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Moscow engine flop show casts cloud on fighter takeoff
India’s home-grown Light Combat Aircraft is years away from fighting fit. A flop show in Moscow has belied hopes that the money-guzzling fighter, christened Tejas, will join the air force within the next three years.
The LCA, a joint effort by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the public sector Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (Hal), is meant to replace the ageing MiG-21s as frontline air defence fighters.
The latest setback came when the Kaveri engine, designed by the Gas Turbine Research Establishment in Bangalore to power the fighter jet, flopped during ground tests at the State Institute for Aerodynamics Research, Moscow.
The engine collapsed when high-altitude conditions were simulated at the research facility. The next round of tests onboard a Tupolev-16 (TU-16) bomber at the Gromov Flight Research Institute, Moscow, was called off as a result, DRDO sources said.
They added that the glitch would hold up the project further, delaying the fighter jet’s induction by the Indian Air Force in 2007-08.
Last month, DRDO chief V.K. Atre said on the day of his retirement that the authorities may have overestimated their capability to deliver the LCA.
“The schedule of flight tests (in Russia) for the engine was to end in mid-2005, followed by several hundred hours of flying onboard two aircraft in India prior to certification. Even if these tests start in 2007 (on Indian aircraft), the earliest certification will be in 2010. We want to be doubly cautious about the engine because the LCA is a single-engine aircraft,” a source said.
Each indigenous LCA will cost $17-20 million against the $35 million price tag of Su-30 fighters.
The IAF has been insisting on fitting the LCA with an indigenous engine rather than the F-404 engines of the US company General Electric. The GE engines were acquired for Technology Demonstrators and prototypes under a $100- million contract.
The contract permits the import of 17 engines with an option for increasing the number to 35 over a five-year period.
Three of these engines now power two Technology Demonstrators and a prototype and have logged more than 150 hours in flight tests. The first Demonstrator took to the skies on its maiden sortie on January 4, 2001.
The LCA project has slipped up on weaponisation as well.
The multi-mode radar being developed by the Electronics and Radar Development Establishment and Hal has been plagued by technical snags and cost overruns.
The radar is a key component of the fighter’s weapon system, taking care of detection and tracking (of targets) and delivery of weapons. Its track-while-scan facilitates simultaneous tracking and engagement of 10 targets.
Besides this, the air-to-air “Astra” missile of the beyond visual range (BVR) class with an 80-km range, which is being developed by the DRDO for the LCA, has only reached the stage of test-firing motors on the ground.
“It’s a big task to complete the design of this missile and carry out sufficient number of tests by 2008,” sources said.
The option of importing similar weapons will cause cost overruns and belie the claim that the indigenous fighter is an inexpensive replacement for MiGs.
The LCA project was launched in the early 1990s with the Aeronautical Development Agency, Bangalore, as the nodal agency.
During the Rs 5,500-crore development phase, seven aircraft (two Technology Demonstrators, four prototypes and one two-seater trainer version) will be manufactured to log 2,500 hours of test-flying ahead of induction by the IAF.
Once the tests are completed, Hal will start largescale manufacture of the fighter jets.
India's first-ever military outpost on foreign soil, located at Farkhor, about 10 km outside Tajikistan's capital Dushanbe, is ready to become operational by this year-end, without any fanfare.
Reliable sources in the government say the Indian Air Force (IAF) is pressing for an early decision on a suitable aircraft to be stationed at this military base. Operational requirements stipulate at least two squadrons to be stationed there.
Logically, experts say, IAF could opt for MiG-29s that are already in its inventory and can be flown in and out of the region.
Although Indian officials are not willing to discuss the importance of the Farkhor military base, foreign analysts have noted that the acquisition of the military base in Tajikistan would certainly give the Indian armed forces a longer strategic reach.
Defence sources describe it as a "modern" military base where 95 per cent of the infrastructure is in place. The runway, the blast pans and the control tower are ready.
The Army is also into this exercise, having operated a military hospital there, basically to nurse the Northern Alliance soldiers who fought the Taliban regime in neighbouring Afghanistan between 1997 and 2001.
It was to this hospital that Ahmed Shah Massoud, the last of the anti-Taliban resistance leader, was brought dead after Al-Qaida's emissaries, posing as TV journalists, killed him in an explosion three years ago.
The base is the outcome of considerable behind-the-scene work by the MEA, clinched after the US, which marked a big military presence in Central Asia in the wake of 9/11, preferred not to establish a base.
Work by then defence minister George Fernandes led to a bilateral agreement being signed in 2002 during then PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee's visit to Tajikistan.
Even before 9/11, Tajik President Emamoli Rakhmanov has been visiting India. The two countries share common security threat perceptions.
Although Russia's 82nd Motorised Division guards the Tajik border with Afghanistan, the bilateral agreement stipulates the presence of both Indian Army and IAF personnel who will also assist in warding off any threat to Tajikistan.
EE Times September 29, 2004 (11:31 AM EDT)
WASHINGTON — An accord between the United States and India loosens export restrictions on dual-use technologies, paving the way for closer space and civilian nuclear cooperation along with increased high-tech trade.
The agreement, dubbed the Next Steps in Strategic Partnerships initiative, removes the Indian Space Research Organization in Bangalore from the Commerce Department's "entity list." Dual-use items with commercial and military applications cannot be shipped to countries on the list.
The two governments have been meeting since January to conclude the first phase of the initiative, including implementation of nonproliferation measures and ensuring compliance with U.S. export controls. The export rules are designed to ensure that technologies are not passed along to third parties.
The U.S. imposed strict export restrictions on India and Pakistan after the rivals conducted a series of nuclear tests in 1998.
Negotiators are now expected to broaden their dialogue on missile defense technologies, the Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security, said in a statement.
LONDON: In an effort to meet its burgeoning defence imports, Pakistan plans to double its defence exports in the near future, a leading defence weekly reported Wednesday.
Pakistan's strategy is to focus on building the Khalid and Zarrar main battle tanks and Mushshak trainer aircraft and earn enough from exporting them to match its defence imports, the Jane's Defence Weekly said in its latest issue quoting country's top defence industry officials.
"Our products have started to mature... today there are things that we can offer that can really interest the whole world," Zahid Anis, Pakistan's secretary for defence production, told the weekly.
"We are sustaining 100 million dollars now and that's good considering we're a new entrant into the market," Maj Gen Syed Ali Hamid, director general of the Defence Export Promotion Organisation, which co-ordinates the export activities of Pakistan's defence manufacturers, said.
"But if we sell one or two of the big-ticket items, say one billion dollar over five or six years, then you're looking at 200 or 300 million dollars a year, which is still just a fraction of the global defence market. But my target is, whatever our import bill is, if we can match our exports to that then I'll be satisfied," he said.
Pakistan's defence exports, currently amounting to about 100 million dollars a year should increase dramatically when the country starts to export Khalids, which could happen in the next couple of years, along with the JF-17 fighter it is developing with China, which could be ready for export by 2008 or 2009, the officials said.
New Delhi, Sept. 27: The head of the British armaments export agency, Defence Export Services Organisation, Alan Garwood, will be here tomorrow to initiate talks on a range of military equipment that India is negotiating with the UK. The British military is also interacting closely with the triservice set up in the Indian defence establishment, the Integrated Defence Staff and is sharing experiences on procurement processes and logistics support. Last month, Indian curry and pulao made it to the British army's menu.
India-UK defence trade recorded a quantum jump this year with the signing of the contract for the British Aerospace Hawk Advanced Jet Trainers. Garwood, who will meet officials in the ministry of defence and in the armed forces, is expected to take talks on other military hardware further. Among the equipment are:
Personnel-locating beacons for the air force (that will make detection of fallen
aircraft easier. This is an equipment the IAF has been looking for since two MiG-21
aircraft went missing during training sorties in the Northeast last year)
Hand-held chemical agent detectors for the army
Ejector seats for IAF aircraft
Remote-controlled vehicles
Air-to-air refuelling probes for Sukhoi 30 aircraft
Mine ploughs for army vehicles
The British military industry is also keen on beginning talks on ship design management systems and combat management systems for Indian Navy frigates. The contract for the British Hawk has made the UK the third largest military equipment supplier to the Indian armed forces after the former Soviet Bloc countries and Israel.
The two militaries are also holding planning conferences for the command post exercise to be held early next year called Emerald Mercury. It will involve elements from all three armed services. It is understood that Exercise Emerald Mercury will involve the setting up of a
temporary joint staff headquarters in the southern command area near Hyderabad. The
exercise will be held in a peace support operations framework that will involve deploying a command post in-country, to simulate a peace enforcement operation in a third country.
India-UK military ties are governed by a Defence Consultative Group (DCG) of the
two ministries of defence. Sub-committees of the army, navy and air force under the
DCG are meeting this month and in December to chart out future programmes. More
than a 100 Indian and British military officers have participated in exchange programmes this year alone.
India has no plans to conduct military exercises with Israel even as it works to strengthen military-to-military contacts with that country, official sources here said.
"There are no plans at all to conduct joint exercises with the Israeli defence forces," said a highly placed source familiar with the thinking in the highest levels of the external affairs ministry.
"We will, however, maintain high level military-to-military contacts with Israel that are mutually beneficial," the source told IANS.
The external affairs ministry was particularly miffed after Indian Air Force (IAF) chief, Air Chief Marshal S. Krishnaswamy, told the Jerusalem Post newspaper during a visit to Israel this month that he had received a "positive" response for a proposal to conduct joint manoeuvres.
After Krishnaswamy's comments were highlighted by a New Delhi-based daily, the IAF clarified last week that the air force chief had not signed any formal agreement or taken any decision on holding joint exercises.
Israel has emerged a major supplier of hi-tech military hardware like pilot-less spy planes and sophisticated sensors and radars that have been deployed along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir to prevent terrorist incursions.
India has also signed a $1.1 billion deal with Israel to acquire three Phalcon airborne warning and control systems.
New Delhi is keen to ensure that it continues to have access to such sophisticated Israeli hardware as well as continue cooperation with Tel Aviv in areas like sharing of intelligence, said officials of the defence and external affairs ministries.
At the same time, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's coalition government is keen to be seen as balancing its strategic ties with Israel with New Delhi's traditional friendly relations with the Arab world.
"We do need cutting edge technologies like the radars and thermal imaging systems that are being used in Kashmir and would like to keep up high-level contacts with the Israelis," said a defence ministry official.
The Left parties, which provide crucial support to the government from outside, have been particularly critical of India's military ties with Israel.
But Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee has ruled out any dilution of the strategic and military ties with Israel.
India this month sent its Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed as a special envoy to meet Palestine President Yasser Arafat. And shortly thereafter, Manmohan Singh met prominent Jewish leaders in New York.
The US may consider military strikes against Pakistan's nuclear assets if President Pervez Musharraf is removed from power, a Democratic candidate for the S
enate has said.
Dawn Tuesday quoted Barack Obama, a Democratic Party Senate contender, as saying in San Francisco that the US feared that Islamic extremists would take over Pakistan if Mushrraf were overthrown.
In such a situation, the US would have to consider "going in and taking the nuclear bombs out", he said.
The Senate hopeful's remarks are in line with Musharraf's own argument that it was important for Pakistan to have him at the helm of affairs as the country would otherwise be taken over by fundamentalists.
Ever since Pakistan conducted nuclear tests in May 1998 in a tit-for-tat retaliation against Indian tests, there have been international concerns about its nuclear weapons falling into the hands terrorist and Islamic fundamentalist groups.
Pakistan's close links with Afghanistan's then Taliban regime and the way various terrorist groups, including those active in Jammu and Kashmir, operated freely in that country had heightened these fears.
Though Islamabad under Musharraf dumped the Taliban and supported the US military offensive against Afghanistan following the 9/11 terrorist attacks against the US, these failed to remove concerns about the safety of Pakistan's nuclear weapons.
The admission by A Q Khan, the scientist behind Pakistan's nuclear weapons programme, that he had sold nuclear secrets to countries like Iran, Libya and North Korea had added to these fears.
Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov has fired the head of state-owned MiG Corp., Valery Toryanin, and replaced him with Alexei Fyodorov, the head of rival fighter manufacturer Irkut, in a move that analysts said may be the government's first step toward industry consolidation.
Fradkov approved Fyodorov's appointment, put forward by the Industry and Energy Ministry, on Saturday, according to a statement posted on the government's web site Monday.
No reason was given for the change, although Toryanin was widely viewed in the industry as a temporary manager when he took MiG's reins last November.
A source in Irkut said that at the time, Fyodorov was also under consideration for the top MiG job.
The personnel change was long expected, a source in MiG said. "We didn't know who it would be, but Fyodorov looks like a logical choice."
Fyodorov will head a company that has more than $1.4 billion in orders on its books and unites nearly a dozen enterprises nationwide with more than 45,000 employees.
Neither Fyodorov nor Toryanin were available for comment.
"I hope that Fyodorov's appointment will be the first step to an Irkut-MiG merger and a real consolidation of the industry," said Konstantin Makiyenko, deputy head of the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies.
The Federal Industry Agency has been pushing for the creation of a new company, Unified Aircraft-Building Corp., or OAK, that would bring state-controlled companies Sukhoi, MiG, Tupolev and Ilyushin, as well as Fyodorov's privately controlled Irkut, under one roof.
Toryanin has been a vocal opponent of OAK, saying that it would mean the redistribution of property and cash flows away from MiG.
Fyodorov, however, has supported the idea. Just last week he said that private business and the government should work hand-in-hand in the defense industry.
"I think that Alexei Innokentyevich [Fyodorov] is one of those who understands this synergy very well," said Sergei Nedoroslev, head of private aerospace group Kaskol.
Kaskol controls Nizhny Novgorod aviation plant Sokol, which it is moving to integrate into MiG.
Yelena Sakhnova, an industry analyst with United Financial Group, cast some doubt whether Irkut would be able to merge with MiG anytime soon.
"It will be difficult to unite a private and a totally state-run company," Sakhnova said. "The state could increase its stake in Irkut by giving it MiG."
The state holds 13 percent in Irkut, which is majority controlled by its management. Fyodorov himself holds a blocking stake.
It was not clear on Monday whether Fyodorov will retain his post as president of Irkut, which is a manufacturer of the Sukhoi fighter jet.
"He may keep both posts for an initial period," Irkut spokeswoman Yelena Fyodorova said by telephone from Irkutsk.
"Irkut management is one of the most effective in the aviation industry," she said, adding that it will be able to follow through on its strategic planning even without him.
It would not be the first time that the Irkut president has had to wear more than one hat -- Fyodorov is also a top official in the Irkutsk branch of United Russia.
Fyodorov, who has worked his way up the ladder in aircraft manufacturing, from designer in the Irkutsk plant in the 1970s to top manager, turned the plant into a corporation in 2002.
"He is a very knowledgeable industry specialist, a modern-style manager who learns very fast and is headstrong in achieving goals," Nedoroslev said.
Under Fyodorov's management, Irkut has racked up $4.5 billion in orders -- mostly for Su-30 fighters for India and Malaysia.
The company was the first in the domestic defense industry to audit its books to international accounting standards. Earlier this year Irkut floated 23 percent of its shares on two Moscow bourses, attracting $127 million in the largest domestic initial public offering ever.
European aerospace giant EADS is now seeking to acquire 10 percent of the company.
Irkut has been actively looking to diversify its product range into civil aviation with its Be-200 multi-mission amphibious plane. It has also worked to boost its designer school by snapping up 75 percent of Yakovlev Design Bureau earlier this year.
MiG has $1.4 billion worth of orders on its books, with another $1.5 billion in potential deals pending. The company, however, is burdened by a $290 million debt.
It is unclear what will happen to the company's product range, as some of its jets are direct competitors, like the MiG-AT trainer and the Irkut-supported Yak-130.
India’s state-owned electronics giant, Bharat Electronics Ltd. (BEL), will team with Israel Aircraft Industries on a $104 million contract to upgrade 48 Russian-made Indian Army Shilka ZSU-23 air defense systems.
The firm, based here, won the competition for the contract last year, beating out Rosoboronexport of Russia.
Tests are proceeding on two prototype upgraded systems, and the rest will be delivered by 2005, said BEL Chairman Y. Gopala Rao.
The Israeli company will help with system integration, Rao said.
He declined to say how much IAI would receive.
Abrahim Bahar, who runs IAI’s Indian arm, was not available for comments.
The upgraded systems will get modern solid-state radar and computers, a new engine, electro-optical fire control systems and overhauls of subsystems.
They are intended to serve for 15 more years,
The main features of the upgraded Shilka systems include a modern solid-state radar and computer, electro-optical fire control systems, a new engine and overhauling of all subsystems.
The upgraded systems must be able to operate despite enemy jamming, must be able to pick up targets more than 15 kilometers away, and must function in temperatures between 35 and minus 40 degrees Celsius.
The gun must be able to shoot down targets flying up to 450 miles per hour up to 1,500 meters and out to 2,500 meters, a BEL official said.
The purpose of the upgrade would be to extend the life of the Shilka system by 15 years.
India has another 600 30-year-old ZSUs that need upgrades in the next three to five years.
The contract for a second batch will begin next year, an Indian Army official said.
