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Defence India News Woman

Pulwama martyr’s wife joins Indian Army

Major Dhoundiyal was married for just nine months before his demise. Thereafter Nikita Kaul made the inspiring decision to join the Indian Army leaving her corporate job…reports Asian Lite News.

It is greatly proud to hear this rise of this courageous lady, Nikita Kaul, the wife of Major Vibhuti Shankar Dhoundiyal, who sacrificed his life in the Pulwama attack in Jammu and Kashmir in 2019, has donned the olive green to continue the legacy of her husband.

On Saturday, Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Y.K. Joshi pipped the stars on her shoulders. She had passed out of the Officers Training Academy on May 26, this year. On Saturday she was formally commissioned into the Indian Army. She will be joining the force as Lieutenant.

Udhampur-based Defence PRO said in a tweet, “#MajVibhutiShankarDhoundiyal, made the Supreme Sacrifice at #Pulwama in 2019, was awarded SC (P). Today his wife @Nitikakaul dons #IndianArmy uniform; paying him a befitting tribute. A proud moment for her as Lt Gen Y K Joshi, #ArmyCdrNC himself pips the Stars on her shoulders!”.

In 2019, Major Dhoundiyal posted with 55 Rashtriya Rifles, sacrificed his life in the Pulwama attack. He was killed during a gun battle with Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorists just days after a car bomb attack in Pulwama killed 40 paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force personnel.

Major Dhoundiyal was married for just nine months before his demise. Thereafter Nikita Kaul made the inspiring decision to join the Indian Army leaving her corporate job.

Just six months after her husband’s death, Nikita filled the Short Service Commission (SSC) form. She cleared the exam and the Services Selection Board (SSB) interview as well. She went at Officers Training Academy (OTA) at Chennai for her training.

She left her corporate job to join the Indian Army and in 2020 she passed the Short Service Commission (SSC) examination and the Services Selection Board (SSB) interview.

Back then she had stated, “I took my own time to recover from the major loss and the decision to sit for the Short Service Commission examination happened gradually. Just filling the form in September last year was a big decision. But I had decided that I want to walk on a similar path like my husband.”

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-Top News Defence USA

Biden pitches mammoth $6 trillion budget

US President Joe Biden (Photo @POTUS - Twitter)

The budget for the year starting October 1 earmarked USD 715 billion for the Defense Department, including USD 5.09 billion to enact an initiative to bolster deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region facing China’s assertiveness, and plans to procure 85 F-35 fighter jets, reports Asian Lite News

The United States has proposed a USD six trillion budget for the coming fiscal year, which pitches massive investment plans to rebuild infrastructure and position the country to better compete with China.

America’s budget for the year starting October 1 earmarked USD 715 billion for the Defense Department, including USD 5.09 billion to enact an initiative to bolster deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region facing China’s assertiveness, and plans to procure 85 F-35 fighter jets.

“China poses the greatest long-term challenge to the United States,” the Pentagon said in its budget overview, adding that Beijing’s military modernisation activities in recent decades have “sought to erode the ability of US forces to project power in the region.”

budget
F-35 fighter jet

“If left unimpeded, this continued erosion could fundamentally challenge our ability to achieve US defense objectives and to defend the sovereignty of our allies,” Kyodo News quoted the Pentagon.

According to the news agency, the budget request for the Defense Department represented a 1.6 per cent rise over the fiscal 2021 enacted level.

The president’s budget request, which seeks USD 6.01 trillion in total outlays, reflected his USD 2.3 trillion infrastructure investment proposal and USD 1.8 trillion education and child care investment plan — the former spanning eight years and the latter 10 years.

“Together, these plans reinvest in the future of the American economy and American workers and would help the nation out-compete China and other countries around the world,” the White House said in a document explaining the budget request.

United States President Joe Biden

The Hill reported that President Joe Biden’s first budget during his tenure proposed a budget that would entrench deficits in excess of one trillion US Dollars for the next decade, pushing the nation’s debt burden to record highs.

