Navy intensifies muscle-flexing against Pakistan even as small arms fire continues across LoC
NEW DELHI: Navy has further intensified its muscle-flexing against Pakistan by issuing another warning for ships to stay away from specified coordinates in the northern Arabian Sea due to its firing drills, as the exchange of small arms fire continues unabated between the rival armies along the Line of Control in J&K.
The "NavArea' warning for the specified zone off Gujarat till May 3, incidentally, is just around 80-85 nautical miles from where the Pakistan Navy is undertaking its own drills in the Arabian Sea. "We have made it clear that if any warship or ship enters that zone, she will do so at its own peril," an officer said.
Navy chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi took stock of his force's operational readiness during a visit to the Western Navy Command in Mumbai Thursday. The review came even as Navy has deployed several warships in the Arabian Sea, which conducted multiple firings of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and other weapon systems last week.
China, which has the world's largest Navy with over 370 warships and submarines, is assiduously helping Pakistan build a strong maritime force. Pakistan has already inducted four latest Type 054A/P multi-role frigates and other platforms from China. It's slated to soon get eight Yuan-class diesel-electric submarines, with air-independent propulsion, in a major capability jump for India's western adversary.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Find Out About Seized Vehicles and Urgent Car Sales in the Philippines
LocalPlan
Search Now
Undo
Amid the heightened tensions with Pakistan, IAF is undertaking long-range day and night fighter sorties, while also keeping its air defence network with a variety of surface-to-air missile systems in full alert mode.
While IAF has increased the number of ORPs (operational readiness platforms) at its air bases, especially in the western sector, the force is also slated to practice operations of supersonic fighter jets like Rafales, Jaguars and Mirage-2000s, transport aircraft and helicopters on an emergency landing facility (ELF) on the Ganga Expressway in UP on Friday.
This will be the fourth such ELT on expressways in UP, and the first to support day and night landings. Such ELT airstrips being established in different parts of the country, with reinforced cement concrete construction on national highways or expressways, can provide operational flexibility during conflicts.
If an adversary bombs air bases, for instance, such ELTs can be used for unhindered air operations using mobile air traffic and radar control, refueling and armament-loading facilities, say officers. Pakistan and several other countries like Germany, Sweden, South Korea, Taiwan, Finland, Switzerland, Poland and Singapore also have dedicated stretches on their highways and expressways for aircraft to land and take off in emergencies or war-like events.
The ceasefire along the 778-km LoC and 198-km international boundary in J&K has frayed since the Pahalgam attack, with Army Thursday saying Pakistan army posts had opened unprovoked small arms fire across LoC in Kupwara, Uri and Akhnoor sectors.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
13 minutes ago
- Time of India
No official version of Bharat Mata portrait, so cannot be allowed in govt events: Kerala government
The Left government in Kerala on Friday made it clear that it was not in agreement with the use of the Bharat Mata portrait at the Environment Day event at the Raj Bhavan here as the picture was not authorised as the official version by the Constitution or the Indian government. Kerala Agriculture Minister P Prasad , who boycotted the event at the Raj Bhavan a day ago over the use of the portrait, said that those in constitutional offices cannot convert government programmes into political events . A similar view was also expressed by state General Education Minister V Sivankutty who said that the Raj Bhavan and the Governor were above politics and said that Arlekar should withdraw from the stand taken by him. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like El patrimonio de Palito Ortega conmociona al mundo. Boite A Scoop Undo The government's stand came a day after Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar asserted that there would be no compromise on Bharat Mata. Prasad, while talking to a TV channel, said that no Bharat Mata portrait has ever been acknowledged as the official or authorised version by the Constitution or any of the governments in power since independence. Live Events He further said that the portrait about to be used at the event was not carrying the Indian flag, but that of a political organisation, and therefore, it could not be honoured during a government event. The minister said that the particular political organisation and the Governor were free to pay homage to the portrait at private events, but it cannot be done in state government programmes. "We all have a political view, but those in constitutional positions have restrictions on how they express it," he added. He said that the government view was that such a stand ought not to have been taken by a constitutional establishment and expressed hope that it will be corrected by the concerned persons. "It actually should not be repeated in our country. We cannot accept it in Kerala," he added. The minister also questioned why the Governor was "rigid" on the issue, when none of the earlier Governors in the state and not even the Presidents of the country have carried out such a practice in the past. For the World Environment Day event, the Raj Bhavan came out with a minute-to-minute programme, but it initially did not have anything about paying floral tributes to the portrait of Bharat Mata, he said. On eve of the programme, a new schedule was sent to us and it included the paying of floral tribute to Bharat Mata portrait. "So, I enquired with the Raj Bhavan about the floral tributes and asked them to send me a picture of the portrait. The portrait was the one used by the RSS and was not recognised or authorised as an official version, I informed the Raj Bhavan that we cannot offer floral tributes to it," he said. The minister said that the Raj Bhavan in response said they cannot remove the portrait. On being told that the opposition was criticising the lack of response on the issue by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Prasad said that the Congress-led UDF was trying to gain political mileage out of it especially in view of the upcoming bypoll in Nilambur assembly constituency. After knowing Raj Bhavan's stand, the state government relocated the event to the Secretariat's Durbar Hall and the Raj Bhavan went ahead with its programme. Later, in a statement issued by the Raj Bhavan, the Governor said, "Whatever be the pressure, from whichever quarters, there will be no compromise whatsoever on Bharat Mata." In his speech at the Raj Bhavan programme, the Governor said two ministers--state Education Minister and Agriculture Minister--had agreed to attend the function but they did not turn up for the event. While Sangh outfit Bharatiya Vichara Kendram strongly backed the Governor, the ruling CPI(M) and the Congress criticised the Raj Bhavan on the matter.
