SOURCE: TNN

Indian surveillance and anti-submarine capabilities over the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean region will get stronger when the second batch of the Indian Navy’s Boeing P-8I maritime surveillance aircraft will land at INS Hansa in October.

The arrival of the multi-role aircraft from the US will enhance the aerial balance and sub-surface surveillance in India’s favour, naval officials said. The Indian Navy currently operates eight P-8I aircraft that are based at INS Rajali, Arakkonam in Tamil Nadu, and this will be the first P-8I to be based on India’s west coast.

SOURCE: INDIA TODAY

Amid growing tensions between India and China along the Line of Actual Control, Chinese state-run media has reported that the government of Lhasa city, the administrative capital of the Tibetan Autonomous Region, will conduct an air raid drill on September 19.

China has been holding air raid drills in major cities in September to mark the annual National Defense Education Day. However, the timing of this drill has raised many eyebrows as the last time such exercise was carried out in Lhasa was in 2009.

SOURCE: INDIA TODAY

Over the last month, you have heard a constant claim from experts and veterans of how the upcoming winter could hold answers to the continuing India-China military standoff in Ladakh. You have seen images of Indian and Chinese soldiers kitting up for the forbidding inbound winter months at very high altitudes. That the two sides are preparing for a long harsh winter.

Well, there’s no more waiting to do. That winter has arrived.

SOURCE: Hindustan Times

United States, India, Australia and Japan are in conversation to decide the venue and date of QUAD security dialogue next month, which will be followed by the 2 plus 2 dialogue between India and US here. As of now, Japan is an option for the QUAD dialogue or both QUAD and 2 plus 2 dialogues could be held back to back in New Delhi late next month.

The QUAD dialogue is an informal tie-up between democratic countries that share military logistics support, inter-operability through exercises and information and are committed to keep the Indo-Pacific sea lanes of communication free from artificial constructs and constraints. The QUAD dialogue will be held in person between US secretary of state Mike Pompeo, Indian external affairs minister S Jaishankar, Japanese foreign minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Australian foreign minister Marise Payne. The ministers are guided by the leadership of the four countries who share personal rapport and global visions for peace. The delay in the date and venue is due to the change of government in Japan with prime minister Yoshihide Suga taking over from ailing Shinzo Abe.

SOURCE: DefenceWeb 

South Africa’s Paramount and Namibia’s Windhoeker Maschinenfabrik (WMF) are currently engaged in armoured vehicle trials in India. A photo has emerged showing a Paramount Mbombe 4 armoured personnel carrier and Maverick internal security vehicle alongside a WMF Werewolf undergoing trials in India near Ladakh late last month.

The Mbombe 4 was badged as the Kalyani M4 – Kalyani Group is an Indian engineering, technology and manufacturing conglomerate that offers armoured vehicles, ammunition, defence electronics and artillery systems. One of its subsidiaries is Bharat Forge, which in February announced it was setting up a joint venture with Paramount Group to explore the indigenisation of defence systems in India, with a focus on protected vehicles and aerospace.

SOURCE: ARMY TECHNOLOGY

The Indian Army has the world’s largest ground force, currently comprising 1.4 million personnel while the People’s Liberation Army Ground Force (PLAGF) is estimated to have a deployed force of 975,000 troops.

Despite good economic and trade ties, multiple issues continue to impact Sino-Indian relations. Both nations continue to establish military infrastructure along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Chinese Army holds a huge inventory of weapons and hardware in most of the categories except tanks when compared to the Indian Army. On the other hand, the Indian Army’s combat experience in high-altitude battles and the acquisition of advanced armament from Russia and the US make it strong to resist potential threats from China.

SOURCE: PTI

Pakistan on Friday rejected India’s demand that an Indian lawyer or a Queen’s counsel should be appointed for death-row prisoner Kulbhushan Jadhav to ensure a free and fair trial in this country. Foreign Office spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri, replying to a question during a media briefing, said India has been consistently making the “unrealistic demand” of allowing a lawyer from outside Pakistan to represent Jadhav, sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court for alleged spying.

