A wreath-laying ceremony was conducted at the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/army-chief-lays-wreath-at-national-war-memorial-on-infantry-day-258362">War Memorial</a>, INS Venduruthy here on Tuesday on the occasion of the Armed Force Veterans' Day.

Commodore NAJ Joseph, VSM, Commanding Officer, INS Venduruthy and the Station Commander, Kochi laid a wreath at the War Memorial inside naval base here on behalf of the Southern Naval Command.

"Vice Admiral MP Muralidharan (Retd), the present President of the Navy Foundation, Kochi Charter, was the senior-most veteran present. Following the wreath-laying, serving and retired personnel held a brief interaction," a statement said.

Ex-Servicemen from the Army, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/indian-air-force-celebrates-the-87th-anniversary-of-air-force-day-254384">Air Force</a> and Navy who have settled down at Kochi, post-retirement, also laid wreaths on the occasion.

"A total of 70 personnel attended the event, which served to remind both serving and retired personnel of the supreme sacrifice made by their brothers in arms towards the defence of our nation," the statement said.

The Armed Forces Veterans' Day is held on January 14 every year to commemorate the selfless devotion and sacrifice of veterans, many of whom laid down their lives in service of the nation and also to salute their indomitable spirit.

The event also serves to strengthen the bond between serving personnel and veterans.

A wreath-laying ceremony was conducted at the War Memorial, INS Venduruthy here on Tuesday on the occasion of the Armed Force Veterans' Day. Commodore NAJ Joseph, VSM, Commanding Officer, INS Venduruthy and the Station Commander, Kochi laid a wreath at the War Memorial inside naval base here on behalf of the Southern Naval Command.

A wreath-laying ceremony was conducted at the War Memorial, INS Venduruthy here on Tuesday on the occasion of the Armed Force Veterans' Day. Commodore NAJ Joseph, VSM, Commanding Officer, INS Venduruthy and the Station Commander, Kochi laid a wreath at the War Memorial inside naval base here on behalf of the Southern Naval Command. "Vice Admiral MP Muralidharan (Retd), the present President of the Navy Foundation, Kochi Charter, was the senior-most veteran present. Following the wreath-laying, serving and retired personnel held a brief interaction," a statement said. Ex-Servicemen from the Army, Air Force and Navy who have settled down at Kochi, post-retirement, also laid wreaths on the occasion. "A total of 70 personnel attended the event, which served to remind both serving and retired personnel of the supreme sacrifice made by their brothers in arms towards the defence of our nation," the statement said. The Armed Forces Veterans' Day is held on January 14 every year to commemorate the selfless devotion and sacrifice of veterans, many of whom laid down their lives in service of the nation and also to salute their indomitable spirit. The event also serves to strengthen the bond between serving personnel and veterans.

Armed Force Veterans' Day commemorated in Kochi with wreath laying ceremony

Pakistan's province Khyber Pakhtunkhwa promulgates an ordinance to extend armed forces power. This ordinance gives a legal cover to the military detention centres. Watch this video to find out more in details.

Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa promulgates an ordinance to extend armed forces power

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-arabia-welcomes-24000-tourists-in-10-days-254557">Saudi Arabia</a> announced Wednesday it will allow women in the ultra-conservative kingdom to serve in the armed forces as it embarks on a broad programme of economic and social reforms.&nbsp;

The move is the latest in a series of measures aimed at increasing the rights of women in the kingdom, even as rights groups accuse Riyadh of cracking down on women activists. &nbsp;

"Another step to empowerment," the foreign ministry wrote on Twitter, adding that women would be able to serve as private first class, corporal or sergeant.&nbsp;

Last year, Saudi Arabia authorised women to join their security forces.&nbsp;

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom's de facto ruler, has approved a handful of reforms aimed at widening women's rights, including allowing them to drive and to travel abroad without consent from a male "guardian".

But he has at the same time overseen the arrest of several prominent women's rights campaigners, including activist Loujain al-Hathloul.

Saudi Arabia, the world's largest crude exporter, is pushing to improve its image and attract tourists as part of a plan to diversify its economy away from oil.

Saudi Arabia announced Wednesday it will allow women in the ultra-conservative kingdom to serve in the armed forces as it embarks on a broad programme of economic and social reforms.

Saudi Arabia announced Wednesday it will allow women in the ultra-conservative kingdom to serve in the armed forces as it embarks on a broad programme of economic and social reforms. The move is the latest in a series of measures aimed at increasing the rights of women in the kingdom, even as rights groups accuse Riyadh of cracking down on women activists. "Another step to empowerment," the foreign ministry wrote on Twitter, adding that women would be able to serve as private first class, corporal or sergeant. Last year, Saudi Arabia authorised women to join their security forces. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom's de facto ruler, has approved a handful of reforms aimed at widening women's rights, including allowing them to drive and to travel abroad without consent from a male "guardian". But he has at the same time overseen the arrest of several prominent women's rights campaigners, including activist Loujain al-Hathloul. Saudi Arabia, the world's largest crude exporter, is pushing to improve its image and attract tourists as part of a plan to diversify its economy away from oil.

Saudi Arabia to allow women to serve in armed forces

Over 15,000 military personnel are participating in the training for the military parade for the upcoming gala National Day celebrations, which will take place in China's capital city Beijing on Oct. 1.

Chinese troops have training for National Day parade in Beijing

The United States Navy destroyer USS Ramage docked briefly in Lebanon, the US embassy in Beirut said on Sunday, amid heightened regional tensions.

The Arleigh-Burke-class vessel, capable of intercepting ballistic missiles, stopped Saturday for a "one-day goodwill visit on the sidelines of its participation in ongoing efforts to ensure freedom of navigation and free-flow commerce in the eastern Mediterranean", a statement from the US embassy said.

US Ambassador to Lebanon Elizabeth Richard and Vice Admiral James Malloy hosted "an on-board reception for US and Lebanese officials", it added.

During the reception, the vice admiral and ambassador underscored "the ongoing commitment of the United States to be a strong and enduring partner for the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), with the goals of enhancing military-to-military cooperation and promoting security and stability in the region", according to the statement.

"This remarkable US ship, docked in this remarkable Lebanese city speaks volumes about the partnership between the US and Lebanese militaries," Richard said.

The US is currently engaged in a stand-off with Iran and its Lebanese ally, the Shiite movement Hezbollah, which has been slapped with US sanctions and classified as a "terrorist" organisation by Washington.

Hezbollah is a key player in Lebanese politics, represented both in parliament and the cabinet.

The movement is militarily involved in the war in neighbouring Syria, has sent fighters to the aid of the Iran-allied regime.

In July, the US imposed sanctions on three senior Hezbollah officials in Lebanon, including two lawmakers, in the first such move against members of parliament.

At the end of August, powerful US financial sanctions were imposed on the Jammal Trust Bank in Lebanon, which was accused of acting as a key financial institution for Hezbollah, an arch-foe of US ally Israel.

The ship's docking comes as tensions spike between Hezbollah and Israel, including an exchange of cross-border fire on September 1.

The United States Navy destroyer USS Ramage docked briefly in Lebanon, the US embassy in Beirut said on Sunday, amid heightened regional tensions. The Arleigh-Burke-class vessel, capable of intercepting ballistic missiles, stopped Saturday for a "one-day goodwill visit on the sidelines of its participation in ongoing efforts to ensure freedom of navigation and free-flow commerce in the eastern Mediterranean", a statement from the US embassy said.

The United States Navy destroyer USS Ramage docked briefly in Lebanon, the US embassy in Beirut said on Sunday, amid heightened regional tensions. The Arleigh-Burke-class vessel, capable of intercepting ballistic missiles, stopped Saturday for a "one-day goodwill visit on the sidelines of its participation in ongoing efforts to ensure freedom of navigation and free-flow commerce in the eastern Mediterranean", a statement from the US embassy said. US Ambassador to Lebanon Elizabeth Richard and Vice Admiral James Malloy hosted "an on-board reception for US and Lebanese officials", it added. During the reception, the vice admiral and ambassador underscored "the ongoing commitment of the United States to be a strong and enduring partner for the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), with the goals of enhancing military-to-military cooperation and promoting security and stability in the region", according to the statement. "This remarkable US ship, docked in this remarkable Lebanese city speaks volumes about the partnership between the US and Lebanese militaries," Richard said. The US is currently engaged in a stand-off with Iran and its Lebanese ally, the Shiite movement Hezbollah, which has been slapped with US sanctions and classified as a "terrorist" organisation by Washington. Hezbollah is a key player in Lebanese politics, represented both in parliament and the cabinet. The movement is militarily involved in the war in neighbouring Syria, has sent fighters to the aid of the Iran-allied regime. In July, the US imposed sanctions on three senior Hezbollah officials in Lebanon, including two lawmakers, in the first such move against members of parliament. At the end of August, powerful US financial sanctions were imposed on the Jammal Trust Bank in Lebanon, which was accused of acting as a key financial institution for Hezbollah, an arch-foe of US ally Israel. The ship's docking comes as tensions spike between Hezbollah and Israel, including an exchange of cross-border fire on September 1.

US warship docks in Lebanon amid regional tensions

Terming bioterrorism as a "contagious plague," <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/did-not-rest-even-for-a-day-in-100-days-work-done-is-incredible-rajnath-singh-248480">Defence Minister Rajnath Singh</a> on Thursday said that it was a real threat the world was facing today and asked the armed forces to be in the forefront of combating the menace.

Inaugurating the first-ever conference of Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO) countries on Military Medicine here, he also called upon the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) of SCO countries to devise ways to effectively deal with new threats posed to soldiers by the ever-advancing battlefield technology.

"The threat of nuclear, chemical and biological warfare adds to the complexity of the existing challenges and AFMS plays a vital role in identifying those challenges, defining the limits of human tolerance and suggesting strategies to mitigate the adverse health effects," he said.

Underlining the importance of building capabilities to deal with the menace of bioterrorism, the defence minister&nbsp;termed it as a real threat the world is facing today.

"The bio-terrorism is a `contagious plague`. The armed forces should be at the forefront of combating the menace," he said.

He asked the AFMS to have a clear, effective and rehearsed protocol with respect to casualty management strategies and said the protocols and strategies need to be devised taking into account not just the peculiarities of the operating environment and the nature of operations, but also competence and capabilities of AFMS.

Suggesting co-operation among countries during disasters to ensure that timely assistance reaches those in need even across international borders, he said the scale of magnitude of destruction following disasters can often overwhelm the resources and relief efforts of a nation and the medical services of Armed Forces form a vital component of humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations.

Identifying "Patient Safety" as another area which needs to be further strengthened, Singh stressed on the need for awareness on healthy practices of patient safety that will greatly enhance the combat effectiveness of military services.

"Patient safety does not end at making correct diagnosis and prescribing correct medication. Dispensing that prescribed medicine to the correct patient via the correct method plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety of patients," he said.

The Defence Minister said SCO is the "alliance of the East", due to its growing centrality in Asia-Pacific and described it as the primary security pillar in the region.

"SCO is the largest regional organisation in the world in terms of geographical coverage and population. It covers 22 per cent of the landmass, 40 per cent population and contribute to 20 per cent of world`s GDP," he said.

Singh said India has been making positive contribution to SCO and actively participated in Ex Peace Mission in Russia.

Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa said, evolving technology translates into more and more complex casualties and therefore, it is imperative that AFMS keeps pace with technology and expertise.

Terming bioterrorism as a "contagious plague," Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said that it was a real threat the world was facing today and asked the armed forces to be in the forefront of combating the menace.

Terming bioterrorism as a "contagious plague," Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said that it was a real threat the world was facing today and asked the armed forces to be in the forefront of combating the menace. Inaugurating the first-ever conference of Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO) countries on Military Medicine here, he also called upon the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) of SCO countries to devise ways to effectively deal with new threats posed to soldiers by the ever-advancing battlefield technology. "The threat of nuclear, chemical and biological warfare adds to the complexity of the existing challenges and AFMS plays a vital role in identifying those challenges, defining the limits of human tolerance and suggesting strategies to mitigate the adverse health effects," he said. Underlining the importance of building capabilities to deal with the menace of bioterrorism, the defence minister termed it as a real threat the world is facing today. "The bio-terrorism is a `contagious plague`. The armed forces should be at the forefront of combating the menace," he said. He asked the AFMS to have a clear, effective and rehearsed protocol with respect to casualty management strategies and said the protocols and strategies need to be devised taking into account not just the peculiarities of the operating environment and the nature of operations, but also competence and capabilities of AFMS. Suggesting co-operation among countries during disasters to ensure that timely assistance reaches those in need even across international borders, he said the scale of magnitude of destruction following disasters can often overwhelm the resources and relief efforts of a nation and the medical services of Armed Forces form a vital component of humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations. Identifying "Patient Safety" as another area which needs to be further strengthened, Singh stressed on the need for awareness on healthy practices of patient safety that will greatly enhance the combat effectiveness of military services. "Patient safety does not end at making correct diagnosis and prescribing correct medication. Dispensing that prescribed medicine to the correct patient via the correct method plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety of patients," he said. The Defence Minister said SCO is the "alliance of the East", due to its growing centrality in Asia-Pacific and described it as the primary security pillar in the region. "SCO is the largest regional organisation in the world in terms of geographical coverage and population. It covers 22 per cent of the landmass, 40 per cent population and contribute to 20 per cent of world`s GDP," he said. Singh said India has been making positive contribution to SCO and actively participated in Ex Peace Mission in Russia. Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa said, evolving technology translates into more and more complex casualties and therefore, it is imperative that AFMS keeps pace with technology and expertise.

