Amid border row with China, Indian, French Rafales to carry out SKYROS wargames in Jodhpur

In a major development amid the ongoing border conflict with China, Rafale fighter jets of India and France will carry out wargames codenamed Exercise SKYROS in Jodhpur in the third week of January next year. "The French Air Force Rafale fighters would be coming to Jodhpur for the SKYROS wargames which would see them flying with Indian Rafales from the 17 Squadron and the Su-30MKI fighters deployed there," government sources told ANI. This would be the first major wargame of the Indian Air Force (IAF) involving the Rafale fighters which were inducted into the service in August 2020 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government. The wargames being conducted are different from the routine Garuda series exercises that the two sides have been carrying out for more than a decade now and would see some complex manoeuvres being carried out by the fighters of both sides, the sources said. India had last carried out a major exercise with the French Air Force in July 2019 where the Indian Sukhois had flown with the French Rafales. The IAF is also planning to use Rafales and Su-30s in integrated mode and a lot of steps have already been taken in this direction by the service. The Rafales and the Su-30s have been deployed in tandem by the IAF in eastern Ladakh against the Chinese Air Force which has been flying regularly from bases close to India. France has been helping India to arm its Air Force as India is getting 36 of Rafale fighters from there as part of a Rs 60,000 crore deal. The last aircraft under the deal is likely to be received by the end of 2022. India and China are engaged in a conflict over territorial issues and aggression by the Chinese People's Liberation Army in Ladakh. More than 50,000 troops have been deployed by India in reaction to the Chinese deployment there.///Economictimes///.

Turkey-Pakistan nexus acting against India to help Islamabad take upper hand on Kashmir

