Blog

With Beijing reiterating its claim on 1,597 kilometres of Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh on the basis of November 1959 maximalist cartographical claim, national security planners believe that Chinese Army may use this claim to put pressure on the six other areas of differences in the western sector that have not been impacted in the ongoing standoff between the two countries.

The Indian Army has been sensitised to the assessment and is on alert to pre-empt any move by China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA), people familiar with the matter said.

The 1959 line (defined as Green Line on military maps) was sent by Prime Minister Zhou En-Lai to his Indian counterpart Jawaharlal Nehru on November 7, 1959, appended to Zhou’s letter addressed to heads of African-Asian countries on November 15, 1962.

During the inconclusive exercise of clarification and confirmation of the western sector by expert level group, it was found that India and China had 12 areas of differences with significant areas involved. The western sector maps were to be exchanged on June 17, 2002 but the Chinese withdrew at the last moment.

According to China watchers, with six out of 12 areas of differences already in the contest, the PLA may launch an aggression on the remaining six points including Samar Lungpa, Demchok and Chumar to press home its claim which was rejected by Nehru himself. Hence, Indian military commanders have asked troops to be ready to repel any PLA move before heavy snow takes over the theatre of contest in East Ladakh. The polar winds and snow will not only wreak havoc on men but also their equipment. Artillery guns and tank barrels freeze in such cold conditions. From November 15 to May, the top priority of the two armies will be to survive the cold at the heights.

While both India and China are engaged at military and diplomatic level to disengage, the PLA commanders of Western Theatre Command only listen to their commander-in-chief Xi Jinping, not the foreign ministry in Beijing as many generals outrank the foreign minister in the all-powerful Central Military Commission (CMC).

The situation on the ground in the Ladakh LAC continues to be tense with the PLA realising that the Indian Army means business and has the capacity and capability to repel any aggression, an official said. The PLA troopers have stopped playing Punjabi songs on north of Pangong Tso and psychological warfare messages in the south with the Indian troopers making it clear that any transgression now will invite severe retaliation.

The Indian diplomats are unfazed by the 1959 line claim and question their predecessors who thought more about not crossing the Chinese red lines on the LAC rather than defending the Indian LAC claim.

“The Ladakh stand-off is an outcome of a 30-year differential between India and China in the infrastructure race. China became Shanghai and India remained Mumbai. It is not good English but strong infrastructure and military that will force China to come to table,” said a serving diplomat.

The Chinese 1959 claim is as absurd as India claiming part of Tibet on the basis of Dogra ruler of Jammu, Raja Gulab Singh’s general Zorawar Singh Kahluria’s 1841 Tibet campaign to occupy parts of Ngari prefecture of Tibet, he said.

With inputs from Hindustan Times

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Jammu: A sub-inspector of the Border Security Force (BSF) on Wednesday allegedly shot himself with his service rifle in a camp here, police said.

Sub-Inspector Chakerpani Prasad Tiwari (56), posted with 12th Battalion, shot himself in the head at Garoda border outpost in Gajansu area on the outskirts of Jammu, a police official said.

Tiwari, a resident of Madhya Pradesh, was rushed to sub-district hospital in Marh where he was declared brought dead by doctors.

According to police, it is a case of death by suicide.

Police have started inquest proceedings into the incident, the official said, adding that the motive behind his taking such an extreme step was not known immediately. (Agencies)

2 U-Turns being provided to ease out the problem: SSP Traffic

Srinagar: Once a death trap, which consumed several lives in the past, the Sanat Nagar crossing has now become an unbearable inconvenience for the commuters, who get stuck up in the Jam for hours, leaving them exhausted in desperation to reach to their respective destinations in time.

The headache gets amplified by the haphazardly parked cars outside food joints, bakery shops and departmental stores on the southern side of the bypass.

Meanwhile, traffic lights are for namesake as those are put off by the traffic personnel for most of the day, to make the traffic of privilege through, but by keeping civilian traffic at halt on both Rawalpora and Sanat Nagar sides, for an unbearable amount of time.

