Srinagar, July 31: After taming separatism, the J&K government is making active efforts to rein in employees found involved in ‘anti-national’ activities. The J&K government has initiated a process to act tough on such employees, which could lead to their dismissal of their services.
Officials said that J&K government has constituted a panel to scrutinize and recommend cases for dismissal of services of those employees who were involved in ‘anti-national’ activities overtly or covertly.
An order issued by the government of J&K on Thursday night announced the constitution of a committee headed by Chief Secretary BVR Subramanyam to take stock of all such cases that would be referred to it by the police and home departments, they said.
They added the action would be taken against ‘anti-state’ employees by invoking Sec 311 of the Constitution that is now applicable to J&K Union Territory.
The provision would be applicable to all those employees about whom there are cases of having taken part in the “anti-national” activities overtly or covertly. It will also apply to those who have served detention.
Pertinently, in the regime of Governor Satya Pal Malik, government employees were repeatedly warned, soon after Jama’at-e-Islami J&K (JeI) and JKLF were banned, to shun taking part in ‘anti-national’ activities.
Meanwhile one of the critical parts of the fresh order is that the employees’ cases would be dealt with by the police on the basis of their interrogation reports and the collateral evidence which will dispense with the need for any inquiry, and once the cases are examined and recommended, the General Administration Department will issue orders for their dismissal from service as also their suspension. This provision will also apply to such pending cases.
There were serious complaints in the past that the employees who were taking part in “anti-national” activities during street protests, instigating people against security forces were not booked, nor FIRs allowed to be filed against them by political governments and the administration was pressed not to act against them. All this is going to end now.
Majeed Brigade (self-sacrificing brigade) of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) attacked Karachi Stock Exchange on June 29, 2020. This daring attack had a high symbolic significance as it catapulted Balochistan’s freedom struggle on prime time news across the world. Basheer Zeb Baloch, BLA Chief told News Intervention in this Exclusive Interview that Baloch pro-independence groups use violence in reply to Pakistani invasion and occupation. BLA’s Karachi attack was a message to the world that Pakistan has occupied Baloch land and had been plundering the resources of Balochistan with China’s help. The Karachi Exchange attack is BLA’s third high profile attack in recent years. In November 2018 the BLA had attacked Chinese consulate in Karachi. In May 2019 BLA attacked Pearl Continental Hotel at Gwadar. The Gwadar and Karachi Stock Exchange attacks have been carried under the leadership of Basheer Zeb who was anointed as BLA Chief, after the former Chief Aslam Baloch was martyred by an ISI attack in Afghanistan.
Basheer Zeb: Every attack by BLA, whether small scale or big, is basically aimed at weakening the occupiers’ strength who has been ruling Baloch motherland by force. Every attack is a step towards achieving our ultimate objective of achieving Balochistan’s Freedom. Similarly, Karachi Stock Exchange attack was carried out with the same aim of targeting the enemy’s economy and the very symbol of the exploitation of Baloch national resources. The attack was also a message to the world that Pakistan has occupied Baloch land and plundering our resources with the help of China who provides military, economic and diplomatic support to Pakistan. Baloch will not accept the occupation of their land and will not tolerate the nexus of China and Pakistan that are involved in the plundering of Baloch resources.
Vivek Sinha: Karachi Police officials had told News Intervention that more than 30 people were killed in the BLA’s suicide attack on Karachi Stock Exchange. But the Karachi Stock Exchange was functional from the next day. Do you think BLA’s attack had attained its objective?
Basheer Zeb: The objectives of BLA Majeed Brigade’s attacks have never been to indiscriminately kill. Pakistani authorities never reveal the correct numbers of the casualties. Also, we do not measure the success of any mission with the number of casualties suffered by the enemy but we take the larger perspective and ultimate goal under consideration that what progression was achieved, how much were we able to highlight Balochistan’s issue to the world and what implications our enemy will suffer in long term. Undoubtedly, Baloch Fidayeen succeeded in reaching Pakistan’s red security zone and attacked one of the buildings which was very important for its economy. On one hand, it showed enemy that we can reach anywhere we intend to and on the other hand, the foreign investors will think twice before investing in PSX (Pakistan Stock Exchange). We consider this our success and for that Stock Exchange attack was a very successful mission.
Basheer Zeb Baloch is the former Chairman of BSO-Azad, which is Balochistan’s student organisation. Basheer Zeb became a revolutionary to fight for the independence of Balochistan. (Photo: News Intervention)
Vivek Sinha: The four Karachi attackers of the Majeed Brigade have said in their video message that they will try their best to keep the loss of innocent human lives at minimum and yet more than 30 people were killed during the Karachi attack. How can the BLA justify its attacks?