With Turkey President projecting himself the tallest leader, rather, ‘Caliph’ of the Muslim Ummah by championing the cause of Islamic nations, Turkey has become the breeding ground for anti-India activities. A new Turkey-Pakistan nexus has emerged in the recent past, leading to a complex network of academia, media, and NGOs working to propagate anti-India propaganda. Turkey has become a backdoor and safe haven for anti-India elements to work on Pakistan's behest as well as the converging point for anti-India actors and Pakistani agencies. Turkish media platforms are carrying out anti-India propaganda at both the levels - at the level of content as well as infrastructure. The content of Turkish media houses has remained highly critical of the Indian government. Turkish Radio and Television (TRT) and Anadolu Agency have been at the forefront, leading the anti-India narrative. The two news organisations have come up with a barrage of news reports on issues like so-called atrocities on Kashmiris and Muslims and CAA-NRC. Besides broadcast news and news agencies, the Turkish print media is equally indulged in similar activities. Turkish newspaper Yeni Safak on 26" December 2019 published an article titled ‘Gujarat Killer’, attacking PM Narendra Modi and terming CAA as anti-Muslim legislation. Turkey has not restricted itself to such propaganda within its territory, rather, it has also successfully penetrated the Indian society. Popular Turkish serials like Ertugrul and Baba are circulated widely in the Kashmir Valley, provoking the Kashmiris to wage a war against India for freedom. These serials depict the victory of a small 2000 strong Turkish tribe against the invaders. Transcending the Kashmir Valley, videos of these serials have reached inside the digital gadgets across India, further provoking pro-Muslim sentiments to fight India. The Turkish media infrastructure is also acting as a platform to bring together pro-Pakistani and anti-India elements together by adopting and employing them within Turkish media houses. "A journalist from Jammu and Kashmir, now working in Anadolu Agency, earlier worked with many Indian news organisations and closely connected to Pakistani agencies, working at their directions and is actively indulged in anti-India activities in Turkey. He is in contact with Pakistani ISI and planning to launch a website dedicated to anti- India content to further the narratives of ‘saffronisation’ and ‘fascism’ by India.ISI is directly funding the website, which is in the final stage of launching. Observers from the Western countries are the target audience of the website. However, they plan to build a network in India as well. The website might contain a range of content including blogs, infographics, reviews, research papers, primary resources, etc. Based on the modus operandi of similar platforms, the website might be launched as a part of any Turkey-based organisation - to add legitimacy to it." a source aware of this development said Zee News. Similarly, Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s grand-daughter Ruwa Shah hosts a weekly talk show in English titled ‘The Ruwa Shah Show’ on TRT. The show is promoting the anti-India stance on Kashmir. In like of the above, Ahmed Bin Qasim, son of Muhammad Qasim Faktoo and Dukhteran-e-Millat leader Asiya Andrabi is one of the key contributors to the TRT with an anti-India stance. " It has also been found that journalists from Turkish media organisations have been able to visit India under the veil of tourist visa to carry out reporting/information gathering from India. India based of these media organisations has been facilitating their visas for India under tourist visa category. Several Pakistani media platforms are also working under the guise of being sub-sets of Turkish media organisations. There are credible pieces of evidence to establish the fact that Pakistani agencies are actively launching several platforms dedicated to producing anti-India content as affiliates/parts of Turkish media organisations/NGOs." a senior security officer told Zee News. Besides the media, Turkey has also been indulged in promoting and accelerating anti-India activities through educational institutions — in Turkey as well as within India. Turkey has been providing lucrative scholarships and Tunning exchange programs for Indian Kashmiri and Muslim students to study in Turkey through state-sponsored NGOs. Once the students land in Turkey, they are approached and taken over by the Pakistani proxies operating there. Thus, pushing together anti-India agenda. "The list of organisations providing scholarships to Indian students is long and includes Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), Presidency of Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB), Yunnus Emre Institute (YE), Turkey's Diyanet Foundation (TDV), Turkish Airlines, Anadolu Agency, and Turkey Youth Foundation (TUGVA). Most of these organisations have direct connections with the Turkish Government and President Erdogan. The TYB directly runs under the patronage of President Erdogan’s son Bilal Erdogan. The organisation never takes the Government of India in the loop of the selection process of students. Once students land in Turkey, they remain out of the radar of the Indian Embassy in Turkey. Similarly, the TUGYS also functions under Bilal Erdogan’s patronage and has made strong inroads within India by establishing connections with Islamic outfits in India." said another source. Indian security agencies are not ruling out the involvement of the Turkish Embassy in New Delhi and consulates in Hyderabad and Mumbai. Turkish Embassy also maintains a close connection with the students returning to India after the conclusion of their studies in Turkey and engages them in its activities. The returned students also act as facilitators for the scholarship programmes as propagators of pro-Turkish agenda. Indian institutions like Jamia Millia Islamia, Jawaharlal Nehru University, and Maulana Azad National Urdu University run courses in Turkish language and have become centres of activities of the Turkish Embassy. The most important fact is to note that the students under Turkish scholarship programmes are made to engage in the anti-India campaigns. It has been discovered that a couple of Kashmiri students associated with Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University (IZU), under the scholarship of Pakistan government-sponsored organisation Institute of Dialogue, Development, & Diplomatic Studies (IDDS), have been participating in such campaigns. Many of these students have earlier worked for leading media houses in India. Besides Islamic and Kashmiri outfits, the Turkish Embassy has also been forging alliances with Indian NGOs to further its agenda. Indian ‘activists’ carrying out anti-India agenda are increasingly being sponsored and invited to Turkey. The meetings of these organisations with Turkish diplomats and leaders have been facilitated by Pakistani proxies at multiple instances. A number of these Turkey-based NGO's have also collaborated with and provided space to anti-India voices in the Indian academia and civil society. It is noteworthy that there is a significant Pakistani influence on some of these organisations and the others are run directly by Pakistani proxies. The TDF is a part of the religious directorate of Turkey, now deployed with Erdogan supporters, has been tasked to build Erdogan’s image as the tallest and disputed leader of the Muslim Ummah by championing the Islamic cause. The Diyanet has succeeded to made inroads amongst the Indian Muslims, seeking their support as well as provoking them to take on the Indian nation-state. Besides these coverts designs, Turkey has also resorted to few open and brazen anti-India moves. To magnify and converge the strength of anti-India elements, Turkey has been pro-actively issuing citizenship to Indian Kashmiris engaged in promoting pro-Pakistan narrative. The list of such individuals includes Baba Umar, Riaz-ul-Khaliq, Tasheen Nazar, besides others. Most of such individuals have been employed by either of the three sectors: Turkish state media, non-profit organisations, and educational institutions. Pakistan has been an age-old friend of Turkey and was one of the first countries to support Turkey in the foundation of an alternate organisation to the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC). The two countries have been working in tandem to overtly and covertly take on India, reflected by the recent statements of President Erdogan on Kashmir as well as the increasing anti-India activities in Turkey.///Zeenews.

