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-Top News Bangladesh

Bangladesh Army chief meets top defence brass in India

Bangladesh Army Chief General Ahmed received a Guard of Honour at South Block lawns in Delhi…reports Asian Lite News

Bangladesh Army Chief General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed who’s on a three-day visit to India laid a wreath to the war heroes at the National War Memorial in Delhi on Thursday, officials said.

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Manoj Pande on Thursday held a meeting with his Bangladesh counterpart General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed and discussed anti-terrorism collaboration and ways to strengthen the defence cooperation between the two nations. General Pande and General Ahmed also signed an implementing arrangement for the training of Peacekeepers deployed in the United Nations.

Taking to its official Twitter handle, the Additional Directorate General of Public Information, IHQ of MoD (Army) stated, “General Manoj Pande #COAS extended a warm welcome to General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed #COAS, #Bangladesh Army and discussed ways to further strengthen the #DefenceCooperation between the two Armies.”

In another tweet, he said, “An Implementing Arrangement for training of Peacekeepers deployed in United Nations #Peacekeeping operations was also signed in presence of both the Chiefs.”

In another tweet, IHQ of MoD (Army) stated, “General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed, Chief of Army Staff #COAS, #BangladeshArmy, laid a wreath at National War Memorial #NWM & received a Guard of Honour at the #SouthBlock. The General Officer is on a three-day visit to #India.”

Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Bangladesh Army Chief General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed also held discussions on issues of bilateral and regional interest, as well as avenues to further build upon the historic defence ties between the armed forces of two countries.

Earlier yesterday, Bangladesh Army Chief General Ahmed received a Guard of Honour at South Block lawns in Delhi.

General Ahmed is the Reviewing Officer for the Passing Out Parade at Officers Training Academy, Chennai scheduled on April 29. He will visit the Officers Training Academy Museum and interact with the cadets of the passing out course.

The Ministry of Defence said that India and Bangladesh share the historical legacy of cooperation and support during the Liberation War of 1971. The active engagement on the defence side includes high-level exchanges at the level of Service Chiefs, conduct of the inaugural Annual Defence Dialogues by the Defence Secretaries, Tri-services and Service-specific Staff Talks.

The exchange visits of Bangladesh Mukti Jodhas and Indian war veterans take place every year in December to mark the Victory Day celebrations in Dhaka and Kolkata, the ministry officials added.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, India and Bangladesh share bonds of history, language, culture, and a multitude of other commonalities. The ties between the two nations reflect an all-encompassing partnership based on sovereignty, equality, trust, and understanding that goes far beyond a strategic partnership. (ANI)

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-Top News Africa News India News

25 Armies from Africa to attend India-Africa Conclave

Along with the India-Africa chiefs’ conclave, the second iteration of Africa-India Field Training Exercise (AFINDEX) will also be held from March 21…reports Asian Lite News

Armies of 25 African countries will attend the India-Africa Chiefs Conclave in Pune on March 28, a senior Indian Army official said.

In the two sessions from the Indian side, the participants, including senior officials from the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of External Affairs and the Services, as well as ex-Servicemen, will also attend the conclave. “The first session will explore the key pillars of India Africa Defence Partnership. The second session will focus on Indian Defence Industry’s Outreach to Africa. Eminent speakers from Africa will form part of the panel discussion,” the Army offical said.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is also scheduled to attend the conclave and deliver an address.

African army chiefs from the Republic of Congo, Niger, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Uganda, Seychelles, Gambia, Tanzania and Kenya have confirmed their participation at the event.

Algeria, Egypt, Nigeria, Rwanda, Eswatini (Swaziland), Morocco, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Ethiopia, Central African Republic, Lesotho and Senegal will also send representatives of their army chiefs at the conclave.

Along with the India-Africa chiefs’ conclave, the second iteration of Africa-India Field Training Exercise (AFINDEX) will also be held from March 21.

A senior Indian Army offical said, “Objective of the exercise is to continue building upon the initiatives taken to strengthen India-Africa relations, with a focus on enhancing peace and security, creating opportunities to exchange ideas and perspectives.”

The offical also stressed that this exercise will help to learn from the African experience in cooperative security and management of security crisis situations, while also promoting a collaborative approach to capacity enhancement of African armies.

AFINDEX exercise will commence on March 21 in Pune and culminate on March 30. The exercise will be divided into four phases.

Initially, the trainers, themselves will be administered training and the same would be followed by a Humanitarian Mine Action and a Peace Keeping Operations Phase.

Finally, a validation exercise will be conducted to assess the results of the training conducted. The validation exercise will be conducted on March 29, with the chiefs of the African armies in attendance.