The mess is so complicated that the residents on the either side have to leave their homes, hours earlier to cross the bypass, to reach a distance, which would normally be covered in few minutes.

Pertinently a decade ago, the problem did not exist at all, as there was a big circle, which was neither dangerous to cross, neither was it time-consuming.

Once the circle was removed and traffic lights installed, the crossing has become dangerous for life on one side, particularly in early morning and late evening hours, when speedy truck drivers pay two hoots to traffic lights.

Several accidents proved to be fatal for the public and many lives were lost, since the traffic lights were put, a mother-daughter duo to make a particular mention of here, who was run over by a speedy vehicle.

Now that the pressure of security force’s vehicles has increased many folds, with military personnel taking over the control of the traffic regulation, civilian traffic and traffic police take a back seat for maximum period of the day, leaving the commuters frustrated.

Meanwhile, traffic authorities seem to be insensitive towards working in coordination with force’s authorities to get a cooler for the civilian commuters, alongside the smooth movement of force’s convoys.

Syed Tariq Qadri, a resident on the southern side of Sanat Nagar crossing told news agency KDC that he regrets to shift to the area 15 years back, when it was a very feasible area to live, in the context traffic movement.

He said, “I shifted here from Lalbazar area with great dreams to live in an area known for its elegance and peace, but ever since traffic mess here got complicated, I regret my decision to come here to live”.

“I am seriously thinking to migrate yet again to some area, where I don’t have to face traffic nuisance,” he added.

Another resident Mohammad Shafi Khan, resident of Rawlpora said, “It has become a headache to go towards Sanat Nagar from my home, as I have to stay in a long and time-consuming jam to cross over, particularly in the mornings and evenings.”

“I normally avoid to venture on this route, particularly during these hours,” he said.

“Why doesn’t Traffic department focus on this enormous public inconvenience, to find a way out to solve the problem,” Khan added.

Another commuter on the condition of anonymity, “Why don’t the traffic authorities take up the matter with higher-ups of the security agencies, to find a solution to the problem, to pave a way for smooth passage of both, civilian as well as convoy movement.”

“Why don’t police and traffic authorities curb the issue of wrong parking on either side of the crossing, which is another big impediment in the way of smooth passage of the traffic,” he added.

The locals appreciated the recent step of SSP traffic to close the Bemina crossing and instead providing a U-Turn on either side of the crossing, which they said has proven very successful for the smooth movement of the traffic from all the four sides of the crossing, adding that why can’t be the learning replicated at Sanat Nagar crossing, to solve the mess to a great extent.

Meanwhile, SSP Traffic Javed Koul told KDC that the problem is in the knowledge of the department and also the inconvenience caused to commuters, as a result of this problem, which the department is working at to solve.

“We want to adopt the Bemina type of system at Sanat Nagar crossing as well and have approached Roads and Building (R&B) Department long back, with a request to identify, two spots where the highway could be cut to provide U-Turns; however the R&B department has not so far replied to our request.”

“The delay is from the R&B Department and as soon as the spots are identified, we will provide these U-Turns, which will be of a great relief to the commuters,’ he said.

About the mess of wrong parking, Javed Koul said,” We are trying our best to eradicate the mess, but it is also the duty of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation to verify the feasibility in the context of car parking, while issuing licenses to shops and permissions to the commercial buildings; however we will put extra efforts to restrain people from parking their cars at the bottleneck spots.” (KDC)

Srinagar: Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Wednesday stressed on the government of India to come up with a foolproof domicile law for protection of land rights for the permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir without any further delay.

Addressing a party meeting at The Bund in Lal Chowk Srinagar, Bukhari said that though appreciable but there is still a need to address some anomalies with regard to qualifying period in the modified version of Domicile law for jobs so as to make it immune to any judicial review.

According to statement issued to KNS reads, he said the Apni Party will pursue vigorously for the Domicile rights on land for the permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir. “Apni Party is committed to ensure that all the permanent residents of J&K get their full rights reserved on all types of land and immovable properties in the shape of a comprehensive domicile law on lands,” he remarked.

