‘Tension on border, sense of fear & pride in Amritsar'
I visited my parents in Amritsar and was scheduled to fly back on May 9. However, everything changed with the news of the valiant operation undertaken by our Armed Forces. What followed stirred an indescribable sense of pride and patriotism.While fear crept in — especially during the sudden blackouts, the wail of sirens, and the thunderous tremors of the earth — each moment of dread was eclipsed by the sight of the sky lighting up with the successful interception of enemy projectiles.
It was both terrifying and awe-inspiring. I absolutely feel reassured and safe with our borders being guarded by the brave men and women of the Indian Armed Forces.I was quite familiar with these things since my father was in the Army too. Yesterday, there was a drone attack in the morning in Jalandhar, and I was there at that time at my in-laws' house. There was a siren alert, and immediately after the siren alert, we heard two heavy missile shots, but they were all intercepted by the air defence. There was no loss as such, but the remnants were seen on the land and some houses in the villages because the remnants are also very heavy.We were asked to stay indoors and not let anybody go out. During the night, there was a blackout for three hours in the past week. They created safe shelters for any emergency. People from villages near the border have been evacuated because Jalandhar is less than 200 kilometres from the border.We reached Chandigarh on Saturday, and it was under high alert, too. But on Sunday, since morning, things have slightly changed, and shops have opened up. Today, we received a message from the Punjab govt saying the city is operational and everything has gone back to normal.I used to hear these things from my father and husband, but this is the first time I experienced it myself. My husband, being from the forces, shared a lot of such stories with me. I always experienced the fear, but never felt it in person before. He is right now on the front, so we are in anxiety anyway.My two kids cannot comprehend the severity of the situation, but there is certainly a lot of fear in their minds. They are waiting for their father to return home. I will stay with my parents for a few more days. Once the situation gets a little better, I will return to Kolkata. (Sanghera, principal of Asian International School who is in Amritsar to visit her parents, spoke to Poulami Roy Banerjee)
Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with
Mother's Day wishes
,
messages
, and
quotes
!
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
United News of India
4 hours ago
- United News of India
Haryana minister Vij hears complaints of residents
Ambala, Jun 6 (UNI) Haryana's Energy, Transport and Labour Minister Anil Vij redressed the grievances of residents from the Ambala Cantonment assembly constituency at his residence at Ambala Cantt and issued instructions to officials for necessary action. During the minister's interaction, a vendor employed by a catering contractor at Ambala Cantt railway station alleged he was not being paid the minimum wage, and was also denied benefits such as ESI and EPF. Despite having raised the issue earlier, no action had been taken. Taking serious note of this, Vij reprimanded the labour inspector present on the occasion. 'Labour officers must take workers' issues seriously. Strict action should be taken against the contractor in this matter,' Vij told officials. A retired Army Colonel informed the minister that he had bought a plot in Defence Colony, but the dealer was refusing to register the property. Vij directed the Panjokhra police station to take action in this case. Similarly, a Junior Warrant Officer from the Air Force complained that although he owns a plot in Boh, a nearby dairy operator was dumping cow dung in front of it, causing a constant stench in the area. Vij instructed civic body officials to address the issue. A woman from Defence Colony, Ambala informed Vij that she had sold her plot to a dealer for Rs 6.5 lakh, but the dealer paid her only Rs 4.5 lakhs, withholding the remaining Rs 2 lakh. Vij directed the police to take appropriate action. UNI GS XC PRS
The Wire
6 hours ago
- The Wire
Post Op Sindoor, Experts Say India Should Look Beyond Traditional Suppliers For Defence Procurement
Menu हिंदी తెలుగు اردو Home Politics Economy World Security Law Science Society Culture Editor's Pick Opinion Support independent journalism. Donate Now Security Post Op Sindoor, Experts Say India Should Look Beyond Traditional Suppliers For Defence Procurement Rahul Bedi 36 minutes ago Countries like Sweden, Spain, Italy, Germany, South Korea, and Japan, though historically modest defence collaborators with India, offer immense promise. An Army personnel stands near a weapon system during a demonstration near the India-Pakistan border, Punjab on Monday, May 19, Army showcased a demonstration of how Indian Air Defence systems, including AKASH missile system, L-70 Air Defence Guns, thwarted attempts by Pakistan to target civilian and religious sites . Photo: PTI Real journalism holds power accountable Since 2015, The Wire has done just that. But we can continue only with your support. Contribute now Chandigarh: In the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, Indian defence planners and service veterans are increasingly advocating a shift from traditional suppliers like the US, Russia, and Israel toward smaller European and technologically advanced Asian nations. This strategic pivot, backed by analysts and commentators aims to diversify India's defence procurement while reinforcing the Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliance) agenda. Brigadier Rahul Bhonsle (Retd) of Security Risks consultancy in New Delhi notes that these smaller nations – unlike the larger powers – tend to separate defence commerce from geopolitical agendas, focusing instead on industrial logic. Their political neutrality and limited entanglement in wars and global rivalries also rendered them lower-risk partners for co-development and technology transfer. Strategic necessity of diversifying India's defence procurement matrix India's changing threat environment and supply-chain shocks from traditional defence partners like Russia, the US, and Israel have highlighted