Senior Army officials stressed that the exercise will involve large-scale use of indigenously-made defence equipment. New generation equipment manufactured in India will be showcased during the exercise in a bid to demonstrate their efficacy to the troops of the participating nations.

For AFINDEX, 9 contingents, with 78 personnel each, will participate in the exercise. These contingents will arrive from Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Niger, Seychelles, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. Another 11 countries — Botswana, Cameroon, Congo, Egypt, Eswatini / Swaziland, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Zimbabwe and Morocco — will send 21 Observers for AFINDEX.

A defence equipment display will also be organised by the Indian defence manufacturing industry on March 29 in a bid to showcase the defence manufacturing capabilities of the country.

The first Africa-India Field Training Exercise was held in Pune in March 2019. It saw participation from 20 African nations.

The first India-Africa Defence Ministers Conclave was held on the sidelines of the DEFEXPO, 2020 in Lucknow.

The Lucknow Declaration, which was adopted at the conclave, laid down the future path of cooperation between India and African nations in the defence space.

The event is important from the perspective of India-Africa relations wherein Army Chief’s and representatives of Chief’s from 21 African countries will be attending the event.

The chief aim of the exercise is to enable the participating contingents to hone their tactical skills, drills and procedures in joint operations for peacekeeping under UN mandate, create synergy and better understanding with armies of African nations and promote Indian defence Industries.

The 10-day long exercise will commence with an opening ceremony at Foreign Training Node, Aundh, Pune. A comprehensive validation exercise on the theme “Humanitarian Mine Actions and Peace Keeping Operations” under the UN mandate is also scheduled.

The Joint exercise will promote the idea of “Africa-India Militaries for Regional Unity (AMRUT)” and will focus on incorporating the current dynamics of UN peacekeeping operations (UNPKF) through practical and comprehensive discussions and tactical exercise.

The first AFINDEX was held in Pune in March 2019 which saw the participation of 20 African nations. In 2020, the India-Africa Defence Ministers Conclave was held on the sidelines of the DEFEXPO in Lucknow.  (ANI)

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-Top News India News

Armies of India & Nepal hold 48-hr gruelling training drill

Joint grueling military training of Indo-Nepal forces lasted for 48 hours

During the exercise, participants will be training together to develop inter-operability and share their experience including Counter Insurgency and Counter Terrorist operations and also on Humanitarian Relief operations….reports Asian Lite News

The Indian Army said on Tuesday that troops of Idian Army and Nepali Army participated in a 48-hour long gruelling training, followed by successful validation of counter-terrorism drills on simulated settings, during the ongoing joint exercise in Nepal.

The 16th edition of Indo-Nepal joint military exercise ‘SURYA KIRAN’, which started on December 16, will continue till December 29 at Nepal Army Battle School, Saljhandi.

“Nepal Army soldiers of Shree Bhawani Baksh Battalion and Indian Army soldiers from the 5 GR will be participating in the exercise. The two armies, through these contingents, shall be sharing the experiences gained during the conduct of various counter-insurgency operations over the years in their respective countries,” Defence Ministry said in a Press statement.

“The joint exercise would focus on evolution of combined drills for planning and conduct of tactical operations at unit level in counter terrorism operations and disaster response mechanism in general and role of armed forces in management of disaster,” it added.

During the exercise, participants will be training together to develop inter-operability and share their experience including Counter Insurgency and Counter Terrorist operations and also on Humanitarian Relief operations.

“The joint military exercise will enhance the level of defence cooperation which will further foster the bilateral relations between the two nations,” the Defence Ministry stated.

The exercise between the two Armies is part of ‘Bharat Nepal Maitri’.

Exercise ‘SURYA KIRAN’ is conducted annually between India and Nepal with the aim to enhance interoperability in jungle warfare & counter terrorism operations in mountainous terrain and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief operations.

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-Top News UK News

UK govt may deploy Army to deal with strike

Nadhim Zahawi leaves 10 Downing Street after being appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer. Picture by Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street

Tens of thousands are expected to take industrial action as the UK is gripped by recession and the cost of living crisis. Zahawi said that “this is not a time to strike”…reports Asian Lite News

The government is considering deploying the army to help ease possible strike disruption over Christmas, Conservative Party Chairman Nadhim Zahawi has confirmed.

Zahawi told Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme that military personnel could be “driving ambulances” and working on UK borders under the proposals.

The Conservative Party chairman also suggested that pharmacists will be called on to help break the NHS strike action, saying “we have to be able to deliver safe levels of treatment and support to patients”.