The blueprint released by the White House ties together three major spending proposals already announced by Biden: the USD 2.3 trillion American Jobs Plan, the USD 1.8 trillion American Families Plan and USD 1.5 trillion in discretionary spending for fiscal 2022.

Combined with mandatory spending programs, the 2022 budget would spend six trillion US Dollars, about USD 300 billion more than current projections for the year, with much of the spending going toward education, health, Science research and infrastructure. (ANI)

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-Top News Asia News Defence

‘Don’t allow bases for US’: Taliban tells neighbouring nations

Sonny Leggett, the US military spokesman in Afghanistan, said that speculation the United States is seeking to set up military bases in Pakistan are “false”…reports Asian Lite News

Taliban on Wednesday warned neighbouring countries against allowing the United States to operate military bases on their soil, following media reports alleging that Pakistan had struck a deal with Washington.

Citing Radio Free Afghanistan, Afghan Online Press reported that the Taliban issued the warning in a statement amid speculation that the Pentagon is eying new bases in the region to use against the insurgents after the planned pull-out of all US forces from Afghanistan by September 11.

Sonny Leggett, the US military spokesman in Afghanistan, said that speculation the United States is seeking to set up military bases in Pakistan are “false”, reported Afghan Online Press.

Earlier, addressing the Pakistani Senate on Tuesday, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan “will never allow any American base on its soil.”

In its statement, the Taliban urged “neighbouring countries not to allow anyone to do so.” Though, Taliban did not name any country.

“If such a step is taken again, it will be a great and historic mistake and disgrace,” the insurgents said, adding that they would “not remain silent in the face of such heinous and provocative acts.”

The planned withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan after two decades has raised concerns over the fate of the government in Kabul in the face of continued violence by Taliban militants that control large swaths of the country.

On May 26, Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry said the army’s commando forces had released 62 people from a Taliban prison in the northern province of Baghlan, reported Afghan Online Press.

The captives, who included 26 civilians and 36 members of Afghan security forces, were released in an overnight operation in the Baghlan-e Markazi district, the ministry said, adding that four Taliban guards were killed during the operation.

The statement comes a day after officials said 41 people were released from a Taliban prison in the country’s western province of Herat.

Taliban has not commented on the operations in Baghlan and Herat yet, reported Afghan Online Press. (ANI)

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Asia News Defence

Pak Army concerned over cross-border firing along Afghan border

Pakistani Army chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa

This statement comes after Army Chief of Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa chaired a meeting with the country’s top army brass at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi….reports Asian Lite News

The Pakistan Army has expressed concern about the recent cross-border firing incidents along the Afghan Border area, the Pakistan military’s media wing said on Tuesday.

“Taking serious note of the recent cross border firing incidents from Afghanistan and regrouping of terrorist leadership/outfits across, forum expressed hope that Afghanistan soil will not be used against Pakistan,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a tweet.

This statement comes after Army Chief of Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa chaired a meeting with the country’s top army brass at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi.

“In light of emerging regional security situation, Pakistan has taken effective border control/management measures and the same is expected from Afghanistan to deny any space to spoilers of peace, forum reiterated,” ISPR added.

Last week, a Pakistani soldier was killed near the Afghan border in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province’s North Waziristan district. The ISPR had said Pakistan has consistently asked Afghanistan to ensure effective management and control on their side of the Pak-Afghan Border.

In another incident, four Pakistani soldiers were killed and six others injured in a terrorist attack, earlier this month, near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Balochistan.

According to a Pak media report, the majority of work on Pakistan’s side of the fence, on nearly 2,600 kilometers border with Afghanistan, has been completed.

ISPR had said the fence is being erected to stop terrorist activities and illegal activities including smuggling from Afghanistan. However, Kabul does not recognize the border, called the Durand line.

Meanwhile, Taliban militants have seized three districts over the past weeks amid increasing militancy and counter-militancy in Afghanistan, local media reported.

In its latest attempt to gain ground, the Taliban militants overrun Jalriz district in Wardak province and Dawlat Shah district in Laghman province.

The Taliban militants also captured Burka district in Baghlan province earlier this month in the wake of fierce fighting.

