chief of Staff Lt Gen J S Bajwa and Central Command Chief of Staff Lt Gen P G Kamath have filed petitions in the Tribunal against the Defence Ministry for promoting them from Maj Gen to Lt Gen in the 'Staff' stream and not in the higher 'Command' stream.As per an existing Army policy, officers of the rank of Maj Gen and above are allocated one of the two streams on the basis of their ACRs.Officers allocated the Command stream are eligible for leading both fighting formations and performing staff duties whereas the officers in the other branch are given only staff duties.In their pleas, the two officers contended that they were not promoted in the Command stream as the Ministry said the rules required the officers to have three-year residual service.They have also alleged that the Ministry had changed the policy to favour a number of other serving Corps Commanders, who were elevated in the Command stream despite they not having the minimum required residual service left with them.

IBN

 

[rajgoynar]

Be largehearted, Indian army chief to Sinhalese


COLOMBO: The visiting Indian army chief General Vijay Kumar Singh has asked the Sinhalese, the majority community in Sri Lanka, to be largehearted towards the minority Tamils and help them quickly re-build their war-shattered lives.

In an interview to The Sunday Island, Gen Singh said, “All Sri Lankans should move on by burying the bitterness and antagonism that existed all these years because of the civil war.” The Indian General said that during his five-day tour, he would not only strengthen bilateral defence cooperation but also “see how things are shaping up in the northern and eastern provinces.

Asked specifically what kind of defence cooperation he envisaged in the post-Eelam War scenario, Gen Singh said that it was for the political leaderships of the two countries to decide what it should be. Interestingly, Gen Singh was part of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) which was in Sri Lanka to implement the 1987 India-Sri Lanka Accord between July 1987 and March 1990.

On Monday, Gen Singh will place a wreath at the monument for the IPKF in Sri Jayawardenepura, adjacent to Parliament. The monument has names of the 1,165 Indian personnel killed in the operations, inscribed on it.

The Indian Army chief ’s five-member delegation includes Maj Gen Harminderjit Singh Sachdev, General Officer Commanding an Infantry Division. Gen Singh is scheduled to meet Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Prime Minister D M Jayaratne, Minister of External Affairs G L Peiris, Secretary of Defence Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Air Force, the Commander of the Army and Commander of the Navy, among others.

Gen Singh will visit the Security Forces Headquarters of the Wanni in Vavuniya and see Indian de-miners at work in Omanthai. In Trincomalee, he would see the Indian-run oil tanks and the Sri Lankan naval dockyard. He will then visit the Sri Lanka Military Academy (SLMA) at Diyatalawa.

In the final leg of his visit Gen Singh will address student officers at the Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC) in Sapugaskanda.


Be largehearted, Indian army chief to Sinhalese | VIjay Kumar Singh | | Indian Express

 

[rajgoynar]

Tribunal shoots down army Kargil appeal

New Delhi, Sept. 7: The brigadier has beaten his army for the second time.

The Armed Forces Tribunal today rejected an appeal by the Indian Army to review its order to rewrite the Kargil war history in the case of Brigadier Devinder Singh. The army will now have to set the record straight if it forgoes the option of approaching the Supreme Court.

Brigadier Singh commanded the 70 Infantry Brigade in the Batalik sector during the 1999 Kargil war. But his superiors, especially Lt Gen. Kishan Pal who was the 15 Corps commander — did not give him due credit in the After Action and Battle Performance Reports.

After 10 years of legal battle, Brigadier Singh, since retired, won an order in May this year in which the tribunal asked for the official account to be rewritten to acknowledge his role. But the army went for a cover-up, even conjuring up a fictitious brigade headquarters that was not shown to be under Singh’s command.

Singh was not asking for monetary or pecuniary benefits. He just wants his honour restored — even though he believed a gallantry medal and a promotion to the rank of major general were due to him.