The meeting was attended by Ghulam Hassan Mir, Senior Vice President, Zaffar Iqbal Manhas vice president, general secretary Rafi Ahmad Mir, provincial president Kashmir Mohammad Ashraf Mir, Javid Baig spokesman, provincial vice president Jagmohan Singh Raina, Noor Mohammad Sheikh district president Srinagar, district president Anantnag Abdul Rahim Rather and district president Baramulla Shoaib Lone.
Party’s senior leader Mohammad Dilawar Mir besides other party leaders Abdul Majid Padder, Raja Manzoor, Ghulam Mohammad Bhawan, Javed Ahmad Mirchal, Muntazir Mohi-u-Din, Syed Farooq Andrabi, Mohammad Ashraf Dar, Mudasir Ahmad Khan, Irfan Naqib, Nazir Ahmad Wani (Dailgami), Mushtaq Ahmad Ganaie, Dr. Mir Samiullah, Syed Showkat Gayoor, Ghulam Mohammad Mir, Imad Rafi Mir, Javid Ahmad Mir, Aijaz Ahmad Rather, Jeelani Kumar, Abdul Rashid Haroon, Mir Tajamul Ishfaq, Muzaffar Hussain Reshi, Imtiyaz Ahmad Rather, Khurshid Ahmad Malik, Abdul Rashid Bhat, Mohsin Zaffar Shah, Mohammad Yaseen and Mohammad Shafi Mir also joined the meeting.

Referring to the suffering of people across J&K, Bukhari said that there is a huge disconnect between people and the administration. “Since there is no popular government in place which could have been accountable before the public, most of the bureaucrats are callous and are hardly bothered about miseries of the people. People have realized that an elected government, how much worse it may be, is still better than the Governor’s rule,” he added.
Bukhari reiterated his demand for restoration of Statehood and release of all political detainees for making a conducive atmosphere in J&K. “Statehood is essential to address the woes of people who feel more alienated with the Governor rule. The government of India should not only restore the Statehood but initiate a democratic process to address this growing disenchantment among the people,” he demanded.

He expressed deep concern on the rising number of deaths due to COVID and urged the J&K government to address the mismanagement of patients in hospitals especially in Jammu region. “The government should ensure round the clock oxygen supplies as a significant number of deaths are reported to due to lack of oxygen supplies,” he added.
Speaking on the recent economic package of Rs 1350 Cr Bukhari termed it as a good beginning but sought liberal funding for the revival of shattered economy in J&K. Similarly, he demanded immediate implementation of government policy on regularization of daily wagers, casual workers, consolidated, contingency paid, ITI trained, NHM, NYC, HDF and adhoc employees recruited by previous regimes.

Bukhari also demanded adequate compensation including jobs for three Rajouri families and punishment to guilty and immediate conclusion of probe in Sopore incident in a transparent manner so as to address the alienation among the people.

He also demanded a revised and comprehensive policy for ensuring protection of minor mineral rights for residents of J&K. Bukhari urged the government to chalk out a comprehensive policy to ensure the basic rights of permanent residents of J&K are nsures on their natural resources. He was referring to the plight of lakhs of families associated with the mining activities across J&K.

Emphasizing the importance of regional road connectivity in revival of economy, Bukhari stressed on opening of all regional connectivity links including Kishtawar-Sinthan road and Mughal Road besides keeping Srinagar-Jammu National Highway open for round the clock movement of people particularly fruit and vegetable laden trucks.

He also called on the J&K government to ensure availability of buffer stock of essential commodities, ration, fuel, LPG and electricity transformers, conductor wires, poles etc in Kashmir Valley for the coming winter.
During the course of meeting almost all the leaders spoke on various issues and problems faced by the people in Jammu and Kashmir and following resolutions were passed In its meeting held at The Bund in Lal Chowk, Srinagar, on 30th September 2020 Jammu and Kashmir

Apni Party passed the following resolutions reads as

Restoration of Statehood

The meeting resolved to raise and pursue the restoration of Statehood for Jammu and Kashmir which is an essential prerequisite for mitigation of sufferings of the people. People in J&K are facing immense miseries due to lack of effective governance which is never possible in a Governor’s rule.