Armed forces need to be in forefront to tackle bioterrorism: Defence minister Rajnath Singh

President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday saluted the ''grit and valour of those who defended India on <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/shell-shocked-20-years-on-a-witness-recall-bloody-kargil-war-238138">20th anniversary of India's victory in the Kargil War</a>.

''On Kargil Vijay Diwas, a grateful nation acknowledges the gallantry of our Armed Forces on the heights of Kargil in 1999. We salute the grit and valour of those who defended India, and record our everlasting debt to those who never returned,'' President tweeted.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
On Kargil Vijay Diwas, a grateful nation acknowledges the gallantry of our Armed Forces on the heights of Kargil in 1999. 
 
We salute the grit and valour of those who defended India, and record our everlasting debt to those who never returned. 
 
Jai Hind! 🇮🇳 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PresidentKovind?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PresidentKovind</a>
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) <a href="https://twitter.com/rashtrapatibhvn/status/1154564701700755456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi also remembers his time during the Kargil War in 1999.

''During the Kargil War in 1999, I had the opportunity to go to Kargil and show solidarity with our brave soldiers. This was the time when I was working for my Party in J&amp;K as well as Himachal Pradesh. The visit to Kargil and interactions with soldiers are unforgettable,'' PM Modi tweeted.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
During the Kargil War in 1999, I had the opportunity to go to Kargil and show solidarity with our brave soldiers. 
 
This was the time when I was working for my Party in J&amp;K as well as Himachal Pradesh. 
 
The visit to Kargil and interactions with soldiers are unforgettable. <a href="https://t.co/E5QUgHlTDS">pic.twitter.com/E5QUgHlTDS</a>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1154581533098795008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2019</a></blockquote>
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The 20th-anniversary celebrations are being held at Kargil War Memorial in Dras, Jammu and Kashmir.

Army Chief General Bipin Rawat, Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa and Ex-Army Chief General VP Malik participated in Kargil Vijay Diwas commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Kargil war victory at Kargil War Memorial.

Naik Deepchand from 1889 Missile regiment in Kargil War said, ''My battalion had fired 10,000 rounds during the war. I am proud of this fact. We had only one target in mind that is to defeat the enemy. I have come here to pay tribute to soldiers who lost their lives in Kargil War.''

The war memorial has around 500 tombstones with the name of soldiers inscribed in them.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;20 years of Kargil war

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-watch-20-years-of-kargil-war-230138/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The Indian armed forces had defeated Pakistan on July 26, 1999. Since then, the day is celebrated as ''Kargil Vijay Diwas''.

Air Chief on Thursday said that Indian Air Force has changed a lot since Kargil War and the biggest change is in its ability for reconnaissance and surveillance.

''Air Force has changed a lot in the last 20 years and the biggest change that I think had taken place is in our ability for reconnaissance and surveillance. We could not pick up the intrusion before the Kargil operation," said Dhanoa.

President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday saluted the ''grit and valour of those who defended India on 20th anniversary of India's victory in the Kargil War. ''On Kargil Vijay Diwas, a grateful nation acknowledges the gallantry of our Armed Forces on the heights of Kargil in 1999.

President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday saluted the ''grit and valour of those who defended India on 20th anniversary of India's victory in the Kargil War. ''On Kargil Vijay Diwas, a grateful nation acknowledges the gallantry of our Armed Forces on the heights of Kargil in 1999. We salute the grit and valour of those who defended India, and record our everlasting debt to those who never returned,'' President tweeted. On Kargil Vijay Diwas, a grateful nation acknowledges the gallantry of our Armed Forces on the heights of Kargil in 1999. We salute the grit and valour of those who defended India, and record our everlasting debt to those who never returned. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳 #PresidentKovind — President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) July 26, 2019 × Prime Minister Narendra Modi also remembers his time during the Kargil War in 1999. ''During the Kargil War in 1999, I had the opportunity to go to Kargil and show solidarity with our brave soldiers. This was the time when I was working for my Party in J&K as well as Himachal Pradesh. The visit to Kargil and interactions with soldiers are unforgettable,'' PM Modi tweeted. During the Kargil War in 1999, I had the opportunity to go to Kargil and show solidarity with our brave soldiers. This was the time when I was working for my Party in J&K as well as Himachal Pradesh. The visit to Kargil and interactions with soldiers are unforgettable. pic.twitter.com/E5QUgHlTDS — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 26, 2019 × The 20th-anniversary celebrations are being held at Kargil War Memorial in Dras, Jammu and Kashmir. Army Chief General Bipin Rawat, Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa and Ex-Army Chief General VP Malik participated in Kargil Vijay Diwas commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Kargil war victory at Kargil War Memorial. Naik Deepchand from 1889 Missile regiment in Kargil War said, ''My battalion had fired 10,000 rounds during the war. I am proud of this fact. We had only one target in mind that is to defeat the enemy. I have come here to pay tribute to soldiers who lost their lives in Kargil War.'' The war memorial has around 500 tombstones with the name of soldiers inscribed in them. Watch: 20 years of Kargil war The Indian armed forces had defeated Pakistan on July 26, 1999. Since then, the day is celebrated as ''Kargil Vijay Diwas''. Air Chief on Thursday said that Indian Air Force has changed a lot since Kargil War and the biggest change is in its ability for reconnaissance and surveillance. ''Air Force has changed a lot in the last 20 years and the biggest change that I think had taken place is in our ability for reconnaissance and surveillance. We could not pick up the intrusion before the Kargil operation," said Dhanoa.

President Ram Nath Kovind hails soldiers on 20th anniversary of India's victory in Kargil War

AK Das, a Central Reserve Police Force head constable posted in Kashmir, committed suicide by shooting himself with his service rifle. In a similar outrage, an army personnel pumped five bullets into Major Shikhar Thappa. The officer had pulled up the soldier for using a mobile phone while on duty.&nbsp;

Media reports are heart-wrenching, but point to the unease among the ranks of fighting soldiers, sadly swept under the carpet by authorities.&nbsp;

Love of a life in the armed forces and in uniform is the overwhelming reason for a young man to join the army or the defence forces. When confronting the enemy, he obeys the orders of his company commander, ever-ready to lay down his life for the country and for regimental pride.&nbsp;

But he is in a state of perpetual distress by the war that rages in his backyard, his home. Although away from his family, he gets daily updates on mobile phone, on social media. Every bad news from home sends him into an invisible depression. His frequent visits to his home and family to settle disputes are unsuccessful. And each time he returns to his post without resolving unending issues, personal or professional, his distress mounts. &nbsp;&nbsp;

When on leave, he overstays against regimental rules. Warnings from his company commander to report on time aggravate his distress. Without going into a soldier’s stress, the company commander, many of them kind and reasonable, reject the frequent demand for leave.&nbsp;

Torn between the two wars, the soldier has little choice. This story repeats itself for the thousands who serve in the army and paramilitary forces. Recruited from villages, they carry with them the burden of their homes to their frontier posts.

The many personal disputes that dominate their lives take them to police stations, tehsildar courts, revenue and criminal courts. The arms-bearing soldier of the Indian Army, the brave fighter, stands with folded hands at every court and police station. His pride is crushed, his resolve to fight for the nation weakened and faith in the society shaken. &nbsp;

These issues may be laughable for a city dweller or one from the newly educated generation, but they dominate the villages from where the bulk of our armed forces are recruited.&nbsp;

Disputes arise every day and remain unresolved as a soldier cannot handle them. Neither he nor his family is trained for handling such stress.&nbsp;

Most soldiers stay away from home for 10 to 11 months a year, which ultimately leads to marital discords, allegations and counter allegations. When issues aggravate, they result in the extreme step of taking a life.

Suicide and fratricide are not uncommon in the paramilitary and army forces deployed in Kashmir. The number of defence personnel committing suicide is the highest in the Indian Army.

According to ministry of defence and statements made in Parliament, in 2018, as many as 80 army personnel are believed to have committed suicide. This number is 16 for the Indian Air Force (IAF) and eight for the Navy.&nbsp;

In 2017 the number of army personnel who are suspected to have committed suicide was 75, while in 2016 this figure stood at 104.

In the IAF, the number of suspected suicides was 21 in 2017 and 19 in 2016. For the Navy, these numbers stood at five and six for 2017 and 2016, respectively.

There is another aside. The impact on the morale of soldiers is enormous, which is reflected in a large number of them seeking retirement. Official figures say that the rate of voluntary retirement is the highest in the army, with 412 officers opting for VRS in 2018, their numbers rising from 353 in 2016. This certainly does not bode well for the army, which is already suffering from a shortfall of officers.

Not surprisingly, most of them chose VRS for ‘domestic and personal reasons’. It is time to revisit the personnel policy of the forces when these ‘domestic and personal reasons’ become more important for a soldier than his duty on the border.&nbsp;

Who could solve their problems? The company commander, commandant of the battalion, the village sarpanch or their fellow soldiers? But they cannot do it individually. What is needed is a re-education programme for soldiers. Sensitisation of district and village authorities could prove to be ideal solutions.&nbsp;

Village panchayats and Sainik Kalyan Boards need to be proactive and should be sensitised.

The Union home minister said in Parliament that various steps have been taken by the armed forces to create a healthy environment for their officers and other ranks.

Besides other measures, mental health awareness is provided during pre-induction training. Distress management has been institutionalised to reduce stress among troops. A helpline has also been established by the army and the air force to provide professional counselling. The army and armed forces are upbeat with training and stress management projects, but the numbers of suicides and of those seeking voluntary retirement are on the rise. Much more needs to be done.&nbsp; 
 
(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-soldiering-through-stress-2775092">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

AK Das, a Central Reserve Police Force head constable posted in Kashmir, committed suicide by shooting himself with his service rifle. In a similar outrage, an army personnel pumped five bullets into Major Shikhar Thappa.

AK Das, a Central Reserve Police Force head constable posted in Kashmir, committed suicide by shooting himself with his service rifle. In a similar outrage, an army personnel pumped five bullets into Major Shikhar Thappa. The officer had pulled up the soldier for using a mobile phone while on duty. Media reports are heart-wrenching, but point to the unease among the ranks of fighting soldiers, sadly swept under the carpet by authorities. Love of a life in the armed forces and in uniform is the overwhelming reason for a young man to join the army or the defence forces. When confronting the enemy, he obeys the orders of his company commander, ever-ready to lay down his life for the country and for regimental pride. But he is in a state of perpetual distress by the war that rages in his backyard, his home. Although away from his family, he gets daily updates on mobile phone, on social media. Every bad news from home sends him into an invisible depression. His frequent visits to his home and family to settle disputes are unsuccessful. And each time he returns to his post without resolving unending issues, personal or professional, his distress mounts. When on leave, he overstays against regimental rules. Warnings from his company commander to report on time aggravate his distress. Without going into a soldier’s stress, the company commander, many of them kind and reasonable, reject the frequent demand for leave. Torn between the two wars, the soldier has little choice. This story repeats itself for the thousands who serve in the army and paramilitary forces. Recruited from villages, they carry with them the burden of their homes to their frontier posts. The many personal disputes that dominate their lives take them to police stations, tehsildar courts, revenue and criminal courts. The arms-bearing soldier of the Indian Army, the brave fighter, stands with folded hands at every court and police station. His pride is crushed, his resolve to fight for the nation weakened and faith in the society shaken. These issues may be laughable for a city dweller or one from the newly educated generation, but they dominate the villages from where the bulk of our armed forces are recruited. Disputes arise every day and remain unresolved as a soldier cannot handle them. Neither he nor his family is trained for handling such stress. Most soldiers stay away from home for 10 to 11 months a year, which ultimately leads to marital discords, allegations and counter allegations. When issues aggravate, they result in the extreme step of taking a life. Suicide and fratricide are not uncommon in the paramilitary and army forces deployed in Kashmir. The number of defence personnel committing suicide is the highest in the Indian Army. According to ministry of defence and statements made in Parliament, in 2018, as many as 80 army personnel are believed to have committed suicide. This number is 16 for the Indian Air Force (IAF) and eight for the Navy. In 2017 the number of army personnel who are suspected to have committed suicide was 75, while in 2016 this figure stood at 104. In the IAF, the number of suspected suicides was 21 in 2017 and 19 in 2016. For the Navy, these numbers stood at five and six for 2017 and 2016, respectively. There is another aside. The impact on the morale of soldiers is enormous, which is reflected in a large number of them seeking retirement. Official figures say that the rate of voluntary retirement is the highest in the army, with 412 officers opting for VRS in 2018, their numbers rising from 353 in 2016. This certainly does not bode well for the army, which is already suffering from a shortfall of officers. Not surprisingly, most of them chose VRS for ‘domestic and personal reasons’. It is time to revisit the personnel policy of the forces when these ‘domestic and personal reasons’ become more important for a soldier than his duty on the border. Who could solve their problems? The company commander, commandant of the battalion, the village sarpanch or their fellow soldiers? But they cannot do it individually. What is needed is a re-education programme for soldiers. Sensitisation of district and village authorities could prove to be ideal solutions. Village panchayats and Sainik Kalyan Boards need to be proactive and should be sensitised. The Union home minister said in Parliament that various steps have been taken by the armed forces to create a healthy environment for their officers and other ranks. Besides other measures, mental health awareness is provided during pre-induction training. Distress management has been institutionalised to reduce stress among troops. A helpline has also been established by the army and the air force to provide professional counselling. The army and armed forces are upbeat with training and stress management projects, but the numbers of suicides and of those seeking voluntary retirement are on the rise. Much more needs to be done. (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Rise in cases of suicide and voluntary retirement in Armed Forces is a disturbing trend

Nicolas Maduro addresses Venezuela, He congratulated the the armed forces as well.