the strategic necessity of diversifying its defence procurement matrix. Overdependence on a few suppliers – many of whom are either geopolitically distracted, technologically restrictive, or facing internal turmoil – has highlighted shortcomings after Operation Sindoor. In contrast, countries like Sweden, Spain, Italy, Germany, South Korea, and Japan, though historically modest defence collaborators with India, offer immense promise. Their advanced capabilities in precision munitions, missile systems, naval and AI-enabled network-centric platforms, cyber defence, and small arms – combined with flexible terms and political neutrality – make them ideal partners in India's push for strategic autonomy. These nations are more open to co-development, technology transfer, and localised production, aligning well with India's Atmanirbharta agenda. They also bring agility, innovation, and lower political baggage, helping India build a resilient, future-ready force structure. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Russia, the US, Israel, and France collectively accounted for 84% of India's total arms imports between 2019 and 2023. Russia remained, by far India's largest supplier with 36%, despite a decline from previous decades. But over 60% of platforms and sundry equipment currently in service across the Indian armed forces still originate from Russia. France followed with 29%, while the US and Israel contributed 11% and 8% respectively. Collectively these countries have equipped India with a broad array of platforms – combat and transport aircraft, heavy lift and attack helicopters, surveillance platforms, diesel-electric submarines, howitzers, small arms, armed and surveillance drones, missile systems, sensors, and precision-guided munitions amongst other sundry gear. The remaining 16% came from a diverse group including South Korea, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Ukraine, though all military ties with Kyiv ceased in 2022 following the ongoing war with Russia. Defence analysts like Major General A.P. Singh (Retd) argue that expanded collaboration with these smaller or less politically encumbered nations offers India 'transactional and balanced partnerships' – unlike traditional suppliers who often link defence ties to larger strategic considerations. Diplomatic friction, sanctions, and shifting alliances have repeatedly disrupted India's acquisitions, injecting operational uncertainty on many previous occasions, he added. For instance, Russia's invasion of Ukraine and subsequent Western sanctions had delayed deliveries of critical systems to India like two S-400 Triumf SAM systems, four Admiral Grigorovich-class frigates, and the lease of a second Akula-class nuclear submarine. Spares for existing Russian-origin fighters, helicopters, submarines and other platforms and equipment had also faced persistent delays, affecting India's operational tempo during crises like Operation Sindoor. China's deepening military-strategic partnership with Russia a cause of worry for India Moreover, China's deepening military-strategic partnership with Russia – fueled by their joint exercises, defence technology exchanges, and arms sales – has raised concerns in New Delhi about Moscow's future reliability as an arms supplier. Beijing's growing sway over Moscow adds an unpredictable variable in India's long-standing dependence on Russian military hardware and needed a 'serious rethink' service veterans advised. They also said that the shifting axis between Russia and China had introduced 'strategic ambiguity' into India-Russia defence ties, prompting growing unease in Delhi. Moscow's increasing dependence on Beijing also raised concerns over the former's willingness to supply India with advanced weapon systems, sensitive technologies, or uninterrupted logistical support in a future conflict, particularly one involving China. The overlapping weapons ecosystems posed another risk. With both India and China operating similar Russian-origin platforms – like Sukhoi fighters and S-400 air defence systems – India faced the prospect of confronting adversaries well-acquainted with its military hardware. Coupled with supply delays and the weakening Russian defence industry, had led many Indian strategists to question the long-term reliability of Moscow as a defence partner. Also Read: Operation Sindoor Highlights That It's Time for the Indian Air Force to Make Key Procurements Simultaneously, defence ties with Israel have also come under strain. The October 2023 Hamas attacks and Israel's ensuing Gaza campaign have forced major Israeli firms like Rafael, Elbit Systems, and Israel Aerospace Industries to redirect resources toward domestic military needs. This shift had delayed component deliveries, disrupted joint development projects, and impacted India's access to technologies such as loitering munitions, UAVs, and air defence systems. There are reportedly also growing delays in sourcing components for the Israeli SPYDER low-level, quick-reaction (LLQRM) surface-to-air missile air defence system, designed to engage various aerial threats like aircraft, helicopters, UAVs, and cruise missiles. Uncertainty also prevails over future upgrades of Israeli-origin counter-drone and surveillance platforms deployed along India's borders. And, with Israel's strategic focus now fixed on managing multifront conflicts –including with Hezbollah and Iranian proxies – its ability to sustain overseas defence partnerships is under pressure. For India, long reliant on Israel for flexible terms and rapid delivery, this situation highlights the vulnerability of over-dependence on a narrow pool of suppliers. Simultaneously, political and financial turbulence during US's Donald Trump administration raised doubts in Delhi about Washington's long-term reliability as a defence partner. A key casualty was the General Electric-Hindustan Aeronautics Limited agreement to locally manufacture GE-F414IN20 after burning turbofan engines – vital for future Indian combat aircraft – which continues to face delays and unresolved hurdles. Moreover, US defence cooperation comes with rigid conditionalities, particularly on technology transfer and end-user monitoring. Washington is typically reluctant to share source codes or allow full proprietary access to its platforms, limiting India's ability to indigenise, integrate, or adapt them independently. More importantly, the US proscribes 'jugaad'-the Indian military's hallmark of innovative field-level improvisation – thereby constricting its operational flexibility. Besides, the US emphasis on interoperability, often aligned with its Indo-Pacific strategy, does not always sit well with India's emphasis on strategic autonomy. Despite closer ties in recent years-cemented through four foundational defence agreements-Delhi remains continually wary of becoming entangled in the Washington-led global security framework. 