Israel's sales pitch to India: Our artillery gun to support 'Make in India'

Highlighting how important Tel Aviv regards an Indian order for 1,580 artillery guns, worth about Rs 20,000 crore, Israel’s ministry of defence (MoD) has written to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, pushing the award of a contract to Elbit Systems – the Israeli firm that bid lowest in an Indian global tender for towed guns. Business Standard has reviewed the letter, which was signed last Tuesday by Brigadier General Yair Kulas, director of Sibat – the Israeli defence ministry agency in charge of defence exports. It expresses concern that no contract has been signed, even though Elbit Systems was declared the lowest bidder in March 2019 in the tender for 155 millimetre, 52 calibre guns. In July 2019, Elbit successfully concluded price negotiations with India’s MoD. “(W)e would kindly request your guidance regarding the status of the approval process and the anticipated/planned timeline for the conclusion of the approval process”, writes Sibat. As Business Standard earlier reported (December 10, Israeli firm Elbit offers to build 70% of artillery gun in India) Elbit priced its Autonomous Towed Howitzer Ordnance System (ATHOS) gun 40 per cent cheaper than the rival offering from French firm, Nexter. Elbit quoted €477 million for 400 fully-built ATHOS guns, while Nexter quoted €776 million, say Indian MoD sources. That puts the cost of each ATHOS gun at €1.2 million (~10.7 crore), significantly cheaper than the €1.94 million (~17.3 crore) price of each Nexter gun. However, Elbit’s main sales pitch is not low cost, but a high degree of indigenisation. The Indian tender requires the first 400 guns to be supplied fully built or in kits, with no indigenisation requirements. The remaining 1,180 guns are required to be built by the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), with at least 50 per cent indigenous content. On October 14, Elbit provided a written commitment that it would indigenise production to the extent of 70 per cent, including the first 400 guns. Sibat’s letter indicates that the Israeli government will not restrict technology transfer or impose controls that might prevent Elbit from meeting its indigenisation commitment. “On behalf of the Israeli Ministry of Defence, I would like to take this opportunity… to convey our strong support in Elbit Systems undertaking to contribute to the Make in India initiative”, the letter says. For meeting this tough 70 per cent indigenisation target, Elbit will take the unprecedented step of setting up two production lines in India. It will partner the Pune-based Kalyani Group and its flagship, Bharat Forge, for building the first 400 guns. After that, in accordance with the tender requirements, Elbit will transfer technology to the OFB to build the next 1,180 guns. When production shifts to the OFB, the Kalani Group line will not be idle. Elbit and the Kalyani Group will keep that line alive, building ATHOS guns for the global market. “According to our understanding, the project will quickly provide highly advanced capabilities to the Indian artillery forces, as well as create numerous new job opportunities and prospects for export to third countries”, wrote Sibat. According to Elbit, it will succeed in indigenising 70 per cent of the first 400 guns, having already taken “very decisive, firm and committed steps” to partner Indian companies. Elbit has a joint venture (JV) with Bharat Forge called BF Elbit Advanced Systems, and a JV with Alpha Design Technologies called Alpha ELSEC. It is also concluding a JV with Aditya Precitech Private Ltd, Hyderabad. The MoD initially preferred the Defence R&D Organisation’s 155 mm, 52 calibre Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS), over Elbit’s ATHOS gun. This became clear when the MoD embargoed the import of all 155 mm, 52-calibre towed guns from December 31, 2020. However, partly because of the ATHOS’ low price and also developmental roadblocks, the MoD changed its mind in favour of the ATHOS. As Business Standard reported (November 30, Artillery import embargo put off, doors open for ~23,700 cr Israeli guns) the MoD reversed course on August 21 and permitted imports for another year, till December 31, 2021. The question mark that still hangs over the signing of a contract with Elbit Systems is the reduced availability of funds. Given the Covid-19 related economic slowdown, strict spending controls have been imposed on the defence capital budget, leaving little for anything other than “committed liabilities”, or annual instalments on large contracts concluded in earlier years.///( Business Standard)