“We’ve got to try and minimise disruption,” he added.

The government has said that military personnel, civil servants and volunteers are being trained to support a range of services, including Border Force at airports and ports, amid fears of Christmas chaos.

A statement from Number 10 said the decision on whether troops would be deployed was yet to be taken, but that personnel “are part of the range of options available should strike action in these areas go ahead as planned”.

The UK faces a wave of strikes this winter, which will affect services including transport, the NHS, education and delivery drivers.

Tens of thousands are expected to take industrial action as the UK is gripped by recession and the cost of living crisis. Zahawi said that “this is not a time to strike”.

“If you chase inflation or above inflation, in some cases pay, then you will embed inflation for longer and hurt the most vulnerable,” he said.

“In fact, our message to the unions is to say, you know, this is not a time to strike. This is time to try and negotiate. In the absence of that, it’s important for the government. It’s the right and responsible thing to do, to have contingency plans in place.”

He continued: “We’re looking at the military, we’re looking at a specialist response force… surge capacity.”

A statement from the Cabinet Office said around 2,000 military personnel and civil servants are being trained to support a range of services – including Border Force at airports and ports – in the event of strike action.

They include up to 600 armed forces personnel and 700 staff from the government’s specialist surge and rapid response team, as well as other parts of the civil service.

“Decisions are yet to be taken on deploying troops to these tasks but they are part of the range of options available should strike action in these areas go ahead as planned,” the Cabinet Office said in a press notice.

“The priority over the coming weeks is to protect the public who may need access to emergency services support and limit disruption as much as possible, particularly at a time when increased numbers of people will be travelling for the festive period and NHS services are under huge pressure due to the impact of COVID.”

Military personnel were previously deployed to drive petrol tankers and deliver COVID jabs during the pandemic. Royal College of Nursing general secretary and chief executive Pat Cullen dismissed a call by Zahawi for the union to drop its pay claim because of the war in Ukraine.

“Using Russia’s war in Ukraine as a justification for a real-terms pay cut for nurses in the UK is a new low for this government. The public does not believe this kind of rhetoric and wants ministers to address our dispute,” she said.

“Nursing staff cannot afford their food and other bills and still fear the worst on energy this winter. But our campaign is about more than today’s cost-of-living crisis – it’s a cry for help for an NHS that’s had a decade of neglect. Record numbers of nurses are leaving because they feel undervalued and patients are paying the price.

“Ten days until our strike action is due to begin, I reiterate my commitment to meeting with ministers to address our dispute. Instead of negotiating with nurses, they are choosing strike action.”

Labour’s education secretary Bridget Phillipson could not confirm whether her party would increase pay in line with inflation in the public sector.

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Categories
-Top News Defence

Armies of India, Malaysia to share experiences of jungle terrain ops

A Ministry official said that Harimau Shakti is an annual training event which has been conducted since 2012…reports Asian Lite News

A contingent of the Indian Army’s Garhwal Rifle Regiment has reached Malaysia to participate in a joint military exercise during which the two sides will share experiences of conducting operations in jungle terrains.

According to a Defence Ministry official, the “Harimau Shakti-2022” commenced at Pulai, Kluang, on Monday and is scheduled to end on December 12.

A Ministry official said that Harimau Shakti is an annual training event which has been conducted since 2012.

“The exercise will enhance the level of defence co-operation between Indian Army and the Malaysian Army, which in turn will further foster the bilateral relations between the two nations.”

The Defence Ministry said that the exercise’s schedule includes the establishment of a joint command post, surveillance centre, sharing expertise in employment of aerial assets, technical demonstrations, casualty management and casualty evacuation apart from planning logistics at the battalion level.

Joint field training exercises, combat discussions and demonstrations will culminate with a two-day validation exercise, where special emphasis will be on enhancing tactical skills and enhancing inter-operability between the forces and to promote Army-to-Army relations.

The Indian Army informed that combat-experienced troops of the Garhwal Rifle Regiment and the Royal Malay Regiment will also share experiences gained during operations in order to enhance inter-operability in planning & execution of various operations in jungle terrain.

The scope of this exercise involves a Command Planning Exercise at the Battalion level and Company-level Field Training Exercise on sub-conventional operations in jungle terrain, the Army added.

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-Top News Africa News

Kenyan army deployed in Congo to stem rebel fighting

Security Council condemns M23 attack on UN peacekeepers, Congolese army.(photo:@mkainerugaba/Twitter)

General Chiko Chitambwe, FARDC Deputy Chief of Staff, who welcomed the troops at the Goma airport, thanked the Kenyan elements for coming to the aid of the Congolese people during this difficult time…reports Asian Lite News

A contingent of the Kenyan Army arrived in Goma, the capital of the North Kivu province, located in the northeastern Congo, as part of the military intervention by the East African Community (EAC) to stem the armed violence in this part of the country.

