The results of the planning and efforts are for all to see, having achieved the feat which hitherto was considered impossible by many, it added…reports Asian Lite News.
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has extended access of the formidable Zojila at an altitude of 11,649 feet, which links the union territory of Ladakh with the rest of the country and remains open beyond December 31.
The BRO achieved this feat through its frontline Projects — Vijayak and Beacon, which are collectively responsible for maintaining the axis that has strategic implications, in addition to the socio-economic well-being of Ladakh, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement issued on Tuesday.
Last year, the same was extended till December 31, the BRO silently but surely embarked on the journey to better its own record by re-organising, and adding a few more snow clearance detachments and augmenting them with the state-of-the-art snow clearance equipment.
The results of the planning and efforts are for all to see, having achieved the feat which hitherto was considered impossible by many, it added.
“Ladakh UT administration and the locals lauded the efforts that this additional window reduces the logistic burden on the UT administration and helps the local inhabitants to stock additional rations and supplies to brave the impending harsh winters,” the statement has claimed.
In the first three days of 2022, about 178 vehicles have been able to transit through the pass by the collective assistance of the BRO and the police personnel.
The numbers are considered significant because with the temperatures plummeting to minus 20 degree centigrade, the road is subject to extreme frosting with blizzard like conditions, which can lead to accidents.
“Thus, besides snow clearance, the axis is subjected to maintenance on a daily basis to keep it road worthy, which is achieved by the relentless and selfless efforts of the Karamyogis of BRO,” it added.
Murtaza Ali Khuddam has won the Gold Medal in the 79 kg category by knocking down his opponent in the 1st round of the final match. Other medallists are Ali Akbar and Mohammed Hasnain…reports M. Anas (Delhi based journalist)
Ladakh, now the Union Territory, has registered its name on national stage for reasons other than Kashmir conflict and continued Line of Actual Control (LAC) standoff with China. Three-youth team from the UT has gained third position at the National Mixed Martial Arts Championship held in Mumbai this week. The team won a total of four medals — one gold, one silver and two bronzes.
Murtaza Ali Khuddam has won the Gold Medal in the 79 kg category by knocking down his opponent in the 1st round of the final match. Other medallists are Ali Akbar and Mohammed Hasnain.
However, beneath the story of glory lies a tale of utmost grit, determination and willpower to fight against all odds of desperation. Times Headline spoke to gold-medallist Murtaza Ali Khuddam and his coach Mahdi Nasiri to know their journey and travails they faced.
Nasiri and Khuddam both hail from rural areas of Kargil district in Ladakh.
Mahdi said that he has been a UFC Mixed Martial Arts fighter for long and now coaches and mentors youth who nurture dreams to pursue this difficult sport as their career. “I developed passion for this game by watching and reading about international stars and began to self-train myself since my teen age. Slowly, when I gained enough confidence, I contacted senior sportsmen of my area and region. They were impressed with my self-taught abilities and coached me further. Then, on someone’s advice, I went to Iran and spent five years there, learning and participating in various competitions,” said Nasiri.
He added that when Bollywood personalities, Raj Kundra and Shilpa Shetty, organised Super Fight League in 2012, he participated in it and won a gold medal. “Besides, I also won medals in some other events, but it didn’t change much in life as this sport is not widely played and promoted in India. Plus, the required facilities are scarcely available. Others and I used to practice on our own in a makeshift arena and by watching videos of the game. There was no support from the government nor from any private organisation. Yes, some individuals used to lend support as per their capacity,” said Mahdi. Mahdi shared with us some videos that showed him practising and training in a makeshift arena covered with polyethylene sheets to save players from cold.
Despite few facilities in his hometown, Mahdi has adopted coaching new players as his profession. “I hope our performance in MMAFI would improve things. It has already caught attention of the government.
Lieutenant Governor RK Mathur in a tweet has appreciated the team for the brilliant performance, particularly of Murtaza Ali Khuddam. Local federation for MMA too is upbeat and would definitely help in uplifting the game and lives of players,” said Mahdi.