Basheer Zeb: Baloch did not start this war but we are defending ourselves against foreign invaders. We are a peaceful nation and our violence is only in retaliation and self-defense. It is counter-violence against the violence we face every day at the hands of the enemy. Balochs did not ask for this but the war was imposed upon us by an enemy state that has occupied our motherland. Therefore, to end this war and achieve freedom and peace we have no options but to fight. War is the last thing anyone would want, war is a curse, wars make orphans, they bring death, mayhem, and destruction. That’s what you can expect when a war is waged, that’s why the world should condemn and act against warmongers like Pakistan that starts war against oppressed nations instead of condemning the oppressed nations who are fighting to defend themselves. People do lose their lives in attacks like Karachi Stock Exchange but one should look closely that who were the dead men? They were either uniformed personnel of Pakistan or those who help the state strengthen and prolong her occupation on Balochistan, only such facilitators have been targeted by BLA and Baloch nation to regain their national independence. However, if one compares the guerrilla movements across the world, the loss of innocent lives due to collateral damage has been the lowest in BLA or Majeed Brigade’s attacks.
Aslam Baloch (left), former BLA Chief was martyred in a suicide attack by Pakistan’s ISI. After Aslam’s martyrdom Basheer Zeb Baloch (right) became the BLA Chief.
Vivek Sinha: Several media groups call BLA revolutionaries as “terrorists”. Your comments.
Basheer Zeb: Who is a terrorist? It depends entirely on the subjective outlook of the definer. One man’s revolutionary is a terrorist to others. If we look closely at the basic difference between a freedom fighter and a terrorist, the freedom fighter is forced to adopt counter-violence whereas the terrorist starts the violence and his violence is indiscriminate. Taking this under consideration, Baloch pro-independence groups are using violence in a reply to Pakistani invasion and occupation. Our counter-violence is not indiscriminate but targeted; the targets are Pakistani Army, military, and exploitative facilities and those who facilitate the enemy in its illegal occupation of Balochistan. On the other side, Pakistan began the violence by attacking Balochistan and to this date is killing common people in indiscriminate bombardments and military operations. So, who is the terrorist?
Vivek Sinha: How is BLA different from other armed groups in the South Asian region?
Basheer Zeb: South Asia has several ongoing indigenous movements with different armed groups active in the region. It is not possible to compare BLA against all collectively. However, there are a few movements that have a resemblance to ours, such as the freedom movement of the Sindhi nation. Other movements cannot be called indigenous as many are mere state-sponsored proxies to destabilize countries. Besides that, there are religious extremist groups. BLA is different than both, the proxies and religious extremists. BLA does not force its ideology on people and neither carries out attacks just to spread fear among masses. It is fighting to defend its motherland against foreign invaders and occupiers. It aims at regaining the freedom of secular and democratic Balochistan where everyone will have the right to practice its religion and spend a peaceful life. And unlike proxies in the region, BLA is the result of a homegrown resistance movement and it has a long history with roots deep in Baloch land. BLA never depended on foreign support and its power stems from Baloch people and Balochistan.
Every Indian citizen (very perceptive, or the nuanced) especially the security and China watchers would be able to rattle out latest situation along the LAC in East Ladakh given the plethora of inputs, barring from the government. There are a number of options discussed both by the self-styled pacifists (actually status quoists who never want to make a move, and pray and hope that the crisis will resolve itself, irrespective of outcome), the hawks and the moderates.
The background chatter is also by now well known, provide excuses or show surprise at the action of an adversary (HOW COULD HE DO IT, again and again!), talk of the woeful global economic situation in which we are equally affected and to top it all, the crisis of COVID-19 which is engaging the world. Even before analysing the strategic security situation and challenges, and its implications for the future, these people dismiss any hard or resolute actions. All because, of a mindset of how can we challenge the Chinese, will it not lead to a confrontation between two asymmetric adversaries or worse to a two-front entanglement.
We must be very clear that China has violated all the confidence building measures (CBMs), Border Defence Cooperation Agreement (BDCA), Joint Working Group, Senior Representative level understandings, protocols and mechanisms for border management, including the latest “strategic guidance to the respective militaries to strengthen communication to build mutual understanding and enhance predictability and effectiveness in managing borders” signed by President Xi Jinping and PM Modi even before the ink has dried. It is by now clear that military and political level talks and movement on ground are going on excruciatingly slowly.
India shares boundary with Tibet and not with China
China’s Big Gamble? Immediately after China got a handle on COVID-19 internally (there are inputs of a second coming, which may actually egg it on to create multiple external crisis situations), and while the rest of the world is still battling COVID-19 and its effects in other domains, China (Chinese Communist Party to be more precise) led by Xi Jinping is changing the global status quo. From using gun boat diplomacy, border troop aggressive movements and deployments, high seas and border intimidation, wolf diplomacy, economic holdouts/threats like with Australia and conduct of high level troop exercises involving entire PLA, building new strategic alliances and friendships a la Iran, China is on the move externally in all domains.
Interestingly the low-key military approach has long been discarded and entire PLA is galvanized. The multi-service, multi-domain Armed Forces exercises in the South and East China seas and border areas especially along the LAC with India are of a much larger scale, involve interoperability and being conducted closer than normal to adversarial shores and borders. PLA Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Rocket Forces, Air Defence, non-kinetic hi-tech formations like cyber, space, information-surveillance & reconnaissance (ISR), amphibious, logistics supply chain units are participating, and China’s much touted three warfare strategy (public opinion, psychological, and legal warfare) is being applied around its strategic space. At last count one of the security experts spoke of China engaging 27 countries in multi-domain competition leading to confrontation!