China has deployed radars, surface-to-air missiles & surface-to-surface missiles at LAC: IAF chief

As India-China standoff continues along the Line of Actual Control(LAC), Indian Air Force chief RKS Bhadauria said today that China has deployed heavily along the border in eastern Ladakh to support the army. "They have a large presence of radars, surface-to-air missiles and surface-to-surface missiles," Bhadauria said, adding,"Their deployment has been strong. We have taken all actions required to be taken." Tensions between the two countries have been at boiling point for over six months after Indian and Chinese troops clashed at Galwan Valley on June 15-16 in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed, although the PLA lost soldiers as well but the Chinese foreign ministry has refused to divulge the casualty list. "Any serious India-China conflict isn't good for China at the global front. If Chinese aspirations are global then it doesn't suit their grand plan," the Indian Air Force chief added. "What could be possible Chinese objectives for their action in north?...it's important that we recognise what they have really achieved," the Indian Air chief said. IAF chief Bhadauria said the "low-cost and easy availability of simple disruptive technologies such as drones" by small state and non-state actors had them more "lethal, agile and capable of generating disproportionate effects". "The evolving uncertainties and instability at the global geopolitical front have provided China with an opportunity to demonstrate its growing power," the Indian air chief said, however, he added that it "indirectly" brought to fore the "inadequate contribution of major powers to global security". Indian and Chinese commanders have conducted several round of talks to ease tensions, however, several thousand Chinese troops continue to be deployed at the border leading India to station more troops to prevent any Chinese misadventure which had earlier taken place in Galwan. Amid the ongoing border row, reports said India will conduct war games with the French Air Force with its newly bought Rafale fighter jets and SU-30 MKI fighters at Jodhpur. The IAF had last carried out an exercise with the French Air Force in July last year. India had reached an agreement with France over the supply of 36 Rafale jets with the last consignment set to reach India by end 2022.///(WION)

Pakistani drone drops 11 grenades near border in Punjab’s Gurdaspur

Punjab Police seized 11 hand grenades, suspected to have been airdropped by a drone flying in from Pakistan, from a sugarcane field near the international border in Gurdaspur district of Punjab. Sources said police had rounded up two suspects but later released them since no evidence was found on them. Gurdaspur SSP Rajinder Singh Sohal said the grenades were found about half-a-kilometer inside Indian territory, at Salach village near Dorangala town. BSF personnel noticed a drone near the Chakri outpost at 11.30pm on December 19 and opened fire, forcing it to fly back, he said. Soon after, the police launched a search operation in Salach, Chakri and Miani villages. On Sunday evening, 11 Arges Type HG 84 series hand grenades, of Austrian make, were found in a box, attached to a wooden frame with a nylon rope, the SSP added.Punjab Police DGP, Dinkar Gupta said a case has been registered under various sections of the Explosive Substances Act at Dorangla police station and investigations are on. The security agencies are trying to trace persons who were tasked to retrieve the consignment of explosives. \\\(timesofindia)