Sharing Mahdi’s despair and hopes is Murtaza Ali Khuddam, the gold-medallist and star of the tournament. “We grew up watching international star Khabib and Mahdi Bhai playing this very difficult sport. They have been our inspiration. Whatever the art of fighting I know, I have learnt from Mahdi Bhai, whether it is Elbow strike, ground and pound, back control, armbar, sprawl, etc. As he told you, we had nothing in the name of facilities except a makeshift arena or open fields. But, we had a lot of determination to prove our mettle and know that once we’ll make our mark, our path will be illuminated. See, today as we returned to our hometown, around 200 vehicles came to welcome and accompany us to our home. We hope this euphoria will earn attention for MMA in our country too,” Khuddam told us, while on his way from Srinagar to Ladakh.
He also said that one thing that is required most urgently for an MMA fighter is physical strength. “That we had built by following a certain diet regime suggested by Mahdi Bhai,” he said.
The Mixed Martial Arts championship was organised by the Mixed Martial Arts Federation of India (MMAFI).
Khuddam, who is the youngest of three siblings in the family, said he or other MMA players from his town did not receive any support from the Ladakh Sports authorities. “But, we were not and are not hopeless. Our medal-earning performance will pave the way for a better future. The government will wake up too,” he shared his hope.
“Airborne troops were inserted to a Drop Zone at an altitude of more than 14 000 feet,” a government source said…reports Asian Lite News.
India carried out first ever airborne insertion exercise at high altitude locations at borders with China in Eastern Ladakh on Monday. The drill is being carried out at high altitude areas in extremely worse climate conditions to ensure that the threats to the challenge posed by Chinese People’s Liberation Army are being properly taken care of.
Sources said Shatrujeet Brigade of the Indian Army conducted an airborne insertion along the Northern Borders in Eastern Ladakh to validate its rapid response capabilities, as part of an airborne exercise and combat manoeuvres.
“Airborne troops were inserted to a Drop Zone at an altitude of more than 14 000 feet,” a government source said.
Pre-acclimatized troops along with specialist vehicles and missile detachments were transported through C-130 and AN 32 aircraft from five different mounting bases to validate inter-theatre move, precision stand-off drops, rapid grouping and capture of designated objects with speed and surprise.
The drop was particularly challenging due to the low temperatures of up to minus 20 degrees Celsius and rarefied atmosphere in super high altitude terrain.
This is the first such exercise carried out by the Indian forces in the region.
The exercise also involves conduct of Oxygen Combat Free Fall jumps and integrated battle drills by Airborne forces, mechanised columns and attack helicopters, validating capabilities and seamless integration.
The drill is in progress to ensure any challenges or contigencies the Indian Army has to deal with.
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s aggression at the Line of Actual Control has increased in the last two years forcing the Indian Army to increase frequency of surveillance at the border area to keep a tap on their activities.
From Sikkim to Arunachal Pradesh, India shares a total of 1,346-km-long LAC with China.
India and China are engaged in border standoff for past 18 months.
So far, 13 rounds of top commanders level meeting have taken place and the last round of talks which was held on October 10, culminated inconclusive.
Even as the deadline of 2024 had been set for completion of the Rs 10,000 crore infrastructure project at the foundation laying ceremony, government pulled it down to December 2023, a report by Ahmed Ali Fayyaz
When the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir was split into the two Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh in August 2019, Ladakh, with the two districts of Leh and Kargil, ended up as the smaller in terms of population than Jammu and Kashmir comprising 20 districts. According to the Census-2011, Ladakh’s total population was 2.90 lakh against J&K’s 122.45 lakh.
But in terms of area, J&K was a huge loser in the reorganisation in 2019. After the UT’s demarcation, J&K’s total area is now 0.44 lakh square kilometre against Ladakh’s 1.04 lakh sq km.