An Indo-Pak rapprochement on their soil has made several US Congressmen and senators smell opportunity. Some of them, members of the India Caucus, now want to lobby for both the South Asian rivals on the Capitol Hill.
A dozen of them jumped on to the Pakistani bandwagon when Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf opened the US-Pakistan Caucus in Washington last Wednesday. While the Pakistani diplomats who worked hard to snatch them are jubilant, political activists among the Indian Americans are angry.
And Americans are asking whether their lawmakers are reportedly being bought and sold in almost public auction-style bids between the Indian and Pakistani lobbies in Washington.
A report by Dr Manzur Ejaz, a Washington-based, Howard University academic, on the web site of BBC Urdu Service, is headlined: "What price for a US congressman?" While India Caucus is nearly 200 strong and has been around, the Pakistani effort has begun with a modest figure, but the significant thing is that many of them have been members of India Caucus.
"South Asia Tribune" web site on September 19 published a list of the Congress members, obtained from the office of Rep Dan Burton, a long time friend and supporter of Pakistan. SAT alleges that these 24 members on Burton's list include two who have taken a persistently pro-Pakistan position for years while others are new and unknown names who do not figure in any equation at Capitol Hill.
Of them, 12 are currently members of the Congressional India Caucus.
The Jaguar ground attack fighters come in from 7 ’clock, the Sukhoi 30 multi-role from 5 ’clock. Inside the cockpit of the huge Ilyushin 78, there is a steady thrum from the engines. Squadron Leader Tapesh Shankar and co-pilot Squadron Leader Milind Kumar depress buttons on the joysticks and speak into headphones.
Shankar and Kumar are from an exclusive squadron of the Indian Air Force (IAF) commanded by Group Captain Shouvik Roy. Roy has today despatched a crew overseas, to Tashkent, to fly back an IL-78 — the fifth for his squadron.
Roy’s 78 Mid Air Refuelling Squadron (MARS) is redefining the way the IAF fighters will wage future battles. It is now buttressing its operational doctrine with strategic depth. For the moment, though, Roy is monitoring what his pilots here in this aircraft — Astra 1 — are doing.
“Harpoon 1 to line up at port,” Shankar commands into the headphones. “Harpoon 2 at starboard and Romeo 1 at the tail”. “Harpoon” is the call sign for the Jaguars, “Romeo” is the Sukhoi.
On the port side, the propeller at the head of the fuel pod under the huge wing of Shankar’s and Kumar’s Astra 1 starts spinning and sends a hose floating out. That happens from the Astra 1 starboard wing, too. At the tip of the hoses are funnels called drogues.
Behind, obscured from view, another hose has floated out and a fighter has docked in. Now, to port, “Harpoon 1” lines up. It is less than a third of the size of the IL78. The speeds synchronise at 500 kmph. The aircraft are “RV-ing” — jargon for rendezvous — in the IAF’s central command area. Astra 1 has taken off from Agra, the Jaguars from Gorakhpur and the Su 30 from Bareilly. They are joined by Mirage 2000s from Gwalior.
On the port side where Harpoon 1 is flying parallel to Astra 1, the pilot of the Jaguar is wearing a white helmet with a dark visor. Just ahead of his cockpit the fuel probe juts out in an inverted . The Jaguar reduces speed, gets behind the wing of Astra 1, levels with the hose and accelerates. The probe mates with the drogue, pushing the hose a little deeper into the pod. Harpoon 2 — the other Jaguar at starboard — does the same.
Astra 1 is the IL-78 midair refueller and we are inside it flying at 17,000 feet in airspace between Lucknow and Gorakhpur. From this height, the turbid water of the Ganga looks like it is plaited into brown strands.
The air force is flying a media team through an exercise to showcase its midair refuellers, now fully convinced of their utility after testing them in a gruelling 40,000 km run to Alaska and in a wargame with the Americans.
Astra 1 now nurses three fighters, each connected to it by the hose. Aviation turbine fuel is being pumped through the hose and the drogue of the IL78, through the probe of the Jaguars at 500 litres per minute. The SU 30 guzzles more fuel and quenches thirst at up to 620 litres a minute.
Astra 1’s cavernous belly holds two yellow tanks capable of storing 44,000 litres; together with the capacity in its wings, the FRA (Flight Refueller Aircraft) can hold up to 85,000 litres.
Within a few minutes the fighters signal that they don’t want any more fuel. Probes and drogues disengage but not till Squadron Leader Shankar, the pilot of Astra 1, gives the command. The Jaguars fly parallel again, the pilot with the white-and-black headgear nods in acknowledgement, the aircraft banks and flies off, a speck on the horizon seconds later, off to another mission without having needed to fly back to base.
Astra 1 has just ensured that an IAF fighter can perform multiple missions without needing to cut down on flying time, without having to take excess fuel and with the ability for excess payload — like more weaponry — for operations.
Astra 1 is the first aircraft in 78 MARS, acquired last year. Next month, Group Captain Shouvik Roy expects to increase the strength of the squadron to six aircraft with the addition of two more IL 78s. The refuellers now enable the aircraft to project power over vast distances.
“We have been exercising continuously,” says Squadron Leader Kumar. One exercise, for example, involves Sukhoi 30 Mki fighters taking off from their base in Pune, firing in a mock drill over ranges near Pokhran in the Rajasthan desert, “RV-ing” with a ‘thirst quencher’ over Alwar, flying to another mission over ranges near Tezpur in Assam, “RV-ing” with an Astra over Bagdogra in north Bengal and flying back to base in Pune after a bombing run in ranges in Madhya Pradesh.
What does this mean in a war scenario? It means, not only that IAF fighters can fly longer and on multiple missions — testing the endurance of pilots — but are being enabled to open two fronts against an adversary, attacking not only from one direction but also from the rear.
The refuellers are being inducted following a Rs 800-crore deal signed in 2001. With the addition of two more IL78s by the end of next month, the Uzbek firm, Tashkent Aircraft Corporation and the Israeli Aircraft Industries (which is supplying the fuel pods) will have completed the deliveries. The IAF’s force multiplying refuellers incorporates technologies from five countries.
Catchphrases like "enhanced engagement," "strategic partnership" and "sustained interaction" are bandied about to describe the new U.S.-Indian relationship. A novel, hyperbolic tag, NSSP, or Next Steps in Strategic Partnership, was added to the diplomatic lexicon when on January 13, 2004, then-Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and U.S. President George W. Bush released matching statements to "enhance cooperation in peaceful uses of space technology . . . and create the appropriate environment for successful high-technology commerce."
Now, a joint statement has proclaimed the conclusion on Sept. 17 of Phase One of the NSSP plan, after India agreed to implement "measures to address proliferation concerns and ensure compliance with U.S. export controls." The latest development was portrayed in the Indian media as an important breakthrough that supposedly lifts some decades-old export restrictions on equipment for India's commercial space and nuclear programs. What is the reality?
There is little doubt that U.S.-Indian relations have been positively transformed in recent years, especially as an increasingly confident India has pursued its self-interest by opening up trade in goods and services and by strengthening its defense. A subtle but discernible shift in India's strategic posture has fostered close military-to-military cooperation between the two countries and encouraged the United States to consent to Israel's sale of the Phalcon airborne early warning system to India. The new direction and closeness in U.S.-Indian ties have in turn helped raise India's international profile.
Paradoxically, the very subject that bedeviled bilateral ties in the past and continues to be the main obstacle to high-technology commerce -- the nuclear issue -- acted as a catalyst to transforming the relationship. India's 1998 tests marked the defining event in elevating U.S.-Indian relations and promoting closer engagement. A nuclear India got greater attention and respect in the world, including Washington.
Today, what has changed in U.S.-Indian relations is so obvious as to sound almost cliched. Not so obvious is what ought to have changed between the U.S. and India but has not happened. The hype over the transformed relationship has shrouded what has not changed. The U.S., for example, remains loath to choose India over Pakistan, or cooperate with India at the level it engages China.
Stringent restrictions on India's access to advanced technology -- many dating back to the 1970s -- are testament to how the bilateral relationship, in some aspects, remains trapped in the past. Not many in Washington seem embarrassed that despite American concern over the growing power imbalance in Asia, the U.S. still provides far greater high-technology access to the world's largest autocracy, China, than to the world's most populous democracy. The U.S. is now set to clinch a deal with China to sell what it will not even discuss with India -- nuclear reactors to produce electricity.
Any interstate relationship to be robust demands equilibrium and equivalence. And it is axiomatic that no partnership can be built with one partner seeking to maintain and enforce penal measures against the other. The U.S. interest in gaining greater access to the huge Indian market, while reasonable, mismatches the determination of its nonproliferationists to preserve India-specific barriers to high-technology commerce.
U.S.-Indian efforts in the past to liberalize high-technology commerce did not go very far because they became bureaucratic exercises. Lamentably, the latest initiative too, the NSSP, has turned into an exercise of bureaucratic haggle, ensuring that progress would come at a snail's pace. This is all the more unfortunate because the Bush team has had a more straight-thinking approach toward India than the Clinton administration, saddled as it was with the nonproliferation ayatollahs bearing scars from the battles they lost against India when it conducted nuclear testing in 1974 and 1998.
Once India declared itself a nuclear-weapons state in 1998, the Clinton administration simply moved the goalpost. As a consequence, even political dialogue -- the 14 rounds of closed-door negotiations between then Deputy U.S. Secretary of State Strobe Talbott and then Indian Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh -- became centered on persuading India to accept a set of benchmarks, including limits on the development and operational deployment of nuclear weapons and missiles, a halt to fissile-material production, international inspections on nuclear facilities, U.S.-certified export controls, and signature on the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. Holding India to the benchmarks became the name of the game.
The Bush administration has not sought to "benchmark" India, but nor has it freed policy amply from the Clinton framework to facilitate a real strategic partnership. The U.S. sanctions imposed on India in response to its 1998 tests are all gone, but not the technology controls that predate those detonations. While the Bush team has not tried to rein in the Indian strategic programs, it has allowed the political process to promote high-technology trade to be taken over by its bureaucracy and turned into a wearisome export-control exercise likely to stretch out over years.
Despite the latest announcement on "modifications to U.S. export-licensing policies," major procedural and legal barriers remain in place in the three areas identified for U.S.-Indian cooperation: high-technology trade, civilian nuclear safety, and commercial space activity.
If the U.S. political leadership were to order a liberal interpretation of existing U.S. laws and guidelines, it would throw open for export to India many high-tech items currently barred. In the past, including during the Cold War, the U.S. has given elasticity to tough national laws when it has suited its strategic interests,
India is seeking access not to militarily significant technology, including space-launch vehicles and high-resolution, remote-sensing devices, but to technology that can aid its economic modernization. It is willing to reassure Washington through legislation and enforcement that its high-technology imports are adequately protected against misuse or re-export, but it cannot incorporate into its national laws the guidelines of cartels that have traditionally targeted India and continue to exclude India -- the London Club of nuclear suppliers, the Australia Group and the Missile Technology Control Regime.
With Washington calibrating India's high-technology access to Indian progress in meeting "nonproliferation standards," New Delhi has to do more than present itself as a suppliant, pleading and beseeching the U.S. on a range of issues, from high-tech commerce to Security Council permanent membership. New Delhi has to think of ways of integrating its economic and political policies to create synergy and countervailing leverage, even as it seeks to encourage a forward-looking U.S. policy on high-technology cooperation.
Manoeuvring delicately at a height of 17,000 feet and at a speed of 500 km an hour, the powerful Su-30 jet fighter sidles up the huge Il-78 aircraft that can best be described as a flying fuel tank.
Extending a short probe located ahead of the cockpit, the Su-30 moves closer and locks on to a pipe extended from a pod attached to the 75-tonne Il-78, sucking in several tonnes of fuel in a matter of minutes.
During the entire procedure, both aircraft maintain the same distance and speed.
The refuelling complete, the Su-30 peels away, able to remain in the skies for several more hours and capable of flying several more thousands of kilometres.
It is this capability, said Air Commodore R.C. Baruah -- commander of the Agra airbase where the India's four Il-78 mid-air refuelling aircraft are based -- that will allow the Indian Air Force (IAF) to project power on a global scale.
Baruah knows what he is talking about.
The IAF is only the world's sixth air force to acquire mid-air refuelling aircraft. By refuelling in the sky, frontline jets like the Su-30 can almost double their range of 2,500 km, making them capable of striking at targets deep within China.
In just a little more than 18 months since the IAF acquired the Il-78s from Uzbekistan, the aircraft have helped jet fighters to make long journeys to Alaska and South Africa to join international military exercises.
"The Il-78s are helping maximise the IAF's offensive potential and flexibility for tactical operations," Group Captain Shouvik Roy, commander of the Mid-Air Refuelling Squadron (MARS), told a group of journalists.
Currently, the IAF's Su-30, Mirage 2000 and Jaguar jets have the capability to refuel in the air.
Pilots are being trained round the clock to acquire the expertise required to hook up to the Il-78s -- each of which can carry 110 tonnes of fuel and refuel three jets at a time -- and take in several tonnes of fuel in about five minutes.
Those flying the Su-30s, Mirages and Jaguars are considered among the best of IAF pilots, but even they need to train for several months to simply become capable of hooking up with the flying fuel tankers. Only after this are they allowed to refuel in mid-air.
"We have flown 2,300 hours in training missions since May last year, made 4,800 engagements (mid-air refuelling contacts) and delivered over 2,300 tonnes of fuel," said Roy.
While the Il-78s were bought from Uzbekistan, the refuelling pods, three of which are fitted on each aircraft, were acquired from Israel. With four Il-78s already in operation with the IAF, the force will receive two more refuelling aircraft from Uzbekistan next month.
Roy said his unit had framed its operational procedures from scratch, as the IAF had no experience of flying mid-air refuelling aircraft.
"We have learnt concepts from the Israelis, as well as the Royal Air Force and US Air Force during our recent exercises with them," Roy said. "We will also soon interact with the navy (to train for mid-air refuelling).
"While refuelling, we can't relax even for a second. We have to be continuously alert because we have to coordinate with up to three jets."
The Il-78s are now capable of carrying out refuelling missions over land and sea, during both day and night, Roy said.
During recent training missions, said an officer who did not want to be named, Su-30 jets based at Pune in Maharashtra flew close to Tezpur in Assam in the northeast, a distance of over 2,100 km, with a single mid-air refuelling.
The IAF has also had to adopt innovative tactics to cope with the needs of pilots flying longer hours after refuelling.
"Our aim is to provide up to five hours of flying for jets like the Su-30. So the pilots have been provided food and water," said the officer.
"They were also provided diapers as that was the only way to relieve themselves in the air!"
The leaders of India and Pakistan on Friday hailed a new era in often-fraught relations between the two nuclear rivals and agreed to study a joint pipeline project and pursue solutions to the Kashmir conflict.
The one-hour private meeting between Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the fringes of the U.N. General Assembly produced no apparent breakthroughs but there was considerable upbeat rhetoric.
"I sincerely believe that today is an historic day. We have made a new beginning," Singh said.
Musharraf said he hoped the meeting augured well for Indo-Pakistani relations, scarred by three major wars and frequent border skirmishes in Kashmir since winning independence from Britain in 1947.
"Both leaders reiterated their commitment to continue the bilateral dialogue to restore normalcy and cooperation between India and Pakistan," according to a joint statement read by Musharraf at a news conference.
They agreed to explore options for a peaceful, negotiated settlement to the 56-year-old conflict over Kashmir "in a sincere spirit and purposeful manner," the statement said.
They also agreed to implement measures to build trust and to explore a natural gas line via Pakistan to India.
Friday's much-anticipated meeting followed sluggish progress in peace talks between the nuclear-armed enemies since the Pakistani leader met Singh's predecessor, Atal Behari Vajpayee, in January.
The two sides have had one round of formal talks with no breakthrough on the core issue of Kashmir since Singh's Congress Party won a general election in mid-year.
But an expert on South Asia, Husain Haqqani, said the latest meeting achieved no substantial breakthrough.
"Neither side wants to give the impression that it is unwilling to continue the dialogue and so this is one of the examples of India and Pakistan continuing a negotiating process without actually negotiating anything," said Haqqani of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
"In India, public opinion does not want a settlement on Kashmir that is unfavorable to India and in Pakistan, the military cannot afford to settle Kashmir in a way in which its pre-eminence ends in Pakistani politics," he said in an interview.
Pakistan insists on a time frame for resolving Kashmir, while New Delhi insists Pakistan must do more to stop what it calls cross-border infiltration of militants.
Before the meeting, Musharraf said he would bring no specific proposals but hoped the two leaders would develop a relationship and "judge each other's intentions."
Musharraf has said repeatedly in recent days that both sides must show flexibility in their negotiations.
He began Friday's session by presenting Singh with three gifts: two paintings depicting his childhood school and village and an album of photographs, according to Pakistani spokesmen.
In a twist of fate, Singh was born in what is now Pakistan and Musharraf was born in India.
In a rare incident of violence by Nepal Maoists in northern India, a group of rebels on Thursday snapped the cables of a suspension bridge that served as a pedestrian bridge that connected Nepal with Uttaranchal.