Interpretation of “Why” by the Rest of the World Enough reasons for “why” has also been analysed. From showcasing China’s comprehensive national power (CNP) and ascent to global power status by simultaneous confrontationist actions with numerous nations, demonstrable actions to challenge USA, and teach cocky new India a lesson (with many payoffs of disrupting India’s growth story, slow down India’s infrastructure development along the Northern borders, indicate an unstable India internally where movement of industries from China is fraught with risk, warn India to lay off Aksai Chin and Gilgit-Baltistan, dissuade India not to create trouble in functioning of BRI (Belt & Road Initiative) especially CPEC (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor) which is existential for China, stop interfering or dominating the IOR (Indian Ocean Region) and Malacca Straits. BUT China continues with its normal game of salami slicing with a larger ambition of garnering real estate in multiple areas having strategic sensitivities). All the nations, security and China experts are only second guessing and China’s rationale for its actions is frankly still a mystery, which will unfold as time and events roll along. A reasonable thought would be the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) taking advantage of weakened rivals, and an international power vacuum, hubristically overestimating its own power, reacting to aggression from its adversaries or opportunists and acting out of insecurity about its own status.
Truisms Regarding China and India impacting Relationship
Wars/conflicts need a whole of nation approach, since nations fight wars/conflicts and the Armed Forces are main instruments to wage this war/conflict
There is considerable asymmetry in CNP (comprehensive national power) between the two nations including the armed forces, especially in fairly newer domains of space, cyber, psychological, niche technologies (nano, hyper velocity, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, drones).
However close are our strategic alliances, India and its armed forces must be prepared to act alone to contest the LAC impasse. Assistance in forms of information, equipment, weapon systems, posturing and projecting a threat in China’s other areas of vital interest (Taiwan, South China Sea and East China Sea, Indian Ocean Region including Malacca Straits) will impact the overall strategy and end game of China.
Two-front scenario is a real and present danger, and armed forces have to plan and deploy their forces accordingly.
Geography and terrain impose time and quantum restraint on strategic movement of forces from one sector to another.
Both sides will require tremendous quantum of infrastructure for troops to stay during the winter.
Logistics and supply chain management is vital and will dictate the level of operations/conflict, since the main bases of supply for both countries is far away. The nation which manages it better will carry the day.
Ground Reality in East Ladakh, Chinese Game Plan and Indian Options The aim here is to focus on resolution of the LAC impasse and leave out the strategy, esoteric and higher conducts of war. China has changed the status quo ante of military and para military forces presence as of April 2020 in East Ladakh in at least four locations. While India has conveyed its intent of not accepting anything less than withdrawal to April 20 positions, the Chinese are playing hard ball. Talks and corresponding movement of troops from the standoff locations are going slow, with total lack of trust, requiring minute verification and detailing on ground and talks.
My assessment is that China is playing for time and at the ground level will follow the following methodology: Agree and withdraw at some places on a quid pro quo basis (not necessarily to April 20 positions, since it has deployed forward in all cases); stay firm but continue talks in some locations which are of strategic significance (Lake Pangong Tso); pull back to status quo positions of April 20 in one/two locations. In any case the operational status quo has been disrupted in terms of force density (Army and Air Force on both sides) by China mirrored by India.
Winter is Approaching India has signaled two aspects firmly; One, India’s intent of not backing down till status quo of April 20 is achieved; Two, and so, its armed forces including the additional formations (be it infantry, artillery, armour, mechanized, Air Defence, Army aviation and IAF) are going to buckle down for the winter. The very famous saying from the blockbuster serial Game of Thrones, that ‘Winter is Coming’ is very apt. It will require tremendous logistical and infrastructural effort but our troops have done such manoeuvres before and will willingly do so again. Logistics and infrastructure preparations are already on at full swing. History has time and again proved that our armed aorces are outstanding at crisis management, make miracles happen and fight and endure with ‘what we have’.
What is the strategic intent of the Chinese; have they already achieved it by changing the tactical status quo and manoeuvre as already discussed. Will they withdraw majority of their troops closer to winter setting in, or also continue to stay the winter? If they stay, the signature of logistic supply chains cannot be hidden and all our intelligence agencies must be focused on it. Logic dictates (logic can go wrong in crisis specially involving adversary and reading an adversary’s mind) that China would not want a conflict, as it will be very costly for it too in terms of human casualties and further sharpen world outrage and adverse disposition towards China. This is certainly not a foolproof method of arriving as a global power, annoying the world and embroiled in multi-domain confrontation with a large part of the world specially the developed world and most of Asia.
Coming back to the LAC, logistically the Chinese can master it (if we can, so can it, is a prudent assumption). The question is can the Chinese troops weather the winter, I presume so, but they are largely conscripted, not used to high altitude sustenance over long periods, let alone fighting, and inexperienced in combat. Our logistics supply chains are long no doubt, but China’s main rear is mainland China and even longer, and most importantly Indian Army has been doing winter stocking in ever increasing quantities since decades.