Holding strategic importance for India and bordering China and Pakistan, Ladakh has currently two-odd road communication links to the rest of the country and the world — one each through J&K and Himachal Pradesh. Both the high altitude roads remain closed not only for six months of the winter but also for many days due to heavy rains and landslides for the rest of the year.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of Ladakh’s first all-weather road connectivity to the rest of the country and the world through J&K in 2018. This ambitious project of the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways comprises a
14.2-km long bidirectional tunnel through the infamous Zojila Pass on the 300-km Srinagar-Kargil-Leh highway. It also includes development and expansion of a 20-km road length between Zojila and Z-Morh, close to the famous tourist resort of Sonmarg and a base camp of the annual Amarth pilgrimage at Baltal.
Even as the deadline of 2024 had been set for completion of the Rs 10,000 crore infrastructure project at the foundation laying ceremony, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, pulled it down to December 2023. On Tuesday, September 28, Gadkari along with senior engineers and officers of his Ministry conducted an inspection of the under-construction tunnel at Zojila and the road at
Z-Morh. He emphasised that all the strategically important highways and tunnels in J&K and Ladakh should be completed by December 2023 albeit without compromise to quality of the works.
After completion of this project, Ladakh will remain connected to the rest of the country 24x7x365. “As of now, we have no dependable connectivity by road or air with the rest of the world. While the two highways remain closed for over six months of the winter every year, the air services remain disrupted due to inclement weather for many days a year. This will be the real lifeline to Ladakh,” said Nasir Ali, a hotelier in Kargil.
A criss-cross of highways and tunnels has been in progress in Jammu and Kashmir in the last nearly 10 years. The four-laning of the 294-km Srinagar-Jammu highway is now nearing completion. Three small tunnels, besides a 10-km long tunnel between Chenani and Nashri on the highway are ready. An eight kilometre long tunnel has been completed and unofficially thrown open to traffic between Banihal and Qazigund ahead of its expected inauguration by Prime Minister Modi.
Work is currently underway on some tedious sections between Nashri, Ramban and Banihal. On completion of this highway, the distance between Srinagar and Jammu will be cut to around 230 kilometres and the average travel time will be reduced from 12-14 hours to just 4-5 hours. “It is coming up as an incredible boon for our horticulture industry. Every fresh fruit grower’s dividends will multiply three-fold, four-fold,” said Haji Ghulam Rasool of Shopian.
According to Principal Secretary Agriculture and Horticulture, Naveen Choudhary, apple and other fresh fruit growers are suffering massive damages due to blockage of the Srinagar-Jammu highway for indefinite periods. A large quantity of the fresh fruit sent to Delhi and other capital cities rots on the road. Kashmir alone produces 22 lakh metric tonne of the fresh fruit each year. More than 80 per cent of it is exported to the markets in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata and other places. Choudhary said the total capacity of the Controlled Atmosphere Storages (CASs) in Kashmir was 1.25 lakh MT against the minimum requirement of 7 lakh MT.
After completion of the tunnel between Srinagar and Kargil, Ladakh’s fresh endemic apricots will be transported all the way to Delhi and other major cities and fetch substantial benefits to the growers in Ladakh. “It will give an unimaginable boost to our tourism, trade and horticulture,” Shamasuddin of Leh asserted.
Travel between Srinagar and Jammu/Delhi will become easy with the completion of the Katra-Banihal patch of the rail link. The world’s highest railway bridge is coming up on the same track in Jammu’s Reasi district. It will be Kashmir’s first all-weather and dependable rail connectivity with Delhi and rest of the country. A 10-km tunnel on the railway has been operational through Pir Panjal mountain range since 2013.
All-weather and dependable road, rail and air connectivity with the UT’s of J&K and Ladakh has become all the more important and urgent in view of last year’s skirmishes between the Chinese and the Indian troops on the LAC in Ladakh.
(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)
Indian Army chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane said the Chinese army deployed their forces in considerable numbers across Eastern Ladakh and up to eastern command, reports Ajit Dubey
Expressing hope that the pending issues between India and China along the Line of Actual Control would be resolved soon, Army chief Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane said the increase in the deployment by Chinese troops across the border was a matter of concern.