The Seetapul bridge across the Kali Nadi was extensively damaged and pedestrian traffic was stopped by authorities.
The bridge, known as jhoolapul, connects the Garbangya and Kalapani area of Pithoragarh district with the Changru area of Nepal across the India-Tibet-Nepal border, 160 km from Pithoragarh district headquarters.
The walkway was mostly used by Nepalese living along the border to enter Indian territory to buy essential commodities and groceries from the nearby Garbangya and other markets in Uttaranchal.
Indian pedestrians had already stopped using this Seetapul bridge to buy goods from Nepalese markets across the border for fear of being targeted in the major incidents of violence there.
"Their main objective was to de-link totally Uttaranchal territory with the Nepal territory," said a senior administrative officer at Dharchula tehsil.
A senior police officer said that the information about entry of some jawans of Royal Nepalese Army and Nepalese police into the Garbangya area of Dharchula tehsil in Pithoragarh district to track down the Nepalese Maoists appeared to have provoked the insurgents to snap the land link.
"The Maoist insurgents who caused the sabotage might have thought that by de-linking the Uttaranchal territory with the Nepalese territory, the jawans of Royal Nepalese Army and the police would not be able to return to Nepal through this route," said a senior police officer at Pithoragarh.
A second batch of 15 "Al-Khalid" battle tanks, jointly developed by state-owned Pakistani and Chinese companies, has been handed over to the Pakistan Army, officials said.
Vice chief of army staff General Muhammad Yousuf Khan handed over the tanks at a ceremony at Heavy Industries Taxila, some 40 km northwest of Islamabad, on Thursday.
The first batch of 15 Al-Khalid tanks was handed over in July 2001.
Around $20 million were spent over eight years on the development of the tank.
Al-Khalid is the result of a project between HIT and NORINCO (North Industries Corporation) of China.
It has a combat weight of 46 tonnes, carries a crew of three and has a combat range is 400 km.
Its thermal night vision devices enable the crew to fight at night.
Fitted with a 1200 HP water-cooled diesel engine, which gives it a maximum speed of 65 to 70 km/hr, it carries a 125 mm smooth bore gun, the officials said.
Dr Raja Ramanna, a stalwart of India's nuclear programme who was associated with the country's first nuclear test in 1974, died in Mumbai on Thursday of intestine problem. He was 79 and is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son.
Ramanna had been admitted to Bombay Hospital on Tuesday. His end came at 1930 IST, his personal assistant Ramakrishna said. He was 'feeling all right this morning but breathed his last in the evening'.
The eminent scientist was heading the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre when India carried out its first nuclear test in Pokhran in 1974.
He has served as director-general of the Defence Research and Development Organisation and as scientific adviser to the defence minister.
He was the Union minister of state for defence from January to November 1990. In 1997, he was nominated to the Rajya Sabha.
In recognition of his services, he was appointed director emeritus of the Bangalore-based National Institute of Advanced Studies, which he headed earlier. He was honoured with the Padmashri, Padmabhushan and Padmavibhushan awards.
He had a deep interest in music and even penned a book on the subject: The Structure of Music in Raga and Western Systems
President A P J Abdul Kalam, who was in Aurangabad to attend a function, is expected to head for Mumbai to pay his respects.
India and the Philippines are planning to sign a memorandum of understanding on defense cooperation early next year, the Philippine Defense Department said Sept. 22.
Indian ambassador Navrekha Sharma has invited Philippine Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz to sign the memorandum during a visit to India in early 2005, the department said in a statement.
The accord would cover exchanges of information and technology and possible joint training between the two sides’ armed forces, the department said, adding it would be the 13th such bilateral agreement sealed by Manila.
The United States for the first time has conducted a special workshop for Indian military procurement officials on U.S. defense procurement procedures, hoping to capture big-ticket defense contracts from India.
Officials with the U.S. Embassy here said a senior-level military team from the U.S. Defense Department’s Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC) was in New Delhi from Sept 13-17 to conduct an extensive briefing on U.S. defense export and sales procedures for 35 Indian Ministry of Defence and military procurement officials.
The briefing covered U.S. defense export licensing and procedures for dealing directly with U.S. defense companies in procuring specific weapon systems, embassy officials said. Indian procurement officials also were briefed on the advantages of adopting the Foreign Military Sale [FMS] route for procuring weapons from the United States: Not only are they less expensive, but lifetime support for spare parts and maintenance is guaranteed.
The United States has made a moderate beginning in establishing a stable military sales relationship with India by securing military orders worth $200 million since Washington lifted military sanctions against India in September 2001, according to U.S. military officials at the embassy. They said the United States hopes that relationship will be viable in the long term, adding that possible big sales to New Delhi could include P-3 Orion maritime aircraft and C-130 transport planes.
The U.S. government also expects regular large defense procurement orders from India once the two nations sign an agreement on dual-use technology. The U.S. Department of Commerce is expected to submit to New Delhi a draft defense export evaluation agreement that would guarantee India will use the U.S.-made high technology systems only for civil and defensive military purposes, and not for nuclear weapon-related technologies or their export to third-party countries, the embassy officials said.
India has high potential value as a market for U.S. defense companies, the same officials said, but the Indian procurement bureaucracy’s red tape has disappointed many U.S. companies in the past.
However, growing cooperation between the two countries’ military services, coupled with the Indian forces’ ground-level training and equipment requirements, should help U.S. companies competing for Indian defense programs, the U.S. embassy officials said.
In an effort to encourage U.S. companies to participate more aggressively in Indian defense competitions, the Ministry of Defence here will host a closed-door session with U.S. defense industry leaders and senior Pentagon officials in November, a senior ministry planning official said.
Gwalior: A Mirage 2000 fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force crashed near here today with the pilot ejecting safely.
An IAF spokesman said the aircraft, which left the airbase here for a practice interception sortie at 12.45 pm, developed problem with the undercarriage with a wheel falling off soon after take off.
The pilot Sq Ldr Gill ejected from the fighter jet which crashed between Bhopal and Gwalior, he said.
According to initial reports there was no casualty on the ground. A Court of Inquiry has been ordered into the crash.
The French acquired Mirage 2000 are the frontline aircraft of the IAF and have had a very good flying record.
NEW YORK - US President George W. Bush met for the first time with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here on Tuesday and agreed to push for expanded Defence cooperation as a key component of future ties.
The two men, here for the annual session of the United Nations General Assembly, noted that relations “had never been as close as they were at present” and set the direction for further development of the India-US strategic partnership, a White House statement said.
“Expanded Defence cooperation was perceived as an integral aspect of the expanding ties,” it said.
Bush and Singh exchanged pleasantries at the start of their talks at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel.
“I’ve really been looking forward to meeting the prime minister,” Bush said. “He’s the leader of a great country and the leader of a friend of the United States and I’m proud you’re here, sir.”
Singh, an Oxford-educated economist whose left-leaning government took office in May, said he was confident that recent progress in the relationship -- including last week’s US decision to lift export controls on equipment for nuclear facilities in India -- would only improve.
“I’m very, very happy to be in this land of opportunity that the United States is,” he said. “Under your distinguished leadership, our two countries’ relations have grown in diverse ways, but I do believe that the best is yet to come.”
Ahead of his arrival in New York, Singh had said he wanted to discuss with Bush ways to bring to US-India relations “greater content, particularly in the economic and high technology fields.”
On Friday, the United States agreed to lift the nuclear export controls after the Indians assured US officials they would address American non-proliferation concerns.
The move was the latest easing of sanctions imposed on New Delhi after it declared itself a nuclear power in 1998.
Bush and Singh welcomed the move, describing it as “the beginning of a new era of cooperation and trust” between the two countries.
Those sanctions resulted in a freeze on exchanges in nuclear and other high-tech sectors such as “dual-use technology” which finds applications in both civilian and military use.
Along with lifting the controls, Washington said it would ease export licensing policies to expand bilateral cooperation in commercial space programs.
The deal was the first phase under the “Next Steps In Strategic Partnership With India” agreed in January between Bush and Singh’s predecessor Atal Behari Vajpayee.
Bush and Singh also stressed importance on working closely in the war against terrorism and in combating proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems, the White House said.
They agreed that stronger bilateral partnership would enhance global security and prosperity.
New York, Sept. 22 (Nippon News Network): India and three other countries - Brazil, Germany and Japan - on Tuesday pledged to back each other as they launched a joint bid for permanent seats on the 15-member United Nations Security Council.
"The Security Council must reflect the realities of the international community in the 21st Century," their joint statement here said. The four nations vowed to back each other's case and said similar status should be given to an African nation.
The joint statement was issued after talks between Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New York.
The statement noted that there has been a nearly four-fold increase in the UN membership since it was founded after World War II in 1945, including a sharp increase in the number of developing countries. "The Security Council, therefore, must be expanded in both the permanent and non-permanent categories, including developing and developed countries as new permanent members," the joint statement said. "It must be representative, legitimate and effective," it added. The joint statement also said Africa must also have a permanent seat, amid reports that African leaders are currently discussing which of their states should be put forward.
However, historic regional animosities are likely to complicate the joint bid. Supporters of India's membership point out that the country is the world-largest democracy where some 1.2 billion people live, while some of Brazil's backers say it can make a strong case to represent South America. "All four states regard themselves as natural candidates," Fischer said after the talks.
Japan pays more money into the UN coffers than any nation except the US. Germany is the third-biggest contributor.
In a speech to the UN General Assembly, the Brazilian leader, known as Lula, said the Council's composition must reflect today's reality, rather than perpetuate the post-WWII era. In another speech, Koizumi said Japan's reconstruction role in Iraq and Afghanistan, and its efforts to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue, entitled it to a permanent seat on the Council.
It is worth mentioning here that Pakistan has made it clear it will oppose India’s bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. Pakistan’s permanent representative to the United Nations Munir Akram told a group of visiting Pakistani journalists here on Saturday last said Islamabad would strongly oppose increasing the number of permanent members of UN Security Council on grounds that it negates the principle of equality. Pakistan would do everything possible to thwart Indian endeavours in this regard, he added. He said besides India, Germany, Japan, Brazil and South Africa would lobby to secure a permanent berth in the Security Council during the coming 59th session of UN General Assembly. He further said Pakistan would prefer supporting Germany and Japan than India, if required.
The Council's five veto-wielding permanent members are Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States. The 10 other Council members are chosen for two-year terms by regional groups. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan is known to favour an expansion of the Council, to enable it to command greater respect - especially in the developing world - and to make it more effective.
* PERMANENT MEMBERS WITH VETO POWER:
1) China 2) France 3) Russia 4) United Kingdom 5) United States
* 10 ELECTED MEMBERS FOR 2004 ARE:
1) Algeria - until end of 2005 2) Angola - until end of 2004 3) Benin - until end of 2005 4) Brazil - until end of 2005 5) Chile - until end of 2004 6) Germany - until end of 2004 7) Pakistan - until end of 2004 8) Philippines - until end of 2005 9) Romania - until end of 2005 10) Spain - until end of 2004.
Musharraf Rules Out LoC Re-adjustment, answers a broad array of questions in NY
New York, Sept. 22 (NNN): Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday ruled out any talks for re-adjustment of Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir and said Islamabad wants a purposeful and meaningful dialogue to address the lingering dispute.
Musharraf hoped that during his meeting with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, "there would be progress," on issues, including those on Kashmir.
The Pakistani president’s reaction followed following reports that the Indian Prime will offer to adjust the Line of Control (LoC) in troubled Kashmir during his talks with Musharraf on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly this week.
Time quoting a senior Indian official had reported from Hong Kong that Singh will make an offer to help defuse the situation in Kashmir. India will offer to "adjust" the LoC, "by a matter of miles" eastwards. The official further said its formal presentation in New York is a result of Singh’s instruction that his foreign affairs team think "out of the box" on Kashmir "to get a solution, and soon."
In the meantime, asserting that Pakistan was doing its best in the fight against terror, Musharraf while proceeding to United Nations General Assembly from the hotel where he is staying, tol newsmen: "Tell me, who else is doing more than Pakistan."
He said he feels very upset when questions as smack of doubt as to what Pakistan was doing were asked. Asked what was the main issue of Pakistan, he said it is the issue of terrorism, which is foremost important. "We are certainly winning battles but we must win war on terrorism," Musharraf said, in response to a question by a newsman in the informal talk. "It can be done," he stated on winning war on terror. It could be done "by pursuing core reasons behind terrorism".
The Pakistani leader said a vast majority of Pakistanis abhors extremism but it was acting silently over the years. He said Pakistan is trying to establish long-term and broad-based relations with the United States, especially in trade and commerce.
"The Muslim world feels as if it is being targeted, and this needs to be addressed," Musharraf told an audience at a Manhattan hotel. He said the first priority should be the Israeli-Palestinian conflict but attention should focus further on poverty and illiteracy, which, he said, were "at the core of terrorism."
Asked what subjects would discuss in his meeting with President Hamid Karzai, he said Afghan presidential elections and terrorism would be topics to come up under discussion. Besides, he said, return of Afghan refugees from Pakistan and matter of their registration would also be discussed.
Responding to another question, he said it was not correct to state that "there was any pressure to monitor the Pak-Afghan border, nor we accept it." In reply to another question, Musharraf said a trilateral meeting was taking place against the backdrop of forthcoming Afghan elections. "We agreed to it, since we are in the same region and it was better to work for the cause of Pak-Afghan coordination," he stated.
When asked to comment on President George Walker Bush’s speech in the UN General Assembly in which the US president mentioned democracy, Musharraf said parliament and democratic institutions in Pakistan are "fully working, and on track". "All is well," he said and added "we are very clear about it, and there is no confusion, whatsoever."
Meanwhile, speaking at a dinner hosted by the US Pakistan Business Council and the US Chamber of Commerce, on Monday night President Musharraf promised to "end the presence of al-Qaeda" in his country but said the United States could gain the confidence of the Muslims only by working to resolve the many international disputes that affect Islamic world. Musharraf drew a rosy picture of Pakistan for foreign investment, saying the country of 150 million was undergoing an "economic renaissance" based on development of industries from energy to tele-communications.
Answering a question regarding uniform, he appeared to hint at keeping the uniform, saying that "continuity" was essential to maintain security and managing changes occurring in Pakistani society.
Musharraf said handling of matters domestically and internationally requires "continuity of policies, and continuity of action." "What worries me is the imperative need for continuity," he said and added "I have not as yet decided, and I will take a decision in a few months’ time." "There is much happening in Pakistan and the Muslim world today. The matters are important and there is need for continuity of policies," he added.
Besides domestic policies, he said, among others, the international policies need continuity. Musharraf urged the US businessmen and industrialists to invest in Pakistan for its rapid economic growth and poverty alleviation. The president said Pakistan has always been a safer place for foreign investors and no action has been taken against any foreign company out of 700 working in Pakistan, which reflects the best condition for investors in the country. "We have taken a number of steps to give more protection to the foreign investors," he added. Referring to Pakistan’s strategic position in the region, Musharraf said it occupies a key place in economic activities in the region of Central Asia, South Asia, China and Gulf. He said it is only Pakistan, which provides inter-connectivity to the whole world for this region. Meanwhile, a senior aide of Musharraf told Time that in his experience "there is more sound than substance" to India’s negotiations. But he confirmed that a "territorial adjustment... is one idea being broached" and that it was an idea in which "in the past, as in the present, we have shown interest."
According to Time a senior Pakistani foreign affairs official added a "more productive agenda" was on the table for the New York meeting. "We want to make things happen there," he said. "We want implement-able ideas. We have spoken to the Indian on this score and hopefully the meeting will break new ground in Kashmiri diplomacy," he added.
Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister has said his country was willing to discuss all outstanding issues, including Jammu and Kashmir with Pakistan, and find solutions 'rooted in ground realities.'
In an interview with Time magazine, Indian Premier was modest about his expectations of the meeting with Musharraf on the sidelines of UN General Assembly session in New York . 'Getting to know each other is important. But we are willing to discuss all outstanding issues, including Jammu and Kashmir and find solutions rooted in ground realities,' said Singh.
NEW DELHI (AFP) - Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh left Sunday for the United States and Britain and said he would push forward dialogue with rival Pakistan, stress his commitment to economic reforms and lobby for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
Singh will address the UN General Assembly in New York where he will also hold his first meetings with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and US President George W. Bush.
The premier, whose left-leaning government took office in May, told reporters at the airport that his meeting with Musharraf "will be a further step in the ongoing dialogue process with Pakistan".
The rival neighbours have been trying cautiously to repair relations in a peace drive initiated last year by Singh's predecessor Atal Behari Vajpayee, whose Hindu nationalists lost elections a year later.
Singh said he would discuss with Bush ways to bring to US-India relations "greater content, particularly in the economic and high technology fields".
The United States on Friday agreed to lift export controls on equipment for nuclear facilities in India in the latest easing of sanctions imposed on New Delhi after it declared itself a nuclear power in 1998. "I will take advantage of being in the United States to convey that the government is determined to carry forward the process of economic reforms," Singh said.
The former deputy secretary of the state is in India on the invitation of the Observer Research Foundation, which is a private sector, public policy think tank. Talbott will also be in Mumbai on September 23 and September 24. Talbott heads the Brookings Institution, based in Washington, DC.
