SOURCE: Tribune News Service

India has been constructing strategically crucial roads and repairing the airstrips close to Aksai Chin since 2008 and the aggressive objection to these constructions now is to redefine the boundaries as per its own misplaced perceptions. Two roads leading to Fukche and Daulat Beg Olde — the two airfields which were activated in April 2008, then after a gap of 41 years in the eastern and western parts of Ladakh.

The construction of the roads cutting the mountains and negotiating the sand dunes was to enable the troops to have an easy access to the front lines. It was also to deny China to take advantage of Indian troops’ absence in the strategically important areas in Ladakh. “These are strategically important areas for the Indian Army for defence purposes,” sources in the Army told The Tribune.“There can be no compromises on strategic assets,” the sources said. Continue reading →

SOURCE: INDIA TODAY

Aglobally-renowned strategic and international security expert, Ashley J Tellis fears that the Ladakh faceoff between India and China could well escalate into an armed conflict between the two Asian giants. “What is very clear to me is that what is happening on the borders with India in all the different areas is certainly not some localised action, which has been provoked simply by zealous local commanders,” he told India Today in an exclusive interview.

“It is a set of actions that has been approved at the theatre level and if it has been approved at the theatre level, then it almost inevitably has been approved at the level of the general staff in Beijing as well.” Tellis, who helped the then Bush administration craft the landmark nuclear deal with India, believes New Delhi should stay prepared militarily for a possible conflict with Beijing while both engage in diplomatic dialogue. Continue reading →

SOURCE: ET

With Nepal insisting on foreign secretary-level talks to address the Kalapani border issue, even while simultaneously pushing through a constitutional amendment to validate its new map, India said on Thursday it was important to create an environment of trust and confidence for dialogue.

After the main opposition party, Nepali Congress, sought more time and the Madhesis demanded that the proposed amendment also address their concerns, the K P Oli government hasn’t been able to table the bill in parliament yet. India said it had noted that this matter was receiving “careful consideration” in Nepal, taking into account its seriousness. “India is open to engaging with all its neighbours on the basis of mutual sensitivity and mutual respect, in an environment of trust and confidence. This is a continuous process and requires constructive and positive efforts,” said MEA spokesman Anurag Srivastava, replying to a question on Nepal’s plea for talks. India believes there has been no lack of engagement between the two countries in any case. Continue reading →

SOURCE: ZEE NEWS

Three engineers, including two of Indian-origin, are producing eco-friendly polymers using material from shrimps, mushrooms and other organisms to produce high-impact multilayered coatings that can protect soldiers in the battlefield, according to a statement. Two Indian-American engineers along with another at the University of Houston are using chitin — a derivative of glucose found in the cellular walls of arthropods and fungi– and 3D printing techniques to produce the coatings, the varsity said in a statement.

The coatings can protect soldiers against bullets, lasers, toxic gas, and other dangers Indian-American Alamgir Karim, Dow Chair Professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, told PTI “chitin offers promise as a commonly available material that could be processed and used in some products that now require petroleum-based plastics”. Continue reading →

SOURCE: THE HINDU

The Nepal Army on Friday said it was not its job to make “unnecessary political statements” or respond to the loaded queries from the media. It was responding to reports that its chief had refused the direct orders of Prime Minister KPS Oli on Indian Army chief Gen. Manoj Naravane’s recent comments on border issue.

“Nepal Army does function well within the parameters of the constitution, and maintains its glorious tradition of discipline, restrain and accountability and respect towards the highest executive office in the country,”it said in a statement. Continue reading →

SOURCE: CARBLOG INDIA

The Mahindra ASLV is a purpose built armored light specialist vehicle built for the military and defense purposes that can offer Ballistic protection up to stage B7 and STANAG Level II. You know Mahindra to be a manufacturer of SUVs that are built like a tank and also some commercial vehicles like trucks and pickup vans. However, we bet you didn’t know that Mahindra has also built an armored vehicle quite like this. This monster of a machine that you see here is known as the Mahindra ASLV and it is a purpose-built armored light specialist vehicle. Of course its not for you to buy but has been specifically designed for the military and defense forces.

This Mahindra ASLV is quite unique as it has been built on a modular architecture that can be updated to meet the requirements of the user any time. That also allows for easy maintenance while this vehicle provides Ballistic protection up to stage B7 and STANAG Level II. This vehicle sure looks like nothing other on the road but you could still identify it as a Mahindra by its seven-slatted grille up front. The aesthetics for this ASLV has also been kept very well. Continue reading →

SOURCE: PTI

Two terrorists were killed in an encounter with the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district today, police said.
A cordon and search operation was launched following information about the presence of terrorists in Wanpora area of the south Kashmir district, a police official told news agency Press Trust of India.