Nicolas Maduro addresses Venezuela

President Hassan Rouhani said on Thursday that Iranian armed forces were not a threat against any regional country, as Tehran held an Army Day military parade to unveil its latest military equipment amid rising tensions with the United States.

In a ceremony in Tehran, broadcast live on state television, marching soldiers passed a podium where Rouhani and top military commanders were standing, and locally-designed and produced fighter jets took part for the first time in an air display.

Iran also unveiled missiles, submarines, armoured vehicles, radars and electronic warfare systems. It also showed off its Russian S-300 missile defence system.

"I want to tell the regional countries that the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran are not against you and your national interests. They stand against invaders... The roots of our problems are the Zionist regime and American imperialism," Rouhani said.

Iranian armed forces were more powerful than ever, said Rouhani. "We seek regional security and stability, countries' sovereignty and end of terrorism and their activities in this region," he said.

Iran has two armies, a regular one which operates as a national defensive force, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps that was created after the 1979 revolution to protect the Islamic Republic against both internal and external adversaries.

The United States officially designated the Revolutionary Guards as a foreign terrorist organization on Monday, an unprecedented move which was condemned by Iran and created concerns about reprisal attacks on US&nbsp;forces.

Rouhani called the US&nbsp;move against the Guards "abhorrent" and said "Insulting the Revolutionary Guards is an insult to all (Iranian) armed forces, and an insult to Iranian great nation.”

Iran's army has the biggest ground force in Iran and Revolutionary Guards is in control of a growing arsenal of ballistic missiles.

The parade was cancelled in a few provinces where the armed forces were deployed to help flood-affected people. The flooding, which began on March 19, has killed 76 people, forced more than 220,000 people into emergency shelters, and left aid agencies struggling to cope.

Rouhani said: "I doubt we can find this level of unity between people and armed forces in any other country."

Separately, Iran and Oman held a joint naval exercise and performed maritime rescue operations in the Gulf, Fars news agency reported on Thursday.

President Hassan Rouhani said on Thursday that Iranian armed forces were not a threat against any regional country, as Tehran held an Army Day military parade to unveil its latest military equipment amid rising tensions with the United States.

President Hassan Rouhani said on Thursday that Iranian armed forces were not a threat against any regional country, as Tehran held an Army Day military parade to unveil its latest military equipment amid rising tensions with the United States. In a ceremony in Tehran, broadcast live on state television, marching soldiers passed a podium where Rouhani and top military commanders were standing, and locally-designed and produced fighter jets took part for the first time in an air display. Iran also unveiled missiles, submarines, armoured vehicles, radars and electronic warfare systems. It also showed off its Russian S-300 missile defence system. "I want to tell the regional countries that the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran are not against you and your national interests. They stand against invaders... The roots of our problems are the Zionist regime and American imperialism," Rouhani said. Iranian armed forces were more powerful than ever, said Rouhani. "We seek regional security and stability, countries' sovereignty and end of terrorism and their activities in this region," he said. Iran has two armies, a regular one which operates as a national defensive force, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps that was created after the 1979 revolution to protect the Islamic Republic against both internal and external adversaries. The United States officially designated the Revolutionary Guards as a foreign terrorist organization on Monday, an unprecedented move which was condemned by Iran and created concerns about reprisal attacks on US forces. Rouhani called the US move against the Guards "abhorrent" and said "Insulting the Revolutionary Guards is an insult to all (Iranian) armed forces, and an insult to Iranian great nation.” Iran's army has the biggest ground force in Iran and Revolutionary Guards is in control of a growing arsenal of ballistic missiles. The parade was cancelled in a few provinces where the armed forces were deployed to help flood-affected people. The flooding, which began on March 19, has killed 76 people, forced more than 220,000 people into emergency shelters, and left aid agencies struggling to cope. Rouhani said: "I doubt we can find this level of unity between people and armed forces in any other country." Separately, Iran and Oman held a joint naval exercise and performed maritime rescue operations in the Gulf, Fars news agency reported on Thursday.

Iran says its armed forces are not a regional threat, calls for unity against US

No defence acquisition under Modi has raked up mud, Rafale inclusive, said <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/apply-mind-before-you-speak-defence-ministers-advise-to-politicians-on-sexist-remarks-211054">Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman</a> on Wednesday.&nbsp;

''We're also very clear that if they quickly want to purchase some ammunition again, post-Pulwama, they can go ahead. This happens at least in NDA government, as and when the armed forces feel it wants to have little margin to acquire quickly the ammunition they need to acquire,'' she said in an interview.&nbsp;

On emergency powers given to Armed Forces to buy equipment of Rs 300 Crore, the defence minister said that government had given emergency powers to armed forces post-Uri incident as well.&nbsp;

''We had given this delegation of powers for Armed forces to choose what they want to buy in terms of ammunition,'' the BJP leader said and added, Defence Acquisition Council which takes care of capital procurement, meets every fortnight. &nbsp;

On Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi claim that India will strike between 16-20 April, the defence minister said ''I don't know where he got this date, so good luck to him. God knows whatever it is but it sounded very fanciful for me and amusing.''

Reacting to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan' statement that India and Pakistan have a better chance of settling Kashmir issue only if Modi's BJP wins'', she said ''I wonder if this is also part of the scheme of things which have been put forth by the Congress' side.''

No defence acquisition under Modi has raked up mud, Rafale inclusive, said Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday. ''We're also very clear that if they quickly want to purchase some ammunition again, post-Pulwama, they can go ahead.

No defence acquisition under Modi has raked up mud, Rafale inclusive, said Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday. ''We're also very clear that if they quickly want to purchase some ammunition again, post-Pulwama, they can go ahead. This happens at least in NDA government, as and when the armed forces feel it wants to have little margin to acquire quickly the ammunition they need to acquire,'' she said in an interview. On emergency powers given to Armed Forces to buy equipment of Rs 300 Crore, the defence minister said that government had given emergency powers to armed forces post-Uri incident as well. ''We had given this delegation of powers for Armed forces to choose what they want to buy in terms of ammunition,'' the BJP leader said and added, Defence Acquisition Council which takes care of capital procurement, meets every fortnight. On Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi claim that India will strike between 16-20 April, the defence minister said ''I don't know where he got this date, so good luck to him. God knows whatever it is but it sounded very fanciful for me and amusing.'' Reacting to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan' statement that India and Pakistan have a better chance of settling Kashmir issue only if Modi's BJP wins'', she said ''I wonder if this is also part of the scheme of things which have been put forth by the Congress' side.''

No defence acquisition under Modi has raked up mud: Nirmala Sitharaman 

After 32 years, the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, which gives sweeping powers to security forces, was partially removed from three of nine districts of Arunachal Pradesh but would remain in force in the areas bordering Myanmar, officials said here.

The state, which was formed on February 20, 1987, had inherited the controversial AFSPA enacted by Parliament in 1958 and applied to the entire State of Assam and the Union Territory of Manipur.

After Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Nagaland came into being, the Act was appropriately adapted to apply to these states as well. 
The Justice B P Jeevan Reddy committee had recommended scrapping of the AFSPA from the state.

Under the Act, the security forces can arrest anyone or carry out searches on any premises.

The Ministry of Home Affairs said in a notification that the four police station areas in Arunachal Pradesh, which were declared "disturbed areas" under the AFSPA, are no longer under the purview of the special law from Sunday.

The police station areas from where the AFSPA has been withdrawn are Balemu and Bhalukpong police stations in West Kameng district, Seijosa police station in East Kameng district and Balijan police station in Papumpare district.

However, according to the notification, the AFSPA will continue to be enforced in Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts and areas under the jurisdiction of Namsai and Mahadevpur police stations in Namsai district, Roing in Lower Dibang Valley district and Sunpura in Lohit district for six more months till September 30.

A Home Ministry official said the "disturbed area" tag was withdrawn from the four police station areas due to the improvement of law and order situation there and it will continue in other areas in view of continuing activities of banned insurgent groups of the Northeast.

The notification said the Union Home Ministry took the decision exercising its powers conferred under section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958.

A review of the law and order situation in Arunachal Pradesh's six districts was undertaken before the March 31 deadline for the validity of the "disturbed area" designation under the AFSPA.

In March last year, the AFSPA was removed completely from Meghalaya following improvement in the security situation.

The AFSPA is imposed in areas where armed forces are required to operate in aid to civil authorities. For the AFSPA to become valid, an area, however, needs to be declared disturbed either by the Central or the state government under section 3 of the 1958 Act.

Some parts of Arunachal Pradesh has the presence of banned militant outfits such as NSCN, ULFA, and NDFB, another official said.

After 32 years, the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, which gives sweeping powers to security forces, was partially removed from three of nine districts of Arunachal Pradesh but would remain in force in the areas bordering Myanmar, officials said here.

After 32 years, the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, which gives sweeping powers to security forces, was partially removed from three of nine districts of Arunachal Pradesh but would remain in force in the areas bordering Myanmar, officials said here. The state, which was formed on February 20, 1987, had inherited the controversial AFSPA enacted by Parliament in 1958 and applied to the entire State of Assam and the Union Territory of Manipur. After Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Nagaland came into being, the Act was appropriately adapted to apply to these states as well. The Justice B P Jeevan Reddy committee had recommended scrapping of the AFSPA from the state. Under the Act, the security forces can arrest anyone or carry out searches on any premises. The Ministry of Home Affairs said in a notification that the four police station areas in Arunachal Pradesh, which were declared "disturbed areas" under the AFSPA, are no longer under the purview of the special law from Sunday. The police station areas from where the AFSPA has been withdrawn are Balemu and Bhalukpong police stations in West Kameng district, Seijosa police station in East Kameng district and Balijan police station in Papumpare district. However, according to the notification, the AFSPA will continue to be enforced in Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts and areas under the jurisdiction of Namsai and Mahadevpur police stations in Namsai district, Roing in Lower Dibang Valley district and Sunpura in Lohit district for six more months till September 30. A Home Ministry official said the "disturbed area" tag was withdrawn from the four police station areas due to the improvement of law and order situation there and it will continue in other areas in view of continuing activities of banned insurgent groups of the Northeast. The notification said the Union Home Ministry took the decision exercising its powers conferred under section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958. A review of the law and order situation in Arunachal Pradesh's six districts was undertaken before the March 31 deadline for the validity of the "disturbed area" designation under the AFSPA. In March last year, the AFSPA was removed completely from Meghalaya following improvement in the security situation. The AFSPA is imposed in areas where armed forces are required to operate in aid to civil authorities. For the AFSPA to become valid, an area, however, needs to be declared disturbed either by the Central or the state government under section 3 of the 1958 Act. Some parts of Arunachal Pradesh has the presence of banned militant outfits such as NSCN, ULFA, and NDFB, another official said.

After 32 years, AFSPA withdrawn partially from Arunachal Pradesh

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on March 27 that India had successfully shot down one of its own low-grade decommissioned satellites with the help of an indigenously made missile produced by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It was unclear which missile from the family of missiles India possesses was employed for this. With a process code-named Mission Shakti, India became the fourth country in the world to develop this specialised technology and successfully test it, after the US, Russia and China. The test was carried out off the coast of Odisha and on a low orbit satellite 300 km above surface level.&nbsp;

To a public, even of the reasonably well-informed variety, the downing of our own satellite by an Indian missile and going into celebration mode must appear rather strange. The military-strategic implications of the achievement will take a little time to sink once the brouhaha over the application of Election Commission norms to the announcement, gets over.&nbsp;

A simple explanation from a military point of view is given here. Remember, having an eye in the sky in the form of satellites is a major advantage for militaries, which possess such capability. Besides the operational strategic domain involving close surveillance, there is navigation for aircraft, surface vehicles, vessels at sea and personnel on foot. Pinpoint targeting of long-range missiles is possible because of these. With the development of armed drones, the US operators have been located in Florida, US, and homing the drones to their targets in Afghanistan with the help of satellite surveillance and navigation. Surveillance from space has distinct advantage, in that it is like a permanent drone in the sky and covering an area well beyond imagination. It makes the verifiability of agreement on limitation of troops, or early warning signals of troop movement much more credible. India’s massive mobilisation before it can go to war with either adversary is vulnerable due to satellite pick up. In today’s world the Internet and many other networks are dependent for their area coverage on satellites. Modern wars without network centricity are almost unthinkable. Similarly, war without the cyber domain activated for offensive or defensive tasks cannot be imagined today. Satellites provide the capacity for wide area coverage and can assist with both offensive and defensive exploitation of the cyber domain.&nbsp;

Since so much now depends on satellites, making your adversary’s eyes, ears and nodes in the sky vulnerable to incapacitation through a physical attack (by kinetic contact) or other means was an obvious measure that militaries would pursue. When a satellite or satellites are taken out or rendered unusable, the resultant effect is most felt on the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capability of a nation or force. It helps in the efforts to remain ahead in the information and decision cycle. There are networks for command and control, control of artillery, logistics and communications, without which military operations are rendered almost ineffective. The US has been pursuing a programme focused on this from as early as 1959. The first test missed a satellite by a couple of kilometres but in 1962 and 1963 successful tests were conducted with ballistic missiles going up to a vertical height of 400 miles. It was the time of President Ronald Reagan that research took a different turn with the ‘Star Wars’ programme which was designed to destroy all incoming projectiles or unfriendly equipment in space through kinetic of directed energy means.&nbsp;