MOSCOW [MENL] -- Russia has launched the marketing of a new medium-range missile defense system.
The state-owned Rosoboronexport has briefed foreign militaries of the Buk-1M1-2 system. The system was described as being capable of intercepting both aircraft as well as a range of missiles. "This is the only anti-aircraft missile system of medium range in the world, which is capable of destroying in unfriendly environment of radio and fire countermeasures not only aircraft of strategic and tactical aviation, helicopters and cruise missiles, but also tactical ballistic and aircraft missiles, including anti-radar, destroying elements of high-precision weapons as well as surface and ground targets," Rosoboronexport said in a statement.
Russian industry sources said the Buk has been marketed to Middle East militaries. But they said the focus of the marketing effort has been European Union countries.
MOSCOW: Chairman of the Russian Air-Building Scientific and Production Corporation ‘Irkut' Alexei Fyodorov said on Friday that Russia will deliver 10 SU-30MKI multi-role jets to India by the end of this year.
This is the last batch of the Sukhoi fighers to be delivered to India in line with the contract on the development and supply of 40 state-of-the-art combat jets, signed in November 1996.
Designed to suit the needs of the IAF, SU-30 MKI is a new variant of the multi-role Sukhoi aircraft, viewed as the most advanced fighter in the world. The twin-seater jet is capable of undertaking both strike and air defence sorties. It can hit surface, air and sea targets with smart weaponry in substantial distance from the home base. Earlier, Russia had supplied eight SU-30Ks and 22 SU-30MKIs to India.
Fyodorov had told the Itar-Tass news agency that "our cooperation will not stop at it, we will be engaged in upgrading earlier-built aircraft, as well as in realizing a licence agreement on building SU-30MKI fighters."
Russia began delivery of the component kits, last June, for the indigenous manufacture of 140 SU-30MKIs in India under licence from Russia. The first planes are expected to roll out before the end of the year.
Washington: Ahead of a meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and US President George W Bush next week, Washington has agreed to lift export controls on equipment for nuclear facilities to India and liberalise high-tech trade, including those related to space science.
US export licensing policies will be eased to foster cooperation in commercial space programmes and certain exports to power plants at safeguarded nuclear facilities, a joint statement titled 'The Next Steps in Strategic Partnership between India and the United States' said yesterday.
The first phase of this partnership was concluded yesterday following two-days of intensive talks between External Affairs Secretary Shyam Saran and senior US officials in Washington. The joint statement described the agreement as "major progress."
"The United States and India announced today major progress in the Next Steps in Strategic Partnership (NSSP) initiative. Implementation of the NSSP will lead to significant economic benefit for both countries and improve regional and global security," it said.
"The United States and India will continue to move forward under the NSSP, and have a joint implementation group for this purpose. The progress announced today is only the first phase of this important effort, which is a significant part of transforming the strategic relationship," the joint statement said.
Saran pointed out that the agreement is a "very important one" and "we're very happy to have this on the eve of the meeting between President Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh."
The External Affairs Secretary expressed confidence that the liberalisation of trade in space will be followed in the next stage by such action in the civilian nuclear field. He anticipated there will be several stages, going step by step as the new relationship progresses.
Saran, who met several American officials such as Stephen Hadley, Deputy National Security Adviser and Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Richard Lugar among others, said he expects the second stage of the Next Step in Strategic Partnership "will be focused perhaps a little more on the nuclear side."
The liberalised licensing regime, he said, would make very clear to Indian entities both in the public and private sectors what precisely is expected of them in terms of meeting certain licensing conditions.
"The Indo-US relationship fits in very well in terms of what we are looking at for India's economic future. There is in fact a great deal that the two countries can do together. We have found there is a very strong interest in the United States to participate in this broad new phase of our relationship", Saran added.
The Joint statement said in January 2004, the United States and India agreed to expand cooperation in three specific areas: civilian nuclear activities, civilian space programmes, and high-technology trade.
In addition, the two countries agreed to expand our dialogue on missile defence. These areas of cooperation are designed to progress through a series of reciprocal steps that build on each other," it said.
"Since January, the two governments have worked closely together to conclude Phase One of the NSSP. This has included implementation of measures to address proliferation concerns and ensure compliance with U.S. export controls," it said.
These initiatives have enabled the US to make modifications to US export licensing policies that will foster cooperation in commercial space programmes and certain exports to power plants at safeguarded nuclear facilities.
These modifications, including removing the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) Headquarters from the Department of Commerce Entity List, are fully consistent with U.S. Government nonproliferation laws, obligations and objectives, it said.
Meanwhile, on the political front, US officials fully shared the Indian view that breaking Musharraf's pledges, there is continued infiltration of terrorists from Pakistan from across the Line of Control into Kashmir. Indian sources said they expect the US to continue its pressure on Musharraf to end this nefarious activity.
Musharraf, while denying there is continued infiltration, has, in an interview to The Washington Post, left for himself an alibi by saying there is no way movement across the LoC can be stopped by Pakistan.
Pak concerned about Indo-Israeli defence ties: PAF chief
The Pakistan government is very concerned about Indo-Israel military cooperation, particularly about Washington's decision to okay New Delhi's purchase of the Phalcon airborne warning systems from Tel Aviv.
"We have no right to object to close relations between India and Israel, but we have concerns," said Air Chief Marshal Kaleem Sa'adat.
"We are fully aware of our defence needs," Saadat said, adding that despite limited resources, the Pakistan Air Force had achieved excellent results in self-reliance and indigenous defence productions.
India's indigenously developed short range surface-to-air missile Trishul was test-fired from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur about 15 km from here on Wednesday.
The missile was launched from a mobile launcher at about 2.15 pm, defence sources said.
Trishul is a short range, quick reaction, all-weather surface-to-air missile designed to counter a low level attack, the sources said.
Lockheed Martin PAC-3 Missiles Successfully Defeat Tactical Ballistic Missile and Cruise Missile in Test
Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missiles successfully intercepted and destroyed an incoming tactical ballistic missile (TBM) and a low-altitude cruise missile in a dual test today at White Sands Missile Range, NM. The battle-proven PAC-3 Missile is the world's only fielded hit-to-kill, kinetic
energy air defense missile.
In the dual engagement test, two PAC-3 Missiles were "ripple-fired" at an
incoming Patriot-As-A-Target (PAAT) TBM, a legacy Patriot missile modified to
represent a short-range TBM. In a second simultaneous engagement, a single
PAC-3 Missile was fired at a low-flying MQM-107D cruise missile target.
Preliminary data indicates both the TBM target and cruise missile target were
destroyed. All test objectives were met.
"This was an outstanding demonstration of the ability of the PAC-3 Missile
to defeat the entire threat to the Patriot system," said Steve Graham, vice
president - PAC-3 Missile program for Lockheed Martin. "This was our fifth
successful "ripple-fire" of PAC-3 Missiles against TBMs, both in flight
testing and in combat. These tests continue to prove that PAC-3 can
effectively protect deployed troops and other high-value assets from a variety
of contemporary threats."
Test objectives included demonstrating the system's ability to detect,
track and engage a TBM and cruise missile simultaneously, and validating the
performance of several components of the PAC-3 Missile that were part of on-
going cost reduction initiatives. These include an Advanced Master Frequency
Generator (AMFG), Multi-Band Radio Frequency Data Link (MRFDL) and a
Simplified Inertial Measurement Unit (SIMU).
"We demonstrated several upgraded components during today's flights,"
Graham added. "These improvements add greater functionality to the system
while reducing overall missile cost."
The 'hit-to-kill' PAC-3 Missile is the world's most advanced, capable and
powerful theater air defense missile. It defeats the entire threat to the
Patriot Air Defense System: tactical ballistic missiles (TBMs) carrying
weapons of mass destruction, advanced cruise missiles and aircraft. PAC-3
Missiles significantly increase the Patriot system's firepower, since 16
PAC-3s load-out on a Patriot launcher, compared with four of the older Patriot
PAC-2 missiles.
Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control is prime contractor on the PAC-3
Missile Segment upgrade to the Patriot air defense system. The PAC-3 Missile
Segment upgrade consists of the PAC-3 Missile, a highly agile hit-to-kill
interceptor, the PAC-3 Missile canisters (in four packs), a Fire Solution
Computer and an Enhanced Launcher Electronics System. These elements are
being integrated into the Patriot system, a high to medium altitude, long-
range air defense missile system providing air defense of ground combat forces
and high-value assets.
The PAC-3 Missile has been selected as the primary interceptor for the
multi-national Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS). Managed by the
NATO MEADS Management Agency (NAMEADSMA), MEADS is a model transatlantic
development program focused on the next generation of air and missile defense.
MEADS will focus on risk reduction, application of key technologies and
validation of a system design incorporating the PAC-3 Missile as the prime
interceptor.
The Patriot PAC-3 program is managed by the U.S. Army and executed by the
Army Program Executive Office, Air, Space and Missile Defense and the Lower
Tier Air and Missile Defense Project Office in Huntsville, AL.
Lockheed Martin is a world leader in systems integration and the
development of air and missile defense systems and technologies, including the
first operational hit-to-kill missile defense system. It also has
considerable experience in missile design and production, infrared seekers,
command and control/battle management, and communications, precision pointing
and tracking optics, as well as radar and signal processing. The company
makes significant contributions to all major U.S. missile defense systems and
participates in several global missile defense partnerships.
Headquartered in Bethesda, MD, Lockheed Martin employs about 130,000
people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design,
development, manufacture and integration of advanced technology systems,
products and services.
Russia has advanced development of a new missile defense system offered to the United Arab Emirates.
Russian officials said the S-400 Triumph was recently launched in what was described as the first comprehensive test of the missile defense system. The S-400 has been under development for a decade and offered to a range of Middle East clients, including the UAE.
The S-400 has been touted as the most effective missile defense system yet, superior to the U.S. Army's PAC-3 system. The S-400 was said to be able to detect and destroy enemy missiles at a range of up to 400 kilometers. The S-400's radar was said to be capable of tracking targets without emitting a signal for enemy aircraft.
Officials said the S-400 began undergoing tests in April at the Kapustin Yar Missile Firing Range as part of an accelerated effort to complete the development of the system. They said President Vladimir Putin wants the S-400 to achieve operational capability by 2005 in an effort to pave the way for export sales and deployment within Russia.
Stennis Fighters Go Head-to-Head with MiG 29s in the Pacific
By Journalist 2nd Class (SW) Christopher C. Fowler, USS John C. Stennis Public Affairs
ABOARD USS JOHN C. STENNIS (NNS) -- Soviet-designed MiG-29s flew against F/A-18C Hornets, F/A-18E Super Hornets and F-14D Super Tomcats Sept. 7 during joint air-to-air combat exercises over the South China Sea.
The joint Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 14/Malaysian Royal Air Force (RAF) exercise began with Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 115 flying the F/A-18E Super Hornet, and Fighter Attack Squadron VFA-25 flying the F/A-18C Hornet against the RAF MiG-29s with four one-on-one engagements, each practicing within-visual-range air-to-air combat exercises with the historically-adversarial MiG.
The second part of the exercise involved VFA-113 flying the F/A-18D Hornet, and Fighter Squadron (VF) 31 flying the F-14D Super Tomcat, conducting mock “dog fight” engagements in a beyond-visual range exercise.
Lt. Dave Faehnle, training officer for VF-31, said the exercise was a great opportunity to fly against an aircraft that presents a real-world threat.
“We flew two, two-on-two runs against the MiG-29s,” said Faehnle. “We achieved our mission objective, to see their aircraft on radar and to engage a dissimilar aircraft. It was a great opportunity to observe some of their tactics and to exercise some of our own radar systems.”
The exercise was controlled by CVW-14’s Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 113 "Black Eagles," flying E-2C Hawkeyes.
Lt. Jill Dougherty was the air intercept control officer during the exercise and provided battle space situational awareness to the MiG to find their adversaries.
“It was fascinating,” said the Lexington Park, Md., native, “to control and interact with one of the most significant threats to U.S. military aircraft today.”
Lt. Stephen Dean flew a Super Hornet against the MIG during one of the morning engagements. According to Dean, one of the most impressive things he saw was when “his” MiG pulled a high performance, nine-G turn. A nine-G turn is a turn that causes the aircraft and the pilot to experience nine times the force of gravity.
“One of the qualities of the MiG-29 is its superb maneuverability,” said Dean, of Oak Harbor, Wash.
According to VFA-115’s Operations Officer, Lt. Cmdr. Keven Harms, the exercise was considered a success.
“The opportunity to fly against the aircraft that is considered Naval Aviation’s percentage threat, the MiG-29, was truly a once in a lifetime event and is sure to be the highlight of the cruise for everyone who participated,” he said.
Stennis is currently on a scheduled deployment to the Western Pacific and is scheduled to return to homeport in San Diego this fall.
The defence relationship between New Delhi and Tel Aviv has deepened further with India and Israel agreeing in principle to hold joint air exercises involving US-made F-16s and Russian-built Su-30 MKI fighters.
While the modalities of the first ever Indian Air Force and Israeli Air Force exercise will be decided by the executive steering group under the bilateral Defence Cooperation Group, Air Chief S. Krishnaswamy discussed the issue with his Israeli counterpart during his visit to Tel Aviv last week.
The IAF chief interacted with Israeli Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz and Israel’s military top brass during his week-long trip. He also also flew a one-hour sortie on a twin-seater F-16 I fighter piloted by Major Jonathan from Ramon air base, south of Tel Aviv last Wednesday.
Sources said both sides were keen on pushing interaction between the two air forces and were all for exchanging operational tactics with each other. The joint exercise will be slated for 2005 after IAF Sukhoi-30 MKIs have done their tour of France.
Though Israel is smaller than Kerala in geographical area, its air force is one-and-a-half times more potent than the Indian Air Force. While IAF has a force level of 36.5 fighter squadrons, the Israelis have more than 30 fighter squadrons including 349 F-16s, 79 F-15s and 140 Kfir fighters.
Apart from undertaking joint exercises, New Delhi is also looking at Tel Aviv for help and hardware for its indigenous AWACS project. The AWACS project with the initial sanction of Rs 1,800 crore was cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) last week. A Defence Ministry official said critical equipment on board the indigenous AWACS will be an ‘‘off-shoot of the India-Israel PHALCON AWACS’’ deal. Israeli defence contractors will be involved in helping the Indian project in critical areas.
Indian Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee said India would not hesitate to use nuclear weapons in “punitive retaliation”, if the “policy of deterrence” failed. In an interview, Mukherjee spelled out his government’s nuclear policy and said that while India maintained nuclear weapons as a deterrent, “it will use them in punitive retaliation, which could inflict unacceptable damage to the aggressor”.
Mukherjee maintained that any nuclear retaliation would be consistent with the United Nations Charter that sanctions the right of self-defence. The interview was published in the ‘Force’, a magazine devoted to national security issues in India.
Mukherjee, India’s first non-National Democratic Alliance defence minister since the nuclear tests in 1998, also hinted at the need for tactical nuclear weapons (TNW). He said, “We are fully aware of the procurements made by our neighbours and our armed forces are prepared to meet any eventuality.”
The acquisition of TNW runs contrary to India’s declared no-first-use nuclear policy. During Operation Parakaram, when India had amassed its troops along its border with Pakistan, both political and military leadership deliberated on the need for TNW following apprehension that Pakistan might use its nuclear weapons against advancing Indian armour columns, which would have halted the war as well as lowered the morale of Indian troops.
Asked if like Pakistan, India should reduce the strength of its army, Mukherjee said, “I don’t think it is possible to reduce the strength of the army.” He said there was no proposal to review the procurement contracts made by the previous government. He said all the contracts, such as for Admiral Gorshkov, SU-30 and T-90 tanks, were in the pipeline.
India - Indian Air Force team leaves for South Africa
A 100-strong Indian Air Force (IAF) contingent left here Monday for South Africa for multi-nation war games that will be witnessed by visiting Indian President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
The air forces of South Africa, Germany, Britain and the US will be represented in Exercise Golden Eagle.
The IAF contingent, led by Group Captain R. Bhasin, comprises six Mirage 2000 fighter-bombers, two IL-78 midair refuellers and two IL-76 transport aircraft.
The IAF vice chief, Air Marshal Michael McMahon, saw off the contingent at the Shangumugham airbase here.
The IAF team will reach South Africa Thursday after stopovers at Male and Mauritius. It will return in the first week of October.
Exercise Golden Eagle comes in the wake of the hugely successful Exercise Cooperative Cope Thunder 04-01 in Alaska in July during which IAF pilots matched their skills with their counterparts from the US and NATO air forces and came out with flying colours.
"Our participation in Exercise Cooperative Cope Thunder 04-01 brought laurels to the country, thanks to the high precision displayed by the fighter pilots in penetrating air defences and scoring direct hits on ground targets in the mountain ranges," the air chief, Air Chief Marshal S. Krishnaswamy, had said after the contingent returned.
Air forces from the Asia-Pacific and NATO countries such as Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Canada, Germany and Britain too participated.
Early this year, a similar exercise was conducted by the IAF at Gwalior, where the US Air Force participated with F-15Cs and the combat skills of Indian pilots drew much appreciation.