Received by officers of the Armed Forces of Congo (FARDC) at the airport, the Kenyan contingent on Saturday will be deployed in the Rutshuru territory where the FARDC have been fighting for several months the rebels of the March 23 movement (M23).

General Chiko Chitambwe, FARDC Deputy Chief of Staff, who welcomed the troops at the Goma airport, thanked the Kenyan elements for coming to the aid of the Congolese people during this difficult time.

“Good friends are those who help you during difficult times. This is why on behalf of the President of the Republic, I would like to pay tribute to you for your presence in our country,” said Chitambwe during the ceremony on the tarmac of the airport.

Leaders of the seven-nation EAC bloc, in which Kenya is the regional heavyweight, had agreed in April to establish a joint force in order to help restore security in Congo.

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-Top News India News

Army to buy guns, drones from domestic manufacturers

The clearance for making these procurements was accorded to the three services in the last defence acquisition council held by the Narendra Modi government…reports Asian Lite News

With an aim to gear up for the future and fight future wars with indigenous weapons, the Indian Army has issued multiple tenders to buy guns, missiles, drones and many other systems from domestic manufacturers for meeting critical requirements under emergency procurement procedures.

“We have invited the Indian defence industry to offer critical defence equipment for emergency procurement. Proposals are being fielded for guns, missiles, drones, counter-drone, loiter munition, communication and optical systems, specialist Vehicles, engineering equipment and alternate energy resources,” the Indian Army said today.

The process will be based on compressed timelines, wherein the procurement window will be open to Indian Industry for six months and the industry would be expected to deliver equipment within one year of signing the contract. Procurement cases will be based on Open Tender Enquiry, the force said.

Under emergency procurement powers, the armed forces can buy equipment worth ₹ 300 crores under capital procurement cases and ₹ 500 crores under revenue procurement cases.

The clearance for making these procurements was accorded to the three services in the last defence acquisition council held by the Narendra Modi government.

The forces have been granted these powers for a six months window where they can buy any weapon system of their choice produced under the Make in India route.

However, earlier the services had the freedom to do deals with foreign vendors also directly and multiple contracts were signed post-May 2020 in which Heron drones, Spike anti-tank guided missiles and many other critical requirements of the forces were fulfilled.

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-Top News India News USA

Event held in honour of Indian Army veterans in US

India has been designated as a ‘Major Defence Partner’ by US, and conducts more military exercises with the US, than with any other country…reports Asian Lite News

Recognising the importance of Indian armed forces’ veterans, the Indian Embassy in Washington on Monday organised ‘Varishtha Yoddha’, an event to honour the ex-servicemen who are now living in the United States.

More than 140 people, including some distinguished veterans who had fought in various wars and their families, attended the event here.

“Friends, you have served and sacrificed for mother India, with utmost sense of duty and selflessness. You and your family members as a part of 4 million-strong Indian community are instrumental in strengthening India-US ties across a diversity of sectors,” Taranjit Singh Sandhu, India’s Ambassador to the US, said.

“While no recognition and award can do justice to your contributions, today’s event in a small way expresses our respect and gratitude and tells you that we are here for you,” he said in his admiration to the veterans. “It’s a matter of pride, privilege and honour for me to be a part of this special gathering.” There are people in this room, who have fought for India in 1948, 1962, 1965 or 1971, 1985, the Kargil war in 1999 and in numerous other operations, he said.

“Today’s Varishtha Yoddha event is our humble effort to recognise the sacrifice and service of our veterans and honour them for the patriotism, dedication and willingness to serve and sacrifice all for the nation.

“We remain committed to taking care of our veterans in the same way as they have taken care of the security of our country,” he said.

Sandhu said Indians veterans, wherever they go, carry the highest standards of duty, discipline and professionalism for which Indian armed forces are known.

“Our veterans living in USA remain the flag-bearers of the traditions of our armed forces and continue to inspire the Indian community,” he said.

India-US strategic partnership is enriched by their wisdom, hard work and high moral values, he added.

In his address, Sandhu said the defence partnership between the US and India has been instrumental in intensifying a variety of pacts between them, including those related to sharing of defence technology and cooperation in maritime security and counter-piracy.

India has been designated as a ‘Major Defence Partner’ by US, and conducts more military exercises with the US, than with any other country.

