'Ashes to Ashes, Dust To Dust': Why DGMO Evoked Virat Kohli, Test Cricket To Explain Pak Defeat
TOI.in
/ May 12, 2025, 04:21PM IST
India's Director General of Military Operations (DGMO), Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, referenced Virat Kohli's retirement alongside military strategy. Discussing India's defence system, Ghai made an analogy to the 1970s Ashes series between Australia and England. He quoted the famous Australian proverb, "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, if Thommo don't get ya, Lillee must," highlighting the layers of India's multi-layered defense grid. Ghai emphasized that even if adversaries penetrate some layers, one will still strike back, reinforcing India's robust airfield and logistics protection.#DGMO #LieutenantGeneralRajivGhai #ViratKohliRetires #IndianArmy #IndiaPakistanTension #OperationSindoor #AirfieldSecurity #MilitaryStrategy #IndianDefense #AshesSeries #ThommoLillee #MilitaryBriefing #IndiaNationalSecurity #IndianMilitaryOperations #MilitaryLeadership #toibharat
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Hindustan Times
36 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Defence thrust manifests in Operation Sindoor's success
Operation Sindoor, India's strikes on terror and military installations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir following the Pahalgam terror attack, may have been the crowning moment for Narendra Modi in the first year of his third term as Prime Minister but the year also saw a raft of key developments in the defence sector that served to boost the military's combat readiness, officials tracking the sector said. These include the signing of several big-ticket deals, initiating long-awaited reforms, induction of new weapons and systems, showcasing new capabilities, and bolstering border infrastructure, they said. A key highlight of the year was the disengagement of Indian and Chinese armies from Depsang and Demchok in eastern Ladakh last October, the last two flashpoints along the contested Line of Actual Control. The development allowed the two armies to get past a two-year impasse in negotiations and reduce border tensions that began in May 2020. The key deals signed included a ₹63,000-crore contract with France to buy 26 Rafale Marine aircraft for the navy, another one worth ₹62,700 crore with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for 156 Prachand light combat helicopters for the army and air force, a ₹13,500-crore contract for 12 Sukhoi-30 fighter jets, a ₹7,629-crore contract with Larsen & Toubro for 100 more self-propelled K9 Vajra-T guns and a ₹7,000-crore order for 307 locally made artillery guns. One of the most significant capability enhancements came last August when the navy commissioned its second indigenous nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine INS Arighaat --- a step towards strengthening the country's nuclear triad or ability to launch strategic weapons from land, sea and air. Another naval milestone was the simultaneous commissioning of two warships and a submarine in Mumbai, a move that underscored the country's pre-eminent status in indigenous shipbuilding. The navy inducted Vaghsheer, the sixth and final Kalvari-class submarine; Surat, a destroyer; and Nilgiri, a frigate --- all built at the Mumbai-based Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) --- on January 15. The year also saw the induction of a locally developed air defence control and reporting system, called Akashteer, which emerged as the centrepiece of India's air defence grid during the May-7-10 military confrontation with Pakistan involving fighter jets, missiles, armed drones, and fierce artillery duels. It punctured multiple waves of Pakistani aerial attacks on Indian military installations, airbases and civilian areas by guaranteeing prompt detection and targeting of the incoming threats. The system was mated with the Indian Air Force's Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS), the beating heart of the military's resilient, four-tiered AD shield that Pakistan couldn't punch through. Theaterisation --- a long-awaited reform for the best use of the military's resources to fight future wars --- was also in sharp focus as India notified a new act and rules to boost jointness, command efficiency and operational synergy in the armed forces. This signalled the government's intent to fast-track the setting up of joint services commands, a key goal of the ongoing theaterisation drive. The government notified the Inter-Services Organisations (Command, Control and Discipline) Act, 2023 in the Gazette of India in May 2024, and the rules under it last month. The setting up of theatre commands for integrated application of force, operational efficiency, and optimal resource utilisation is among the nine areas identified by the defence ministry for focused intervention in 2025, which the ministry declared as the 'year of reforms' in January. Other areas include building indigenous capabilities to strengthen the armed forces, simplifying acquisition procedures for swifter capability development and new domains such as cyber and space. India's infrastructure push to provide year-round connectivity to the Ladakh region also got a boost. In July 2024, Modi carried out the 'first blast' for the Shinku La tunnel in Ladakh, aimed at providing all-weather connectivity from Manali to Leh via the Nimmu-Padam-Darcha axis. This route, the third one to Leh, will be functional in three years. The tunnel at 15,800 ft will be the world's highest, surpassing China's Mila tunnel at 15,590 ft. The Nimmu-Padam-Darcha road is strategically important as it is shorter than the other two axes, and crosses only one pass , the 16,615-ft high Shinku La. The traditional Srinagar-Leh axis is one of the two existing routes to Leh --- the other being the