For the Chinese, to stay the winter may defeat its very purpose and send wrong strategic and ambiguous signals to Chinese people and internationally, that China is stuck in a quagmire of its own making.
China I believe, will try to brazen it out in talks politically, diplomatically and militarily and persuade India to hastily (much before winter sets in) accept a compromise which it will project as a win-win situation for both countries, and showcase its magnanimity and strength to Chinese people and the world. If we do reach an agreement, I hope it is because China has accepted our firm stance of returning to April 20 status quo. Than all its troops other than those who were operating there before April 20 withdraw in a phased manner and situation normalizes in time. Chinese by now would be very clear that Indian troops are prepared to spend winter in East Ladakh.
Opportunities will come its way for the Indian Armed Forces. Army must continue aggressive patrolling in East Ladakh and challenged areas, always posing a threat to the Chinese deployed forward. With synergized multi-service operations and invaluable support from IAF, we should in phases isolate and evict, or force Chinese troops to withdraw to status quo locations; or even look for quid pro quo options of occupying sensitive territory across the LAC, employing the integrated battle groups (IBGs).
India must be more than ready to trade fire to achieve its mission of eviction. India and the Indian Army know that next summer physical eviction of Chinese will get even more challenging. It will have to be hard political and diplomatic manoeuvering (again number of options like review positions on Tibet, Hong Kong, Taiwan) which is not going to be easy given the disadvantageous ground situation. The Chinese, one would say, have boxed themselves into a corner. They did not want a conflict and will avoid one at all costs. A stalemate would definitely constitute a defeat in strategic and international parlance for China, while for India it will further showcase the emergence of a resurgent, confident new India. For this to become a reality India has to buckle down, show resolve and endurance, weather the winter and Chinese storm, and most importantly show tremendous faith in its armed forces to deliver.
It is going to be a very interesting winter to come, and as I have said before it is going to be a defining moment in our history having far greater implications than tactical, and if we come out of it achieving our national and military objective, a stronger, vibrant new India will be ready to take off in the global platform. It is not going to be easy for the very reason I enumerated and Chinese will know it better than most. But while it is a great challenge for the nation and our armed forces it is doable with planning, resolve and will, as failing is not an option and will set us back strategically and we must be ready for many more similar summers, this time from both China and Pakistan. So, prevail we must.
Remember, even with requisite comprehensive national power, deterrence power may not be forthcoming automatically. For this we have to build deterrence reputation where our adversaries know that we will use our deterrence capabilities when our national interests are at stake. It is time to enhance our deterrence reputation.
Quetta/July 31: Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) spokesman Major Gwahram Baloch has claimed responsibility for the attacks on Pakistani military personnel in Jhaoo and Mashkay. Major Gwahram Baloch said in a statement from an undisclosed location that on Thursday night Baloch Sarmachaars (freedom fighters) attacked the Manguli check post in Mashkay Valley with sniper fire and heavy weapons, killing three personnel and injuring one.
In another attack, BLF Sarmachaars (freedom fighters) ambushed a Pakistan Army patrol team with automatic heavy weapons at the Nondara area of Jhaoo at 8 AM on Friday. The BLF attack took place when a group of ten occupying forces of the Pakistan Army were moving on foot towards the Daraj Kaur river. In the fierce ambush, four Pakistan Army personnel were killed on the spot and two others were injured.
Pakistan Army and its intelligence agency ISI has been abducting and killing innocent Baloch people for the last several years. More than 30,000 Baloch men, women and children have been forcefully disappeared and over 10,000 Baloch people have been murdered in extra judicial killings over the last 15 years by the occupying Pakistani forces. These killings and disappearances across occupied Balochistan are the result of Pakistan’s policy of “enforced disappearance” and the “kill and dump” policy.
Srinagar, July 30: Dilbag Singh, Director General of Police Jammu & Kashmir on Thursday directed security forces to remain very alert for ensuing fortnight and put into use all resources so that the religious festivals as well as the Independence Day celebrations pass off peacefully.
Chairing a high-level security meeting, the DGP said that there will be provocations by the “anti national and anti social elements during this period and as such all the nafari (police personnel) deployed on nakas, on operations, on static guards and other deployments need to be briefed on regular basis.”
“He complimented the officers and said that a lot of good work has been done during the last few months on operations as well as on the law & order front. However, the guard cannot be lowered and there is a need to consolidate the gains,” the DGP was quoted by a police spokesperson in a statement issued here.
Senior Police Officers of the J&K Police at the security review meeting in Srinagar on Thursday. (Photo: News Intervention)
The high level security review meeting was held at Police Headquarters Srinagar in which over all security scenario of the J&K, particularly security arrangements with regard to Eid and August 15 were discussed. The efforts of collective fight against COVID-19 by the Police, CAPFs (Central Armed Police Force) and Civil Administration were also discussed, the police spokesperson said.
The meeting was attended by other senior officers of the Jammu & Kashmir Police.