Army to test indigenous artillery system with 48-km strike range

The Army will soon begin testing an indigenously-developed artillery system, which the DRDO contends is the best in its class in the world with a record-breaking strike range of 48-km. If the big gun passes muster, it can fulfill the Army’s requirement for 1,580 such guns worth over Rs 25,000 crore. The 155mm/52 caliber advanced towed artillery gun system (ATAGS) is set to undergo “winter user trials” by the Army in Sikkim in January-February, which will be followed by the “mobility trials” and then the “summer trials” in May-June. With the development of ATAGS, which has Bharat Forge (Kalyani Group) and Tata Advanced Systems as the production partners, DRDO officials contend the Army has no need to import such guns from Israel or other countries. But the Army says the indigenous guns will have to first prove their worth in the forthcoming user trials. The force has a parallel project stuck in the final stages to procure 400 Athos towed gun systems for Rs 5,147 crore from Israeli firm Elbit Systems, which was originally supposed to be followed by the domestic production of another 1,180 guns in collaboration with the Ordnance Factory Board. The Israeli gun had emerged as L-1 (lowest bidder) a year ago to beat the French one from Nexter Systems after trials. “Our procurement case for towed artillery guns has been hanging fire since 2010,” said an Army officer. Amidst this wrangling, the user-trials of the indigenous ATAGS also got somewhat delayed after the barrel of one of the guns burst during test-firing at the Pokhran field firing range in Rajasthan, which injured four personnel, in September. “It was most probably due to defective ammunition. There was no issue with the barrel. Over 2,000 rounds have already been successfully test-fired from the ATAGS during high-altitude trials in Sikkim and then in Pokhran,” a senior DRDO official said. “Further tests are currently underway at the Proof and Experimental Establishment range at Balasore. Why should the Army import such guns if a much better indigenous option with a longer 48-km range is available? Other contemporary guns have a 40 to 45-km range,” he added. The ATAGS has “excellent accuracy, consistency, mobility, reliability and automation”, and can fire five-round bursts as compared to three-round bursts by other foreign contemporary guns. “ATAGS is also configured with an `all-electric drive technology’ for the first time in the world, which will ensure maintenance free and reliable operation over longer periods of time,” said another official. But the Army contends DRDO often “over-promises and under-delivers”. The force has also had to contend with recurring scandals in artillery procurement projects, from the Swedish Bofors in the mid-1980s to the South African Denel in 2005 and Singapore Technology Kinetics in 2009. It was only in 2018 that the Army finally managed to exorcise the Bofors ghost by beginning to induct 145 US-origin M-777 ultra-light howitzers (155m/39-calibre) and 100 South Korean-origin K-9 Vajra tracked self-propelled guns (155mm/52-calibre). ///(Timesofindia)

Vladimir Putin may visit India in first half of 2021, says Russian envoy

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was earlier scheduled to visit India in late 2020, may visit the country during the first six months of the next year, said Russia's ambassador to India, Nikolay Kudashev, on Monday. "It became more difficult to maintain contacts due to the pandemic. It has affected the frequency of face-to-face meetings, but the Russian-Indian political and economic dialogue has not become less intense. Summits are the highest point of the dialogue. The summit was due to be held in October. There have been large-scale preparations, but it has been decided by mutual agreement to postpone the meeting until the next year. When will the meeting take place? The sooner the better. I hope we will receive the Russian president in India in the first half of the coming year," Sputnik quoted Kudashev as saying. Kudashev further said that the bilateral commission for military cooperation between the two nations could be convened during early 2021. According to Sputnik, the Russian envoy also informed that a free trade deal may be signed next year between India and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), which comprises of countries like Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia. "If we talk about which documents and agreements were decisive for the trade and economic agenda and which agreements and documents need to be formalized next year, then I would probably mention the following -- well, first of all, there is an interesting agreement on formalizing a deal on a free trade zone between India and the EAEU ... Several rounds of technical negotiations took place," said the ambassador. Kudashev also said that Moscow and New Delhi may sign several bilateral agreements in 2021 that includes a deal on protecting and promoting investment, while adding that the two countries also plan to update the current deal on avoiding double taxation. ///(Economictimes)