A joint exercise has been planned in India with the Singapore Air Force in October, with the visitors flying with six F-16 fighters.
The IAF plans to hold another round of such exercises in France, Britain and the US next year.
India steps up efforts to market home-grown helicopter
India has stepped up joint efforts with Israel to market an indigenously developed helicopter around the world and is hopeful of receiving an order for it from Chile, the Indo-Asian News Service reported Friday.
N.R. Mohanty, chairman of India's aviation major Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) that makes the Dhruv advanced light helicopters, said his organization had signed an agreement with Israel Aircraft Industries for joint marketing of the aircraft.
HAL sold two of the home-grown helicopters to the Nepalese armed forces last year and it was recently demonstrated to the military in Chile by a team of Indian and Israeli experts.
"The Chileans were satisfied with the technical demonstrations and the commercial negotiations are yet to begin, but we are hopeful of orders from them," Mohanty told reporters here.
"We have 31 advanced light helicopters so far and 29 of them are flying in India," he said, noting that the country's armed forces and the Coast Guard had projected a requirement of 200 helicopters.
HAL currently has the capability to build 24 Dhruv helicopters a year, but Mohanty said this figure could be scaled up by workingclosely with private industry, which makes several sub-assemblies used in the aircraft.
"We are capable of producing up to 40 helicopters a year if the need arises," he said.
The Dhruv helicopter is currently powered by an engine suppliedby France's Turbomeca. HAL and Turbomeca are also working on developing a more powerful engine called Shakti for use in future versions of the helicopter.
The Dhruv helicopter can be used for both military and civilianpurposes and can carry 14 passengers. Almost 75 percent of its components are indigenous.
Five years after the crash of India’s first indigenous airborne surveillance aircraft, the state’s Center for Airborne Systems (CABS) has announced plans to build three small Airborne Early Warning & Control Systems (AWACS) over five years for $435 million.
The planes will operate at up to 35,000 feet for up to seven hours, spotting 2-square-meter items up to 300 kilometers away. The planes also will carry a 300-kilometer Identification Friend or Foe transponder, GPS and inertial navigation systems, secure microwave datalinks, and data and voice radios.
CABS sources said the laboratory will develop the planes’ radar warning receivers, missile warning gear, countermeasures dispensers, and other active and passive sensors for air and surface tactical data and data identification and classification equipment.
The Cabinet Committee on Security is expected to approve the program next month, CABS officials said.
Lead Candidate
But they already have a prime candidate for the airframe: the EMB-145 made by Embraer, San Jose dos Campos, Brazil. CABS officials said Embraer has mounted AWACS radar from Sweden’s Ericsson, and the Indian Air Force has short-listed EMB-145 aircraft for its VIP aircraft fleet.
CABS scientists visited Embraer facilities in Brazil in July. India’s defense research agency, Defence Research and Development Organisation, is expected to offer Embraer a sole-source tender for three aircraft, a deal expected to be signed before December, a senior agency scientist said.
CABS also intends to invite defense electronics firms such as Ericsson, Thales, Paris, and Elta, Ashdod, Israel, to bid on advisory contracts.
The planes will help monitor low-intensity conflicts, such as the ones in the Kashmir valley bordering Pakistan and on the northeast border with China. They also will provide training for the Air Force pilots and specialists who will operate the Phalcon AWACS when they arrive from Israel, the CABS scientists said.
The proposed planes will be a more stable surveillance platform than the Phalcons, according to retired Indian Air Force wing commander Bhim Singh.
India’s Guardian AWACS program, later renamed AJRAWAT, began in the early 1980s. An Avro aircraft with 24-by-5-foot rotodome flew in 1990, and CABS was set up a year later to run the program.
Crash Forced Global Search
But the deadly January 1999 crash of a prototype Airborne Surveillance Platform dashed India’s hopes of getting a homegrown AWACS program and led to a global hunt for AWACS from the overseas market.
Early this year, India concluded a deal under which three Il-76 Russian aircraft would be mounted with Israeli Phalcon radar to be used as AWACS. The deal was signed early this year for $1.1 billion.
Indian military services may seek U.S. defense equipment once they better understand the characteristics and performance of American weapons, according to Ronen Sen, India’s new ambassador to the United States.
The military services of both countries are engaged in joint exercises and training almost on a weekly basis, Sen said Sept. 7 during a reception hosted for him by the U.S.-India Business Council in Washington. The council promotes bilateral commerce and business.
“Right now, we are exchanging ideas among people, getting to know them and the [U.S.] systems,” he said. “Then we will move into procurement of some of the [defense] items.”
U.S. forces have strong conventional military capabilities, Sen said, but India’s armed forces have a lot of experience in urban combat and counterinsurgency operations, which they share with their American counterparts during joint exercises.
Sen, who took office in August, was appointed by the new Indian government, led by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, to replace Lalit Mansingh. Sen has been a career foreign service officer for the past 30 years and recently served as India’s high commissioner to the United Kingdom.
The new government in New Delhi, elected in May, intends to continue economic reforms pursued by the previous government, Sen said, noting the raising of limits on foreign investment in India’s telecommunications and financial sectors.
As India’s ambassador, Sen said he would promote two-way trade between the two countries and work to enlarge Indian investment in the United States.
Indian military services may seek U.S. defense equipment once they better understand the characteristics and performance of American weapons, according to Ronen Sen, India’s new ambassador to the United States.
The military services of both countries are engaged in joint exercises and training almost on a weekly basis, Sen said Sept. 7 during a reception hosted for him by the U.S.-India Business Council in Washington. The council promotes bilateral commerce and business.
“Right now, we are exchanging ideas among people, getting to know them and the [U.S.] systems,” he said. “Then we will move into procurement of some of the [defense] items.”
U.S. forces have strong conventional military capabilities, Sen said, but India’s armed forces have a lot of experience in urban combat and counterinsurgency operations, which they share with their American counterparts during joint exercises.
Sen, who took office in August, was appointed by the new Indian government, led by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, to replace Lalit Mansingh. Sen has been a career foreign service officer for the past 30 years and recently served as India’s high commissioner to the United Kingdom.
The new government in New Delhi, elected in May, intends to continue economic reforms pursued by the previous government, Sen said, noting the raising of limits on foreign investment in India’s telecommunications and financial sectors.
As India’s ambassador, Sen said he would promote two-way trade between the two countries and work to enlarge Indian investment in the United States.
Indian Air Force commander proposes joint maneuvers with IAF
The visiting commander of the Indian Air Force has proposed joint maneuvers and training exercises with the Israeli Air Force.
In an interview with The Jerusalem Post, Air Chief Marshal Srinivaspuram Krishnaswamy said that he had received a "positive" reaction from his Israeli counterpart.
OC Air Force Maj.-Gen. Elyezer Shkedy is hosting Krishnaswamy, a former test pilot. He has given him the honor of becoming the first non-Israeli to fly in the US-made F-16I, Israel's newest fighter jet.
"We look forward to exercising with the Israeli Air Force," Krishnaswamy said. "We can learn from each other in many ways as we are learning from the others."
"It is a matter of working out the practicalities, whether they wish to come [to India] or we come here and other various modalities. I believe there are mutual appreciations and interests. We hope that it would progress further."
He said that his air force has not conducted joint training with any Arab states.
Speaking to The Jerusalem Post earlier this week, Shkedy said the IAF was in the process of developing links with other air forces.
"One of these nations is no doubt India," Shkedy said. "Openness to the world and training around the world has benefits for the IAF."
Krishnaswamy noted that the Indian air force has trained with the French and most recently with the United States in Alaska. It was the first time Indian fighter jets crossed the Atlantic Ocean, traveling 30,000 kilometers one way.
"It was a very successful exercise and they quite enjoyed themselves," he said.
He said that the Indian air force was dispatching next week their Mirage 2000 to train in South Africa. They will be crossing the Indian Ocean. Next year the air force is planning to send them to France to exercise with the French Air Force.
Next month, Singapore's F-16 squadron is slated to come to India to train.
In Israel for a five-day visit this week, Krishnaswamy toured on Thursday the Ramon air base, home of the F-16 I squadrons and the Palmahim base, where Israel maintains part of its large UAV aircraft and attack helicopters.
His visit is part of the ongoing warm relations between the two militaries.
During his visit here, Krishnaswamy also stopped by Israel Aircraft Industries to review the progress on the $1 billon deal to supply India with three "Phalcon" early-warning airborne radar aircraft.
"It will be a force multiplier by providing a radar in the sky. It will give us a longer look beyond the horizon and it certainly has its operational utility. We look forward to it," Krishnaswamy said.
Krishnaswamy said he was not familiar with reports that said India was keen on getting Israeli satellite photos of Pakistani nuclear sites.
"We have our own access to whatever intelligence is necessary," he said.
He also was adamant that India would not request or require any Israeli aid to meet future threats.
"I don't expect any significant help as such from Israel. We are quite capable of managing it ourselves. We don't expect any help or support to meet our threat from any nation. Let's make that very clear," he said.
Krishnaswamy said the Indian air force was interested in learning how other countries manage their air forces and train their pilots and crews.
He said he found openness from the Israelis and was "inspired" by the training methods he was shown.
"We were briefed that the Israeli air force has about 35,000 people in uniform, but you have some very formidable capabilities. You have your number of squadrons and you manage it so efficiently," he said.
In his capacity as chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee, Krishnaswamy also visited TASS Israel Military Industries, Elbit, and Rafael.
Defense links and deals are blossoming with India, but Krishnaswamy indicated that India expected to off-set purchases in India for weapons purchases here.
"Between countries there is a certain reciprocity, like in the good old days of trade and barter. We are looking at which way we can be beneficial," he said.
While declining to give precise figures, Krishnaswamy said that Russia and Israel were its main arms suppliers.
IAF to train with Israeli Counterpart Thursday, September 9, 2004 (Tel Aviv):
Chief of Air Staff Srinivaspuram Krishnaswamy has said Indian Air Force will train with its Israeli counterpart. He also expressed satisfaction at the military hardware procurements made by India from Israel, saying they are cost effective and operationally unique. "We would work and train (with Israel) in some manner in exercises that are practical and possible," Krishnaswamy, who is here on a five-day visit
Krishnaswamy achieved the unique distinction of being the first Chief of Air Staff of any country to fly aboard the F-16I fighter jet yesterday. He further added,"We are pleased with whatever inductions we have made. They are very cost-effective and unique in terms of operational features," he said.
The Phalcon deal, he said, would give us a longer look beyond the horizon and "we will exploit its advantages." The USD 3 billion Phalcon AWACS deal was signed between Israel, India and Russia last year. India is seeking to fit the Phalcon on three IL-76 transport aircraft.
The Air Force Chief, who is here at the invitation of Israel's Vice Chief of Defence Staff Dan Halutz, appreciated the cost-effective training methods adopted by the Jewish state. "Our focus today is not technology so much. We have enough machines, enough capability and enough technology. As an Air force Chief, I draw inspirations and lessons from how others manage their forces", he said. (PTI)
The recently raised Indian Air Force commandos, 'Garuda Force', will be deployed in the strife-torn African nation of Congo.
The force raised to make IAF self-sufficient in protecting their strategic assets like airbases, fighters and transport aircraft, radars and missiles will have to prove their mettle in the embattled African country where the IAF is playing a vital role in peace-keeping, according to Vice-Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal M McMahon.
Along with the deployment of the Garuda Force, IAF for the first time during its long tenure in international peace keeping is also exporting Air Service Units to man airport services at Kindu airport in the eastern region of Congo.
The Garuda Force and the ASUs would form part of the 120-member Indian UN peacekeeping mission in Congo, McMahon said.
The Garuda force has undergone extensive training in both armed and unarmed combat by the Indian army commandos and the National Security Guard (NSG).
The team to be based at Kindu airport in eastern DRC is IAF's third contribution to United Nation's peacekeeping mission and the first one ever to provide Airfield Service Units (ASU).
An Indian helicopter unit is already operating in Congo as part of the UN mission.
Bidding adieu to the contingent in Delhi, the Vice Chief of Air Staff said that India was getting a lot of requests from the UN for various peacekeeping missions and would continue making contributions in future.
"Keeping in mind the tough terrain and security environment it will be a demanding job but we expect highstandards of Indian Air Force to be maintained," he said.
The Indian team would be manning UN air movements in a terrain, which has no roads and operations would include crash and fire fighting services, medical support, meteorological services, ramp operations and communications.
Describing the challenges expected in Congo Sqdrn Ldr Zaidi said, "The biggest challenge is that we will be acting as a peacekeeping and not as a peace enforcement agency."
The contingent that departs tonight will be taking over operations from Sweden and an interim US mission.
Around 70 people, believed to be Taliban or Al Qaeda terrorists, were killed when Pakistan Air Force jets bombed a tribal region bordering Afghanistan on Thursday.
"Pakistan security forces launched precise strike on a foreign terrorist training camp in area Dila Khula of South Waziristan Agency, about 25 km northeast of Wana, and successfully knocked it out," defence spokesman Shaukat Sultan said in Islamabad.
Without mentioning the casualties he said the air raids were conducted after receiving confirmed reports on training camps being run by foreign elements including Uzbeks, Chechens and Arabs.
"The facility was successfully knocked out through a precisely targeted operation which lasted for about two hours this morning", Sultan said. "These trained terrorists were indulging in sabotage and terrorist acts in the country, as was revealed through investigations into the recent terrorist acts," he said.
Private Geo TV quoted defence officials as saying that some 70 people were killed when jets bombed the area. An unconfirmed report said Taliban militants were holding a meeting when the raid took place.
Five years after a setback to its indigenous Airbrone Early Warning and Control System (AWACS) programme, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) today gave the go ahead for the revival of the project setting a timeframe of seven years for its development at a cost of Rs 1800 crore.
Apparently buoyed by the recent breakthroughs in radar technology by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the CCS cleared the project for an indigenous AWACS at an hour-long meeting presided over by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
"The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Air Force will jointly cooperate in the development of the system," Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee said.
He also said the CCS accorded an ex-post facto approval to a wide-ranging defence agreement between India and Brazil.
The revival of the AWACS project comes after five years DRDO's HS-748 technology demonstrator aircraft crashed killing some DRDO scientists and technicians in Tamil Nadu in 1999.
Though the Minister did not not spell out the aircraft on which the new AWACS would be mounted, his announcement of ratification of a defence agreement with Brazil assumes significance as Brazilian aviation company Embraer is one of the few countries to have the AWACS technology.
India recently concluded an agreement with a company for the purchase of five Embraer executive jets, four for the VVIP squadron of the IAF and one for the Union Home Ministry.
The ban on airspace by commercial flights upto a height of 28,000ft over Barnala in Punjab bordering Pakistan has resulted in an altercation between the Indian Air Force and the Civil Aviation Ministry.
Israel-built, tethered aerostat surveillance systems (TARS) are expected to soon hit the skies at heights of 15,000 ft to monitor incoming cruise missiles and low-flying aircraft from the west.
IAF is clear about its decision. “There should be no grey areas in this matter as the corridor is controlled by the IAF,” sources said. “As far as matters of security go, there can be no further discussion on the matter.” TARS are helium-filled Mylar blimps that carry phased array radars which can operate 360 degrees or in sector scan mode, and while being like the $1 billion a piece Phalcon AEWs, are much cheaper, and roam the skies on cable tethers that are 20,000 feet long.
The IAF wants to absolutely prohibit flights over Barnala upto a height of 28,000 feet, and seeks the airspace to be designated “prohibited area”, but the civil aviation ministry says the border district comes in the air corridor for Europe via Pakistan and Afghanistan, and as such should be marked “danger area”.
Sources said that the Air Traffic Services routes under which navigation facility and ATC are under the aegis of the Civil Aviation Ministry.
TARS would be part of a massive Indian strategic early-warning system comprising three Phalcons fitted into Ilyushin-76 heavy transport military aircraft, and other ground-based, airborne and sea-based radars and sensors, and the project should have been up and running by July, except for the the undue delays.
According to sources, contract for TARS from Israel was signed two years ago, the IAF got command of the project, and after successful runs in Barnala, it would be tried in Kargil, sources said.
For the US: India's untrustworthy September 07, 2004 Rediff.com Guest Column: Richard M Bennett
The true ramifications of Rabinder Singh's exposure as a probable major CIA spy within the Indian intelligence service RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) are not yet fully known. The nagging worry for New Delhi must be that Singh was part of a much larger 'spy ring' reminiscent of those such as the Cambridge ring in the UK or the Walker ring in the USA that did so much to undermine the self-confidence and efficiency of those countries' intelligence communities during the Cold War.
The suggestion has already been made by a number of well-placed observers that Rabinder Singh had acted as a conduit or cutout for a number of highly placed US 'assets' operating deep within the Indian intelligence community, the military and scientific centres working on nuclear and missile development, and others inside the political establishment.
It is known that Singh's sister was also suspected of being a CIA 'agent' and that Singh managed to cover his tracks for some time by supposedly keeping tabs on her activities for the counter-intelligence section of the Research and Analysis Wing. Again the suspicion must be present that in some way they may have actually been working together to steal top secret information from under the very nose of the authorities.