China commenced testing in 2007 but its very first test left a tremendous amount of space debris from the destruction of a low orbit older satellite. Debris in space resulting from the use of ASAT weapons, even for testing purposes, is a major challenge as even small particles can ram against functional satellites and damage them. It is reported by the UN Outer Space Affairs Department that only 1400 of the 19000 artificial objects being currently tracked in space are functional satellites, the rest mostly being debris. A set of UN guidelines on space debris have been formulated. India’s ASAT test was in a very low earth orbit thus mitigating the danger emerging from the resultant debris after the test.&nbsp;

So why has India undertaken the ASAT test? Firstly, much like nuclear weapons, ASAT could remain a strategic weapon for only deterrence and not be involved in actual war fighting although its direct life-threatening capability is lower by volumes. It is important to demonstrate the capability for deterrence especially since China has been developing its capability for fairly long. Secondly, it is always possible that a Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) kind of international agreement may force a moratorium on development and testing of ASAT in the future. That would leave India in the lurch and future testing against the treaty would draw sanctions and international ire. A physical test with data all canned gives a boost to strategic capability. While the MEA may have made the right move by discounting any objective or country being focused upon by India’s ASAT programme, it is important that the successful test has been done at a time when the subcontinent has just emerged from its latest crisis involving a near showdown between India and Pakistan. Pakistan is known for its copy cat approach and it could just be tempted to acquire such a capability of its own; of course with the assistance of its all-weather friend, China. Affordability is not something Pakistan usually looks at despite its almost paralysed economy.&nbsp;&nbsp;

There are fast emerging technologies in this field and we have to hear more about India’s progress in the anti-ballistic missile (ABM) domain for a future ‘iron dome’ concept. The US and Russia have the capabilities of launching an ASAT from the ship, land and space, while India, presently, has used a land installation. No doubt progress towards that will also be made as ISRO has demonstrated.

(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-blinding-the-eye-in-the-sky-2734548">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on March 27 that India had successfully shot down one of its own low-grade decommissioned satellites with the help of an indigenously made missile produced by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on March 27 that India had successfully shot down one of its own low-grade decommissioned satellites with the help of an indigenously made missile produced by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It was unclear which missile from the family of missiles India possesses was employed for this. With a process code-named Mission Shakti, India became the fourth country in the world to develop this specialised technology and successfully test it, after the US, Russia and China. The test was carried out off the coast of Odisha and on a low orbit satellite 300 km above surface level. To a public, even of the reasonably well-informed variety, the downing of our own satellite by an Indian missile and going into celebration mode must appear rather strange. The military-strategic implications of the achievement will take a little time to sink once the brouhaha over the application of Election Commission norms to the announcement, gets over. A simple explanation from a military point of view is given here. Remember, having an eye in the sky in the form of satellites is a major advantage for militaries, which possess such capability. Besides the operational strategic domain involving close surveillance, there is navigation for aircraft, surface vehicles, vessels at sea and personnel on foot. Pinpoint targeting of long-range missiles is possible because of these. With the development of armed drones, the US operators have been located in Florida, US, and homing the drones to their targets in Afghanistan with the help of satellite surveillance and navigation. Surveillance from space has distinct advantage, in that it is like a permanent drone in the sky and covering an area well beyond imagination. It makes the verifiability of agreement on limitation of troops, or early warning signals of troop movement much more credible. India’s massive mobilisation before it can go to war with either adversary is vulnerable due to satellite pick up. In today’s world the Internet and many other networks are dependent for their area coverage on satellites. Modern wars without network centricity are almost unthinkable. Similarly, war without the cyber domain activated for offensive or defensive tasks cannot be imagined today. Satellites provide the capacity for wide area coverage and can assist with both offensive and defensive exploitation of the cyber domain. Since so much now depends on satellites, making your adversary’s eyes, ears and nodes in the sky vulnerable to incapacitation through a physical attack (by kinetic contact) or other means was an obvious measure that militaries would pursue. When a satellite or satellites are taken out or rendered unusable, the resultant effect is most felt on the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capability of a nation or force. It helps in the efforts to remain ahead in the information and decision cycle. There are networks for command and control, control of artillery, logistics and communications, without which military operations are rendered almost ineffective. The US has been pursuing a programme focused on this from as early as 1959. The first test missed a satellite by a couple of kilometres but in 1962 and 1963 successful tests were conducted with ballistic missiles going up to a vertical height of 400 miles. It was the time of President Ronald Reagan that research took a different turn with the ‘Star Wars’ programme which was designed to destroy all incoming projectiles or unfriendly equipment in space through kinetic of directed energy means. China commenced testing in 2007 but its very first test left a tremendous amount of space debris from the destruction of a low orbit older satellite. Debris in space resulting from the use of ASAT weapons, even for testing purposes, is a major challenge as even small particles can ram against functional satellites and damage them. It is reported by the UN Outer Space Affairs Department that only 1400 of the 19000 artificial objects being currently tracked in space are functional satellites, the rest mostly being debris. A set of UN guidelines on space debris have been formulated. India’s ASAT test was in a very low earth orbit thus mitigating the danger emerging from the resultant debris after the test. So why has India undertaken the ASAT test? Firstly, much like nuclear weapons, ASAT could remain a strategic weapon for only deterrence and not be involved in actual war fighting although its direct life-threatening capability is lower by volumes. It is important to demonstrate the capability for deterrence especially since China has been developing its capability for fairly long. Secondly, it is always possible that a Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) kind of international agreement may force a moratorium on development and testing of ASAT in the future. That would leave India in the lurch and future testing against the treaty would draw sanctions and international ire. A physical test with data all canned gives a boost to strategic capability. While the MEA may have made the right move by discounting any objective or country being focused upon by India’s ASAT programme, it is important that the successful test has been done at a time when the subcontinent has just emerged from its latest crisis involving a near showdown between India and Pakistan. Pakistan is known for its copy cat approach and it could just be tempted to acquire such a capability of its own; of course with the assistance of its all-weather friend, China. Affordability is not something Pakistan usually looks at despite its almost paralysed economy. There are fast emerging technologies in this field and we have to hear more about India’s progress in the anti-ballistic missile (ABM) domain for a future ‘iron dome’ concept. The US and Russia have the capabilities of launching an ASAT from the ship, land and space, while India, presently, has used a land installation. No doubt progress towards that will also be made as ISRO has demonstrated. (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Having an eye in sky in form of satellites is a major advantage for militaries

Indian cricket team Friday paid tribute to the armed forces by donating the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/live-score-3rd-odi-virat-kohli-wins-toss-opts-to-bowl-against-australia-201948">match fees of the third ODI against Australia </a>at the JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi.

Skipper Virat Kohli arrived for the toss wearing a special army cap and urged the netizens to donate and stick to the families of our armed forces.

The cap is a mark of tribute to the loss of lives in Pulwama terror attack and the armed forces

"This is a special cap, it's a tribute to the Armed forces. We're all donating our match fees of this game to the Nation's Defence Fund. I urge everyone in the country to do the same, donate and stick to the families of our armed forces."

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamIndia</a> will be sporting camouflage caps today as mark of tribute to the loss of lives in Pulwama terror attack and the armed forces 
 
And to encourage countrymen to donate to the National Defence Fund for taking care of the education of the dependents of the martyrs <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JaiHind?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JaiHind</a> <a href="https://t.co/fvFxHG20vi">pic.twitter.com/fvFxHG20vi</a>
— BCCI (@BCCI) <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/1103921142669037568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Honorary Lieutenant Colonel Mahendra Singh Dhoni had presented the camouflage cap to Indian skipper Virat Kohli.

On 14 February 2019, a convoy of vehicles carrying security personnel on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was attacked by a vehicle-borne suicide bomber at Lethpora in the Pulwama district&nbsp;

The attack resulted in the deaths of at least 40 Central Reserve Police Force personnel and the attacker.

Indian cricket team Friday paid tribute to the armed forces by donating the match fees of the third ODI against Australia at the JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi.

Indian cricket team Friday paid tribute to the armed forces by donating the match fees of the third ODI against Australia at the JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi. Skipper Virat Kohli arrived for the toss wearing a special army cap and urged the netizens to donate and stick to the families of our armed forces. The cap is a mark of tribute to the loss of lives in Pulwama terror attack and the armed forces "This is a special cap, it's a tribute to the Armed forces. We're all donating our match fees of this game to the Nation's Defence Fund. I urge everyone in the country to do the same, donate and stick to the families of our armed forces." #TeamIndia will be sporting camouflage caps today as mark of tribute to the loss of lives in Pulwama terror attack and the armed forces And to encourage countrymen to donate to the National Defence Fund for taking care of the education of the dependents of the martyrs #JaiHind pic.twitter.com/fvFxHG20vi — BCCI (@BCCI) March 8, 2019 × Honorary Lieutenant Colonel Mahendra Singh Dhoni had presented the camouflage cap to Indian skipper Virat Kohli. On 14 February 2019, a convoy of vehicles carrying security personnel on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was attacked by a vehicle-borne suicide bomber at Lethpora in the Pulwama district The attack resulted in the deaths of at least 40 Central Reserve Police Force personnel and the attacker.

Team India pays tribute to Pulwama attack victims, dons 'special army cap' for 3rd ODI against Australia

The Ministry of Defence Tuesday said it has taken steps to ensure implementation of permanent commissioning of women officers in the armed forces, in line with the announcement made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day speech.

Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on August 15 last year, the PM had announced that women officers recruited under the short service commission in the armed forces will have the option of taking up a permanent commission, which he described as a "gift" to the "brave daughters".

"The Ministry of Defence has taken steps to ensure implementation of the announcement made by the Prime Minister on August 15, 2018, regarding grant of permanent commission to women officers in the armed forces," the ministry said in a statement.

In so far the Indian Air Force (IAF) is concerned, "all branches, including that of fighter pilots, are now open for women officers," it said.

"In Indian Navy, all non-sea going branches/cadre/specialisation have been opened for induction of women officers through Short Service Commission. In addition to education, law and naval constructor branch/cadre, women SSC officers have been made eligible for grant of permanent commission in the naval armament branch, at par with male officers," the statement said.

The proposal for induction of "three new training ships" for the Navy is underway, the ministry also said in the statement.

"This will provide the requisite infrastructure for training of both men and women officers. Indian Navy will start inducting women in all branches, once the training ships are in place," it said.

Women officers will be granted permanent commission in the Indian Army in "all the ten branches" where women are inducted for Short Service Commission, the statement said.

"So, besides the existing two streams of Judge Advocate General (JAG) and Army Education Corps, now permanent commission will be granted in Signals, Engineers, Army Aviation, Army Air Defence, Electronics and Mechanical Engineers, Army Service Corps, Army Ordinance Corps and Intelligence also to women officers.

"SSC women officers will give their option for permanent commission before completion of four years of Commissioned Service, and they will exercise the option for grant of permanent commission and their choice of specialisation," it added.

SSC women officers will be considered for grant of permanent commission "based on suitability, merit etc and will be employed in various staff appointment," the statement said.

Modi in his speech on the occasion of the 72nd Independence Day had said, "I want to give a good news to our brave daughters. Women officers who have been appointed through the short service commission in the armed forces will get a permanent commission through a transparent process. It is a gift for them."

Under SSC, officers are allowed tenures ranging from five to 14 years of services. Permanent commission allows them to serve till the age of retirement.&nbsp;

The Ministry of Defence Tuesday said it has taken steps to ensure implementation of permanent commissioning of women officers in the armed forces, in line with the announcement made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day speech.

The Ministry of Defence Tuesday said it has taken steps to ensure implementation of permanent commissioning of women officers in the armed forces, in line with the announcement made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day speech. Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on August 15 last year, the PM had announced that women officers recruited under the short service commission in the armed forces will have the option of taking up a permanent commission, which he described as a "gift" to the "brave daughters". "The Ministry of Defence has taken steps to ensure implementation of the announcement made by the Prime Minister on August 15, 2018, regarding grant of permanent commission to women officers in the armed forces," the ministry said in a statement. In so far the Indian Air Force (IAF) is concerned, "all branches, including that of fighter pilots, are now open for women officers," it said. "In Indian Navy, all non-sea going branches/cadre/specialisation have been opened for induction of women officers through Short Service Commission. In addition to education, law and naval constructor branch/cadre, women SSC officers have been made eligible for grant of permanent commission in the naval armament branch, at par with male officers," the statement said. The proposal for induction of "three new training ships" for the Navy is underway, the ministry also said in the statement. "This will provide the requisite infrastructure for training of both men and women officers. Indian Navy will start inducting women in all branches, once the training ships are in place," it said. Women officers will be granted permanent commission in the Indian Army in "all the ten branches" where women are inducted for Short Service Commission, the statement said. "So, besides the existing two streams of Judge Advocate General (JAG) and Army Education Corps, now permanent commission will be granted in Signals, Engineers, Army Aviation, Army Air Defence, Electronics and Mechanical Engineers, Army Service Corps, Army Ordinance Corps and Intelligence also to women officers. "SSC women officers will give their option for permanent commission before completion of four years of Commissioned Service, and they will exercise the option for grant of permanent commission and their choice of specialisation," it added. SSC women officers will be considered for grant of permanent commission "based on suitability, merit etc and will be employed in various staff appointment," the statement said. Modi in his speech on the occasion of the 72nd Independence Day had said, "I want to give a good news to our brave daughters. Women officers who have been appointed through the short service commission in the armed forces will get a permanent commission through a transparent process. It is a gift for them." Under SSC, officers are allowed tenures ranging from five to 14 years of services. Permanent commission allows them to serve till the age of retirement.