Security officials said that Afghan forces have made “tactical retreat” from the mentioned areas.

Addressing the media on Monday, spokesman for the Defence Ministry Rohullah Ahmadzai blamed the Taliban insurgents for using civilians as human shields and planting mines in the areas to slow down the security forces advance.

Justifying the “tactical retreat” as part of war strategy, Ahmadzai said that the security forces are capable enough to evict the militants from the areas, noting protecting civilians and cleaning mines take time. (with inputs from ANI)

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Defence India News

Subodh Jaiswal appointed CBI Director

Subodh Jaiswal

Jaiswal, who is currently the Director General of the Central Industrial Security Force, was considered the front runner for the post…reports Asian Lite News

IPS officer Subodh Kumar Jaiswal was on Tuesday named the new Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

In an order, the Department of Personnel and Training said: “The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has, based on the panel recommended by the Committee, approved the appointment of Subodh Kumar Jaiswal, IPS, (Maharashtra 1985) as Director, CBI for a period of two years from the date of assumption of the charge of the office or until further orders whichever is earlier.”

The appointment of Jaiswal comes a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi-header Committee comprising also of Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana and Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury discussed the names of the new CBI chiefs.

Jaiswal, who is currently the Director General of the Central Industrial Security Force, was considered the front runner for the post.

He also has served as Mahrashtra’s Director General of Police and has a stint in India’s external intelligence agency, R&AW.

The CBI had got an acting Director in the form of Praveen Sinha after the term of R.K. Shukla ended on February 3 this year.

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-Top News China Defence

Carrier Strike Group heads for Indo-Pacific with eye on China

The seven-month global deployment will extend through the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean and on to the Indo-Pacific, interacting with more than one-fifth of the world’s nations…reports Asian Lite News.

The UK’s carrier strike group, led by HMS Queen Elizabeth, has left for the Indo-Pacific region on a world tour that will last about seven months, carrying the strength of nine ships, 32 aircraft, and 3,700 personnel.

The dispatch of the ship, on Saturday on its maiden operational deployment, is a representation of the ‘Indo-Pacific tilt’ in the UK’s foreign policy. The carrier group is also believed to boost Britain’s involvement in the region and to deter China which is asserting its influence in Indo-Pacific, NHK world reported.

This follows the Boris Johnson government’s calls for increased focus on the region in a new policy paper on diplomacy and security for the coming 10 years which was released in March.

The seven-month global deployment will extend through the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean and on to the Indo-Pacific, interacting with more than one-fifth of the world’s nations.

Johnson was also among those to visit HMS Queen Elizabeth on Saturday ahead of her departure, joined on Friday by UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, First Sea Lord, Admiral Tony Radakin and Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston on the flight deck.


Prime Minister Boris Johnson-HMS Queen Elizabeth II Aircraft (Number 10 Flickr)

UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace had said: The UK’s Carrier Strike Group sets sail to write Britain’s name in the next chapter of history – a truly global Britain that steps forward to tackle the challenges of tomorrow, working hand-in-hand with our friends to defend our shared values and uphold the rules-based international order.”

In a projection of the UK’s global reach and influence, the carrier strike group will interact with over 40 nations during its 26,000-nautical-mile global tour, undertaking over 70 engagements, exercises and operations with allies and partners.


Prime Minister Boris Johnson-HMS Queen Elizabeth II Aircraft (Number 10 Flickr)

In the Indo-Pacific, the carrier strike group will visit India, Japan, South Korea and Singapore to strengthen Britain’s security relationships, reinforce political ties and support our UK exports and international trade agenda.

HMS Queen Elizabeth is the largest and most powerful surface vessel in the Royal Navy’s history. (ANI)

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Defence USA

Over 70 cops quit since Capitol storming in Jan

The US lawmakers passed a $1.9 billion emergency funding bill aimed to enhance the security of the Capitol on Thursday…reports Asian Lite News

More than 70 Capitol police officers have quit after the events of January 6, when a crowd of supporters of former US President Donald Trump stormed the US Capitol in Washington, D.C., in an attempt to interrupt the vote count, the Politico reported on Saturday, citing the police union.