Wherever this conjecture may lead, it is inescapable that one major question be asked. Why is the United States pursuing such a vigorous espionage operation against a long-time ally of the West and a fearsome opponent of Muslim terrorism?
If India, as the world's largest democracy, should be so targeted by the CIA, are similar operations being conducted against the rest of Washington's supposed allies? The answer to this is a very definite yes!
The US intelligence community may accept that there are 'friendly' nations, but it does not accept the notion of 'friendly' intelligence services. Even Israel's Mossad keeps the CIA at arm's length for much of the time and the famous attack on the USS Liberty in 1967 highlighted Israel's determination to draw a line on just how much Washington was allowed to spy on their activities.
Britain, the Americans' oldest intelligence partner, is, however, under no illusion as to the true nature of the 'special relationship'. As much as 90 percent of the intelligence material handled by either GCHQ, the electronic intelligence-gathering organisation based in Cheltenham, or MI6, the secret intelligence service, emanates from their US partners in the NSA and CIA. Britain, despite its long record of espionage operations, is very much the junior partner and is well aware that even they are deeply penetrated by US 'assets'.
It has long been rumoured that the CIA has a special analysis section devoted to trying to identify the 'sources' for information obtained by MI6 in order to make an aggressive 'takeover bid'. Indeed it has been suggested that the British spent as much effort keeping the identity of one of their greatest spy successes, Oleg Gordievsky, secret from their American 'allies' as from their Soviet 'enemies' in order to protect his exposure by over-aggressive CIA recruitment tactics.
India, therefore, falls neatly into the US intelligence lexicon along with most, if not all, of Washington's allies, as friendly but untrustworthy.
What makes this spy case so important and deeply disturbing for New Delhi is that much of the classified material Rabinder Singh passed to the Americans may well have landed quickly on the desks of intelligence chiefs in Islamabad.
The suspicion must be present that one of the reasons for Pakistan's surprising willingness to publicly, if not privately, abandon its long-term support for the Taliban in Afghanistan was the flow of vital information on India's intentions and capabilities reaching the Inter-Services Intelligence organisation. The analysis provided by the ISI may well have proved of critical importance to Pakistan's diplomatic position throughout recent confrontations with India over Kashmir, Islamic terrorism, and nuclear weapons.
Confirmation once again that the United States trusts no one or for that matter any country completely in its war on terrorism and in its aggressive policy of comprehensive, intrusive worldwide intelligence-gathering operations must have sent shock waves through the security services of its putative allies.
There appears to be very little indeed that any country can do to protect its secrets from the might of US intelligence. Worse is the realisation that they need America far more than America needs them, a humbling and far from pleasant reality.
Whatever the final truth may turn out to be, and it has to be accepted that this is being buried very deep, particularly by the CIA and the highly embarrassed officials of India's counter-intelligence section, many of America's longest and most loyal allies may still be wise as with the Devil 'to sup with a long spoon' when dealing with the least friendly of 'friendly' intelligence services, those of the USA itself.
Richard M Bennett is a well-known intelligence and military analyst based in the United Kingdom.
Al Qaeda mastermind Osama Bin Laden is most likely to be hiding either in a Pakistani city or somewhere in the mountains of Pakistan occupied Kashmir, claims Peter Bergen, a leading expert on terrorism.
In a long article in Atlantic Monthly, Bergen said bin Laden could possibly be hiding "somewhere in the mountains of Pakistani Kashmir - an area that is off limits to outsiders and home to numerous Kashmiri militant groups, some of which are deeply intertwined with al Qaeda. Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HUM), for instance, shared training camps in Afghanistan with Al Qaeda in the late 1990s."
Alternatively, said Bergen--who traveled to remote areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan as part of his investigation -- "If bin Laden and al-Zawahiri are indeed in Balochistan or the North West Frontier, they may be hiding outside the remote tribal belt, in a city such as Peshawar or Quetta, or in a town such as Kohat or Dera Ismail Khan."
Bergen, CNN expert on terrorism and a professor at the Johns Hopkins University, disagrees with "the conventional wisdom that tracking bin Laden down won't make much of a difference to the larger war on terrorism anyway."
It would be "dangerously wrong" to suppose that it doesn't really matter whether he is apprehended, he says.
"Finding bin Laden remains of utmost importance for three reasons. First, there is the matter of justice for the 3,000 people who died in the 9/11 attacks, and for the hundreds of other victims of Al Qaeda attacks around the world.
"Second, every day that bin Laden remains at liberty is a propaganda victory for Al Qaeda. Third, although bin Laden and his deputy Ayman al-Zawahiri don't exert day-to-day control over Al Qaeda, according to Roger Cressey, a former senior U.S. counter-terrorism official, they do continue to supply `broad strategic guidance' for the group's actions, and for those of its affiliates."
Bergen also quotes Pakistani analysts as saying that many of the radical Pakistani militant outfits have recently gathered under an umbrella organisation called Brigade 313.
Asserting that the Kashmiri militant groups are genuinely popular in Pakistan, Bergen notes that Maulana Masood Azhar, the leader of the Jaish terror group, is not under house arrest and has "good relations with (Pakistan's) spooks."
Noting that all the key Al Qaeda activists captured since 9/11 were found in the cities of Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Faisalabad, Gujrat, and Rawalpindi, he wonders: "How reliable is the Pakistani government in the effort to hunt down the terrorist group?"
But a former CIA official, Cofer Black, who is now US Coordinator for Counterterrorism, told Bergen that bin Laden is "no Ahab and Moby Dick kind of deal."
He "is on the run, he is very defensive, spending a lot of time worrying about security. How effective can you be?" asked Black.
To avoid being captured, bin Laden has to adopt a "hermit on the hilltop" strategy, which severely curtails his ability to run an effective terrorist organisation, said Black. And if he remains "in business," he opens himself to the possibility that his communications will be detected.
In other words, says Bergen, bin Laden "seems to be caught between a rock and a hard place."
The Israeli defense establishment failed today in launching the OFEQ-6 spy satellite into space. The satellite, produced by Israel Aircraft Industries MBT (MABAT) - Weapon Systems and Space Technology division, was launched at 1:53pm from the Palmachim Air Force Base, using a Shavit satellite launcher, also manufactured by IAI MBT.
The satellite's cost is an estimated $100 million, while the launcher's cost is in the tens of millions of dollars. According to the Ministry of Defense's initial assessment, the launch failed due to a malfunction in the third stage of the launch, when its engine refused to ignite after disengaging from the second stage.
The OFEQ-6, equipped with long-range cameras outfitted with sophisticated night vision capabilities, was supposed to join the OFEQ-5 in space. The OFEQ-5 spy satellite was launched in 2002.
The defense establishment had hoped to double the number of its active spy satellites, to enable better, more effective tracking of targets. Israel is interesting in tracking the so-called third circle of threats to Israel, meaning Iran and other far-flung countries.
News website Y-Net today cited defense sources who called the launch a failure "which must be investigated to find out why it happened. This was an important launch that was very significant to Israel's security, and its failure certainly rankles."
India, US Held 4 Joint Military Exercises Since 9/11
Indicating a clear strengthening of military ties between the two countries, the United States and India have held four joint military exercises since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks when Washington decided to engage New Delhi as a strategic partner.
The two countries already have a pilot exchange programme, a US instructor is at the Indian Air Force training academy and their air force surgeons are also working together.
Earlier this month, Indian pilots participated in war games in Alaska hosted by the US Pacific Command. Exercise Cooperative Cope Thunder 04-01 was a multinational Dissimilar Combat Training Exercise that involved air forces from Asia-Pacific and NATO countries - Britain, Canada, Germany, Mongolia, Singapore, Japan and Malaysia among others. Not all the countries deployed fighter aircraft. This was India's first participation in these exercises.
The IAF sent a 200-strong team equipped with six Jaguars, two heavy lift IL-76 transport planes and two IL-78 tankers to Alaska's Eielson Air Force Base.
The exercise was a tough test with multiple mock scenarios of assassinations, unrest, rescue and other emergencies. For 15 days, they mocked the crises that plague the real world. At the height of the battle, up to 70 jets flew in the same airspace at one time.
The IAF was part of the "Blue" forces or the good guys, fighting off the "Reds" or the bad guys. The USAF had teams on both sides. Ground forces were termed as "White" or neutral, doing the umpiring and ensuring everyone's safety.
The result of the first Indo-US combat exercises, Cope India '04, held in Gwalior, was a rude shock for the Washington establishment. Indian pilots bested their US counterparts 90 per cent of the time in mock fights. Later USAF chief Gen John Jumper told a Senate subcommittee that the Cope India '04 was "a wake-up call."
Another US commander said the Americans should review their tendency to routinely underrate the other side while devising training procedures. Now the USAF is aggressively demanding the induction of F/A- 22, the next generation fighter to replace the F-15C which lost to the Indian Su-30s and Mig-21 Bisons.
USAF officers said India's Su-30s had a clear advantage over the F-15C in long-range flights, and even though the US and Indian pilots were "seeing" each other at the same time on their radars, the Indian pilots were able to "fire" first.
This, they said, meant that the Indian radars were more advanced, which came as a real shocker for the USAF. With China set to acquire the Su-30s, the Americans are clearly worried. From India's perspective, a strong showing against the United States would unsettle both Pakistan and China.
But neutral media reports point out that the Americans had deployed ageing aircraft that are part of the USAF frontline but cannot be said to be at the cutting edge, technologically.
As part of an intensive series of international exercises, the IAF also participated in war games with the French in Gwalior last year. That was an eye-opener for the IAF which took a beating in the drill with French Mirages, some flown by pilots who had seen action in the skies over Kosovo. The French had superior avionics with ability to strike Beyond Visual Range.
"A victory by the Congress Party under the leadership of Sonia Ghandi in the elections to be held in India in May will not lead to any change in India's policy toward Israel. The good relations will continue, and in certain area even grow deeper," assesses Lieutenant General J.F.R. Jacob, a former senior Indian army officer and a Jew, who yesterday completed a five-day visit to Israel. "If I had to rank the present-day level of relations between India and Israel," Jacob adds, "I would give them a 9 out of 10."
General Jacob has close ties to the National Party (BJP), which in the course of its four years in power has tightened relations with Israel and expanded defense cooperation with it. For many years, Jacob served as the party's security adviser. Nevertheless, he says, "based on my personal acquaintanceship with the current foreign minister, I see that the Congress Party, like the National Party, has an interest in maintaining very good relations with Israel." Jacob notes that it was the Congress Party that in early 1992 established diplomatic relations with Israel, "and since then, every Indian government has found Israel to be a friend on which they can rely."
Jacob doesn't think much of the consequences of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on public opinion in India. Although India is the largest democracy in the world, he says, "you have to remember that over 70 percent of Indian society is an agricultural population, which cares about its everyday struggles for existence and survival, and is not interested in foreign affairs."
General Jacob gained prominent fame in his homeland when he headed the Indian army forces that vanquished the Pakistani army in the war that broke out between the two countries in 1971, over control of the Bangladesh region (which after the war became an independent state, having formerly been East Pakistan). For his decisive role in the sweeping victory, Jacob was granted a commendation of merit.
Jacob is proud to say that his illustrious military career is the indelible proof of the tolerance of Indian society. That is the only way to explain how he succeeded as a young Jew, the scion of a family that migrated some 150 years ago from Iraq and settled in Calcutta, to be appointed to one of the most senior command positions in the army.
His full name is Jacob-Farj-Rafael Jacob. He was born in 1923. At age nine, his father, a successful businessman, sent him to a boarding school in the city of Darjeeling, about 500 kilometers from Calcutta. From then on, he only went home on school holidays. In 1941, at age 18, he enlisted in the Indian army, which was under British command. "My father was against my enlistment," he recalls, "but after I found out about the atrocities of the Nazis and their treatment of the Jews, I decided that I would be a military man." Upon his enlistment, Jacob joined an artillery brigade that was dispatched to North Africa to reinforce the British army against the German army under Field Marshal Erwin Rommel. The brigade arrived after the battles were over. From there, Jacob's unit was sent to Burma. "I wanted to fight Germans," says Jacob, "but in the end I fought for three years against the Japanese."
Did you ever meet Orde Wingate?
Jacob: "I was a major in the artillery when I met him in Burma. I know what your opinion of Wingate is, and on his contribution to training special forces in Palestine [the reference is to the Haganah's Special Night Squads - A.B.], but I have a different opinion of him as a commander. In Burma, he was assigned a post that he could not fill [sabotage of communications behind the Japanese army lines - A.B.] His military perception was mistaken. He was a disaster. I prefer not to say any more than that."
Pilgrimage site
General Jacob is a graduate of artillery schools in England and the United States and specialized in advanced artillery and missiles. Prior to his appointment as commander of the Eastern Command (along the Bangladesh front), he commanded an infantry and artillery division. He retired from the military in 1978, following 37 years of service. Jacob tried his hand in the business world, but remained in close contact with government echelons. In the late `90s, he became the governor of the Goa province, and subsequently became the governor of the state of Punjab, which borders Kashmir.
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Israel, Jacob has paid many visits to Israel. Prime minister Yitzhak Rabin invited him to attend the Jerusalem 3,000 celebrations. On his recent visit here, he even contributed items of Judaica from his parent's home to the Museum of Babylonian Jewry in Or Yehuda. His home in New Delhi has for years been a pilgrimage site for Israeli diplomats, researchers and security officers.
Why is India interested in Israeli military technology?
"Because Israel's know-how and technology are very advanced. But also because countries like the United States and England are not as generous as Israel. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, Israel has proved that it is happy to work together with India."
This is a big change, compared with the way things were before relations were established between the two countries.
"Actually, there is a long history to what is now happening. As early as 1962, during the war between India and China, prime minister Nehru appealed to prime minister David Ben-Gurion, asking him for military aid. Already then, Israel sent military equipment, mainly 120 mm. mortar rounds. It happened again in the war against Pakistan in 1965 and in the war in 1971: Israel supplied India with mortar rounds, even 160 mm. rounds. And Israel once again proved its generosity in the military conflict with Pakistan in 1999; on that occasion, it also assisted in supplying ammunition, even bombs meant for the Mirage jets of the Indian air force."
How do you see the development of defense cooperation between India and Israel?
"The primary collaboration lies in the shared interest of both countries related to the war on terror, and everything that entails: Electronic fences, radar systems, sensors. Israel also assists with missiles. There is cooperative development and production of helicopters. And of course, the Phalcon surveillance aircraft; they are intended for early warning of a surprise attack by Pakistan or China."
India has also shown interest in purchasing Arrow missiles.
"I estimate that when the United States removes the obstacles, India will be highly interested in acquiring Arrow missiles for defense against ballistic missiles. We need them especially for protection against Pakistan."
In the wake of the talks now being held between leaders of the two countries, aren't relations between India and Pakistan better?
"India has been attacked several times by Pakistan. We cannot take risks, and be unprepared for a surprise attack. India should be prepared for both Pakistan and China. Therefore, there is a need for anti-missile missiles. Due to the Pakistani danger and the threat of launch of missiles with nuclear warheads. And it is important to mention: We don't want U.S.-made Patriot missiles, which are only capable of intercepting missiles at a low altitude of 20 kilometers [as opposed to the Arrow, which is designed to intercept missiles at an altitude of 100 kilometers or more - A.B.]."
Al-Qaida in Kashmir
In spite of the differences in size between India and Israel, there is a similarity in their geopolitical status. Both are surrounded by Muslim states, they have large Muslim minorities, and are threatened by Islamic terror. "India has no problem with Muslim countries," says Jacob. "It only has a problem with terror. And the trouble is that Pakistan has become an asylum for terror groups. The bin Laden people are active in Kashmir and we suspect that his people are active not only in Afghanistan but also in Pakistan. [Pakistani President] Musharraf claims Pakistan does not support terror, but it is turning out that it does not have the ability, or the means, to supervise the terror groups. And I don't know what the truth is.
"In spite of everything, I say that a nuclear war between India and Pakistan is not expected because the two countries cannot afford such a thing. Basically, there is a balance of terror between the two."
Israelis in Goa? They don't help, they don't hurt
In his post as governor of Goa toward the end of the `90s, General Jacob had an opportunity to get to know other sides of the Israeli character. "I had a chance to meet with Israelis in Goa. These young people came there after lengthy army service, without money. All that they want is to live cheap, on the beach."
Were there any problems with them?
"Some of the Israelis are involved in drug dealing, but this is a small percentage. I can say the Israelis do not cause any real damage. But at the same time, their contribution to Indian tourism is insignificant because they do not spend money, since they do not have any.
"I would like to see Israelis coming not only to Goa or Puna, but to get to know the country, to learn its culture. At the same time, I understand them. They arrive in India immediately after army service. They want to have fun and to enjoy life and that's okay, too. I don't have any problem with it." (A.B.)
The commander of the Indian Air Force is to arrive Sunday September 5, 2004, for a five-day official visit as defense ties between the two countries continue to blossom.
Air Chief Marshal Srinivasapuram Krishnaswamy will be hosted by his Israeli counterpart OC Air Force Maj.-Gen. Eliezer Shkedy.