Senior Police Officers from all across Jammu & Kashmir attended the security review meeting through video conference. (Photo: News Intervention)
“The DGP said that all the efforts must be put in place to enhance the security of the vulnerable people and places. He said that the officers can take the decisions keeping in view the local requirements, conditions etc,” the police spokesperson said.
The DGP also said that all the logistics such as Bullet Proof Bunkers fitted with CCTVs have been provided and advised the officers that these resources must be made good use of. “The incidents of sensitive and law & order nature must be recorded and later on analysed,” he said.
Dilbag Singh added that the supervisory officers must ensure that the jawans on duty remain alert and put on Bullet Proof patkas, jackets to safeguard themselves and also do their duties efficiently.
With regard to COVID the DGP said that we need to continue to take all precautions and all the resources which have been made available must be put to use. Police headquarters will be at the back and call of the districts and units for any requirements which they may highlight.
The DGP said that the plasma donations by the police personnel an initiative under the supervision of ADGP Coordination SJM Gillani has been appreciated by the civilians as precious lives are being saved through this attempt. He said that the units and districts must make a list of police personnel who can be screened for plasma donation. The donors must be duly rewarded.
He further advised that due precautions and COVID protocols must be followed during the celebration of the religious as well as on the national festivals.
All the officers attending the meeting briefed the DGP about the current scenario in their respective areas and assured him that all the orders and advisories will be
It’s not very often that the judiciary pulls up the armed forces in Pakistan, and so, the navy must have got a rude shock on Thursday, when Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Athar Minallah directed secretary of the Cabinet Division to ensure that the Sailing Club of Pakistan Navy at Rawal Lake should be sealed off by the Capital Development Authority (CDA). From the judgement order it’s apparent that the Judge is irked by the fact that CDA Member (Planning) Dr Shahid Mehmood who represented his department “not only stated that the land was not allotted” to Pakistan Navy but even “candidly conceded that no approval was obtained from the competent authority” for construction of this ‘leisure facility’ as required under the CDA Ordinance, 1960.
Lamenting the “abysmal state of implementation and enforcement of enacted laws, which inevitably leads to violation of fundamental rights,” the Judge, in an embarrassing reference to the repeated highhandedness exhibited by the armed forces of Pakistan, directed that this issue should be placed before the cabinet in its next meeting “because the enforced laws are not being implemented and that enforcement has been confined to common citizens.” Justice Minallah has also accused the navy of brazenly flouting laws governing construction in an “environmentally sensitive” area and regretted that all this was done for the sake of an “illegal building, which is purportedly being used as a club and that too for commercial purposes.” (Emphasis added).
Inauguration stone of the Pakistan Navy Sailing Club, Rawal Lake, Islamabad.
It’s the widely prevalent cult of lavish self-conferred privileges within Pakistan’s armed forces that makes its top brass believe that being the ‘defenders of the nation’ puts them above the law, and Justice Minallah took pains to mention to the naval officer present that “We appreciate your sacrifices and respect you, especially because of your martyrs.” But he also made it amply clear that “nobody is above the law, not even this court” and he didn’t end here. In a stinging reference to the army’s record of rampant human rights abuses and utter lawlessness in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, he sent out a clear message to Rawalpindi that “These aren’t the tribal areas but the country’s capital.”
The Judge not only asked navy officials present in court for
the authority under which the navy was running a “commercial enterprise,” but also
observed that the CDA was trying to soft-pedal the issue by terming the
construction as “unapproved,” while in the eyes of the law it was “illegal.” He
lashed out saying that “It seems like the CDA member is afraid to say that the
illegal club belongs to the Pakistan Navy” and even told him to “Go and raze
down the illegal construction,” asking him, “Why there are different
standards for the poor and the rich?” (Emphasis added).
The court order went on to note that “It has been consistently observed that it has become a norm for the Capital Development Authority and other agencies to promptly take action against those who are common citizens and who do not have the means to influence, while the privileged and elites are being treated differently. This is unacceptable for a democratic polity governed under a Constitution which guarantees fundamental rights,” and so the navy may take serious exception to such a strong indictment since it’s a relatively smaller ‘land-grab’ player in the Pakistani armed forces fraternity. But with the Pakistan Army having a whopping 12% of Pakistan’s land holding, this menace has reached such alarming proportions that the navy has no choice but to bear the consequences of Rawalpindi’s unbridled immoderation on this issue.
Ever since Ms. Ayesha Siddiqa published details of Pakistan Army’s commercial empire in her well researched book ‘Military Inc: Inside Pakistan’s Military Economy’ in 2007, institutions and people started talking about the army’s commercial ventures more openly. In his book ‘Crossed Swords’, Shuja Nawaz narrates how in 2007, “the country saw the jarring banners carried by lawyers who were protesting the removal of a chief justice by the military ruler: Ae watan ke sajeele Genrailo; saaray ruqbey tumhare liye hain (O’ handsome Generals of the nation, all the plots are just for you).” In July 2016, Pakistan’s Defence Minister informed the Senate that the army was running nearly 50 “projects, units and housing colonies” functioning in the country under the administrative control of Fauji Foundation, Shaheen Foundation, Bahria Foundation, Army Welfare Trust (AWT) and Defence Housing Authorities (DHAs).”