Manali-Leh road. Neither is currently all-weather, and both remain shut for five to six months in the winter, presenting a logistics nightmare both for the armed forces and the civil administration, and impeding socio-economic development of the Ladakh region. Another pivotal moment came on May 27 when India unveiled its long-awaited plan to fast-track the development of an indigenous fifth-generation stealth fighter, or the advanced medium combat aircraft (AMCA), announcing that the execution model will be competitive and provide equal opportunities to public and private sector firms to participate in one of the country's most significant military projects. The approval of the industry partnership model by defence minister Rajnath Singh was significant as HAL --- the sole manufacturer of fighter jets in the country --- was so far believed to be the front-runner for the prestigious project. The model unlocks new possibilities for the local aerospace industry, including firms such as Tata Advanced Systems Limited, Larsen & Toubro, Adani Defence and Aerospace and the Mahindra Group. HAL is still a strong contender for the project. In November 2024, INS Arighaat launched the K-4 missile for the first time and a few months later, in April, India unveiled a locally produced laser weapon that can knock out drones. India also tested its first long-range hypersonic missile, a weapon designed to deliver various payloads at ranges greater than 1,500 km. 'The steps taken by the government showcase its resolve to build robust military capabilities at a swift pace and push self-reliance in the defence manufacturing sector. It is important that we chart a path towards future goals with the same clarity and momentum,' military affairs expert Air Marshal Anil Chopra (retd) said.
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Shashi Tharoor-led group meets US V-P Vance, focus on cooperation in counter-terror
Seeking to rally support for India against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, the multi-party political delegation led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor met US Vice President J D Vance in Washington DC on Thursday and discussed 'cooperation in counter-terrorism domain'. Vance was in India when the Pahalgam terror attack took place on April 22; he and his family had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi the previous day. He had later called up Modi to express condolences, after US President Donald Trump had called up the PM. On May 9, Vance had called up Modi to share intelligence that Pakistan was preparing for a massive attack. So, he has been at the centre of the Trump administration's engagement with India, in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor launched on May 7, that led to four days of military confrontation between India and Pakistan. 'Excellent meeting with Vice President @JDVance today in Washington DC with our delegation… We had comprehensive discussions covering a wide array of critical issues, from counter-terrorism efforts to enhancing technological cooperation. A truly constructive & productive exchange for strengthening India-US strategic partnership, with a great meeting of minds,' Tharoor said in a post on X. In a post on X, the Indian Embassy in the US said the Tharoor-led delegation called on Vance in the morning, and the 'conversation focused on strengthening the India-US partnership including cooperation in counter-terrorism domain'. India's former Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Sandhu, who is also part of the delegation, said they had 'an excellent, comprehensive, constructive & productive interaction'. The delegation travelled to Guyana, Panama, Colombia and Brazil before arriving in Washington for the final leg of the tour. The other members of the team are MPs Sarfaraz Ahmad, Ganti Harish Madhur Balayogi, Shashank Mani Tripathi, Bhubaneswar Kalita, Milind Deora and Tejasvi Surya. The Indian precision strikes on Pakistani air bases early on May 10 came hours after Vance called up Modi and shared information about 'alarming intelligence' that there was a 'high probability for dramatic escalation if the conflict went into the weekend'. The Indian establishment has been facing questions from the Congress-led Opposition on the US announcing the ceasefire. On Wednesday, the Tharoor-led delegation met the leadership of the House Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans in the 119th Congress, the co-chairs Rep. Ro Khanna and Rep. Rich McCormick and the two vice co-chairs Rep. Andy Barr and Rep. Marc Veasey. 'The Congressmen expressed unequivocal and bipartisan condemnation for the terror attack in Pahalgam. They also expressed their support for India's right to respond to terrorism in the spirit of zero tolerance against terrorism. The Caucus members also hailed the strong strategic partnership between India and USA,' the Indian Embassy in the US said. Thereafter, it said, the delegation met the leadership of the House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) in a meeting hosted by Committee Chairman Rep. Brian Mast and Ranking Member Rep. Gregory Meeks. 'The interaction saw a constructive exchange of views on the developments relating to the attack in Pahalgam and India's stand on dealing with such attacks in the future. The Committee leadership condemned the Pahalgam attack unequivocally,' it said. In a separate interaction, it said, the members also met Rep. Lisa McClain, Chairwoman of the House Republican Conference — the highest-ranking woman in Congress. Shubhajit Roy, Diplomatic Editor at The Indian Express, has been a journalist for more than 25 years now. Roy joined The Indian Express in October 2003 and has been reporting on foreign affairs for more than 17 years now. Based in Delhi, he has also led the National government and political bureau at The Indian Express in Delhi — a team of reporters who cover the national government and politics for the newspaper. He has got the Ramnath Goenka Journalism award for Excellence in Journalism '2016. He got this award for his coverage of the Holey Bakery attack in Dhaka and its aftermath. He also got the IIMCAA Award for the Journalist of the Year, 2022, (Jury's special mention) for his coverage of the fall of Kabul in August 2021 — he was one of the few Indian journalists in Kabul and the only mainstream newspaper to have covered the Taliban's capture of power in mid-August, 2021. ... Read More