ITBP to induct 10,000 personnel amid India-China standoff

With no end to the India-China standoff along the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh insight, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) is preparing to raise seven new battalions comprising 10,000 soldiers, bringing up the strength of nearly 90,000 troops to around 1 lakh. While the Union home ministry has already given the go-ahead for this, the cabinet nod is still awaited. Sources in the security grid have told India Today TV that close to 10,000 new personnel will be inducted in the ITBP to guard the sensitive northern borders. The ITBP is deployed over India and China boundary that stretches over 3,488 km from the Karakoram in Ladakh to Jachep La in Arunachal Pradesh. Induction of more troops will only mean further fortification of borders. An officer privy to this development said, "With the LAC becoming the new LoC, the need of the hour is to fortify further for long standoffs with the Chinese. The move comes amid news of fresh intrusions into India in the Chanthang area of Ladakh. A video of locals protesting against the Chinese troops went viral on Sunday. The video shows locals prevailing over the Chinese, forcing them to move back. The incident took place in the Doletango area. The intelligence officials confirm the area has seen such instances in the past as well. The Rebo Nomads of around 20 had set up 8-10 tents; it is suspected that Chinese PLA came dressed as civilians. Barring 2019, when Nomads did not put up their tents, such incidents have been a regular occurrence. But India is preparing for the long haul. Analysts say, with Chinese forces being beefed up on the other side of the LAC, India cannot afford to lower guard and the addition of troops is to plug the gaps. The real challenge for the forces guarding the LAC will be to prevent any Chinese incursions after the winter gets over and snow melts. The preparations for such a scenario are underway. However, an officer from the force said even after the clearance, ITBP would take at least a year to induct force personnel. This will require budget allocation, and constables recruited through Staff Selection Commission require a 44-46 week training period. ///(IndiaToday)

Rafale’s deep-strike cruise missile gets an upgrade for targets in mountains

Faced with the prospect of an adversary on both western and eastern fronts, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has got the French manufacturer to re-calibrate the software of Rafale fighter jet’s SCALP long-range air-launched cruise missile to ensure that the subsonic weapon hits targets up to 4,000 metres above sea level. The subsonic missile with a range in excess of 300 kilometres and a 450-kilogramme warhead is part of the weapon suite on Rafale Omni-role fighter of the IAF. In simple terms, it means that the IAF’s Rafale can demolish targets located in mountains and high plateaus at 4,000 metres instead of the previous calibration of 2,000 metres. The tweaking of the software has been done by the missile manufacturer MBDA in consultation with the top brass of IAF. While the next batch of three Rafale fighters are expected to arrive after 2021 Republic Day, there are plans that the aircraft will be refuelled mid-air by India’s close ally UAE air force using Airbus 330 multi-role transport tankers as they fly towards Ambala air base. As of now, seven Rafales are being used for training IAF pilots in France. The complete fleet of 36 aircraft is scheduled to reach India by the end of 2021. One squadron of this potent fighter will be based at Ambala, the other at Hasimara airbase, which is perched on the Siliguri corridor.Rafale carries a beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile Meteor with a range of more than 100 kilometres, the potent SCALP or storm shadow cruise missile and the Hammer precision-guided ammunition. The SCALP missile is used to target command, control, communications, air bases, ports, power stations, ammunition storage depots, surface ships, submarines and other strategic high-value targets. Although both China and Pakistan have developed air-launched cruise missiles, the SCALP is a unique weapon that has a fire-and-forget mechanism. Once launched from the fighter, the cruise missile drops to a terrain-hugging role between 100 to 130 feet from the ground to avoid detection by the enemy radars and jamming systems. Before approaching the target, the missile again goes up to a maximum height of 6,000 metres and then drops perpendicularly on the high-value target. The primary charge first penetrates the target, the secondary charge then blows it to smithereens. With IAF having to defend on both the fronts and mountainous terrain on either side, airpower will have a very significant role to play in the worst-case scenario. The infantry, apart from the airborne special forces, will be used to defend both the Line of Control (LoC) and the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The SCALP’s range will be crucial to degrade enemy’s fight power.\\\(Hintustantimes)