We have informed India that only those lawyers are allowed to appear in Pakistani courts who have a license to practice law in Pakistan. This is in line with international legal practice. There can be no change in this position, he said. Queen’s Counsel is a barrister or advocate, appointed Counsel to the UK Crown on the recommendation of the Lord Chancellor.

SOURCE: INDIA TODAY

Former Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) chief Anil Dhasmana was on Friday appointed as the new chief of National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO). He will take charge on Saturday and serve till 65 years of age.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet cleared the appointment.
Dhasmana would be the head of NTRO for next two years. He will replace former Intelligence Bureau (IB) officer Satish Jha.

SOURCE: PTI

The government on Friday carried out a comprehensive review of the overall situation in eastern Ladakh including India’s operational preparedness in view of the continued belligerence by the Chinese army and its fresh attempts to “intimidate” Indian troops in the region, government sources said.

At a nearly 90-minute meeting of the high-power China Study Group, defence minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Bipin Rawat and the three service chiefs also looked at further enhancing the vigil along the nearly 3,500-km-long Line of Actual Control (LAC), including in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim sectors, they said.

SOURCE: Hindustan Times

Indian intelligence agencies have started running security checks on Turkey-linked charities that have suddenly become active in Jammu and Kashmir over the last year after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivered a strident speech at the United Nations General Assembly last year that mirrored Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s pitch on Kashmir, people familiar with the matter said.

A national security planner said the intelligence probe also covers the role of individuals connected to the nonprofits with close links with Turkey and prepare a comprehensive report on their activities, overt and otherwise.

SOURCE: ANI

The investigations into the Amshipora case, where three Rajouri locals were killed, in an encounter, will be conducted with utmost fairness and will be taken to their logical conclusion, Army chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane said on Friday.

“Amshipora case investigations will be conducted with utmost fairness and will be taken to their logical conclusion. Indian Army is committed to the professional conduct of operations,” Army chief Naravane told ANI.

SOURCE: PTI

The strategic energy partnership between India and America has taken deep roots in a short span of time, India’s top diplomat to the US has said, asserting that this cooperation could energise the economic recovery of both the countries.

The US remained a critical partner for India in meeting the development aspirations of 1.3 billion people, India’s ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu said, adding that there was no field of human endeavour where both India and the US are not cooperating.

SOURCE: ZEE NEWS

Continuing its nefarious activities, Pakistan has yet again resorted to anti-India campaign in a bid to draw the international community’s attention towards Kashmir. India has flagged this propaganda of Pakistan over Kashmir, that it intends to execute throughout the world.

Ahead of the 75th session of the General Debate United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Pakistan has planned an online anti-India and free Kashmir propaganda on social media platforms on September 19. The High-level General Debate will take place from September 22-26 and conclude on September 29. 

SOURCE: Hindustan Times

A high-powered government panel on China on Friday reviewed the latest developments in the eastern Ladakh theatre, with focus on charting out the course of future negotiations to restore status quo ante of mid-April along the contested Line of Actual Control (LAC), officials familiar with the developments said.

The officials said the agenda for the next of round military talks between Indian and Chinese corps commander-ranked officers – expected to take place shortly – was discussed at the high-level meeting attended by defence minister Rajnath Singh, national security adviser Ajit Doval, chief of defence staff General Bipin Rawat, army chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane and other top officials.

SOURCE: PTI

The Delhi Police on Friday said it has arrested a freelance journalist, who was found in possession of defence-related classified documents, in connection with a case under the Official Secrets Act. Rajeev Sharma, a resident of Delhi’s Pitampura, has been arrested by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police.

“He (Rajeev) was found to be in possession of some defence-related classified documents. Investigation of the case is in progress and further details will be shared in due course,” Sanjeev Kumar Yadav, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell), said.