Soon, permanent commissioning of women officers in 10 Army branches

Indians must believe what the Armed forces say: PM Narendra Modi

India is proud of its armed forces and stands with its soldiers, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday amid escalating India-Pakistan standoff.

Addressing BJP booth workers, Modi said ''We are grateful to our sons and daughters for protecting our borders and giving the country a safe environment''.

Modi's address comes amid growing tension between India and Pakistan after India launched a pre-emptive strike on terrorist launch pads in&nbsp;Pakistan soil.

India won't stop at any cost, India will stay united, Modi said and urged Indian citizens to be part of the mission to build the nation.

''India will live as one, India will work as one, India will grow as one, India will fight as one and India will win as one,'' he said.

&nbsp;India is full of self-confidence, the youth is full of enthusiasm and the country is expanding its capabilities with new policies and in a new fashion, Modi added.&nbsp;

&nbsp;''From farmers to soldiers, everyone in the country now feels that impossible is possible and that's why every single citizen of the country, in whatever profession he/she is, is contributing more towards nation building,'' Modi said.

&nbsp;India is at a juncture from where we can see a new and magnificent country emerging, he said.&nbsp;

India is proud of its armed forces and stands with its soldiers, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday amid escalating India-Pakistan standoff. Addressing BJP booth workers, Modi said ''We are grateful to our sons and daughters for protecting our borders and giving the country a safe environment''.

India is proud of its armed forces and stands with its soldiers, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday amid escalating India-Pakistan standoff. Addressing BJP booth workers, Modi said ''We are grateful to our sons and daughters for protecting our borders and giving the country a safe environment''. Modi's address comes amid growing tension between India and Pakistan after India launched a pre-emptive strike on terrorist launch pads in Pakistan soil. India won't stop at any cost, India will stay united, Modi said and urged Indian citizens to be part of the mission to build the nation. ''India will live as one, India will work as one, India will grow as one, India will fight as one and India will win as one,'' he said. India is full of self-confidence, the youth is full of enthusiasm and the country is expanding its capabilities with new policies and in a new fashion, Modi added. ''From farmers to soldiers, everyone in the country now feels that impossible is possible and that's why every single citizen of the country, in whatever profession he/she is, is contributing more towards nation building,'' Modi said. India is at a juncture from where we can see a new and magnificent country emerging, he said.

India will fight as one and win as one, says PM Modi

The self-declared interim president of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/venezuela-opposition-leader-guaido-delivers-first-cargo-of-humanitarian-aid-196818">Venezuela Juan Guaido</a> on Monday pointed to the Armed Forces as the factor supporting "dictator" Nicolas Maduro but added that a vast majority of "military families" are dissatisfied.

"It is the Armed Forces who support the dictator today (...), that important sector of the country, which has a role not only in stopping the usurpation, but also in the reconstruction of Venezuela," Guaido said in an interview with EFE on Monday night.

It is also clear there are soldiers who have already begun to turn their backs on Maduro publicly, he said, adding there are also 160 active soldiers who were captured and “are being tortured."

According to his data, "80 percent of the military family is absolutely dissatisfied with this regime."

This loyalty of the so-called Bolivarian National Armed Forces (BNAF) to the government would be the main obstacle to undoing what Guaido has called Maduro's "usurpation" of the presidency, and would also be the obstacle to him assuming official interim presidency of the country.

On the possibility of ordering a foreign intervention, Guaido said the topic is “very controversial” but he is going to "do what is necessary to achieve the cessation of the dictatorship."

When Guaido declared himself interim president on Jan. 23 before hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans, he said that his government intends to achieve three objectives that have become a mantra for the opposition: "Cessation of the usurpation, transition government and free elections."

Today, he said Maduro no longer has support but is still occupying the presidential palace of Miraflores because of "the military."

"Maduro is unaware of the crisis (...) the deterioration of the quality of life, of public services, the risk of life we have in Venezuela," he said.

"What do we lack today after 20 years of work, sacrifice, to build a majority? We lack the factor that ultimately sustains dictatorships, which is the Armed Forces," he added.

Guaido did not want to talk about the deadline for Maduro’s "usurpation" and preferred to reiterate areas in which they must continue working, such as "social mobilization," "the international community," "the Armed Forces" and "the union of the opposition."

"We are all desperate. We are all frustrated because of the hard moment in our country. But we must stay on the road. We have spoken very clearly and we are on a road of hope, of change that is getting closer," he said.

He did not know who would be the next candidate for the presidency when the "free elections" are held.

"The best candidate will be the one that emerges from the union of all the factors, from the democratic alternative," he said.

On the investigation that the Venezuelan Comptroller announced it would open for alleged international resources received, Guaido said that "an absolutely deteriorated regime with no credibility does not have any authority or legitimacy to speak after they have stolen all the money."

He also reiterated that he is only interested in "getting out of this dictatorship, achieving the necessary social and political force to achieve the cessation of the usurpation."

Guaido tried to dismantle the pro-government discourse that his actions can lead to a civil war by pointing out that in Venezuela "there is no possibility of a people-to-people confrontation" because "Maduro is isolated. He is alone and has no people’s support."

Maduro only wants to "maintain and protect his privileges," he added.

That is why "nobody would be willing to do anything for Nicolas Maduro, to sacrifice himself or to die for someone who is not willing to even attend to them or to protect them," he insisted.

He also said that Maduro does not know how to finance this alleged warlike scenario and this is one of the reasons why the presiding parliament has asked international financial organizations not to deliver the assets of Venezuela to the government.

"Why do we protect the assets of Venezuela? Precisely so that they do not use the resources of Venezuela in continuing to arm the population," he added.

Meanwhile, Guaido said he is focused on getting humanitarian aid to the country, and that he has already procured 1,700,000 food rations for children in a state of malnutrition.

The self-declared interim president of Venezuela Juan Guaido on Monday pointed to the Armed Forces as the factor supporting "dictator" Nicolas Maduro but added that a vast majority of "military families" are dissatisfied.

The self-declared interim president of Venezuela Juan Guaido on Monday pointed to the Armed Forces as the factor supporting "dictator" Nicolas Maduro but added that a vast majority of "military families" are dissatisfied. "It is the Armed Forces who support the dictator today (...), that important sector of the country, which has a role not only in stopping the usurpation, but also in the reconstruction of Venezuela," Guaido said in an interview with EFE on Monday night. It is also clear there are soldiers who have already begun to turn their backs on Maduro publicly, he said, adding there are also 160 active soldiers who were captured and “are being tortured." According to his data, "80 percent of the military family is absolutely dissatisfied with this regime." This loyalty of the so-called Bolivarian National Armed Forces (BNAF) to the government would be the main obstacle to undoing what Guaido has called Maduro's "usurpation" of the presidency, and would also be the obstacle to him assuming official interim presidency of the country. On the possibility of ordering a foreign intervention, Guaido said the topic is “very controversial” but he is going to "do what is necessary to achieve the cessation of the dictatorship." When Guaido declared himself interim president on Jan. 23 before hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans, he said that his government intends to achieve three objectives that have become a mantra for the opposition: "Cessation of the usurpation, transition government and free elections." Today, he said Maduro no longer has support but is still occupying the presidential palace of Miraflores because of "the military." "Maduro is unaware of the crisis (...) the deterioration of the quality of life, of public services, the risk of life we have in Venezuela," he said. "What do we lack today after 20 years of work, sacrifice, to build a majority? We lack the factor that ultimately sustains dictatorships, which is the Armed Forces," he added. Guaido did not want to talk about the deadline for Maduro’s "usurpation" and preferred to reiterate areas in which they must continue working, such as "social mobilization," "the international community," "the Armed Forces" and "the union of the opposition." "We are all desperate. We are all frustrated because of the hard moment in our country. But we must stay on the road. We have spoken very clearly and we are on a road of hope, of change that is getting closer," he said. He did not know who would be the next candidate for the presidency when the "free elections" are held. "The best candidate will be the one that emerges from the union of all the factors, from the democratic alternative," he said. On the investigation that the Venezuelan Comptroller announced it would open for alleged international resources received, Guaido said that "an absolutely deteriorated regime with no credibility does not have any authority or legitimacy to speak after they have stolen all the money." He also reiterated that he is only interested in "getting out of this dictatorship, achieving the necessary social and political force to achieve the cessation of the usurpation." Guaido tried to dismantle the pro-government discourse that his actions can lead to a civil war by pointing out that in Venezuela "there is no possibility of a people-to-people confrontation" because "Maduro is isolated. He is alone and has no people’s support." Maduro only wants to "maintain and protect his privileges," he added. That is why "nobody would be willing to do anything for Nicolas Maduro, to sacrifice himself or to die for someone who is not willing to even attend to them or to protect them," he insisted. He also said that Maduro does not know how to finance this alleged warlike scenario and this is one of the reasons why the presiding parliament has asked international financial organizations not to deliver the assets of Venezuela to the government. "Why do we protect the assets of Venezuela? Precisely so that they do not use the resources of Venezuela in continuing to arm the population," he added. Meanwhile, Guaido said he is focused on getting humanitarian aid to the country, and that he has already procured 1,700,000 food rations for children in a state of malnutrition.

It is the military which is supporting 'dictator' Maduro: Venezuela opposition leader Guaido

Last week, the government announced its Interim Budget for 2019-20. Defence allocation was again a disappointment, particularly for those looking forward to covering up important deficiencies and introducing a degree of modernisation.

With a 3 per cent hike from the last Defence Budget, the current allocation will cover inflation, but very little beyond that.

In all civilisations, wise generations and statesmen have been keenly aware of the values of peace and war. Peace connotes development, progress and lives led in comfort and tranquillity. War denotes death, destruction and poor development.

Greek historian Herodotus noted in 484 BC: “No one is so foolish as to choose war over peace. In peace, sons bury their fathers. In war, fathers bury their sons.” War and peace have been part of all civilisations; two sides of the same coin.

Most of us believe that in the mythological Sat Yug, our people lived a great life, peaceful, free from toil and grief. But they forget that even Sat Yug was not entirely peaceful. There was violence between Devalok and Asurlok. In fact, none of our mythological Yugs was peaceful. In Treta Yug, there was war between Ram and Ravan. In Dwapar Yug, the Pandavs fought with Kauravs.

On war and peace, there is another classical quote, ‘Si vis pacem, para bellum’ (Latin writer Flavious Vegetius). It means “If you want peace, prepare for war”.

This phrase is used to affirm that the effective means for ensuring peace for a people is always to be armed and ready to defend oneself. Chinese words Shi ji convey the same idea.

The historical truth is that peace cannot be had free. It accrues only to those nations which are strong and prepared for war. Strong nations seldom listen to weak nations when their own national interests are at stake. They indulge in coercive diplomacy backed by threats of war.

Hoping for peace can only be wishful thinking if a nation is not strong to deter/dissuade its foes.

Vegetius’ quote is also interpreted to mean that the time to prepare for war is not when the war is imminent, but when times are peaceful. A strong peacetime army would signal to would-be attackers that the battle may not be worth it.

To set the foundations on which to erect the outline of a general theory of war, Vice-Admiral JC Wylie (US Navy) had worked on several basic assumptions. One such assumption described by Wylie in his papers ‘Military Strategy: A General Theory of Power’ is “Despite whatever effort there may be to prevent it, there may be a war.”

Military history tells us that nations who neglect this historical determinism make themselves vulnerable to military surprise, defeat, and ignominy.

This assumption is a reminder to strategists to visualise security threats and to remain prepared for any eventuality. To those who may find this assumption irritable or doubtful, I would remind them of the Kargil War which broke out within two months of the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan signing the Lahore Declaration.

Another basic assumption for war planning, as mentioned by Wylie, was “We cannot predict with certainty the pattern of war for which we prepare ourselves.” It has seldom been possible to forecast the time, place, scope, intensity and the general tenor of a war.

India, since Independence, has never prepared itself adequately for wars. Only in 1971, did we manage to get time and prepare ourselves because Sam Manekshaw insisted on delaying the conflict and the circumstances were favourable.

In all other wars, our adversaries took the initiative because they considered us to be politically and militarily inadequately prepared.

Erosion of credible conventional deterrence often makes them audacious and challenge us. Before the Kargil war, Pakistan had perceived that due to prolonged involvement in anti-terrorist and anti-insurgency operations in Punjab, J&amp;K and North East India, our army was not in any shape to fight. Its weapons and equipment were obsolete, as no modernisation had taken place for more than a decade.

While addressing troops of the Pakistan Army on October 29, 1998, Musharraf had said, “Don’t be carried away by the rhetoric of the Indians, whose armed forces are totally exhausted and whose morale is at its lowest.” In March 1999, the intelligence adviser to Nawaz Sharif, Lt Gen Javed Nasir, wrote that “Indian Army was incapable of undertaking any conventional operation.”

Some of us want peace desperately. We refuse to learn from history and happenings on the ground. We get thrilled whenever a friendly statement is made by a Pakistani or a Chinese leader. That may be soothing. But to be intoxicated by over-optimism and neglect our defence preparedness would be naïve and dangerous.