Indian Army Chief M.M. Naravane (Photo: Bidesh Manna/IANS)
He said India had made matching deployments in terms of troops and infrastructure in its areas along the LAC and there was no way anyone would be able to behave in an aggressive manner again.
Speaking to ANI, Gen Naravane, who is in Ladakh for his two-day visit, said, “The situation at friction points has been normal for the past six months. The talks have been going on. We had the 12th round of talks last month, and also hopeful of having the 13th round of talks, maybe by the second week of October.”
He added, “When the talks had started, people were doubtful whether talks would resolve anything, but I am of the firm opinion that we can resolve our differences with dialogue and that is what has happened in the past few months.”
The army chief said, “The Chinese have deployed (their forces) in considerable numbers across Eastern Ladakh and up to eastern command. There has been an increase in the deployment and it is a matter of concern for us. We are also carrying out matching developments in terms of infrastructure and deployment of troops. We are quite poised in order to meet any eventuality.” (ANI)
The ‘Pani Maah’ campaign launched to encourage on water quality testing, planning and strategising water supply, and seamless functioning of Pani Sabha in the villages…reports Asian Lite News
Ladakh has launched a month-long ‘Pani Maah’ (Water Month) campaign to increase the pace of implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission in the Union Territory with a three-pronged approach – focussing on water quality testing, planning and strategising water supply, and seamless functioning of Pani Sabha in the villages.
The ‘Pani Maah’ campaign, launched on July 25 during a four-day workshop on the implementation of the JJM in Ladakh, will run at the block and panchayat level in two phases. The first phase will run from August 1 to 14 while the second phase will run from August 16 to 30, a statement from the Jal Shakti Ministry said.
Launching the campaign, Ladakh’s Lt Governor R.K. Mathur emphasised upon the objective of the ‘Pani Maah and said that an efficient service delivery brings transparency and ensures good governance.
“Through this month-long campaign, village communities will be encouraged to send water samples to water quality laboratories for quality checks and monitoring,” he said.
In the first phase of ‘Pani Maah’, the focus will be on Swachhta Sarvekshan and Sanitation drives by Village Water and Sanitation Committee (VWSC)/Pani Samiti members. During this phase, water sample will be collected from all identified sources and service delivery points for testing. The first phase will also include awareness and sensitisation campaigns.
Phase two of ‘Pani Maah’ will focus on organising the Pani Sabhas/Gram Sabhas/Block level meetings and door to door visits for effective communication on water quality and service delivery under the JJM. During this phase, the JJM implementation, water quality test reports and analysis will be discussed with the villagers in an open forum. A village/block-wise schedule has also been prepared for water sample collection and the Gram Sabhas to ensure maximum participation of villagers in the campaign, the release said.
Ladakh has also announced an award of Rs 5 lakh per village for the first five ‘Har Ghar Jal’ villages of each district, and Rs 25 lakh to the first ‘Har Ghar Jal’ block in each district. Outstanding local body members such as Panchayati Raj Institutions, Block Development Officers, Assistant Executive Engineers, and other stakeholders concerned would be honoured on Republic Day 2022 for their contribution towards making villages, blocks and districts ‘Har Ghar Jal’ compliant, the release added.
Top government sources said that H-20 bombers are aimed at ending the edge India acquired through the acquisition of Rafale jets…reports Asian Lite News.
Top government sources said that H-20 bombers are aimed at ending the edge India acquired through the acquisition of Rafale jets, reports Sumit Kumar Singh
China is conducting the final trials of Xian H-20 strategic stealth bombers at its Hotan airbase, opposite eastern Ladakh, as the US pulls out its troops from Afghanistan and the border standoff with India continues.
Top government sources said that H-20 bombers are aimed at ending the edge India acquired through the acquisition of Rafale jets.
The final trials of the long-range strategic stealth bomber began on June 8 and will continue till June 22, the day that marks 100 years of the formation of the Communist Party of China (CPC).
The Xian H-20 strategic stealth bomber has stealth feature and long endurance, coupled with capability to carry heavy payloads, which could potentially dodge the “detect and disable radar” capability of India’s newly-inducted Rafale aircraft.