One month later, in article (‘Lust for Land’) published in leading Pakistani English Daily ‘Dawn’, on August 27, 2016 former civil servant and noted Pakistani columnist Irfan Husain stated, “The military has long been expanding its footprint across Pakistan’s cities through its multiplying defence societies. Land is acquired at nominal rates from provincial governments, and developed with money taken as advance payments for residential and commercial plots from officers. Allotment letters are then sold to civilians at several multiples of the price they paid.” (Emphasis added).
In another comprehensive and unbiased account (‘Qayyumabad’s long battle against DHA,’ Dawn, 22 August 2016), Fahim Zaman and Naziha Syed Ali reveal that “Through the years, the residents of Qayyumabad have consistently maintained that DHA has unlawfully grabbed 53.22 acres that are part of their locality, including 30.32 acres earmarked as amenity areas to serve their needs. However, their negligible political and financial clout puts them at a huge disadvantage in trying to establish their claim. They are, after all, up against DHA, the country’s most powerful land authority that provides real estate windfalls to the men in uniform while catering to the residential and commercial aspirations of the super-rich.” (Emphasis added).
That Pakistan Army’s insatiable lust for real estate has crossed bearable limits is evident from an observation made by Supreme Court Judge Justice Gulzar Ahmed last year that, “Defence Housing Authority (DHA) of Karachi have encroached so far into the sea. If they had their way, they would build a city on the sea. The owners of DHA would encroach on the entire sea all the way to America and then plant their flags there. The owners of DHA are wondering how they can make inroads into India!” (Emphasis added).
Under these circumstances, even the most ardent fan of Pakistan armed forces will tend to agree with columnist Irfan Husain’s view that “As long as this unseemly acquisition of land by the military continues, it might be seen as a colonising force!”
Srinagar, July 29: An Army porter was killed after Pakistan Army shelled forwarded posts of the Indian Army along Line of Control (LoC) in Uri sector of Baramulla district on Wednesday afternoon. Pakistan has been resorting to ceasefire violations with an aim to push terrorists inside India. However, Indian Army is retaliating firmly and not giving any chance to the terrorists to sneak in.
Army said that a porter, working with 11 Mahar Unit of the Indian Army was killed by sniper fire from across the LoC near Lachipora post of Uri sector. The slain porter has been identified as 26-year-old Altaf Hussain Jundal and a resident of Gohlan village of Uri.
A senior official said that Pakistan resorted to ceasefire violation by targeting Indian positions without any provocation in Machil and Gulgaldhar sectors of Kupwara district in the Kashmir division on Tuesday afternoon. “Pakistan Army fired with mortars and other weapons, in violation of ceasefire agreement between the two countries,” he said.
“Pakistan is making efforts to send more Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba cadres into Kashmir. For that, they are trying to use the International Border sector in Jammu or the LoC,” a senior Army officer told News Intervention. “Efforts are also being made in northern parts of Kashmir to push more terrorists into this side under the garb of ceasefire violations. The Indian Army is foiling these efforts there,” he added.
There has been a spurt in Pakistani shelling along the border in Jammu and Kashmir this year. The officer said that security grid at the border as well as in the hinterland were working in tandem to defeat the efforts against peace in the union territory.
Srinagar, July 29: The first five Indian Air Force (IAF) Rafale fighter jets landed at the Air Force Station, Ambala on Wednesday afternoon. These fighter jets went airborne from Dassault Aviation Facility, Merignac, France on the morning of July 27 and reached India this afternoon with a planned stopover enroute at Al Dhafra airbase in the UAE.
An Indian Defence ministry spokesman said the ferry was planned in two stages and was undertaken by IAF pilots. The fighter jets, he said, covered a distance of nearly 8,500 km from France to India. First stage of the flight covered a distance of 5,800 km in seven and a half hours.
Rafale fighter jet lands at the Ambala air base on Wednesday (Photo: IAF)
French Air Force (FAF) Tanker provided dedicated Air-to-Air Refueling support during the flight. The second stage of the flight covering over 2,700 km was carried out with Air-to-Air Refueling by IAF Tanker.
“IAF deeply appreciates the proactive support provided by the French government and industry in France to ensure timely delivery. The tanker support extended by French Air Force during the ferry was crucial in ensuring that the long haul flight was accomplished successfully and in a time bound manner,” said the Defence ministry spokesperson.
The Rafale fighter jets, he said, will be a part of 17 Squadron, the “Golden Arrows”, which was resurrected on September 10, 2019. The Squadron was originally raised at Air Force Station, Ambala on October 1, 1951. The 17 Squadron has many firsts to its credit; in 1955 it was equipped with first jet fighter, the legendary De Havilland Vampire. In August 1957, the Squadron became the first to convert on to a swept wing fighter, the Hawker Hunter.
A formal induction ceremony of Rafale aircraft in 17 Squadron is scheduled to be held in the second half of August 2020. Details of the ceremony will be intimated in due course, the spokesperson added.