The terrorists fired upon the security forces, who retaliated. Two terrorists were killed in the gunfight, the official said. The identity and group affiliation of the two terrorists is being investigated, he added. Continue reading →

SOURCE: TIMES NOW

In a joint operation, Military Intelligence and Mumbai Crime Branch busted a telephone exchange racket in Chembur area today from where calls were made to transfer sensitive information related to the movement of Defence and Military personnel in Jammu & Kashmir.

The spy network was attempting to gather information about the Indian defence in Ladakh, using illegal Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) exchange In the operation, one accused has been arrested and an investigation is underway to ascertain the identity of other individuals involved in the network and locations of other similar exchanges and according to IANS, more arrests are likely in the next few days. Continue reading →

SOURCE: BUSINESS WORLD

Is there any plan for budget cut for the IAF due to economic fallout? What platforms are being prioritized to be inducted or ordered? How will IAF base its demand between security and budget?

Pending the receipt of revised budget estimates, we are targeting a 20-25% savings in the revenue expenditure, as a first step. On capital expenditure, our highest priority lies with the contract for 83 LCA MK1A. Additionally, we are in the process of prioritizing our critical requirements, weapons and technologies like the air to air missiles, air to ground precision weapons, networking, data linking etc. We are working towards industry critical capabilities and minimizing the impact of budget constraints on modernisation. Continue reading →

SOURCE: THE PRINT

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to launch a Request for Proposal (RFP) for six midair refuelling planes, even as it works to bolster its Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) fleet with fresh inductions and upgrades, Air Chief Marshal R.K.S. Bhadauria has said. The IAF chief made the statement in an email interview to ThePrint, as he addressed queries about the force’s preparations amid a changing nature of war that is likely to result in more aerial engagements.

He also said the IAF is not in favour of “rigid theaterisation” of the defence forces, which he claimed would divide the “already scarce IAF combat assets and effort”. However, he clarified that the IAF is not against integration. Continue reading →

SOURCE: INDIA TODAY

Chinese maps from the late 19th and early 20th century show Aksai Chin — a region under Chinese occupation since the 1962 war — as part of the Ladakh region, a finding that supports India’s position on the subject. A 1919 map of Tibet indicates that the Aksai Chin area “is as per the Indian perception”, said Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Gurmit Singh, a former Kashmir Corps Commander.

The other, older maps — also seen by India Today TV — are from 1893 and 1909. (Click on the playable image above to see the video report.) The findings come at time of rising border and diplomatic tensions between the two Asian giants. In recent weeks, Indian and Chinese soldiers have skirmished in eastern Ladakh and northern Sikkim. As well, Beijing has protested congratulatory messages sent by BJP MPs to Taiwan’s newly-elected pro-independence leader. Continue reading →

SOURCE: ENS

Educator and innovator Sonam Wangchuk has created a buzz online after his message to boycott Chinese goods went going viral amid the escalating tension at LAC in Ladakh. In an appeal, he urged the countrymen to snub products made in China and uninstall Chinese apps. Wangchuk, who inspired Phunsukh Wangdu’s character essayed by Aamir Khan in the film 3 Idiots, recently released a YouTube video titled ‘China Ko Jawaab Sena Degi Bullet Se, Naagrik Dengey Wallet Se‘, explaining how people can help the country in this situation.

With a message to give up ‘softwares in a week’ and ‘hardwares in a year’, Wangchuk, sitting against the picturesque views of the Himalayas and river Sindhu, explains in the video how just beyond the mountains, thousands of soldiers are trying to protect the country. Continue reading →

SOURCE: CNN-NEWS18

The Government of India’s silence on the standoff at the LAC is fuelling fear and rumours in Eastern Ladakh. Tashi Namgyal Yakzee, the councillor of Durbuk based in Shyok village, says there is panic in villages across his constituency because of heavy troop movement at night.

“My village is 120 kms away from Galwan Nalla where the Chinese have come in. Indian convoys with troops, ammunition and tanks move through villages at night. There is fear because no one knows what exactly is going on. For three days our mobile connectivity had been cut off. Villagers who work as porters for the Army were sent back on May 5,” Yakzee said. Continue reading →