To deter or dissuade potential challengers, our armed forces require strengthening of capabilities with a certain amount of specialisation.

There is an acute shortage of fighter aircraft in the Indian Air Force and submarines in the Indian Navy. The Indian Army needs to replace its basic weapons for infantry.

Keeping in view the nature of conflicts in the foreseeable future, we need to raise more special forces, upgrade command, control, communications, computers, information, surveillance and reconnaissance, cyber and space war capabilities.

We also require better defence infrastructure along our northern borders. The next war, if we are forced to fight, will be quite different from any war that we have fought so far.

For peaceful development, security awareness, sagacity and rationality are needed in our political discourse to allow required build-up of military capability. India must aim for the cheaper, preparedness option. The other, more expensive option, is unthinkable.

(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-defence-allocation-too-small-2716953">original article)</a>

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Last week, the government announced its Interim Budget for 2019-20. Defence allocation was again a disappointment, particularly for those looking forward to covering up important deficiencies and introducing a degree of modernisation.

Last week, the government announced its Interim Budget for 2019-20. Defence allocation was again a disappointment, particularly for those looking forward to covering up important deficiencies and introducing a degree of modernisation. With a 3 per cent hike from the last Defence Budget, the current allocation will cover inflation, but very little beyond that. In all civilisations, wise generations and statesmen have been keenly aware of the values of peace and war. Peace connotes development, progress and lives led in comfort and tranquillity. War denotes death, destruction and poor development. Greek historian Herodotus noted in 484 BC: “No one is so foolish as to choose war over peace. In peace, sons bury their fathers. In war, fathers bury their sons.” War and peace have been part of all civilisations; two sides of the same coin. Most of us believe that in the mythological Sat Yug, our people lived a great life, peaceful, free from toil and grief. But they forget that even Sat Yug was not entirely peaceful. There was violence between Devalok and Asurlok. In fact, none of our mythological Yugs was peaceful. In Treta Yug, there was war between Ram and Ravan. In Dwapar Yug, the Pandavs fought with Kauravs. On war and peace, there is another classical quote, ‘Si vis pacem, para bellum’ (Latin writer Flavious Vegetius). It means “If you want peace, prepare for war”. This phrase is used to affirm that the effective means for ensuring peace for a people is always to be armed and ready to defend oneself. Chinese words Shi ji convey the same idea. The historical truth is that peace cannot be had free. It accrues only to those nations which are strong and prepared for war. Strong nations seldom listen to weak nations when their own national interests are at stake. They indulge in coercive diplomacy backed by threats of war. Hoping for peace can only be wishful thinking if a nation is not strong to deter/dissuade its foes. Vegetius’ quote is also interpreted to mean that the time to prepare for war is not when the war is imminent, but when times are peaceful. A strong peacetime army would signal to would-be attackers that the battle may not be worth it. To set the foundations on which to erect the outline of a general theory of war, Vice-Admiral JC Wylie (US Navy) had worked on several basic assumptions. One such assumption described by Wylie in his papers ‘Military Strategy: A General Theory of Power’ is “Despite whatever effort there may be to prevent it, there may be a war.” Military history tells us that nations who neglect this historical determinism make themselves vulnerable to military surprise, defeat, and ignominy. This assumption is a reminder to strategists to visualise security threats and to remain prepared for any eventuality. To those who may find this assumption irritable or doubtful, I would remind them of the Kargil War which broke out within two months of the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan signing the Lahore Declaration. Another basic assumption for war planning, as mentioned by Wylie, was “We cannot predict with certainty the pattern of war for which we prepare ourselves.” It has seldom been possible to forecast the time, place, scope, intensity and the general tenor of a war. India, since Independence, has never prepared itself adequately for wars. Only in 1971, did we manage to get time and prepare ourselves because Sam Manekshaw insisted on delaying the conflict and the circumstances were favourable. In all other wars, our adversaries took the initiative because they considered us to be politically and militarily inadequately prepared. Erosion of credible conventional deterrence often makes them audacious and challenge us. Before the Kargil war, Pakistan had perceived that due to prolonged involvement in anti-terrorist and anti-insurgency operations in Punjab, J&K and North East India, our army was not in any shape to fight. Its weapons and equipment were obsolete, as no modernisation had taken place for more than a decade. While addressing troops of the Pakistan Army on October 29, 1998, Musharraf had said, “Don’t be carried away by the rhetoric of the Indians, whose armed forces are totally exhausted and whose morale is at its lowest.” In March 1999, the intelligence adviser to Nawaz Sharif, Lt Gen Javed Nasir, wrote that “Indian Army was incapable of undertaking any conventional operation.” Some of us want peace desperately. We refuse to learn from history and happenings on the ground. We get thrilled whenever a friendly statement is made by a Pakistani or a Chinese leader. That may be soothing. But to be intoxicated by over-optimism and neglect our defence preparedness would be naïve and dangerous. To deter or dissuade potential challengers, our armed forces require strengthening of capabilities with a certain amount of specialisation. There is an acute shortage of fighter aircraft in the Indian Air Force and submarines in the Indian Navy. The Indian Army needs to replace its basic weapons for infantry. Keeping in view the nature of conflicts in the foreseeable future, we need to raise more special forces, upgrade command, control, communications, computers, information, surveillance and reconnaissance, cyber and space war capabilities. We also require better defence infrastructure along our northern borders. The next war, if we are forced to fight, will be quite different from any war that we have fought so far. For peaceful development, security awareness, sagacity and rationality are needed in our political discourse to allow required build-up of military capability. India must aim for the cheaper, preparedness option. The other, more expensive option, is unthinkable. (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Budget 2019: Defence allocation too small

When the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, most of the world imagined that the end of an era of confrontation was upon us. That sentiment probably was also present when the Second World War ended in 1945. &nbsp;

However, each time, humanity was disappointed because these events led it from one era of turbulence to another. That is why nations pursue trends and ways they can maximise what is potentially available to their populations, in keeping with their value systems.&nbsp;

Obliquely, that is what national security is all about; the phenomenon by which nations retain their identity, values and the ability of their people to pursue a higher quality of life achieved through stability, security and prosperity.

Each year, we in India undertake this exercise to determine what would be the core concerns of national security. The current one is an effort to identify five such core areas and there is nothing sacrosanct about them.

First on the list is economics. Right from 1991, India has steadfastly pursued an economic policy for better growth, upliftment of a large segment of people from poverty, and improvement in the quality of life. It ensures better infrastructure, education and more equilibrium in society among many other pluses, which are indirect contributions to internal security.&nbsp;

The second domain of focus remains external security to include border security and the pursuance of such policies that it contributes to the stability of the borders and the neighbourhood.&nbsp;

The armed forces, in particular, also have to project deterrence and dissuasion. The foremost issue in this domain is the determination of threats, force structure to meet them and the optimum equipping and manning of the forces to ward off threats.&nbsp;

An allotment of 1.47 per cent of the GDP to defence in the current financial year, does not appear to be sync with the optimum needs of the armed forces and needs revision.&nbsp;

In addition, while there is a flurry of activity in the equipment domain with approvals by the Defence Acquisition Committee (DAC), their fructification appears tardy primarily due to antiquated procedures, which despite serious attempts by the government does not appear resolved.&nbsp;

The Make in India programme is conceptually the finest idea, but to make it happen is not easy in the absence of yielding of space to the private sector. With so much investment in DRDO, it’s a severe challenge to let go the strings from the public sector to enable an optimum entry by private players.&nbsp;

In external security, an area of concern remains insufficient resources available to the Indian Navy to meet its responsibilities for maritime security. With India’s expanded role in the Indo-Pacific, much more is required here. The Indian Air Force too is sub-optimally equipped and structured today, needing to expand and modernise.&nbsp;

The Indian Army is in a tenuous position, where its technological needs and manpower levels do not appear to be in conceptual sync. However, premature efforts at resource-based and budget-based restructuring are not going to pay a dividend. The domain of internal security comes next. As a large nation with a young population, India has the inherent disadvantage of being ethnically, regionally, socially and religiously diverse with far too many interest groups that compete for limited resources. &nbsp;

The resultant effect is turbulence in society, which has to be overcome through an efficient internal security system. Unfortunately, even with a large footprint of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), the optimisation of internal security is insufficient, necessitating the deployment of the army to meet the demands of stabilisation of the environment. Unfortunately, with hybrid conflict now more the norm than the exception, the early involvement of the Army and the persistent need for it to remain deployed in internal security prevents the emergence of its true potential for conventional defence, deterrence and dissuasion. J&amp;K and the North Eastern states are classic examples.&nbsp;

However, it is also a truism that the presence of the Army in internal security of border states indirectly contributes to border security. In 2019, India’s concerns, besides J&amp;K and the North East, will need to also remain focused on Punjab where an attempt is being made by Pakistan to revive by proxy, elements of separatism.

The fourth domain is the field of active diplomacy. India has an outstanding diplomatic corps, which has dutifully delivered. Yet, the challenges in diplomacy are growing as India’s reach and influence expands and the size of the diplomatic corps needs to grow with that.&nbsp;

An element of prudence appears to dictate India’s foreign policy in that its ardent efforts towards engagement across the international strategic divide, have been of a multilateral nature. While collusive threats from China and Pakistan persist, the decision to engage with China through various forums and the maintenance of robust trade with it (although skewed in its favour) has contributed towards lowering the temperature on the border.&nbsp;

Lastly, unconventional threats appear to be growing. Cybersecurity, information and psychological domain, space and ideological threats are included in this ambit. These are threats, which need to be studied closely and suitable security structures against them created.&nbsp;

The threat from radical ideology has been real and it is only through better cultural awareness across society that such threats will be neutralised. Divisive trends within the nation promoted by interest groups can grow to become existential threats.&nbsp;

The ever-growing social media space, a domain for disinformation and fake news, needs to be optimally monitored with minimal invasiveness on norms of privacy. This last domain, which includes modern technological threats is likely to emerge to higher levels of prominence unless countermeasures are developed in the near term.

(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-five-security-threats-in-2019-2706078">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

When the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, most of the world imagined that the end of an era of confrontation was upon us. That sentiment probably was also present when the Second World War ended in 1945.

When the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, most of the world imagined that the end of an era of confrontation was upon us. That sentiment probably was also present when the Second World War ended in 1945. However, each time, humanity was disappointed because these events led it from one era of turbulence to another. That is why nations pursue trends and ways they can maximise what is potentially available to their populations, in keeping with their value systems. Obliquely, that is what national security is all about; the phenomenon by which nations retain their identity, values and the ability of their people to pursue a higher quality of life achieved through stability, security and prosperity. Each year, we in India undertake this exercise to determine what would be the core concerns of national security. The current one is an effort to identify five such core areas and there is nothing sacrosanct about them. First on the list is economics. Right from 1991, India has steadfastly pursued an economic policy for better growth, upliftment of a large segment of people from poverty, and improvement in the quality of life. It ensures better infrastructure, education and more equilibrium in society among many other pluses, which are indirect contributions to internal security. The second domain of focus remains external security to include border security and the pursuance of such policies that it contributes to the stability of the borders and the neighbourhood. The armed forces, in particular, also have to project deterrence and dissuasion. The foremost issue in this domain is the determination of threats, force structure to meet them and the optimum equipping and manning of the forces to ward off threats. An allotment of 1.47 per cent of the GDP to defence in the current financial year, does not appear to be sync with the optimum needs of the armed forces and needs revision. In addition, while there is a flurry of activity in the equipment domain with approvals by the Defence Acquisition Committee (DAC), their fructification appears tardy primarily due to antiquated procedures, which despite serious attempts by the government does not appear resolved. The Make in India programme is conceptually the finest idea, but to make it happen is not easy in the absence of yielding of space to the private sector. With so much investment in DRDO, it’s a severe challenge to let go the strings from the public sector to enable an optimum entry by private players. In external security, an area of concern remains insufficient resources available to the Indian Navy to meet its responsibilities for maritime security. With India’s expanded role in the Indo-Pacific, much more is required here. The Indian Air Force too is sub-optimally equipped and structured today, needing to expand and modernise. The Indian Army is in a tenuous position, where its technological needs and manpower levels do not appear to be in conceptual sync. However, premature efforts at resource-based and budget-based restructuring are not going to pay a dividend. The domain of internal security comes next. As a large nation with a young population, India has the inherent disadvantage of being ethnically, regionally, socially and religiously diverse with far too many interest groups that compete for limited resources. The resultant effect is turbulence in society, which has to be overcome through an efficient internal security system. Unfortunately, even with a large footprint of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), the optimisation of internal security is insufficient, necessitating the deployment of the army to meet the demands of stabilisation of the environment. Unfortunately, with hybrid conflict now more the norm than the exception, the early involvement of the Army and the persistent need for it to remain deployed in internal security prevents the emergence of its true potential for conventional defence, deterrence and dissuasion. J&K and the North Eastern states are classic examples. However, it is also a truism that the presence of the Army in internal security of border states indirectly contributes to border security. In 2019, India’s concerns, besides J&K and the North East, will need to also remain focused on Punjab where an attempt is being made by Pakistan to revive by proxy, elements of separatism. The fourth domain is the field of active diplomacy. India has an outstanding diplomatic corps, which has dutifully delivered. Yet, the challenges in diplomacy are growing as India’s reach and influence expands and the size of the diplomatic corps needs to grow with that. An element of prudence appears to dictate India’s foreign policy in that its ardent efforts towards engagement across the international strategic divide, have been of a multilateral nature. While collusive threats from China and Pakistan persist, the decision to engage with China through various forums and the maintenance of robust trade with it (although skewed in its favour) has contributed towards lowering the temperature on the border. Lastly, unconventional threats appear to be growing. Cybersecurity, information and psychological domain, space and ideological threats are included in this ambit. These are threats, which need to be studied closely and suitable security structures against them created. The threat from radical ideology has been real and it is only through better cultural awareness across society that such threats will be neutralised. Divisive trends within the nation promoted by interest groups can grow to become existential threats. The ever-growing social media space, a domain for disinformation and fake news, needs to be optimally monitored with minimal invasiveness on norms of privacy. This last domain, which includes modern technological threats is likely to emerge to higher levels of prominence unless countermeasures are developed in the near term. (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Five security threats in 2019

Diwali is an occasion when everyone is headed home in order to spend time with loved ones. However, Indian armed forces stationed in Jammu and Kashmir not only stay away from home on Diwali day but they have to stay vigilant and alert along the Line of Control (LoC) in order to thwart any attempts of infiltration.