Hence the government of India should not delay the fulfillment of its promise made by the country’s top leadership in the house of Parliament and restore the Statehood to J&K at an earliest.

Since the people in J&K are anxious for restoration of Statehood and feel dejected in absence of a popular government which is imperative for any democratic set up, the meeting also resolved to remind the government of India about initiation of a much needed electoral process.

Domicile Rights on Land and Jobs

While there is still a need to address some anomalies in Domicile law for jobs so as to make it immune to any judicial review, the meeting resolved to pursue vigorously for the Domicile rights on land for the permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir.

The meeting also resolved that there should be a comprehensive Domicile law for the permanent residents of J&K so as to safeguard their proprietary rights of land and immovable property.

Release of Detainees

It was unanimously resolved that Apni party will raise and pursue for the release of political detainees. Though it is an appreciable step that most of the leaders belonging to various political parties have been released and PSA against them revoked the detention of hundreds of other political activists who were detained around the August 5, 2019 continue to remain in jails without any review.

The meeting also resolved that there has to be a compassionate policy regarding those detainees who are citizens of J&K and are in jails under Public Safety Act. It would be a great Confidence Building Measure if the cases of these PSA detainees are reviewed on humanitarian grounds to facilitate their early release.

Regularization of Daily wagers

It was unanimously resolved that Apni Party all put in all its efforts to raise and pursue the issue of pending regularization of around 60000 workers who are employed in different departments under different nomenclature like Daily Wagers, Causal Labourers, Need Based, Consolidated, ITI trained, NHM, HDF, NYC, Housing Board PDLs, Contingency Paid Employees, Contractual and Adhoc appointees. The existing policy on regularization of these workers should be implemented in letter and spirit.

Comprehensive Policy for geology and mining rights

The meeting discussed various works pertaining to extraction of building/construction material from the rivers and streams which have been decentralized in J&K and have been allotted to the outside contractors without taking into consideration the fundamental rights of the locals on their natural resources. This unilateral move has caused immense sufferings to the lakhs of families of J&K who are associated with this business for the age now. This decision has also added to the element of corruption in departments like Irrigation and Flood Control, Geology and Mining, Rural Development Department, Police, Revenue etc.

The meeting resolved that there is a dire need for formulation of a comprehensive policy that will ensure the protection of mining rights for the residents of J&K. The loopholes in the government order issued through an amendment to the J&K Minor Mineral Rules of 2016 were highlighted and discussed during the meeting. The meeting resolved that the condition of availing Environmental Clearance for the contractors before starting the mining activities on a Short Term Permit basis needs to be reviewed.

It was also resolved that the amendment to the JK Minor Minerals Rules 2016 granting short-term permits to Panchayat Raj Institutions on land up to one hectare is bereft of any logic and need to be revised to safeguard the interests of lakhs of lakhs of families across J&K whose livelihood depends of mining activities.

Revival of Tourism and its allied industrial sector

It was resolved that the recently announced economic package of Rs 1350 Cr by Lt. Governor Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha has neglected the tourism and allied sectors including hotels, handicrafts, tour operators, houseboat owners and Shikara owners which is critical to the revival of the distressed economy of Jammu and Kashmir.

The meeting resolved that J&K government should revisit its economic package and include all the left out sectors who have been the worst since August last year.

National Highway and Regional Connectivity within J&K

It was resolved that it is imperative for a well-managed administrative plan to be put in place to ensure continuous movement of vehicles and commuters on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway. This Highway should be kept open round the clock for the movement of fruit and vegetable laden trucks to avert huge economic losses entailed by orchardists and farmers.

