An Eye on China

 Union Minister Kiren Rijiju today dedicated to the nation the Pasighat advanced landing ground (ALG) in Arunachal Pradesh which will allow fighter aircraft like Su 30 MKI to land and take off, and provide a major fillip to India's military capabilities along its border with China.

Terming it a red letter day in the history of the state, Rijiju said with the formal inauguration of the ALG that is capable of operating all types of aircraft and helicopters after Tezpur and Chabua, development process has started in the state which was lagging behind even after 70 years of independence.

Air Marshal C Hari Kumar, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Air Command, who was present on the occasion said, "The ALG would enhance air support capability for the Army, paramilitary forces and the civil administration and would facilitate air connectivity for the people of Arunachal Pradesh with the rest of the country."

Pasighat ALG is a strategic asset and would be one of the operating bases under the Eastern Air Command capable of operating all types of aircraft and helicopters, Easterm Air Command spokesperson said. Activation of this ALG would not only improve the response time for various operational situations but also the efficacy of the air operations in the eastern frontier.

The Union Minister of State for Home said, "The Northeast region abundant with rich natural resources is lagging behind in terms of development due to various reasons and the NDA government at the Centre is committed for its development on par with other parts of the country."

"The Northeast, a jewel in the country's crown was known to the rest of the country only after the 1962 Chinese aggression," he said.

Rijiju added that the commitment of the Centre was proved after Prime Minister Narendra Modi directed all the ministers to personally visit the region along with departmental officers to oversee the requirements.

Kashmir-To do or Die-Voice of CRPF

Caught between Locals and Pseudo secularist,hear the helpless voice of Indian Jawan.
Article extracted From TOI images from Google Images

More fatalities if pellet guns are banned, CRPF tells Jammu and Kashmir high court

The CRPF has informed Jammu and Kashmir high court that if pellet guns are banned as a crowd control measure, its personnel will be forced to fire bullets in extreme situations, which can cause more fatalities.

"In case, this (pellet gun) is withdrawn from the options available with the CRPF, CRPF personnel would have no recourse in extreme situations but to open fire with rifles, which may cause more fatalities," the CRPF said in an affidavit submitted to the high court on Wednesday.

The paramilitary force submitted the affidavit in response to a PIL filed before the court, seeking ban on use of pellet guns as a means for crowd control mechanism in the valley, which has been rocked by violent protests since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces on July 8.

The force said pellet guns were introduced in 2010 and were an accepted weapon of riot control. It said that following the standard operating procedures while dealing with a dynamic law and order problem is difficult in case of moving, bending and running target.The SOP regarding use of firearms for crowd control in extreme situations requires that the weapon be aimed below the waist.

"But the situation prevailing on the streets during an ongoing law and order incident is dynamic and mobile.

"In such a situation, sometimes it is difficult to go in for precise aimed fire at a moving, bending and running target," it said.

The CRPF said it has fired around 3,500 pellet cartridges from July 9 to August 11 during violence by protesters in the valley.

The PIL was filed by Kashmir High Court Bar Association on July 30

With comments on Balochistan, PM signals no more unnecessary restraint on Kashmir

Prime Minister Narendra Modi by referring to Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) and Balochistan+ in his Independence Day speech has sought to rid India of its almost ingrained diffidence in dealing with the‎ Kashmir issue. While it may or may not signify a fundamental shift in India's Pakistan policy, his decision to raise the stakes on Kashmir by highlighting Pakistan's own failings in G-B and Balochistan is going down well with India's strategic community.
PM Modi's comments about goodwill for India‎ in Balochistan+ and G-B, which were not backed by any substantive outreach to Kashmir though, followed a slew of provocative remarks from Pakistan, not least the one by its high commissioner Abdul Basit dedicating Pakistan's Independence Day to freedom of Kashmiris. Of particular significance is PM's reference to Balochistan+ as India is now effectively speaking Pakistan's language in suggesting at least moral and political support for Baloch separatists+ .
‎While former foreign secretary Kanwal Sibal said PM Modi deserved applause for responding directly to unrestrained comments on the Kashmir crisis by his counterpart Nawaz Sharif himself, India's former envoy to Pakistan G Parthasarathy described Modi's remarks as a long overdue and more realistic approach to Pakistan.

"India has been more restrained than necessary so far despite Pakistan constantly carrying out a propaganda on Kashmir, saying it is the legacy of Partition. If that's the case, Balochistan also is a legacy of Partition+ ," said Parthasarathy, recalling how Jinnah had recognised‎ Balochistan's independent status before Pakistan obtained its accession.

In the immediate run though, what Modi's Balochistan and G-B offensive+ means for his famous Lahore ‎initiative, which saw him dropping by in Sharif's home town ostensibly for the marriage of Sharif's daughter last year, will be of immense interest. The government has until now highlighted Modi's personal bond with Sharif and sought to make a distinction between the civilian government and the Pakistan army in dealing with issues related to crossborder terrorism. Even though Saarc is not just about India and Pakistan, many saw the decision to send Union home minister to Islamabad recently for a conference of the South Asian body as an attempt to keep Modi's Lahore outreach alive.

In his speech though, while PM Modi referred‎ to his decision to invite Sharif for his swearing-in in 2014, he made no mention of his Lahore visit. "PM is implicitly admitting that his efforts have not succeeded and that a tougher public line is required," said Sibal.

While the decision to send Rajnath Singh to Pakistan was also seen as an attempt by the government to keep a door open for Modi's own possible visit to‎ Islamabad in November for the Saarc summit. Sibal, however, said Modi will have to carefully weigh his options.

"PM will be faced with a very difficult choice unless there is a significant change of attitude ‎in Pakistan, which I suspect won't happen? Can he bury his Saarc initiative? Saarc may not be about India and Pakistan alone, but if he goes the visit will come under excessive focus and there'll be hopes of a breakthrough," he said.The reference to G-B though in the I-Day speech, as Sibal pointed out, is also important‎ in the context of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). With China refusing to halt its activities in the region, despite Modi himself having expressed concerns before Chinese leaders on several occasions, the government believes PM has also indicated to Beijing how strongly India feels about China's infrastructure projects, both civil and military, coming up in a region India considers its integral part.

Pakistan has in the recent past worked to impart G-B a semblance of self-governance and held elections there in 2015. Indian government, however, described the elections as an attempt to "camouflage its forcible and illegal occupation" of the regions which are an integral part of India.