In Kashmir, the Border Security Force personnel are maintaining a tight vigil around the fence between India and Pakistan, despite all odds.

These Border Security Forces personnel celebrate the festival of lights with each other while praying for the safety and security of their country. The bad weather and early snowfall have made the task even more difficult on the frontline this year. This BSF patrol looks at every suspicious movement along the fence and continued even on the day of Diwali.&nbsp;

For them, Diwali celebrations are limited but their moral remains high despite adverse conditions. Away from these families, they celebrate the festival of lights guarding the fences even though the celebrations are subdued.&nbsp;

"Our celebration is in the celebration of entire country, we don't feel that we aren't celebrating Diwali at the same time, we don't think we are away from these celebrations," says BSF head constable Kishori Lal, while standing close to the fence.&nbsp;

These forces say that they are happy in celebrating the festival with their colleagues with whom they have developed a strong bond over the years.

The combing operations don’t stop even for a minute. Round the clock vigil is the only way to keep a sneaking enemy at bay. Jawans know, the Diwali won’t be any different. In this area, the lull is only broken by guns shots.

"We sometimes miss the celebrations, but then if people in India celebrate Diwali safely, because of us, I personally feel proud," says another sub-inspector Anuj Kumar, while patrolling the line of control.&nbsp;

After finishing their duties, some of these men gather at a local prayer hall. Here they Pray for the safety and security of India. These vigilant border guards have little time to celebrate before they head for another patrol.&nbsp;

These jawans say that they want people to celebrate a greener Diwali by avoiding the use of firecrackers to curb pollution which has made the conditions worse in the Indian capital state, Delhi.

Many miles away from the fence, celebrations are in full swing at BSF headquarters in the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. BSF personnel have gathered with their families at the festival ground which gives them an opportunity to meet an interact with each other.

"These festivals are important for us. We work in a difficult situation but these festivals give us the opportunity to bond together and get together. We celebrate our service to our nation," says BSF Kashmir Inspector General, Abhinav Kumar.

Diwali is an occasion when everyone is headed home in order to spend time with loved ones. However, Indian armed forces stationed in Jammu and Kashmir not only stay away from home on Diwali day but they have to stay vigilant and alert along the Line of Control (LoC) in order to thwart any attempts of infiltration.

Diwali is an occasion when everyone is headed home in order to spend time with loved ones. However, Indian armed forces stationed in Jammu and Kashmir not only stay away from home on Diwali day but they have to stay vigilant and alert along the Line of Control (LoC) in order to thwart any attempts of infiltration. In Kashmir, the Border Security Force personnel are maintaining a tight vigil around the fence between India and Pakistan, despite all odds. These Border Security Forces personnel celebrate the festival of lights with each other while praying for the safety and security of their country. The bad weather and early snowfall have made the task even more difficult on the frontline this year. This BSF patrol looks at every suspicious movement along the fence and continued even on the day of Diwali. For them, Diwali celebrations are limited but their moral remains high despite adverse conditions. Away from these families, they celebrate the festival of lights guarding the fences even though the celebrations are subdued. "Our celebration is in the celebration of entire country, we don't feel that we aren't celebrating Diwali at the same time, we don't think we are away from these celebrations," says BSF head constable Kishori Lal, while standing close to the fence. These forces say that they are happy in celebrating the festival with their colleagues with whom they have developed a strong bond over the years. The combing operations don’t stop even for a minute. Round the clock vigil is the only way to keep a sneaking enemy at bay. Jawans know, the Diwali won’t be any different. In this area, the lull is only broken by guns shots. "We sometimes miss the celebrations, but then if people in India celebrate Diwali safely, because of us, I personally feel proud," says another sub-inspector Anuj Kumar, while patrolling the line of control. After finishing their duties, some of these men gather at a local prayer hall. Here they Pray for the safety and security of India. These vigilant border guards have little time to celebrate before they head for another patrol. These jawans say that they want people to celebrate a greener Diwali by avoiding the use of firecrackers to curb pollution which has made the conditions worse in the Indian capital state, Delhi. Many miles away from the fence, celebrations are in full swing at BSF headquarters in the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. BSF personnel have gathered with their families at the festival ground which gives them an opportunity to meet an interact with each other. "These festivals are important for us. We work in a difficult situation but these festivals give us the opportunity to bond together and get together. We celebrate our service to our nation," says BSF Kashmir Inspector General, Abhinav Kumar.

On Diwali day, it's work as usual for jawans far away from home 

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday stated that the constitutional arrangement can never be protected only by the judiciary and that the onus rests with the political leadership, civil society, religious leaders and the intelligentsia.

"No constitutional arrangement can be protected only by the judiciary. However vigilant the judges may be, ultimately it comes down to political leadership, civil society, religious leaders and intelligentsia to defend the constitution and its secular commitment," Singh stated.

"The judiciary needs to arrive at its own enlightened view of its custodianship of the constitution irrespective of the irresponsible and selfish politicians who may have no qualms in injecting the communal virus in our body politic," the former Prime Minister noted.&nbsp;

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No constitutional arrangement can be protected only by judiciary. However vigilant the judges may be, ultimately it comes down to political leadership, civil society, religious leaders&amp;intelligentsia to defend constitution&amp;its secular commitment: Former PM Manmohan Singh (25.09) <a href="https://t.co/roXJQ53LY4">pic.twitter.com/roXJQ53LY4</a>
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Singh also commented on the Indian Armed Forces saying that it enjoys a "glorious record of keeping away from politicians' manipulations and intrigues."

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The judiciary needs to arrive at its own enlightened view of its custodianship of the constitution irrespective of the irresponsible and selfish politicians who may have no qualms in injecting communal virus in our body politic: Former PM Manmohan Singh in Delhi (25.09.2018) <a href="https://t.co/B8fwWSxokD">pic.twitter.com/B8fwWSxokD</a>
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"As the custodian of the integrity of the electoral process, it is incumbent upon the Election Commission to see to it that religion, religious sentiments and prejudices do not get worked into the election discourse," Singh shared.&nbsp;

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Our Armed Forces are a splendid embodiment of our secular project. Our Armed Forces have a glorious record of keeping away from politicians' manipulation&amp; intrigues. It's vitally important that they remain uncontaminated from any sectarian appeal: Former PM Manmohan Singh (25.09) <a href="https://t.co/gQqzvtvXwE">pic.twitter.com/gQqzvtvXwE</a>
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Ex-Prime Minister's comments came amid the government's plans to celebrate on September 29 the second anniversary of the surgical strikes on terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir(PoK). The Congress has been accusing the Modi government of politicising the armed forces for electoral gains.

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As the custodian of the integrity of the electoral process, it is incumbent upon the Election Commission to see to it that religion, religious sentiments and prejudices do not get worked into the election discourse: Former PM Manmohan Singh (25.09.2018) <a href="https://t.co/ZEFPLIuy7Y">pic.twitter.com/ZEFPLIuy7Y</a>
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Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to rule on the disqualification issue stating that the Parliament must create a law to bar candidates with criminal background from contesting elections.&nbsp;

"Parliament must ensure that criminals must not come to politics," Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra noted while reading out the verdict on PIL seeking to disqualify candidates contesting polls. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) &nbsp;

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday stated that the constitutional arrangement can never be protected only by the judiciary and that the onus rests with the political leadership, civil society, religious leaders and the intelligentsia.

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday stated that the constitutional arrangement can never be protected only by the judiciary and that the onus rests with the political leadership, civil society, religious leaders and the intelligentsia. "No constitutional arrangement can be protected only by the judiciary. However vigilant the judges may be, ultimately it comes down to political leadership, civil society, religious leaders and intelligentsia to defend the constitution and its secular commitment," Singh stated. "The judiciary needs to arrive at its own enlightened view of its custodianship of the constitution irrespective of the irresponsible and selfish politicians who may have no qualms in injecting the communal virus in our body politic," the former Prime Minister noted. No constitutional arrangement can be protected only by judiciary. However vigilant the judges may be, ultimately it comes down to political leadership, civil society, religious leaders&intelligentsia to defend constitution&its secular commitment: Former PM Manmohan Singh (25.09) pic.twitter.com/roXJQ53LY4 — ANI (@ANI) September 25, 2018 × Singh also commented on the Indian Armed Forces saying that it enjoys a "glorious record of keeping away from politicians' manipulations and intrigues." The judiciary needs to arrive at its own enlightened view of its custodianship of the constitution irrespective of the irresponsible and selfish politicians who may have no qualms in injecting communal virus in our body politic: Former PM Manmohan Singh in Delhi (25.09.2018) pic.twitter.com/B8fwWSxokD — ANI (@ANI) September 25, 2018 × "As the custodian of the integrity of the electoral process, it is incumbent upon the Election Commission to see to it that religion, religious sentiments and prejudices do not get worked into the election discourse," Singh shared. Our Armed Forces are a splendid embodiment of our secular project. Our Armed Forces have a glorious record of keeping away from politicians' manipulation& intrigues. It's vitally important that they remain uncontaminated from any sectarian appeal: Former PM Manmohan Singh (25.09) pic.twitter.com/gQqzvtvXwE — ANI (@ANI) September 25, 2018 × Ex-Prime Minister's comments came amid the government's plans to celebrate on September 29 the second anniversary of the surgical strikes on terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir(PoK). The Congress has been accusing the Modi government of politicising the armed forces for electoral gains. As the custodian of the integrity of the electoral process, it is incumbent upon the Election Commission to see to it that religion, religious sentiments and prejudices do not get worked into the election discourse: Former PM Manmohan Singh (25.09.2018) pic.twitter.com/ZEFPLIuy7Y — ANI (@ANI) September 25, 2018 × Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to rule on the disqualification issue stating that the Parliament must create a law to bar candidates with criminal background from contesting elections. "Parliament must ensure that criminals must not come to politics," Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra noted while reading out the verdict on PIL seeking to disqualify candidates contesting polls. (With inputs from agencies)

Religious sentiments, prejudices should not get worked into election discourse: Manmohan Singh 

After Russia, China and US, India has decided to include Artificial Intelligence in its defence forces with an aim to enhance the operational preparedness of the armed forces, ANi reported.

News agency ANI quoting Ajay Kumar, Defence Secretary (Production), Ministry of Defence stated that a task force has been set up under the chairmanship of Tata Sons chairman N. Chandrasekaran to finalise the specifics and framework of the project.

"Artificial Intelligence is going to influence everything in the future, our common lives also including it also going to affect the future warfare. Most of the major countries in the world are taking steps to ensure that their defence systems are fully empowered by the use of Artificial Intelligence. In India, we have also taken steps in this direction," Kumar was quoted as saying.

The project to equip defence forces with Artificial Intelligence, includes the representation from all defence forces or Defence Research and Development (DRDO) labs, government, BEL, experts, professionals and startups.

"This multi-stakeholder group is looking at what are the kinds of requirements," Kumar said.

He further said that India has a fairly strong IT industry base which will become the biggest strength in terms of developing Artificial Intelligence capabilities.

"We need to work on a partnership model between industries and defence forces which should be different from a buyer-seller proposition," he added.

Artificial Intelligence, which along with robotics, internet and machine learning has been billed as the dawn of the fourth industrial revolution, is a system of computers or machines that have the ability to mirror human intelligence. This means they can learn, reason and do the self-correction on its own.

The project to equip defence forces with Artificial Intelligence, includes the representation from all defence forces or Defence Research and Development (DRDO) labs, government, BEL, experts, professionals and startups.

After Russia, China and US, India has decided to include Artificial Intelligence in its defence forces with an aim to enhance the operational preparedness of the armed forces, ANi reported. News agency ANI quoting Ajay Kumar, Defence Secretary (Production), Ministry of Defence stated that a task force has been set up under the chairmanship of Tata Sons chairman N. Chandrasekaran to finalise the specifics and framework of the project. "Artificial Intelligence is going to influence everything in the future, our common lives also including it also going to affect the future warfare. Most of the major countries in the world are taking steps to ensure that their defence systems are fully empowered by the use of Artificial Intelligence. In India, we have also taken steps in this direction," Kumar was quoted as saying. The project to equip defence forces with Artificial Intelligence, includes the representation from all defence forces or Defence Research and Development (DRDO) labs, government, BEL, experts, professionals and startups. "This multi-stakeholder group is looking at what are the kinds of requirements," Kumar said. He further said that India has a fairly strong IT industry base which will become the biggest strength in terms of developing Artificial Intelligence capabilities. "We need to work on a partnership model between industries and defence forces which should be different from a buyer-seller proposition," he added. Artificial Intelligence, which along with robotics, internet and machine learning has been billed as the dawn of the fourth industrial revolution, is a system of computers or machines that have the ability to mirror human intelligence. This means they can learn, reason and do the self-correction on its own.