Srinagar, July 29: As the first batch of five Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) Rafale fighter jets landed at Ambala air base on Wednesday, Defence minister Rajnath Singh in a series of tweets welcomed Rafale by saying, “The Birds have entered the Indian airspace… Happy Landing in Ambala!”
The Birds have landed safely in Ambala.
The touch down of Rafale combat aircrafts in India marks the beginning of a new era in our Military History.
These multirole aircrafts will revolutionise the capabilities of the @IAF_MCC.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s tweet welcoming Rafale fighter jets
Rajnath Singh congratulated Indian Air Force (IAF) on professionally executed ferry and said, “I am sure that 17 Squadron, the Golden Arrows, will continue to live upto their motto of ‘Udayam Ajasram’. I am extremely happy that IAF’s combat capability has got a timely boost.”
“The touch down of Rafale combat aircraft in India marks the beginning of a new era in our Military History. These multirole aircraft will revolutionise the capabilities of the IAF,” he added in another tweet.
The 5 Rafale fighter jets (centre) being escorted by the Sukhoi Su-30 jets (left and right flanks) en route to Ambala Air Base.
Highlighting the capabilities of the aircraft, Rajnath Singh remarked that “This aircraft has very good flying performance and its weapons, radar and other sensors and electronic warfare capabilities are amongst the best in the world. Its arrival in India will make the IAF much stronger to deter any threat that may be posed on our country.”
Defence Minister thanked Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for his right decision. “The Rafale jets were purchased only because PM Shri Narendra Modi took the right decision to get these aircraft through an Inter-Governmental Agreement with France, after the long pending procurement case for them could not progress.”
PM Narendra Modi’s tweet about the video of Rafale’s first touchdown on the Indian soil at Ambala Airbase.
He thanked the French Government, Dassault Aviation and other French companies for ensuring the timely delivery of the aircraft and its weapons, despite the severe restrictions posed by COVID pandemic.
Rajnath Singh added, “The Rafale jets were purchased when they fully met the operational requirements of the IAF. The baseless allegations against this procurement have already been answered and settled.” He added, “If it is anyone who should be worried about or critical about this new capability of the Indian Air Force, it should be those who want to threaten our territorial integrity.”
‘Golden Arrows’ reach home! tweeted the Indian Air Force
Rajnath Singh shared pictures and videos of the aircraft entering Indian air space.
Earlier, Captain of the Indian Naval Ship (INS) Kolkata welcomed Rafale Arrow Leader in the Indian Ocean by saying, “May you touch the sky with glory.” The five Rafale aircraft were escorted by two SU30 MKIs as they entered the Indian airspace.
Political theorists have not been able to define the legal and political status of a region illegally occupied by Pakistan and named “Azad Jammu and Kashmir”. Realizing its strategic importance in the context of CPEC (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor), BRI (Belt and Road Initiative) and China’s expansionist designs eastward, Beijing insisted upon Pakistan to define the region’s legal and juridical status.
A large number of people in both parts of occupied J&K (Pakistan-occupied Jammu Kashmir–POK and Gilgit-Baltistan) have instinctively resented Pakistan’s hegemony and many of its decisions that subtly but surely take away the rights of the indigenous people to make them subservient to the diktat of Islamabad rulers.
The recent rejection by the cabinet of PoK of the 14th amendment to the Clause 4 of the PoK Constitution of 1974 has been necessitated by predictable public resentment of arbitrary and undemocratic clauses of the amendment bill than out of any technical or legal exigency.
The roots of the amendment bill tabled by the Islamabad government lie in Amendment 13 to the PoK Constitution. By that amendment Administrative control of PoK Department of Inland Revenue, AG Office and Directorate General of Audit were transferred from the Council to the PoK government. The Council secretariat was left with no source of income, which, according to sources, had greatly upset the beneficiaries of the previous system. Though Pakistan government’s press release in the context of 14th amendment did not specify draft proposals from Islamabad, leading Pakistani newspaper Dawn reported that “elements in the federal government were “hell-bent” upon the revival of the Council’s fiscal and administrative powers through the proposed 14th amendment.”
The subtle ways of running the fake state of PoK by proxy will be gauged from the structure and powers conferred by Islamabad regime on the “AJK Council” created under the provisos of the Interim Constitution of 1974 for AJK by Z.A. Bhutto. The usual nomenclature of “Upper House” or “Legislative Council” has been replaced with just “Council” because it is a strange entity, an amalgam of elected, nominated, official, non-official, in-service and off-service people structured in a way that the majority vote (if at all a vote is asked for) and ultimate decision rests with the domain of Islamabad regime.
What is the entity called Council? The Constitution says: (1) There shall be an Azad Jammu and Kashmir Council consisting of (a) The Prime Minister of Pakistan; (b) The President; (c) Five Members to be nominated by the Prime Minister of Pakistan from time to time from amongst Federal Minister and members of Parliament; (d) The Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir or a person nominated by him; and (e) Six members to be elected by the Assembly from amongst state subjects following the system of proportional representation using the single transferable vote. (2) The Prime Minister of Pakistan shall be the Chairman of the Council. (3) The President shall be the vice-Chairman of the Council. (4) The Federal Minister of State for Kashmir Affairs and Northern Affairs shall be an ex-officio member of the Council.