While here, Krishnaswamy is expected to visit two air force bases during his tour. A former test pilot, the Indian air chief is expected to fly in a US-made Israeli F-16 fighter jet.
He is also expected to review the progress on the $1 billion deal to supply India with three Phalcon AWACS.
In his capacity as Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee, Krishnaswamy is also to examine the Soltam 155 howitzer, which is among the guns the Indian Army is currently considering procuring. Israel has surpassed Russia as its main arms supplier, with about $2 billion in deals currently in the works.
The Army's patriot interceptor missile system successfully destroyed two targets during a test Thursday at White Sands Missile Range in southern New Mexico.
Officials with the U.S. Army Program Executive Office of Air and Missile Defense in Huntsville, Ala., said the objective was to test the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 - or PAC-3 - with hardware changes designed to reduce missile cost and improve its production.
"The test also demonstrated the system's capability to detect, track, engage and intercept a short-range tactical ballistic missile target and a low-altitude cruise missile target," the office said in a statement.
Soldiers from the Air Defense Artillery at Fort Bliss, Texas, helped with the test.
The PAC-3 system successfully completed operational testing in 2002. It was first used in combat during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003.
The PAC-3 uses kinetic energy, rather than an explosive warhead, to destroy targets. It was developed to provide increased defense against advanced tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and other air-bound threats.
After proving their mettle in joint exercise with the US Air Force F-15's, Indian Air Force pilots and frontline warplanes would get a chance to cross swords with the F-16 fighter aircraft, the mainstay of its adversary Pakistan, during exercises with the Singapore Air force next month.
In the exercise aptly codenamed 'Ankush' (check), IAF main fighters like the just inducted Su-30MKI, Jaguars, Mirage 2000, MiG 21, MiG 27 and upgraded Mig 21 bisons would match skills with six Singapore Air Force F-16's for over 15 days from second half of October, according to IAF sources here.
The clash would again take place over the skies of Gwalior, where last year, the IAF pilots in SU-30's proved more than the match for the US Air Forces F-15 fighters, in the first ever fighter to fighter exercises held with a foreign air force.
But this time, the IAF would have a chance to match their skills against the much vaunted F-16, labelled as one of the most manoeuvrable fighters in the world.
The US Air Force had last year turned down Indian request to bring in the F-16, fighting falcons, but the Singapore Air Force has no such qualms.
The Singapore air force is also bringing in a C-130 Hercules for the exercise.
Former President R Venkataraman on Thursday said the Indira Gandhi government had cancelled a planned nuclear test in 1983 at the last moment following leakage of the plan and consequent fear of boycott and sanctions.
"In 1983, I was the defence minister and we had prepared to test the nuclear device. I myself went down the shaft to supervise the arrangements but then the news leaked and the government did not and could not put through the test," he said.
The former President was speaking at a function where selected speeches of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee were released.
One IL-76 aircraft from IAF's No 25 Squadron located here will fly to South Africa next week along with four Mirage 2000 fighter planes to participate in multi-nation war games, code named Exercise Golden Eagle.
The squadron, which has earned the soubriquet of 'Himalayan Eagles' for operating in the northern sector, had flown an IL-76 heavy transporter to Alaska recently for Exercise Cooperative Cope Thunder.
The transport plane would be used for para-dropping operations, platform drops, night operations and formation flying, said a senior IAF officer. The No 25 Squadron, which also operates the AN-32 aircraft, has a fleet of four IL-76 planes that were inducted in 1989.
The IAF is flying four Mirage fighters, one IL-76 transport plane and one IL-78 flight refueller for the exercise being hosted by the South African Air Force. The fighters belong to No 7 Squadron based in Gwalior. No 78 Squadron in Agra operates the air-to-air refueller, which was first exposed to the West during Exercise Cope Thunder.
An IL-76 pilot said the aircraft had changed the concept of transport operations through operational innovations and varied use. The IL-76 transporters of this squadron were innovatively utilised during air exercises over Pokhran ranges in 1990 when the plane was modified and used for testing the systems' effectiveness to divert fire power of heat seeking missiles and jamming of radar by dispensing chaff around the aircraft.
The squadron carried out the de-induction of T-72 tanks from Leh in 1993. The Himalayan Eagles have also been involved in evacuation operations both within and outside India. The squadron conducted major airlift operations at the time of Gulf War in 1990 by evacuating thousands of Indians from Dubai and Basra. Two years later, IL-76 planes were flown to evacuate 5,000 passengers stranded at Leh due to a strike by Indian Airlines' pilots.
Pak urges restraint after India test fires AGNI II missile
Pakistan has reportedly asked India to maintain a "strategic restraint" following Sunday's test firing of the AGNI II nuclear capable missile.
The News quoted Foreign Office spokesman Masood Khan as saying that as per the agreement between the two countries, each would inform the other in advance about any missile tests.
"Pakistan does not favour an open-ended arms race in South Asia. We believe that a strategic restraint is in the interest of both nations," Khan said in a statement.
"We would hold further talks on this subject in the near future," the paper quoted him as saying.
Earlier, India and Pakistan had agreed to set up a hotline to prevent nuclear confrontation in addition to a ban on nuclear tests and formulate an agreement on advanced information regarding impending missile tests.
Pakistan bought weapons worth $3.8 billion in 2003 as compared to India's $12.6 billion during the same year, a US government report has said.
Quoting Congressional Research Service's (CRS) annual report "Conventional arms transfers to developing nations", the Daily Times reported on Thursday that UAE was the leading arms buyer with purchases of $15.7 billion, followed closely by China with $13.7 billion.
According to the report, Egypt came in third with $13.6 billion and India fourth.
Prepared by national defence specialist Richard Grimmett, the unclassified study is considered to be the most authoritative compilation of statistics on global conventional arms sales. It said that global arms sales fell approximately by 12 per cent in 2003 from $29.14 billion in 2002. This is the third consecutive year that the total arms sales have fallen, the report added.
"The developing world continues to be the primary focus of foreign arms sales activity by conventional weapons suppliers," it said adding that the general trend among developed nations in recent years is to protect important elements of their national military industrial bases by limiting arms purchases from other developed nations.
Ahead of the crucial foreign ministers meeting in Delhi, India on Thursday said it is prepared to make the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir
Pakistan on Thursday claimed that an Indian helicopter, apparently "unsure" about its position, entered its airspace on August 28 approaching very close to Lahore.
The helicopter's entry into Pakistan airspace was detected in time by the PAF Air Defence network, official APP newsagency reported. Immediately upon its entry into Pakistan airspace, the PAF fighter aircraft were ordered to scramble and intercept the helicopter, it said.
However, the pilot of the helicopter, after realising that he was close to Lahore, immediately turned back, the report said, adding, the chopper went back into the Indian airspace before the PAF fighters could approach it.
The pilot of the chopper may be unsure of the ground position, the agency said. The report said the Lahore Air Traffic Control (ATC) had monitored the radio communication between the Indian helicopter and the Amritsar ATC.
Ahead of the crucial foreign ministers meeting in Delhi, India on Thursday said it is prepared to make the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir 'softer' to enhance people-to-people contacts but will convey 'strongly' to Pakistan its concerns over the recent increase in infiltration and violence in the state.
"We are prepared to make LoC a softer line," official sources said adding New Delhi looked forward to 'realistic progress' in the composite dialogue process when External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh meets his Pakistani counterpart Khurshid M Kasuri on September 5-6.
Foreign Secretaries Shyam Saran and Riaz Khokhar will meet a day earlier to review the progress on discussions held on the eight issues of the composite dialogue, including J&K, peace and security. Khokhar is arriving in Delhi on Friday.
Keen to promote people-to-people contacts, New Delhi feels that the LoC instead of being a 'dividing' line, should be one that can act as a bridge between the people of the two countries.
The sources said that while there was some decline in infiltration in the earlier part of the year, there has been a 'perceptible increase' in the same in June and July. During this period, incidents of terrorist violence in J&K have also gone up. "We will take this up strongly with Pakistan during the current talks," the sources said.
“Defense News” reports that Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) and Elbit Systems are about to lose a deal to upgrade eight anti-submarine planes for the Indian Navy, because Russia is refusing to take part. The deal has a potential in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
Russian participation is necessary because the Tupolev Tu-142 planes to be upgraded are Russian, and Russian consent is needed for their upgrading by a third country, an Indian defense ministry official explained.
According to “Defense News”, India originally asked Russia to upgrade the planes, but negotiations collapsed when Russia demanded $888 million for the deal. The Indian Navy then contacted IAI and Elbit Systems. The two companies planned to install multi-task avionics and electronic warfare (EW) systems on the planes.
The Indian official said that because Russia was refusing to sign a tripartite deal with Israel and India, the Israeli companies were unable to carry out the upgrading work.
The deal Russia turned down was similar to the tripartite deal signed by the three countries for installing Israeli-manufactured Phalcon air reconnaissance systems on three Russian-made Ilyushin 76 planes for the Indian air force.
New York, Indian ambassador Ronen Sen strongly questioned the rationale of Washington's increasingly close ties with Islamabad, saying long-term common values were being sacrificed at the altar of tactical expediency. In a meeting hosted by the American Jewish Committee (AJC), Sen indicated that past incidents of terrorism in India and the ways to finance such activities might have had the active collusion of the Pakistani government. The meeting held during the Republican Convention here was attended by several Republican Congressmen to discuss the nexus between Indian American and Jewish American interests and the triangular coincidence of goals between India, Israel and Washington.
"All right, we understand expediency, but all that we are saying is 'don't let tactical moves sabotage long-term goals'," Sen asserted. He pointed to documented evidence and media reports in the past that had shown terrorist camps being operated by army generals in Pakistan and the links between drug running and terrorism "but this has been ignored". Republican Jim Leach from Iowa tried to defend the George Bush administration declaring Pakistan a close non-Nato ally in the face of evidence of nuclear proliferation.
"The question is how do we respond. Secretary (Colin) Powell has made it clear that Pakistan is the centre of global instability. One thing we are learning is that sometimes we may do things that are counterproductive. Secretary Powell has determined that it's better to be constructive in our relations with Pakistan, and that is in the interests of India as well." Another Republican Chris Smith agreed that it was tough to reconcile nuclear proliferation with building an ally. Though human rights are sometimes relegated to a footnote among diplomats, proliferation, they are "front and centre of our relations with Pakistan", he said. Smith also stressed the importance of demanding explanations on what Islamabad was doing on these issues in every diplomatic meeting. "We hope it will make a difference over time in Pakistan. We cannot not push these issues."
Republican Representative Joe Wilson of South Carolina said he saw the commonality of interests between India, Israel and the US. "The artificial barriers between India and the US have been eradicated," he noted. Calling India and Israel "outposts of democracy" Wilson, who chairs the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, said: "We have a common situation in that we are all targets of terrorism." India has been a long time target losing 60,000 citizens, Israel has had its losses, and now the US had experienced it. "We are working with Israel and we are working with India. We are in a common war," Wilson asserted.
The Indian ambassador gave a detailed account of the history of relations between Israel and India, the exponential growth in trade and technology relations between the two countries, as well as between the US and India. Just three weeks into his office in Washington, Sen said he was surprised how little was known about the deep-rooted and ancient relations between Israel and India and the Jewish community in India, 70,000 of whom now lived in Israel. The first Jewish settlement in India was in the 1st Century. In World War I, two Indian regiments liberated Haifa from Turkish/German attacks.
India and Israel "are bastions of democracy" and earlier estranged relations were "abnormal", he said. Trade between India and Israel, he noted, had risen to nearly $2 billion from a mere $160 million a few years ago. "It's not an accident that the first country Israel established relations with after the US in order to build institutional structures for counter-terrorism, was India," Sen pointed out. "Terrorism has a method in its madness," he stressed, because it targets the identifiers of democracy, like the stock exchanges in Bombay and New York and the parliament in India.
September 1, 2004
by
Jehangir Unwalla & Nikhil Khanna
Around the globe we are seeing pictures of terrorism and brutality against innocent lives. Today Chechen rebels lay siege on a school in Southern Russia, a week earlier two Russian airlines were blown up and a new spate of suicide bombings have wreaked havoc in Israel. Insurgents are resurrecting every day and bringing about a new 'war' on people around the world.
Are we all beginning to see the face of the new enemy? The last few wars were fought between countries with disparate borders, massive landings in enemy territory and precise military operations. But none of these tactics are deemed logical today, for the 'new' enemy is within us. This enemy lives within our territories, drinks the same water, eats the same food and blends in with a normal environment. At a time of choosing, this enemy has the means to strike in a method more lethal than any soldier of the previous wars. This enemy is smarter and more agile, allowing him/her to quickly adapt to changing environments far quicker than we think.
With the number of radicals worldwide growing at an alarming rate, it has leading governments worried. A stop to these extremist groups is going to require far more than promoting democratic ideals and reforms. It will require a new way of thinking and action by countries devoted to curbing terrorism everywhere – in Nepal, India, Spain, Russia, Israel and America. It is a survival against those who specialize in terror, fear and taking of innocent lives. They resort to cowardly and inhuman tactics to achieve their objective. By using innocent children as cover, the Chechen separatists have proved that they will resort to whatever means necessary to achieve their 'cause'.
Are we loosing the war on terror? One can look at it from both sides. Yes, we are currently loosing it because the number of terror attacks worldwide has gone up, even though many of their safe havens have been dismantled. But terror organizations and radical groups have found innovative ways of regrouping, with ‘cells’ taking new form and cultivating almost as soon as they are disbanded. For every innocent life taken in a mindless attack, one must take it as a loss in this war. Then where are we winning? Countries around the world have realized that the only way to win this war is to unite and fight terror together. By collaborating on all levels - sharing intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance on terrorist movement, training and grouping is a path towards victory. A combined mission carried out with precise planning can avert future attacks. Every small step in stopping terror attacks from happening is a ‘win’.
When 1000 people are taken hostage by militants, most of them school children, it is no longer a Russian problem. It is a global problem! Today Russian children are held hostage, tomorrow the same could happen anywhere else. By using children as bomb covers and threatening to mercilessly kill scores of them, the insurgents have shown their barbaric ideals and despicable acts of human rights violations.
As purveyors of peace and freedom around the world, we say that terrorists and insurgents have raised the bar in this global war. Sure, one should expect collateral damage in this war and it is expected that more innocent people will lose their lives but rest assured, victory will be ours - people who seek to be free and liberated from fear and oppression. Insurgents, separatists and militants acting under the guise of 'freedom fighters' must be eradicated wherever they exist.
Indeed, a new 'world order ' is called for that sheds regional, national and religious differences. Quite simply put, two categories of people exist-those who perpetuate terror and those who have to fight it. However, more than just rhetoric is required. A concerted, concentrated, scientific and systematic organization has to be created, funded and manned like the UN Peacekeeping Force. Easier said than done, but achievable if nations cooperate. Further, the tendency to reap political advantage (such as phrases like 'leading the global war on terror') should be curbed. The need TO ACT WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY cannot be overemphasized.
The Harkat ul-Jihad-I-Islami (HuJI), or Movement for an Islamic Holy War, is one of many Pakistani terrorist groups active in Indian-occupied Kashmir. Unlike most Kashmiri terrorist groups, the HuJI originated outside the immediate area (in this case Afghanistan), later moving its operations to Indian territory. The HuJI was launched in 1980 as part of a network of Pakistan-backed mujahideen groups fighting the Soviets in Afghanistan. Over the last two decades, the group spread its activities to Jammu & Kashmir (J&K), parts of India, as well as Bangladesh, allegedly with support from Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The group has been responsible for regular attacks on Indian troops as well as government officials in J&K. HuJI was suspected of being involved in the attack on the Kolkata office of the United States Information Service on Jan. 22, 2002. The group was designated a “Foreign Terrorist Organization” by the U.S. State Department in “Other Terrorist Groups” category on April 29, 2004.
At the outset of the Afghan resistance in 1980, two Pakistan-based religious groups called the Jamaat ul-Ulema-e-Islami (JuI) and the Tabligh-I-Jamaat (TiJ) established the HuJI. The aim was to run relief camps for the Afghan mujahideen, under the leadership of Maulvi Irshad Ahmed. The affluent Pakistani Punjabi business community enjoyed traditional links with TiJ and JuI, and heavily funded the HuJI missions. The objectives of the group soon evolved to include the defeat of the Soviet military in Afghanistan and to establish Islamic rule in the country. Over time, the HuJI developed links with Pakistan’s ISI and was subcontracted to recruit and train mujahideen. During the Afghan war, the HuJI developed extensive links with Afghan groups such as the Hizb-e-Islami-Yunus Khalis faction (HeI-K), and later splintered into the Harkat ul-Mujahideen (HuM) and the Jamait-ul-Mujahideen (JuM). Once the Afghan war came to an end, the group quickly moved its operations from Afghanistan to Indian J&K.
The goal of HuJI, like other terrorist groups in J&K, is to seek secession of the state from Indian control, primarily through targeted violence. Often, the group is also blamed for violence in other parts of India as well as in Bangladesh. The first terrorist attacks by HuJI members were reported in early 1992. Then deputy chief commander, Nasarullah Mansur Langaryal, focused his efforts on southern Kashmir where there was a thinner deployment of Indian forces. A training camp was established near Kapran on the slopes of Pir Panjal mountain range. Langaryal later took over leadership of HuM but was arrested in November 1993. HuJI chief Gulzar Ahmed Tantrey and his deputy Abdul Rashid Dangar were killed in an encounter at Chanjlu in Doda district on Dec. 12, 2001. Since then, there have been no reports of a successor leadership.