India.com
14 minutes ago
- India.com
Pakistan begins deployment of FC-31 stealth fighter jets... is this a danger for India?
Pakistan begins deployment of FC-31 stealth fighter jets... is this a danger for India? Pakistan has started inducting China's FC-31 stealth jet into its air force. It is equipped with PL-17 missile with Mach 1.8 speed and 400 km range. This is a threat to India because IAF has less squadrons and India is competing with it with Rafale, Tejas and S-400. Pakistan has started inducting China's Shenyang FC-31 'Gyrofalcon' stealth fighter jet to strengthen its air force. This fifth generation stealth jet, also known as J-35, is the strategy of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) to counter India's growing air power. The Indian Air Force (IAF) is currently facing a shortage of squadrons as it is preparing its indigenous AMCA jet by 2035. The FC-31 is a fifth-generation stealth fighter jet built by China's Shenyang Aircraft Corporation. This jet is designed to compete with the US F-35 and China's J-20. Although it is not as advanced as the J-20, it has many special features like speed of Mach 1.8 (2,200 km/h), range of 1,200 km (1,900 km with mid-air refueling). It is also equipped with PL-17 missile (400 km range), which can attack from a distance without evading radar. It can lift maximum weight of 28,000 kg. The delivery of FC-31 will begin in a few months. Pakistan can buy 30-36 jets, which will arrive in batches of 6 each in the next 12-18 months. This jet is much This move by Pakistan has come after the India-Pakistan conflict (Operation Sindoor) in May 2025. In this conflict, India destroyed 6 fighter jets, 2 AWACS, 1 C-130 transport and several drones and missiles of PAF with Brahmos-A missiles. Pakistan's HQ-9 (China-made) air defense system could not stop India's fast and low-flying missiles. Pakistan wants to reduce this gap by deploying FC-31. Threat to India? IAF has 31 squadrons, while the requirement is 42. AMCA will be ready by 2035, meaning Pakistan can get a lead of 7-14 years. India has 36 Rafales, Su-30 MKI, Mirage 2000, and LCA Tejas, but these are 4.5 generation jets.
Time of India
18 minutes ago
- Time of India
SC refuses to urgently hear plea against order allowing animal slaughter for Eid-ul-Azha at 'dargah'
The Supreme Court on Friday refused to accord urgent hearing on a plea challenging the Bombay High Court order which permitted animal slaughter for Eid-ul-Azha and Urs at a 'dargah' at Vishalgad fort in Maharashtra 's Kolhapur district. The fort is a protected monument, citing which the authorities had prohibited slaughtering of animals and birds on the premises. The plea challenging the high court's June 3 order was mentioned for urgent listing before a bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and Satish Chandra Sharma. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Air conditioners without external unit. (click to see prices) Air Condition | Search Ads Search Now Undo "Tomorrow, Bakri Eid is there and in a protected monument, Vishalgad, in Maharashtra, the high court has permitted slaughter," the counsel, who mentioned the matter, said. He said the high court has allowed animal slaughter in the protected monument area also for Urs till June 12. Live Events "In protected monuments, so many religious activities are going on," the bench observed. The lawyer claimed there was a specific notification of the state of Maharashtra which said animals cannot be slaughtered in the protected area. He said last year, animal slaughter within enclosed premises was permitted by the high court. The counsel said the high court has said in its order that restrictions which were there last year, would apply this year also. "Be it of any religion or faith, in a protected monument, so many activities are going on," the bench observed. "Let me tell you, sitting in Tripura (high court), I had banned animal slaughter there and then this court modified the order to say, in an enclosed place it would be carried out," Justice Karol said. The counsel then urged the bench to list the matter for hearing next week. "What is the urgency? The matter would be infructuous ," the bench observed. A vacation bench of the high court had heard an application by Hazrat Peer Malik Rehan Dargah Trust , seeking permission for slaughtering animals. The high court had permitted animal slaughter for Eid-ul-Azha to be celebrated on June 7 and the four-day Urs (fair) to be held from June 8 to 12 at the 'dargah' at Vishalgad fort. It had said the order shall extend not just to the 'dargah' trust but to other devotees too. The high court had said similar permission was granted last year too. It had added that conditions imposed last year like carrying out the animal slaughter only in private and enclosed space specifically at Gate No. 19, which is privately-owned by Mubarak Usman Mujawar, and not in public areas, shall apply this year too. The Deputy Director of Archaeology had prohibited animal sacrifice at the fort, citing the Maharashtra Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act. The trust argued that the sacrifice was an "age-old practice" conducted on private land 1.4 km away from the fort, and that the meat was distributed to pilgrims and villagers nearby.