It was also resolved that Mughal Road and Kishtawar-Sinthan roads need to be kept open for to and fro movement of passenger vehicles to support the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway which is presently in dilapidated condition. The administrative orders for availing prior travel permission should be done away with immediately and the movement of people should not be restricted on these alternate regional connectivity links.

Create buffer stock for winter

The meeting resolved that the J&K government should create a buffer stock of essential commodities like Ration, LPG, Kerosene, fuel and electricity transformers, poles, conductors wires etc in Kashmir valley in view of the coming winters. The meeting also stressed on the administration to remain vigilant and well prepared for winters in advance in order to ensure that people are not subjected to the weather vagaries in the coming months.
Zero Tolerance for Human Rights.

The meeting resolved that the J&K government should pay adequate compensation to the three Rajouri families and conclude the probe in Sopore incident in a fair and transparent manner. The meeting also emphasized on the need for zero tolerance of human rights in J&K.

Mismanagement of COVID-19

The meeting resolved that hospitals across J&K should be provided with adequate oxygen supplies so to enable them to deal with the patients particularly those infected with COVID-19. The meeting expressed its concern on the rising number of deaths due to COVID and stressed on the government to take all measures to deal with this crisis more efficiently. The meeting also appealed the people to strictly abide by the COVID-19 protocol including its health and social distancing advisories in order to stem the spread of this deadly disease any further.

Welfare of Pandit community

The meeting resolved that the J&K government should address the grievances of the Pandit community particularly at Jagti colony in Jammu and ensure they do not suffer for want of basic amenities. The meeting also expressed solidarity with the non-migrant Pandit families living in different parts of Kashmir valley and demanded that the job package approved by the Government of India for these families should be implemented without any further delay.

Withdraw the income slab for reservation to Pahari tribe

The recently issued notification wherein an income slab has been fixed for availing reservation of Pahari speaking tribe for availing benefit of reservation has added insult to the injury. The meeting resolved that the government should revisit its anti-Pahari decision and remove the income slab for the members of the Pahari Tribe who after a long battle were granted 4 % reservation in jobs in the government sector.

Construction of Bunkers in forward areas

The meeting resolved that the government of India should go for speedy construction of concrete bunkers for hapless people near firing range in Karnah, Tangdhar, Keran, Uri and forward areas of Jammu province as the inhabitants of these areas are vulnerable to frequent border skirmishes which result in death and destruction of properties.

Though a speedy action was assured at the highest level in the country but no major progress has been witnessed in this direction. There is a feeling that even this human tragedy is not free from lopsided treatment, which needs to be allayed by the government.

Bodies of 3 labourers being exhumed, handed over to families: IGP

Srinagar: Bodies of three youth labourers from Rajouri, who were killed in an “encounter” at Amshipora village of Shopian district by the Army on July 18 and labelled as “militants”, are being handed over to the families “after due process of law”, Inspector General of Police, Kashmir Range, Vijay Kumar said on Wednesday.

Speaking to GNS, the top police officer said that the bodies will be exhumed and handed over to families after the due process of law.

The statement comes amid persistent demand from the poor families, seeking bodies of the trio— Abrar Ahmed (25), Imtiyaz Ahmed (20) and Mohammed Ibrar (16) —and immediate arrest along with stern punishment to those behind the killings.

The statement also comes more than a week after army said its high-level Court of Inquiry brought out “certain prima facie evidence indicating that the powers vested under the AFSPA 1990 were exceeded during the operation.”

Defence spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia said that inquiry has found that the “Do’s and Don’ts of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) as approved by the Supreme Court have been contravened”.

“Consequently, the competent disciplinary authority has directed to initiate disciplinary proceedings under the Army Act against those found prima-facie answerable,” he had said.

“The evidence collected by the inquiry has prima-facie indicated that the three unidentified (militants) killed in Op Amshipora were Imtiyaz Ahmed, Abrar Ahmed and Mohd Ibrar, who hailed from Rajouri,” he had said, “Their DNA report is awaited. Their involvement with (militants) or related activities is under investigation by the police.”