A Bangladeshi unit of the group was established in 1992 with financial aid from Osama bin Laden, and under the leadership of Shawkat Osman, alias Sheikh Farid, and Imtiaz Quddus as general secretary. This unit has been active since 2000, and is responsible for aiding terrorists in India’s northeast, as well as recruiting Bangladeshi and Indian Muslims to fight in J&K. This group, HuJI-B, also aims to establish Islamic government in Bangladesh by killing progressive intellectuals. The HuJI-B has an estimated strength of 1,500 members.
In 1991, the religious ulemas of Karachi, Pakistan, asked the three splinter factions – HuJI, JuM, and HuM – to reunite in order to increase the effectiveness of their participation in the Kashmir insurgency. This reunited version was named the Harkat-ul-Ansar (HuA). While the HuA was formally formed in Pakistan, the merger of the three factions’ units in J&K was to be achieved by the HuA General Secretary Maulana Masood Azhar. On Feb. 10, 1994, 19 leaders of the HuJI, HuM and the JuM met at Matigund, Anantnag, district of J&K, to discuss the merger. While returning from the meeting, Masood Azhar and the HuA’s military chief, Sajjad Afghani, were arrested in Srinagar. With these arrests, the move to reunite the three HuJI factions into the HuA remained unsuccessful. However, stray incidents of terrorist violence perpetrated by the HuJI in J&K continue to be reported.
The HuJI continues to be supported by the religious elite in Pakistan, primarily through the JuI and TiJ. It also received financial support from the ISI, while receiving operational support from the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). The HuJI has extensive links with HuM, JuM, and the HeI-K.
Established: c. 1980
Founders: JuI, TiJ
Area of Operation: Initially Afghanistan, later southern Kashmir, training camps in Kapran on slopes of Pir Panjal mountain range
Goal: to seek secession of the state from Indian control, primarily through targeted violence
Funding: primarily through the ISI, also Pakistani Punjabi business community
Affiliated Groups: JuI, HuM, TiJ, SIMI, JuM, HeI-K, HuJI-B, HuA
Just when it seems that revolutionary communism has all but disappeared in the world, the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-M) rebels grow stronger and stronger.
At present, the Maoists have ordered a number of big businesses in Nepal to shut down following threats of terrorist violence. The rebels have ordered the companies to close indefinitely as part of efforts to pressure the government. On Aug. 15, the Soaltree Crown Plaza Hotel in Kathmandu was forced to close after a bomb attack in which no one was seriously injured. The Maoists’ attacked the hotel after it had earlier refused to close. One week later, Maoist rebels stormed the mountain town of Khalanga, bombing government buildings and reportedly killing a soldier.
In spite of various attempts to quell the uprising, government efforts have all but failed in trying to deal with the growing Maoist insurgency.
The CPN-M was initially formed in 1995; the product of a split in the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN). Pushpa Kamal Dahal (alias Prachanda) and Baburam Bhattari denounced the CPN and other mainstream communist factions as ‘renegades’ and ‘revisionists’ due to their participation in the parliamentary process. On Feb. 13, 1996, Prachanda and Bhattari announced a People’s War in an effort to establish a New Democracy in Nepal.
To date, Prachanda and Bhattarai remain active leaders within the CPN-M command structure. Prachanda is the Party’s chief of operations, and Bhattarai heads the Party’s political wing. There are well over a dozen other top-level commanders within the Party’s structure. Nepalese government reports indicate that there are approximately 10,000 combatants, 15,000 militia, 4,500 cadres, and 200,000 sympathizers actively associated with the CPN-M. They also have an active student wing, comprised of approximately 400,000 members.
The CPN-M insurgency operates to varying degrees in 68 of the 75 districts in Nepal. Among the rebel fighters, about 60 percent are deployed in the mid-western districts, 150 to 200 miles west of Katmandu. Another 10 percent are in the far Western districts, with around 10 percent in the central district of Gurkha. The remaining members of the insurgency are located in and around the Katmandu valley and regions east of it.
The Maoists’ ultimate objective is the elimination of the monarchy and the establishment of a single party Communist state. Prachanda and Bhattari draw inspiration from the radical communist ideologies of the Revolutionary Internationalist Movement and Peru’s extremist left wing guerilla movement, Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path). The CPN-M is inspired by the success of both movements and firmly believes that they can achieve their cause through force and intimidation. They strive to emulate the Shining Path’s stated objective of destroying government institutions and replacing them with a peasant regime. As with the Shining Path, Nepal’s Maoists ruthlessly deal with political dissent. Human rights groups report that they are guilty of numerous summary executions and cases of torture.
The Maoists argue that what makes them different from other communist parties in the country is that they want a complete revamp of the multiparty democratic system as part of a program aimed at turning the country into a Marxist republic. But on this issue there is some ambiguity, because in the past Maoist negotiators have hinted that they will abandon this demand in order to kick-start negotiations with the Nepalese government. In fact, the only area where they have stayed consistent is in their demand for an end to Nepal’s constitutional monarchy.
In January 2003, the Maoists called for a yearlong truce in order to negotiate with the Nepalese government. This truce proved short-lived. The Maoists unilaterally withdrew from the seven-month cease-fire on Aug. 27, 2003, after the two sides could not agree on the role of the Nepalese monarchy.
Since then, the CPN-M has been responsible for the deaths of an estimated 260 civilians and 305 members of government and nongovernment security forces. They continue to use murder, torture, arson, sabotage, child conscription, kidnappings, bombings, and assassinations to intimidate and coerce the populace.
As part of their program, the Maoists have threatened attacks against U.S.-sponsored nongovernmental organizations and have sought to extort money from Westerners and Nepalese alike to raise funds for their insurgency. Public statements have criticized the United States, the United Kingdom, and India for providing security assistance to Nepal. In 2002, Maoists claimed responsibility for assassinating two Nepalese U.S. Embassy guards and in a press statement, threatened foreign embassy missions to deter foreign support for the Nepalese government.
In May 2004, three major Western donor organizations indefinitely suspended projects in western Nepal due to what they say were threats by the rebels. Their announcement affected more than 50,000 people in some of the poorest areas of the country.
In June 2004, the Maoists claimed responsibility for a bomb in an Indian-run school in Katmandu. The blast occurred during a strike called for by a student-led organization of Maoist rebels. In a separate incident in southern Nepal, 13 soldiers were injured in a landmine explosion carried out by suspected rebels.
To date, CPN-M rebels are at loggerheads with the Nepalese government. They are demanding not to be classified as a terrorist organization, calling for the release of senior leaders in government detention, and the elimination of the monarchy. Given the breakdown of the 2003 peace talks, renewed talks between the government and the rebels are unlikely to occur any time in the near future. The government insists that the rebels must drop their demand that the monarchy be dismantled. The CPN-M has refused to do so. The Maoists insist that a special committee should be drawn up to draft a new constitution for the country, which would offer the option of abolishing the monarchy.
Neither the government nor rebels appear capable of achieving a decisive victory. The Nepalese government is quick to point out that the Royal Nepalese Army is better equipped than the rebels and is receiving increased financial assistance from the United States. However, the rebels are better prepared to fight in the rugged, mountainous terrain. They are also able to rely on popular support in the more remote regions of the country. Given the success of previous strikes and terrorist attacks, the rebels seem capable of paralyzing much of the country. The government has yet to demonstrate an effective strategy for combating the Maoists.
The Maoists claim that the reason they have so much support is because most of their supporters have traditionally been treated as second-class citizens or worse. Many analysts report that this is the real explanation as to why such a seemingly anachronistic movement has made such dramatic headway. There are a substantial number of people in Nepal who see the Maoists as the only genuine alternative to the old, repressive social order. To compound matters, the Nepalese government refuses to take the CPN-M threat as seriously as it should.
As one analyst put it, the government seems to be caught in classic catch-22 situation. Until there is substantial social and economic development in the areas of the countryside where the Maoists hold sway, the insurgency will continue. But development cannot happen until the government gains even limited access to these areas, and access can only be achieved by using highly unpopular and potentially counterproductive military means against a well-organized and locally supported guerilla army.
According to a US government report, India spent $12.6 billion on the purchase of arms whereas Pakistan spent $3.8 billion.
The Congressional Research Service (CRS) report said that while the United Arab Emirates was the developing world's leading arms buyer from 1996-2003, with purchases totalling $15.7 billion, China came second with purchases of $13.7 billion.
This is followed by Egypt with $13.6 billion, then India, followed by Israel ($9.9 billion), Saudi Arabia ($9.4 billion), South Korea ($8.8 billion), South Africa ($5.3 billion) and Malaysia ($5 billion).
The US led worldwide weapons sales in 2003, with sales totalling $14.5 billion, or 56.7 per cent of all arms agreements, up from $13.6 billion in 2002.
Russia was ranked second with arms sales of $4.3 billion, or 16.8 per cent of all global sales in 2003, compared with sales of $5.9 billion in 2002. Germany came third with arms sales of $1.4 billion in 2003, or 3.9 per cent of global sales.
The report, "Conventional Arms Transfers to Developing Nations," is published annually by the CRS that is part of the US Library of Congress.
The unclassified study, written by national defence specialist Richard Grimmett, is considered the most authoritative compilation of statistics on global conventional arms sales available.
Meanwhile, global arms sales in 2003 fell approximately 12 per cent to $25.6 billion compared with $29.14 billion in 2002, the third consecutive year total arms sales have fallen.
"Relationships between arms suppliers and recipients continue to evolve in response to changing political, military and economic circumstances," the CRS report said.
"Nonetheless, the developing world continues to be the primary focus of foreign arms sales activity by conventional weapons suppliers."
"The US and Russia collectively made (arms sales) agreements in 2003 valued at over $18.8 billion, 73.5 per cent of all international arms transfer agreements made by all supplies," the report said.
"The downturn in weapons orders worldwide since 2000 has been notable. Were it not for a few large military aircraft orders in 2003, the total for that year would have been substantially lower," the report said.
India, Israel Plan Joint Missile Construction: Official
India, which tested an indigenously-built ballistic missile Aug. 29, is holding talks with Israel about joint production of a long-range missile, the country’s chief military scientist announced Aug. 31.
“Wherever they have strengths, we want to jointly develop the missiles so that both countries can benefit and share designs, costs and risks,” V.K. Atre told reporters in Hyderabad, the hub of India’s missile-building facilities.
Atre did not elaborate on the system, which India hopes to build jointly with Israel. He said talks are being held between India’s Defence Research and Development organization and its state-owned Israeli counterpart.
Atre denied that Israel already was helping India to build guided missiles and said defense cooperation was confined to research and the development of sensors and fiber-optic gyroscopes for the military.
India, which treated Israel like a pariah for decades, has in recent years forged close military links. It is acquiring two Phalcon Airborne Early Warning Systems from the Jewish state at a cost of $1 billion.
On Aug. 29, India successfully tested its medium-range Agni-II (Fire) missile, which has a maximum range of 2,500 kilometers (1,560 miles) and can carry a one-ton nuclear warhead.
India is also planning to test its Agni-III missile which has a range exceeding 3,000 kilometers but has not announced a date, reportedly due to pressure from the United States to delay the test.
The Indian army has already armed itself with Agni-I missiles, which have a range of 700 kilometers.
India and Pakistan held nuclear tests within two weeks of each other in 1998. Since then they twice came close to war in their dispute over Kashmir but relations been recently been improving.
India’s $2 billion purchase of Scorpene submarines, which appeared to have been torpedoed with the change of government here, has revived. The new Navy chief, Adm. Arun Prakash, said the deal has been studied at various levels and now awaits only the approval of the Indian Cabinet.
“The Scorpene deal has been negotiated, scrutinized by watchdog agencies and is awaiting the nod of the Cabinet,” Prakash told reporters here Aug. 11 during his first news conference as chief.
Sources in the Central Vigilance Commission, the government’s corruption watchdog, confirmed that the commission has cleared the Scorpene deal.
The commission was asked last year to scrutinize the $2 billion deal after the then-opposition Congress Party demanded that India not buy the French subs. The Congress Party now leads the coalition United Progressive Alliance government, in power since June.
Eduardo Faleiro, a senior Congress Party member of parliament, refused to comment Aug. 19 on Prakash’s revelations about the submarine deal. But in the past, Faleiro has said that purchasing the Scorpenes would undermine India’s efforts to develop its own submarines and become self-reliant in the defense sector.
India is negotiating with French companies DCN International and Thales to produce six Scorpene submarines under a long-term submarine program, Project 75. The deal would include an option for Indian firms to build 24 additional Scorpenes. Negotiations with Thales began in 1999.
Each 1,500-metric-ton Scorpene would cost about $330 million, a senior Indian Defence Ministry official said.
Criticizing India for approaching only Thales for its submarine program, Faleiro in an April 2003 interview alleged that the company was involved in “shady deals” while selling La Fayette frigates to Taiwan in 2002. “There has to be competition,” said Faleiro, then a member of the parliament’s Standing Committee on Defence. He said the French submarine is “not the cheapest in its class.”
Faleiro noted that Project 75 — finalized by the Naval Submarine Design Bureau and approved by the Defence Ministry in 1997-98 as part of the 30-year Submarine Building Plan — aimed to boost indigenous capabilities and to revive submarine-building activities at Mazagon Docks, Mumbai.
The senior Defence Ministry official said the six Scorpenes will be built at Mazagon Docks.
Ravinder Mohan, chairman of Mazagon and a retired Navy rear admiral, said the company is prepared to build the submarines and awaits the government’s go-ahead.
The vessels, to be delivered between 2010 and 2015, will be built with technical assistance and equipment from DCN International and Thales. They would be armed with EADS SM-39 Exocet anti-ship missiles, a senior Indian Navy official said.
Earlier talks stalled when DCN International was sending two completed subs to India and building the remaining four there under a technology transfer basis. The company later agreed to India’s demand that all six Scorpenes be built in India under a technology transfer.
Pakistan spent Rs 184 trillion on nuclear plan in 32 years
Pakistan has spent a recurring two percent of its national budget ever since the conception of its nuclear programme in 1972, a well-placed official source functioning under the Ministry of Defence revealed, brushing aside speculations about Pakistan spending huge amounts on its nuclear programme.
According to the calculation, Pakistan has spent in total an amount of only Rs 184.295 trillion in the last 32 years. A statistical study reveals that India may have spent three times more than Pakistan on its defence and nuclear enrichment programme. At present, India has between 50 and 100 nuclear devices. India is also capable of delivering its nuclear weapons against targets in Pakistan via French Mirages and Soviet SU-30 fighter-bombers or indigenous Agni-medium range missiles. India has worked on a longer range Agni plus, capable of striking major urban centres in eastern China. India is also developing a submarine-based delivery system in order to have the third leg of nuclear triad. India will eventually succeed in developing a submarine-based launch capability, former US diplomats serving in Pakistan and India have mentioned to the Bush administration.
Barring some sort of South Asia arms agreement, India will certainly continue expanding its nuclear weapons capabilities, this is similarly true with regard to missile delivery systems. Thus, in the absence of any result oriented discussions between Pakistan-India that too in a limited time span and confidence-building measures, the threat of any major conflict going nuclear remains real but on part of Pakistan it will be the last resort and only if it is a do or die situation for Pakistan.
China's military took possession of 24 Su-30 fighter jets in late August, Jane's Defense Weekly reported Tuesday.
That brings to 178 the number of advanced Russian fighters delivered to China over the last 10 years, Jane's said citing a Russian government official.
China's Xian production facility has also received components for 95 Su-27 fighters.
The advanced jets include 38 Su-27SK single-seat fighters, 40 Su-27UBK two-seat fighter/trainers, 76 Su-30MKK multirole fighters and the 24 Su-30MK2 fighters capable of deploying high-precision munitions against surface targets on land or the sea.
The global defense industry is constantly shaping how borders are protected, wars are fought, terrorists are tracked and caught, and global security maintained. We aim to track news, policy, military exercises and strategic affairs between the world's largest democracies - India and the United States.
Given the vast interest and passion we have in this field, we decided to launch this blog to give visitors the ability to track these developments, exchange ideas and link to other sources of Information. Our primary sources and links can be found on the main page. Some of the pieces published herein our ours, otherwise it is reproduced from other sources (news, think-tanks or publications) to provide our readers the ability to interact and respond. The link to the original source can always be found under the article. Articles and op-ed pieces written by us include thoughts and opinions that are ours, not those of any government or political party. Last but not least, this blog is not-for-profit, nor is it financially supported by any corporation, entity or organization. It is purely to be used for informational purposes and not commercial and/or profit motives.
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Cooperative Cope Thunder
Nikhil and Jehangir wrote an exhaustive article about the Cooperative Cope Thunder joint event. Their article was publihed in Vayu magazine. Click on the link below to read the in-depth article with amazing pictures courtesy of mark Farmer at topcover.com
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