Currently, an Indian naval contingent, including a naval ship, is in Hawaii for participation, in RIMPAC naval exercise, Sandhu told the veterans.

Over the last decade, he said, India has procured defence-related acquisitions from the US worth over $20 billion.

“Today, Indian forces are operating US defence platforms, including transport planes, helicopters, howitzers, ships and a number of other light equipment many of which have been fully deployed in operational and humanitarian uses, including during the COVID pandemic to deliver aid and transport medical supplies,” said the Indian envoy.

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-Top News Business Social Media

Hackers post crypto scams on UK Army’s YouTube, Twitter accounts

The hacked Twitter account posted various retweets for NFT giveaways, and its pinned tweet linked users to a fake NFT minting website…reports Asian Lite News

Hackers infiltrated the British Army’s Twitter and YouTube accounts to promote cryptocurrency scams and on YouTube, they replaced the British Army’s videos with old livestreams featuring Tesla CEO Elon Musk and former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey.

The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed in a tweet late on Sunday that they were aware of a breach of the Army’s Twitter and YouTube accounts and an investigation was underway.

“The Army takes information security extremely seriously and is resolving the issue. Until their investigation is complete it would be inappropriate to comment further,” the Ministry further posted.

Both the social media accounts were later restored.

“The breach of the Army’s Twitter and YouTube accounts that occurred earlier today has been resolved and an investigation is underway,” the Ministry said on Monday.

The hacked Twitter account posted various retweets for NFT giveaways, and its pinned tweet linked users to a fake NFT minting website.

The hackers also entered the British Army’s YouTube channel, deleting all its videos, as well as changing its name and profile picture to resemble the legit investment firm Ark Invest.

Hackers replaced the British Army’s videos with a series of old livestreams featuring Dorsey and Musk.

A Twitter spokesperson later said that the British Army’s account has since been locked and secured and the account holders have now regained access and the account is back up and running”.

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India News

India govt nod for Rs 76k crore military upgrade

Defence Acquisition Council okays 8 new warships for Navy, special vehicles for Army and next generation corvettes as part of Indian Navy’s ongoing plan to have a 175-ship Navy…reports Asian Lite News

In a significant move, the defence ministry approved the procurement of military equipment and platforms worth Rs 76,390 crore from domestic industries.

The procurement proposals were approved by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the ministry said.

For the Indian Navy, the DAC accorded approval for the procurement of next generation corvettes (NGCs) at an estimated cost of around Rs 36,000 crore, it said.

These NGCs will be versatile platforms for a variety of roles namely surveillance missions, escort operations, deterrence, Surface Action Group (SAG) operations, search and attack and coastal defence.

The NGCs would be constructed based on a new in-house design of the Indian Navy, using latest technology of ship building, the ministry said in a statement.

The DAC also approved a proposal for the manufacture of Dornier aircraft and Su-30 MKI aero-engines by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) with a focus on enhancing indigenisation.

For the Indian Army, the DAC accorded a fresh approval for the procurement of Rough Terrain Fork Lift Trucks (RTFLTs), Bridge Laying Tanks (BLTs), Wheeled Armoured Fighting Vehicles (Wh AFVs) with Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGMs) and Weapon Locating Radars (WLRs) through domestic sources, with an emphasis on indigenous design and development.

“In pursuance of the government’s vision for digital transformation in defence, ‘Digital Coast Guard’ project under ‘Buy’ (Indian) category has been approved by the DAC,” the ministry said.

“Under this project, a pan-India secure network for digitising of various surface and aviation operations, logistics, finance and HR processes in Coast Guard will be established,” it added.

“This will provide substantial boost to the Indian Defence Industry and reduce foreign spending significantly,” a Defence Ministry statement said. “For the Army, the DAC accorded fresh Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for procurement of rough terrain fork lift trucks, bridge laying tanks, wheeled armoured fighting vehicles with anti-tank guided missiles and weapon locating radars through domestic sources with emphasis on indigenous design and development,” it stated.

These NGCs would be constructed based on new in-house design of the Navy using latest technology of ship building and would contribute to further the Government’s initiative of SAGAR (Security and Growth for all in the Region), it noted.

The DAC also accorded AoNs for manufacture of Dornier aircraft and Su-30 MKI aero-engines by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited with focus on enhancing indigenisation particularly in indigenising aero-engine material.

Further, a ‘Digital Coast Guard’ project under ‘Buy (Indian) Category has also been approved by the DAC. Under this project, a pan India secure network for digitising of various surface and aviation operations, logistics, finance and human resources processes in Coast Guard will be established, the statement added.

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