According to the Capitol Police union chair Gus Papathanasiou, officers are “demoralized” and “looking for a way out” as they face longer working hours for an indefinite period of time and deal with the trauma caused by the recent attacks, the news outlet stated.

“What keeps me awake at night is not the challenge of hiring and training more police officers, but keeping the officers we have right now. We have many officers on the fence about whether to stay with this department,” Papathanasiou was cited as saying by the Politico.

On Thursday, the US lawmakers passed a $1.9 billion emergency funding bill aimed to enhance the security of the Capitol. It provides for overtime pay, hazard pay and retention bonuses, in addition to more equipment and better training for the police officers. However, this measure may not be enough to solve the issue amid the surge in violence, the union chair was quoted as saying by the Politico.

In early April, an unknown person approached the territory of the Capitol by car, shot down two police officers and then crashed into a fence. After that, he got out of the car and, allegedly, rushed at the police brandishing a knife. In response, the officers opened fire. The attacker and one of the wounded police officers died in the hospital.

On January 6, a crowd of supporters of then President Donald Trump ransacked the US Capitol and disrupted the work of Congress counting electoral votes to formalize Joe Biden’s victory. More than 140 people were reportedly injured in the storming, five people died of various causes.

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Asia News Defence

Pak-Taliban fight forces residents to live in caves

Pakistan army

Pakistan’s military has been fighting back against the terrorists linked to Pakistan Taliban…reports Asian Lite News

The ongoing fighting between the Pakistan government and the Taliban in northwest Pakistan has forced many residents to flee from their homes and some of them are living in caves to escape the violence.

“They live here not out of choice, but necessity in the mountains bordered with Afghanistan. Militants group are active, the caves provide a degree of safety, if not comfort,” said Jonathan Crane, reporting for DW News Agency.

“These caves were once empty, full of dust. We cleared them out after the security situation changed. The times when it was peaceful is not coming back. There was peace and freedom and everything was ok. There were no problems. Right now is a killing time,” said one of the cave-dwellers.

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Pakistan’s military has been fighting back against the terrorists linked to Pakistan Taliban. The offensive which began in 2014 forced many to flee their home and into poverty. For many, caves were only the options, reported DW News Agency.

“We have no source of income. Our fathers and grandfathers also lived this life. They used to live this way. We have to because we have nowhere else to live,” said a resident.

While reporting from these caves, Jonathan Crane came across a man who was sick and had no one to take care of him.

“I have a burning sensation in my hands and feet. It’s itching, I can’t touch them,” said the sick man.

The caves contain a mosque, allowing the locals to worship. These caves and mosques are 3-5 centuries old.

“This place is known as Randapal and this is called the Randapal mosque,” said the Maulvi of the mosque. (ANI)

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-Top News Defence India News

Armed forces spearhead India’s Covid battle

At a time when millions have been literally gasping for breath, the armed forces have fanned out far beyond India’s borders on a HADR mission that has no precedence, reports Ateet Sharma

The Indian armed forces earned international accolades when they reached to people in distress from Indonesia to Sri Lanka during the infamous Asian Tsunami of 2004.

As an undersea earthquake triggered mammoth waves that devastated long stretches of the Indian Ocean coastline, Indian warships rose to the occasion providing HADR to people well beyond India’s maritime borders.

But the second wave of Covid-19 have by a wide margin, dwarfed the HADR demands of the Asian Tsunami. At a time when millions have been literally gasping for breath, the armed forces have fanned out far beyond India’s borders on a HADR mission that has no precedence.

Right at this moment, containers filled with Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) are being loaded on to Indian Navy’s INS Jalashwa�the navy’s massive tanker, in Brunei. INS Shardul has entered Kuwait today. Simultaneously, and with clockwork precision, Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft are ferrying home life-saving oxygen from several corners of the globe.

Till early hours of Wednesday, IAF planes had conducted 98 sorties from different countries, airlifting 95 containers of 793 Metric Tonnes (MT) capacity and other hardware of 204 MT capacity. This equipment has been ferreted from Singapore, Dubai, Thailand, Germany, Australia, Belgium, Indonesia, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Israel and France.