India aiming at equipping defence forces with Artificial Intelligence

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday pitched for women empowerment and said there should be more women in the Armed Forces.

&quot;Debate about empowerment should not always be a gender-based argument, whether an individual can perform being a woman or a man. Therefore, the whole narration on Women&#39;s Day is to look at it in this context,&quot; Sitharaman said while addressing a function on &#39;Women in Uniform of Armed Forces Medical Services&#39; (AFMS) here.

She said, &quot;I think there are areas in which men should be posted, not so much to fight them, but for making them understand that well you may not be good in this you may be good at something else. So blanket rejection of male or female can completely be avoided. That&#39;s why I think whenever we talk, it should be citizens&#39; empowerment.&quot;

Lt Gen Bipin Puri delivered the welcome speech at the event and lauded the role of women officers as health care providers and caregivers.

The event was attended by delegates comprising of senior serving and retired lady AFMS officers from across the country.&nbsp;

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday pitched for women empowerment and said there should be more women in the Armed Forces

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday pitched for women empowerment and said there should be more women in the Armed Forces. "Debate about empowerment should not always be a gender-based argument, whether an individual can perform being a woman or a man. Therefore, the whole narration on Women's Day is to look at it in this context," Sitharaman said while addressing a function on 'Women in Uniform of Armed Forces Medical Services' (AFMS) here. She said, "I think there are areas in which men should be posted, not so much to fight them, but for making them understand that well you may not be good in this you may be good at something else. So blanket rejection of male or female can completely be avoided. That's why I think whenever we talk, it should be citizens' empowerment." Lt Gen Bipin Puri delivered the welcome speech at the event and lauded the role of women officers as health care providers and caregivers. The event was attended by delegates comprising of senior serving and retired lady AFMS officers from across the country.

There should be more women in armed forces: Sitharaman

On Sunday, the Central Reserve Paramilitary Force (CRPF) celebrated Valour Day&nbsp;to commemorate the battle of &quot;Sardar Post&#39;&#39;, which took place on the Gujarat-Pakistan border&nbsp;in 1965. Present at the event, Home Minister Rajnath Singh launched a web portal&nbsp;&ldquo;Bharat ke Veer&rdquo;, or &quot;Bravehearts of India&quot; in English, for the welfare of the Central Armed Police Force.

The Bharat ke Veer portal enables the general public to donate money towards the families of martyrs of CRPF. The portal will both work as a website and as a mobile application for ease of access. People can donate up to Rs 15 lakh (about $23,250) via the website.&nbsp;

<h3>Also see: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/life-fun/national-film-awards-akshay-kumar-wins-best-actor-for-rustom-kaasav-named-best-picture-14288">Akshay wins Best Actor at National Film Awards</a></h3>

&nbsp;

This idea was seeded by the Bollywood actor&nbsp;Akshay Kumar. Commenting on his idea he said, &ldquo;I am a soldier&#39;s son myself. While watching a documentary film, an idea came to mind that a website should be there for people who want to donate to the &#39;next of kin&#39;&nbsp;of the Central Armed Police Force and paramilitary forces soldiers. As I could donate to the soldiers&#39; families, many people also showed their eagerness to donate money, but didn&rsquo;t know how to go ahead. I think by this website anyone from anywhere now can donate to our soldiers.&rdquo;

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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BSqq_4Vhz2J/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Such an Honour to Garland the sacred soil of Sardar Post on #ValourDay. Launching my dream #BharatKeVeer as we speak!! Jai Hind</a>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) on <time datetime="2017-04-09T13:45:10+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Apr 9, 2017 at 6:45am PDT</time>
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The website is technically supported by the National Informatics Centre&nbsp;and powered by the State Bank of India.

Akshay Kumar had also recently&nbsp;donated Rs 1.08 crore (about $167.300)&nbsp;to the families of the CRPF jawans, who lost their lives while fighting Maoists in Sukma, Chhattisgarh.

(WION)

'Bharat ke Veer' lets the general public donate money to families of martyrs of India's central paramilitary forces

On Sunday, the Central Reserve Paramilitary Force (CRPF) celebrated Valour Day to commemorate the battle of "Sardar Post'', which took place on the Gujarat-Pakistan border in 1965. Present at the event, Home Minister Rajnath Singh launched a web portal “Bharat ke Veer”, or "Bravehearts of India" in English, for the welfare of the Central Armed Police Force. The Bharat ke Veer portal enables the general public to donate money towards the families of martyrs of CRPF. The portal will both work as a website and as a mobile application for ease of access. People can donate up to Rs 15 lakh (about $23,250) via the website. Also see: Akshay wins Best Actor at National Film Awards This idea was seeded by the Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar. Commenting on his idea he said, “I am a soldier's son myself. While watching a documentary film, an idea came to mind that a website should be there for people who want to donate to the 'next of kin' of the Central Armed Police Force and paramilitary forces soldiers. As I could donate to the soldiers' families, many people also showed their eagerness to donate money, but didn’t know how to go ahead. I think by this website anyone from anywhere now can donate to our soldiers.” Such an Honour to Garland the sacred soil of Sardar Post on #ValourDay. Launching my dream #BharatKeVeer as we speak!! Jai Hind A post shared by Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) on Apr 9, 2017 at 6:45am PDT × The website is technically supported by the National Informatics Centre and powered by the State Bank of India. Akshay Kumar had also recently donated Rs 1.08 crore (about $167.300) to the families of the CRPF jawans, who lost their lives while fighting Maoists in Sukma, Chhattisgarh. (WION)

Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar launches 'Bharat ke Veer' for Armed Forces

Amnesty International India has temporarily closed its offices and postponed events aimed at raising awareness of rights abuses over safety concerns for its staff after the charity was accused of sedition by protesters, a spokeswoman said yesterday. 
 
Political activists held demonstrations against the rights group on Tuesday and Wednesday, accusing it of inciting hatred against the State during an event it hosted on abuses by Indian security forces in the troubled Kashmir region. 
 
Police said they were investigating if &quot;anti-India&quot; slogans were raised at the event after receiving a complaint from the right-wing student organisation, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), which has ties to the ruling Bharitya Janata Party (BJP). 
 
Amnesty said the allegations against the organisation were unsubstantiated, but admitted that slogans calling for Kashmir&#39;s independence were chanted by some people attending Saturday&#39;s seminar in the southern city of Bengaluru. 
 
&quot;The allegations mentioned in the complaint are without any basis. The event was an open door event and people were coming and going. No staff members were involved,&quot; said Himanshi Matta, Amnesty International India&#39;s spokeswoman in India. 
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<h5>Amnesty said the allegations against the organisation were unsubstantiated, but admitted that slogans calling for Kashmir&#39;s independence were chanted by some people attending Saturday&#39;s seminar in the southern city of Bengaluru.</h5>
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<div class="share-blockquote"><a attending="" by="" chanted="" class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Amnesty said the allegations against the organisation were unsubstantiated, but admitted that slogans calling for Kashmir" independence="" people="" s="" saturday="" some="" were="">&nbsp;</a></div>
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&quot;They are preventing the families of victims of human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir from having their stories heard. And preventing civil society organisations from enabling these families to exercise their constitutional right to justice.&quot; 
 
Following protests by hundreds of right-wing activists in Bengaluru on Tuesday and in Delhi on Wednesday, Matta said the charity had decided to temporarily close its main office in the city, as well smaller ones in Pune, New Delhi and Chennai. 
 
The seminar, aimed at raising awareness over the lack of justice for families of victims in the northern Kashmir, was planned to take place in Mumbai and New Delhi next week, but has been postponed due to security concerns for the families and staff, she added. 
 
Rights groups have for years accused Indian forces battling a separatist insurgency in Kashmir and parts of northeast India of violating civilian rights through a controversial law which gives them sweeping powers to search, arrest or shoot people. 
 
Authorities and the armed forces deny the charges, saying the law - the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA)- is essential to root out militants. 
 
Video footage of the event in Bengaluru which was recorded by Amnesty has been handed over to the police, and is being studied by forensic investigators, said a police official, who declined to be named. 
 
Kashmir, India&#39;s only majority-Muslim region, has been the trigger for two of the three wars between India and neighbouring Pakistan - with both nuclear-armed nations laying claim to it. 
 
The investigation comes as Indian-administered Kashmir experiences its worst unrest in six years after security forces last month killed a young separatist commander who was idolized by some youth, provoking an outpouring of anger. 
 
At least 64 people - civilians and security forces - have been killed in last 40 days in violent street protests, and a strict curfew has been imposed on residents. 
 
(Reuters)

Political activists held demonstrations against the rights group accusing it of inciting hatred against the State

Amnesty International India has temporarily closed its offices and postponed events aimed at raising awareness of rights abuses over safety concerns for its staff after the charity was accused of sedition by protesters, a spokeswoman said yesterday. Political activists held demonstrations against the rights group on Tuesday and Wednesday, accusing it of inciting hatred against the State during an event it hosted on abuses by Indian security forces in the troubled Kashmir region. Police said they were investigating if "anti-India" slogans were raised at the event after receiving a complaint from the right-wing student organisation, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), which has ties to the ruling Bharitya Janata Party (BJP). Amnesty said the allegations against the organisation were unsubstantiated, but admitted that slogans calling for Kashmir's independence were chanted by some people attending Saturday's seminar in the southern city of Bengaluru. "The allegations mentioned in the complaint are without any basis. The event was an open door event and people were coming and going. No staff members were involved," said Himanshi Matta, Amnesty International India's spokeswoman in India. Amnesty said the allegations against the organisation were unsubstantiated, but admitted that slogans calling for Kashmir's independence were chanted by some people attending Saturday's seminar in the southern city of Bengaluru. "They are preventing the families of victims of human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir from having their stories heard. And preventing civil society organisations from enabling these families to exercise their constitutional right to justice." Following protests by hundreds of right-wing activists in Bengaluru on Tuesday and in Delhi on Wednesday, Matta said the charity had decided to temporarily close its main office in the city, as well smaller ones in Pune, New Delhi and Chennai. The seminar, aimed at raising awareness over the lack of justice for families of victims in the northern Kashmir, was planned to take place in Mumbai and New Delhi next week, but has been postponed due to security concerns for the families and staff, she added. Rights groups have for years accused Indian forces battling a separatist insurgency in Kashmir and parts of northeast India of violating civilian rights through a controversial law which gives them sweeping powers to search, arrest or shoot people. Authorities and the armed forces deny the charges, saying the law - the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA)- is essential to root out militants. Video footage of the event in Bengaluru which was recorded by Amnesty has been handed over to the police, and is being studied by forensic investigators, said a police official, who declined to be named. Kashmir, India's only majority-Muslim region, has been the trigger for two of the three wars between India and neighbouring Pakistan - with both nuclear-armed nations laying claim to it. The investigation comes as Indian-administered Kashmir experiences its worst unrest in six years after security forces last month killed a young separatist commander who was idolized by some youth, provoking an outpouring of anger. At least 64 people - civilians and security forces - have been killed in last 40 days in violent street protests, and a strict curfew has been imposed on residents. (Reuters)

Amnesty India temporarily closes offices, postpones events after sedition charge

Detained Turkish soldiers were brought to court in Ankara today under tight police guard following Friday night&#39;s coup bid by a faction in the army. 
 
Thousands of members of the armed forces, from foot soldiers to commanders, were rounded up on Sunday, some shown in photographs stripped to their underpants and handcuffed on the floors of police buses and a sports hall.&nbsp;Several thousand prosecutors and judges have also been removed. 
 
The court appearance came as Turkey suspended thousands of police officers, widening a purge of the armed forces and judiciary after a failed military coup, and raising concern among European allies that it was abandoning the rule of law. 
 
A senior security official told Reuters 8,000 police officers, including in the capital Ankara and the biggest city Istanbul, had been removed from their posts on suspicion of links to Friday&#39;s coup bid.&nbsp;Thirty regional governors and more than 50 high-ranking civil servants have also been dismissed, CNN Turk said. 
 
(Reuters)

Turkey has suspended thousands of police officers, widening a purge of the armed forces and judiciary after a failed military coup

Detained Turkish soldiers were brought to court in Ankara today under tight police guard following Friday night's coup bid by a faction in the army. Thousands of members of the armed forces, from foot soldiers to commanders, were rounded up on Sunday, some shown in photographs stripped to their underpants and handcuffed on the floors of police buses and a sports hall. Several thousand prosecutors and judges have also been removed. The court appearance came as Turkey suspended thousands of police officers, widening a purge of the armed forces and judiciary after a failed military coup, and raising concern among European allies that it was abandoning the rule of law. A senior security official told Reuters 8,000 police officers, including in the capital Ankara and the biggest city Istanbul, had been removed from their posts on suspicion of links to Friday's coup bid. Thirty regional governors and more than 50 high-ranking civil servants have also been dismissed, CNN Turk said. (Reuters)

Turkey coup: Detained soldiers brought to Ankara court under tight security

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