The army sought a review of the tribunal’s order that questions the quality of generalship in the war and the distortion of the records in the official history called “Op Vijay: Account of the War in Kargil”.

Singh declined to comment on today’s order, wanting to wait for the official papers to be processed. An army source said: “The order has just been passed today. We have to study it to examine if further action can or needs to be taken.”

The army can appeal through a special leave petition to the Supreme Court against the order.

As if the unprecedented judgment in May was not enough, the tribunal was today categorical in its rejection of the army’s review petition. Its chairperson, Justice A.K. Mathur, said the army should be “thankful” that the tribunal had not asked for action to be taken that could be “worse” for Lt Gen. Pal. The entire Kargil War was in Lt Gen. Pal’s area of responsibility. He was at the time the general officer commanding the 15 Corps.

With the rejection of the review petition, the army will now have to expunge sections from Singh’s Annual Confidential Report and rewrite the official accounts in a manner that ensures him the credit that is his due.

Batalik was one of the toughest sectors in the war. Brigadier Singh led from the front, sustaining injuries himself, to evict Pakistan-backed intruders who had crossed the Line of Control and occupied crucial heights in Indian territory.

Brigadier Singh had also forecast a pattern of enemy intrusions during a war game in Srinagar before the war actually broke out in right earnest in May-June 1999.

He went to Delhi High Court in 2006 after appealing within the army for the corrections to be made. He had complained that his superior officers, notably Lt Gen. Pal, were biased in writing his reports.

After the tribunal was set up in 2008 the case was transferred to it. The tribunal found Brigadier Singh’s complaints justified. The brigadier now works for an aviation company.

The case of Brigadier Singh threatens to open a can of worms. There are at least three other officers who served in the Kargil war who have challenged the official account of the army on their roles and responsibilities.

Among the most sensitive of the cases is that of Brigadier (also retired) Surinder Singh, who was the commanding officer in charge of the 121 Kargil brigade. He was dismissed for having allegedly failed to patrol the LoC in his sector and not having detected the intrusions. Brigadier Surinder Singh has complained that he was made a scapegoat for the failure of his superior officers and he was in fact among the first to alert the higher command to the possibility of intrusions.

Eleven years after the war, the way it was fought, the lapses that allowed the intrusions into Indian territory and the role of its generals — the chief at that time was General V.P. Malik — are still hotly debated.

The war called Operation Vijay by the army and Operation Safed Sagar by the air force was treated as little more than sporadic fights at first.

Then defence minister George Fernandes predicted victory in 48 hours but the hostilities lasted 80 days and cost the lives of nearly 550 soldiers and young officers.



see link :-
The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) | Nation | Tribunal shoots down army Kargil appeal

 

[rajgoynar]

Australia wants Indian Army to assure CWG security



Australia's defence officials have sought assurances from the Indian Army about the security of Australian athletes during the Delhi Commonwealth Games next month. The chief of Australia's Defence Force Angus Houston met Indian Army chief General V K Singh last month and the issue of security at Commonwealth Games came up for discussion.

"The Chief of Defence Force and the Chief of Army discussed a wide range of issues during General Singh's visit," the Defence spokesman was quoted as saying by 'The Daily Telegraph'.

"During General Singh's visit the Chief of the Defence Force sought an assurance that the security for the Commonwealth Games would be effective. General Singh provided an overview of the security capability that would be in place for the Games and gave an assurance that appropriate actions were being taken to counter the risk," he added.

Apart from Houston, Australia's Chief of Army Ken Gillespie, and secretary of the Defence Department Ian Watt, also met General Singh in Canberra.

"There were no discussions between the Chief of Defence Force and the Chief of Army with General Singh that linked our contribution in Afghanistan with the Commonwealth Games," the spokesperson said.

The Games, scheduled from October 3 to 14, have been marred by construction delays and corruption allegations. There were security concerns as well but they have gone down considerably in the past few months.


Australian officials seek Army's assurance on CWG - Hindustan Times