The IAF has also airlifted 403 oxygen containers of 6,856 MT capacity along with other equipment of 163 MT capacity, in 634 sorties from different parts of the country. The cities covered are Jamnagar, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Panagarh, Indore, Ranchi, Agra, Jodhpur, Begumpet, Bhubaneshwar, Pune, Surat, Raipur, Udaipur, Mumbai, Lucknow, Nagpur, Gwalior, Vijayawada, Baroda, Dimapur and Hindan.

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As part of operation Samudra Setu II, seven Indian Naval ships have returned home with 260 MT of LMO from 13 containers for direct supply to various states, eight oxygen containers of total capacity 160 MT, approximately 2,600 oxygen filled cylinders and 3,150 empty cylinders for oxygen from the Gulf and Southeast Asia.

Meanwhile, heavy load carriers TATRA vehicles and military grade railway bogies of the Indian Army are moving heavy machinery, oxygen generators and cryogenic tankers to ensure their timely delivery.

The hospitals set up by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) at New Delhi, Patna, Ahmedabad, Lucknow and some other places that are scheduled to come up, such as that in Varanasi, are all being manned by more than 500 armed forces doctors and nurses. A large number of Battle Field Nursing Assistants (BFNAs), soldiers/sailors/airmen, who are trained in basic medical care, have also been deployed to assist the trained workforce.

The paramilitary forces and home-grown voluntary organisations have also not been far behind this mammoth relief effort. For instance, in the national capital, the Radha Soami Satsang Beas (RSSB) has teamed up with the paramilitary Indo-Tibetan Border Policy (ITBP) to care for the Covid infected. The two organisations are working together at the sprawling Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel Covid Care Centre (SPCCC) at Chhawla in western Delhi.

“On a daily basis 250 volunteers are preparing four meals a day � from Karra early in the morning, to breakfast, lunch, the evening tea and dinner � for every soul inside the Covid care centre,” said an office-bearer of the RSSB in Chhatarpur, in the capital, as quoted by Hindustan Times.

A new and a typically Indian hybrid model of HADR where the men and women in uniform are enmeshing with social organisation, imbued in the inclusive spirit of “seva” or service without strings, is rising to the occasion to defeat a deadly disease.

(This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)

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Defence India News

Navy holds talks on capacity building with IOR Navies 

With the Indian Ocean becoming the locus of the 21st century strategic landscape, the symposium will play a constructive role…reports Asian Lite News

With an objective to foster closer maritime relations with Indian Ocean Littoral countries, the Indian Navy held two-day Goa Maritime Symposium for the first time in virtual mode, the Ministry of Defence said on Thursday.

Organised by Goa-based Naval War College from May 11 to May 12, the theme of the symposium was “Maritime Security and Emerging Non-Traditional Threats: A Case for Proactive Role for IOR Navies.”

As many as 13 Indian Ocean Littoral countries, which included India, Bangladesh, Comoros, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Myanmar, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand-participated the symposium where emphasis was laid on capacity building amongst the IOR Navies to tackle emerging common maritime threats.

With the Indian Ocean becoming the locus of the 21st century strategic landscape, the symposium will play a constructive role in bringing together the stakeholders who have a role in evolving strategies, policies and implementation mechanisms on the issues of common interest in maritime domain, the Ministry of Defence said.

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In addition to presenting cooperative strategies for enhancing interoperability among partner maritime agencies, the event provided a forum for articulation of views on the crucial maritime issues, followed by theme based discussions.

Commodore Nitin Kapoor, Deputy Commandant Naval War College welcomed the member participants through a welcome address post which the symposium was formally inaugurated by Rear Admiral Sai Venkat Raman, VSM, Commandant Naval War College, who also delivered the keynote address.

Commodore Shantanu Jha, Commodore (Foreign Cooperation), in his closing address, thanked all member countries for their valuable contribution during the Goa Maritime Symposium-21. (INN)

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