India had signed an inter-governmental agreement with France to procure 36 aircraft at a cost of Rs 59,000 crore in September 2016. After the arrival of the sixth batch last month, the Indian Air Force has now received two-third of the planes ordered from France. Rafale is a 4.5 generation aircraft and has the latest weapons, superior sensors and fully integrated architecture. It is an omni-role aircraft which means it can carry out at least four missions in one sortie.
India Aircraft
India had displayed the capability of Rafale aircraft in eastern Ladakh and also where it will be positioned. China has not yet announced where H-20 likely to be deployed after assessment of the final test runs and possible tweaks at its bases opposite Ladakh.
China, which has touted induction of H-20 bombers as a “game changer”, is the third country after the US and Russia to possess stealth technology for fighters.
The move could have repercussions for geopolitics in the region as also power play by the US and its allies in the disputed South China Sea and Taiwan.
A top government source said that the stealth feature makes the Chinese strategic supersonic jets undetectable by any radar and Beijing seems to be going aggressive in protecting its investments in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as also Afghanistan. It is a matter of worry for India, the source said.
The jets have enhanced “beyond visual range” (3,000 km) and significant payload can make these bombers hit targets in Balochistan, Afghanistan or Ladakh even without crossing the boundary. As per a 2020 Pentagon report on Chinese military power, the H-20s are estimated to have a range of 5,281 miles and lift capacity of 10 tons of munitions.
China started development of the H-20 bombers in 2010 when India was negotiating with France’s Dassault Aviation to buy 126 Rafale jets.
Sources said that Chinese to making these strategic bombers an area specific asset. It is clear that Beijing wants to designate the Hotan base as a testing base for these stealth machines and are to deployed in the areas to even take on targets in Afghanistan, Balochistan or Ladakh.
Earlier, these bombers were slated to be inducted in 2025. However, the timeline has been compressed which signals a shift in China’s approach in the region and the larger geopolitical space.
Indian Army Chief M.M. Naravane (Photo: Bidesh Manna/IANS)
Indian Army Chief said that Indian troops are on high alert and deployments have not thinned after the disengagement in Pangong Lake, reports Asian Lite News
The chief of Indian Army, M.M. Naravane, said here on Friday that the troops are on high alert at Line of Actual Control (LAC), keeping a close watch on the activities of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.
The army chief also pointed that India wants the status quo ante of April 2020 to be restored.
Naravane stated that India has made it clear to China that de-escalation will only be considered once disengagement is completed to the mutual satisfaction of both sides.
He said that Indian troops are on high alert and deployments have not thinned after the disengagement in Pangong Lake.
The army chief maintained that China has deployed around 50,000 to 60,000 troops in Eastern Ladakh in immediate depth, so India has also made mirror deployments in depth.
Indian Army chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane reviews security arrangements in Valley.
Naravane also said that India is keeping an eye on the developments on the Chinese side.
He said India is currently concentrating on resolving the outstanding problems at other friction points like Hot Springs, Gogra and Depsang along the LAC.
He also pointed out that India’s stand in the disengagement agreement in the Pangong Lake area remained the same, i.e., the status quo ante of April 2020 must be restored.
The army chief also stated that trust levels between the two countries are low, but pointed out that the trust deficit should not hinder the negotiation process.
Indian Army uses drones, cameras to monitor Chinese troops pullback at Pangong Lake
The 12 rounds of military commander-level talks between India and China to resolve the border issue will take place soon. It has been delayed due to the surge in the number of Covid cases.
General Naravane recently reviewed the operational preparedness of the force along the borders with China in the Arunachal Pradesh region.
He went to Dimapur in Nagaland on May 20 on a two-day visit to review the operational readiness along the northern borders of Arunachal Pradesh, and the security situation in the hinterlands of the Northeast region.
India and China are engaged in a year-long standoff along the LAC. The confrontations began on the north bank of Pangong Lake, both in the waters and the bank, as Chinese incursions increased in early May last year.