China’s new road cuts travel time to Karakoram Pass, raises red flags in Delhi

Satellite imagery and communication intercepts along the 3,488 kilometre Line of Actual Control (LAC) shows that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is undertaking a significant road and building infrastructure upgrade across Karakoram Pass and Aksai Chin to ramp up military capacities and capability against India. It is quite evident from the surveillance data available to conclude that despite Beijing’s verbal commitments of mutual military disengagement and de-escalation from friction point on Ladakh LAC, the PLA has no intentions of troop or equipment withdrawal from the area. While the government is tight-lipped about the developments, the number of military vehicles and troop hutments have increased along the 597-km Ladakh LAC with a number of fresh dug-outs indicating that the PLA is prepared for a long haul with Indian Army.Indian officials said what was a matter of serious concern was that China has built an alternative 8-10 metre wide road to Karakoram Pass that would shorten the distance to the strategic gateway into Daulet Beg Oldi sector by two hours. “Nearly all the kutcha (unmetalled) roads have been surfaced in the Aksai Chin area with the axis being widened for bigger vehicles carrying heavy equipment,” said a senior military commander. The Chinese infra building activity has also increased in depth areas with a new logistics depot that will have an underground petroleum and oil storage facility coming up at Golmud. The new depot is nearly 1,000 km from the LAC but is linked to Lhasa via Tibet Railway. It will enhance the capacity and capability of the PLA to deploy in Tibetan border with India for a long time and feed the troops in case of a worst-case scenario. While there is continuous activity on Sikkim border, the new concern is the building of two new underground facilities at the Pang Ta air base across Arunachal Pradesh. The PLA uses underground tunnels inside mountains for housing aircraft rather than blast pens on the air bases. A similar tunnel park has been noticed at Lhasa Gonggar air base with an increase in the number of military aircraft. The 1962 Xinjiang military command town of Kangxiwar across Karakoram Pass and on the banks of Karakash River is being revived with a direct highway connectivity to Hotan, a critical air base of PLA Air Force for dominating the restive Uighurs and a launch pad of fighter operations in case of a worst case scenario in East Ladakh. Hotan is located 320 kilometres from the Ladakh LAC.\\\(Hintustantimes)

Delhi Police To Quiz 30 Tibetans For Allegedly Promoting Anti-India Act For China: Sources

It has been around ten months since the Delhi riots took place but the Special Cell of the Delhi Police and other security agencies are still probing the foreign link in the matter. The probe agencies have found a link that China was also somehow involved in the matter through its alleged agent Charlie Peng. 'They have links with the Chinese spy': Sources The Special Cell of the Delhi Police believes that Peng pumped money into the anti-social activities through Tibet nationals. Top sources have confirmed that the Special Cell has made a list of 30 Tibetans among others who will be called to join the investigation."We will call them to join the investigation. They have links with Charlie Peng, the Chinese spy," a highly placed source said. As per sources, the Chinese spy gave them money through different routes and this money was immediately withdrawn by them. Special Cell is probing whether this money was used in Delhi Riots or not. The sources said that the money was given to these Tibetans through shell companies. A source said that as the money was immediately withdrawn by these people, it raises questions. The Special Cell believes that this money was withdrawn and given to the people who might have been involved in Delhi riots or in anti-social activities. If sources are to be believed, the Delhi Police Commissioner also spoke to top officials of Special Cell and Crime Branch regarding this matter as it pertains to national security. Now, the Special Cell has been asked by top brass to look into this criminal conspiracy matter and to make arrests. The Special Cell is also mulling to lodge several fresh FIRs over the matter. Republic Media Network tried to get a quote from top officials of the Special Cell but no one was available.\\\(Republic world)