On July 18, police in a statement had said that three militants were killed in gunfight with joint team of police, army and CRPF in Shopian district on an input by army.

“On a specific input by 62RR about presence of (militants) in village Amshipora area, an operation was launched by them in the area,” a police spokesperson had said.

During search, he had said, the militants fired upon Army and encounter started. “Later on police and CRPF also joined. During encounter three unidentified militants were killed,” he had said in the statement, adding, “Bodies of all the killed three (militants) were retrieved from the site of encounter.” However, he had said, the identification and group affiliation of the slain was being ascertained.

“Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter,” he had said. (GNS)

New Delhi: With the diplomatic and military talks in progress between the high ranking officials of New Delhi and Beijing, Indian and Chinese troops have meanwhile dug up for the punishing winters ahead, beefing up the stocks and supplies for a long haul at the mountainous undemarcated border, reported EurAsian Times.

Both the militaries have been quick to harness the time to develop new tactics and conduct trials of their equipment.

The PLA, keen to expand its drone fleet and utilize it in the new environment, has successfully tested the new AR-500C unmanned helicopter in Tibet.

The successful completion of the testing of the AR-500C would mean that the force is one step closer to its induction, it being the only UAV in PLA’s arsenal capable of taking off from an elevation of 5,000 meters and having a flight ceiling of 6,700 meters.

The drone boasts a maximum speed of 170 kilometers per hour and a maximum takeoff weight of 500 kilograms. It conducted its maiden flight in Jiangxi province in Eastern China on May 20th earlier this year and performed a series of manoeuvres displaying its unmatched capabilities.

While its main missions are reconnaissance and communication relay, but when equipped with additional devices, it can also conduct an electronic attack, target indication, fire strike, cargo delivery and nuclear radiation and chemical contamination reconnaissance, according to AVIC statement.

According to reports, the AR-500C is equipped with a powerful engine and specially designed rotors which can be able to withstand the light aerial conditions of Tibet and Ladakh. The concept of this UAV, as with many other Chinese systems, is said to be taken from a similar American drone MQ-8 Fire Scout.

Earlier, the PLA also simulated a drill which involved hexacopters capable of carrying rations and medical equipment to its higher posts in Ladakh, which is deemed as an important addition in capabilities for logistics to reach out to posts in high areas generally unreachable by land.

With inputs from EurAsian Times

(This story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi: Amid the ongoing standoff between India and China, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has asserted that India never accepted the so-called unilaterally defined 1959 Line of Actual Contro (LAC), adding that the position has been consistent and well known including to the Chinese.

The MEA said India urged China to “sincerely and faithfully” abide by all “agreements and understandings in their entirety and refrain from advancing an untenable unilateral interpretation of the LAC”.

its attempts to transgress LAC in various parts of the Western Sector tried to unilaterally alter status quo,” the MEA said.

“We’ve seen report quoting a Chinese Foreign Ministry statement on China’s position on Line of Actual Control in India-China border areas. India never accepted the so-called unilaterally defined 1959 LAC. The position has been consistent, well known; including to the Chinese,” the MEA stated.

“Under their various bilateral agreements including 1993 Agreement on Maintenance of Peace & Tranquility along LAC, 1996 Agreement on Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) in military field, 2005 Protocol on Implementation of CBMs, 2005 Agreement on Political Parameters & Guiding Principles for settlement of the India-China Boundary Question, both India and China have committed to clarification and confirmation of the LAC to reach a common understanding of the alignment of the LAC,” the ministry said further.

“The two sides had engaged in an exercise to clarify and confirm the LAC up to 2003, but the process couldn’t proceed further as Chinese didn’t show willingness. Therefore, the Chinese insistence now that there is only one LAC is contrary to solemn commitments made by them,” it added.

India called on China to “sincerely and faithfully” follow all agreements and understandings “in their entirety and refrain from advancing an untenable unilateral interpretation of the LAC”.

With inputs from OpIndia and Times Now News

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)