Commenting on the role of the Council, the Dawn of July 17 wrote, “Headed by the prime minister of the time as chairman, the council was created under AJK’s Interim Constitution Act, 1974 “to serve as a bridge” between the governments in Islamabad and Muzaffarabad. However, it was alleged that this institution had assumed the role of a parallel government for AJK.” In other words, it means the Council did not enjoy the legitimacy of a public sponsored entity and was only a structure superimposed by the Sultans of Islamabad.
Thus by the 13th amendment, the Council had become dysfunctional, and functionaries enjoying pecuniary benefits were “dead set” to revive it. The 14th amendment proposed by Imran Khan government was meant to deal a frontal blow to the political and civil rights of the masses of people in PoJK.
A close look at the Act for the Interim Constitution of 1974 for PoJK reveals some glaring contradictions and blatant historical inaccuracies. For example, in the prologue to the Act it says, “WHEREAS the future status of the State of Jammu and Kashmir is yet to be determined by the freely expressed will of the people of the State through the democratic method of free and fair plebiscite under the auspices of the United Nations as envisaged in the UNCIP Resolutions adopted from time to time ….” Now, the maiden stipulation of the UNCIP Resolution of 1948 is that Pakistan withdraws its fighting men and others from Kashmir to let Srinagar function as the legitimate administrative authority and thus pave the way for holding of a fair plebiscite.” When Pakistan has not fulfilled the most essential pre-requisite for creating conducive atmosphere, how can it jump on to plebiscite as the solution of Kashmir dispute?
Secondly, how can Pakistan ask for a plebiscite when it has ceded more than five thousand square kilometres of J&K state (original) to China? Thus the very preamble of the PoJK Constitution is misleading and flawed. Furthermore, defining Azad J&K, the Constitution qualifies it as this, “Azad J&K is the land liberated by the people.” If the land in question was liberated by the people, why was Pakistan Army there and what was it doing? And when a ceasefire was announced at the stroke of midnight on December 31, 1948 why did Pakistan Army sign it and not the people (through a representative) who Pakistan says “liberated the land?” Has this ceasefire agreement any validity from what Pakistan terms “liberated by the people?”
“In
the proposed amendment to Article 4 of the Interim Constitution of 1974, the
draft puts a rider to the freedom of association for the people of the region
by stressing that such freedom would strictly be subjected to any reasonable
restrictions imposed by law in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of
Pakistan and morality of public order,’’ the sources said.
Even
more outrageous is the clause imposed by Pakistan on the right of residents of
PoK to form a political party, or even be a member of one. The person desirous
of forming a political party in PoK for benefit of people of the region could
face restrictions based on some vague perceived threats.
“No person or political party in ‘AJK’ (PoK) will be permitted to propagate against or take part in activities prejudicial or detrimental to the ideology of Pakistan Government,” the 14th Amendment stated.
The amendment barred the Legislative Assembly of PoK from deciding upon aspects critical to very territory that it is supposed to represent. The Pakistani State, and more specifically the military establishment, would be the only entity authorized to decide upon these aspects.
There is widespread resentment among the people of PoK against the proposed amendment because they find it a reckless step towards depriving the people of PoK of their rights and liberties. Zulfiqar Ahmed Raja, the chairman of Jammu & Kashmir Peoples National Alliance (JKPNA) put it, “the primary motive of the 14th Amendment was to withdraw the already very limited powers given by Pakistan to the ‘Azad’ J&K government, and to remove the word “State” from the 1974 Interim Constitution.” Is it a prelude to the assimilation of PoK into Pakistan State?
Zulfiqar Ahmed Raja, Chairman of Jammu & Kashmir Peoples National Alliance (JKPNA) has opposed the 14th Amendment to POK Constitution, brought in by Pakistan.
The Cabinet of PoJK has rejected the 14th amendment. Political analysts are keenly watching what turn the situation will take and how long will the government of Raja Farooq Haider Khan survive? The strong reason for Imran Khan government to push the bill is the growing opposition to his army-controlled civilian government for curbing civil and political rights of the people on instructions from the army.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs has cautioned Pakistan that the government of India strongly upholds its right to take back the part of the original state of Jammu and Kashmir illegally occupied by Pakistan and China.
These developments should be an eye-opener for the separatists and secessionists of Kashmir Valley. They should make a comparison of the political and administrative structure give to the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir in the Constitution of India. Had they made a fair and disinterred comparison, they would not have committed the blunders they did and, quite naturally, face the consequences. They should understand that in bringing the 14th amendment; Imran Khan closed his eyes to the religious affinity with the people of PoJK (which he trumpets about Kashmir Valley and Indian Muslims) and focused on how to deprive the people of their rights and freedoms only to let the domination of Pakistani rulers perpetuate. This is a moment of deep introspection for the separatist and secessionists of the Kashmir Valley. They have come to the crossroad where they have to decide which way will lead them to prosperity, freedom and dignity.
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