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Unease in India as Pakistan to chair, co-chair UNSC anti-terror panels
Pakistan's appointment to key counter-terrorism bodies at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) — chair of the sanctions committee against Taliban, vice-chair of counter-terrorism panel formed after 9/11, and a working group on the UN sanctions regime — has left many red faces in New Delhi. According to sources, there is a 'sense of disquiet' and 'unease' in South Block, since this goes contrary to India's efforts to portray Pakistan as the epicentre of terrorism — just over a month after the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, which was followed by Operation Sindoor that led to four days of military confrontation between India and Pakistan. Last month, India sent multi-party delegations to various foreign capitals, including all current and upcoming members of the UNSC, in an attempt to rally support for its war against terror emanating from Pakistan. Sources said Pakistan was appointed to these key panels on May 29, but the matter was made public in the last couple of days, while the Indian teams were touring these countries. An Indian delegation led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor visited New York last month, and is again in Washington DC for engagements with the US Congress, think tanks and media. Appointment to these panels must have the concurrence of both permanent and non-permanent members of the UNSC. The development signals that Pakistan has been able to get its way, with the help of China and other members of the UNSC. Significantly, a high-level Pakistani parliamentary delegation, led by Senate Chairman and former Pakistan PM Yousuf Raza Gilani, concluded a visit to the UN headquarters in New York earlier this week. The delegation held a series of meetings with senior UN officials and diplomats from various member states. Pakistan has also sent a high-level multi-party political delegation to New York, Washington DC, London, Brussels and Moscow, led by its former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, to canvas for support in its favour. Islamabad will now chair the UNSC committee established under Resolution 1988 (2011), which oversees the implementation of sanctions against the Taliban. It has also been named vice chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC), which monitors implementation of Resolution 1373 (2001), a core component of the UN's global counter-terrorism architecture. Additionally, Pakistan will serve as co-chair of two important subsidiary bodies: the Informal Working Group on Documentation and the newly formed Working Group on Sanctions. The documentation group works to enhance the UNSC's transparency, efficiency and inclusiveness, while the sanctions group is tasked with evaluating and improving the structure and effectiveness of the UN's sanctions regimes. With Pakistan's appointment to these key UNSC counter-terror panels, sources said there is a 'real risk' of Islamabad trying to project India as a source of terrorism, especially in Balochistan. The counter-terror committee could ask for reports on terrorist activities in Balochistan. While this is concern for Delhi, sources said Algeria is the chair of the committee, while France and Russia are also vice-chairs with Pakistan. 'So we have some checks, through our friends and strategic partners, trying to keep Pakistan's moves in check,' said sources. India has friends on the Taliban sanctions committee, too, where Guyana and Russia are vice-chairs. The working group on sanctions has Greece as a co-chair. This is important since India has been trying to get a number of Pakistan-based terrorists sanctioned, while Beijing and Islamabad have been blocking such moves. New Delhi is hoping that these co-chairs and vice-chairs will act as a counter-balance and counter-weight to keep Pakistan's anti-India propaganda moves in check. Sources said the most important counter-terrorism committee, under UNSC Resolution 1267, is, however, led by Denmark as chair and Russia and Sierra Leone as co-chairs. Earlier, India chaired the UNSC 1267 ISIL and Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee in 2022, responsible for monitoring and implementing sanctions against individuals and entities associated with the two outfits. Shubhajit Roy, Diplomatic Editor at The Indian Express, has been a journalist for more than 25 years now. Roy joined The Indian Express in October 2003 and has been reporting on foreign affairs for more than 17 years now. Based in Delhi, he has also led the National government and political bureau at The Indian Express in Delhi — a team of reporters who cover the national government and politics for the newspaper. He has got the Ramnath Goenka Journalism award for Excellence in Journalism '2016. He got this award for his coverage of the Holey Bakery attack in Dhaka and its aftermath. He also got the IIMCAA Award for the Journalist of the Year, 2022, (Jury's special mention) for his coverage of the fall of Kabul in August 2021 — he was one of the few Indian journalists in Kabul and the only mainstream newspaper to have covered the Taliban's capture of power in mid-August, 2021. ... Read More