CAATSA designed not to take punitive action against friends, allies: US diplomat

A tough US law which authorises the administration to impose sanctions on countries that purchase major defence hardware from Russia is not aimed at taking punitive actions against friends and allies, a senior American diplomat has said. Assistant Secretary of State for Political Military Affairs R Clark Cooper's remarks on Thursday came after the US on Monday imposed sanctions under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act or CAATSA on its NATO ally, Turkey, for procuring Russia's advanced S-400 missile defence system. The US law known as CAATSA is aimed at pushing back on Russian influence. It primarily deals with sanctions on Russian interests such as its oil and gas industry, defence and security sectors, and financial institutions, following Moscow's military intervention in Ukraine in 2014 and its alleged meddling in the 2016 US presidential election."The CAATSA sanctions are not designed to be punitive to a partner and ally that has got a sustainment issue or an operation or maintenance issue. We're certainly not looking to disrupt that. Why? Well, we don't want a partner's sovereign defence capabilities to be degraded to put their readiness at risk," Cooper told reporters during a conference call. He was responding to a question on the possibility of sanctions on India under CAATSA because of the purchase of S-400s from Russia. In October 2018, India signed a USD 5 billion deal with Russia to buy five units of the S-400 air defence missile systems, notwithstanding warning from the Trump administration that going ahead with the contract may invite US sanction. In view of the evolving security scenario in its neighbourhood, India recently requested Russia to explore the possibility of advancing the supply of the interceptor-based missile systems which can destroy incoming hostile aircraft, missiles and even drones at ranges of up to 400 km. Last year, India made the first tranche of payment of around USD 800 million to Russia for the S-400 missile systems. Cooper said CAATSA is designed to address new significant acquisitions, procurements of Russian systems that would put at risk anything that would be interoperable with US systems or NATO systems. "I would say that one thing, too, from an Indian perspective in particular, which is why I raised the legacy issue, CAATSA's not, again, designed to take punitive action in that space. It's to mitigate and prevent the significant addition of high-level, high-tech Russian systems," he asserted. Cooper said CAATSA sanctions are of a global nature. They are not limited to a particular state or region, and there is no timeline. "There had been questions posed to me and to other colleagues as to we thought sanctions weren't going to be issued to Turkey because nothing had been done in the last few months. That's to just remind that there's no clock (timeline) on the US government applying them, and there's also no blanket waiver either. I know some states have thought or sought that either Congress or the Executive Branch would apply a waiver on sanctions, and I just would offer that is definitely not the case," Cooper said. On sanctions on Turkey, he said, "This was for their knowingly engaging in transactions of a significant nature with Russia. This is particularly with the Rosoboronexport, Russian main arms export entity. This is for the procurement of the S-400. It's a surface-to-air missile system." The Defence Industry Presidency or SSB is a Turkish government procurement entity that purchases defence equipment and has the responsibilities for the defence industrial development of Turkey. This was the target of the CAATSA sanctions, Cooper said. "This was a very hard but necessary choice. And because Turkey has status not only as a bilateral ally with us but as a NATO member and an ally, the US undertook exhaustive efforts to engage diplomatically with the Turkish government at every level to provide an offramp from the S-400 acquisition," he said. NATO or the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation is an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 European and North American countries. Cooper said the US made it very clear to Turkey at the highest levels and on numerous occasions that its purchase and pursuit of the S-400 system would endanger the security of US military technology and personnel and provide substantial funds to Russia's defence sector. "This is to get even more granular about this, this is also in the frame of Russia's access to Turkish armed forces and defence industry. Nevertheless, Turkey did decide to move ahead with procurement and the testing of the S-400 system. And this decision resulted in both Turkey's suspension from the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter programme and now sanctions under CAATSA," he said. Turkey procured and tested the S-400 despite the availability of the alternative, Cooper said. That alternative was the NATO interoperable systems that are available, particularly the US-made Patriot battery system. "This was made available to meet Turkey's defence requirements. Further, this step should send a clear message globally: CAATSA is designed to impose costs on Russia in response to its malicious cyber activities, its unacceptable behaviour in Ukraine, and other malign activities worldwide," he said.///(Economictimes)