'These handicaps are reason enough for India to forge a more agile and diversified procurement and modernisation strategy involving smaller, commercially-driven nations,' said Gen Singh (Retd). Their political neutrality and willingness to support indigenisation make them better suited to India's Atmanirbharta objectives, he added. Sweden has made first 100% foreign direct investment (FDI) in India's defence sector Sweden's SAAB, has established a facility in Haryana to co-produce the Carl-Gustaf M4 weapon system, marking the first 100% foreign direct investment (FDI) in India's defence sector. SAAB has also pitched its Gripen-E multirole fighter to the Indian Air Force (IAF) with robust domestic commitments, offering a cost-effective, high-performance solution to address the Force's alarming declining fighter squadron strength. SAAB has also proposed collaboration on India's fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), alongside support in radar, electronic warfare (EW), cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted military programmes. Germany's ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) is close to finalising the Project-75 I (India) partnership with Mazagaon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) that involves building six advanced diesel-electric submarines (SSK) with Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) and land-attack capabilities. Beyond P-75(I), Germany could provide expertise in next-generation submarine design, cyber defence, and EW systems. Meanwhile, India has been licence-producing Italy's Oto Melara 76mm Super Rapid Gun Mount (SRGM) for the Indian Navy (IN) since 1994. These guns equip the indigenously built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant and a variety of indigenous warships. Alongside, Italian firm Fincantieri supported Vikrant's propulsion system design, while Avio contributed to the carrier's platform management. And, more recently, Italy expressed interest in involving India in the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) a sixth-generation fighter initiative with the UK and Japan offered collaboration in jointly producing torpedoes, helicopters, radar, EW systems, UAVs, and miscellaneous naval platforms. Spain, a founding partner in Europe's Airbus Defence and Space, is presently executing a joint venture with Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) to import 16 C-295 medium transport aircraft and manufacture 40 more in Vadodara. Future tie-ups with Spain could include advanced radar and sensor systems for air defence and joint development of simulation and combat training platforms for the IAF And, in April 2025, India signed a $253 million deal with Larsen & Toubro for 100 additional K9 Vajra-T 155mm/52 calibre tracked self-propelled howitzers, under license from South Korea's Hanwha Defense – a follow-on to an analogous 2017 order. Prospects also include expanding K9-based artillery cooperation and co-developing Mine Counter Countermeasure Vessels (MCMVs), which the IN desperately needs. Also Read: India's Fighter Jet Ambitions: From Russian Roulette to Indigenous Dreams India-Japan, defence collaboration too has deepened in recent years, driven by shared strategic concerns over a hegemonic China and a mutual commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region. Japan has offered India dual-use technologies in robotics, autonomous systems, and space-based surveillance as well as possibilities of co-developing unmanned military ground vehicles and enhancing cyber-security frameworks. Consequently, all such potential collaborations, touched upon cursorily, could well provide India with the latest technological depth and resilience required for modern warfare in the post-Op Sindoor environment – where the basic nature of conflict itself was evolving through drones, EW and stand-off, long-range precision strikes. To engage in such wars, India's military needs to be not just well-equipped but agile and technologically integrated, for which a diversified defence portfolio is no longer optional – it is a strategic imperative. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments. Make a contribution to Independent Journalism Related News Russian Ambassador Says 'Discussion Ongoing' On India Getting More S-400 Air Defence System Units: Report Four Things the CDS said at Pune that Deserve Our Attention The French Are Anxious to Know the Fate of Rafales in Operation Sindoor Combat The Opposition Owes the Indian public Some Answers 'Indo-Pacific Region Never Existed, Made Up to Drag India Into Anti-China Schemes': Russian FM Lavrov CDS Accepts Loss of IAF Fighter Jets Facing Pushback, Derision and Anger, BJP Says News of Sindoor Distribution Plans 'Fake' Three Things the CDS Interviews in Singapore Tell Us Vandalism of Karachi Bakery and the Weaponisation of Food to Portray a Shallow Form of Patriotism View in Desktop Mode About Us Contact Us Support Us © Copyright. All Rights Reserved.
India.com
6 hours ago
- India.com
No help needed from Russia, France, Israel, or US, India is making its own… to earn money from...
No help needed from Russia, France, Israel, or US, India is making its own… to earn money from… New Delhi: The days are about to change when India was dependent on Russia, France, and the United States for ammunition for its artillery. Now, the country is moving towards making its own ammunition. The Defence Research and Development Organisation is working on making indigenous ammunition and making progress in it. According to a report by Economic Times, citing sources, four different types of 155 mm artillery ammunition have been tested in the last two years. These tests turned out to be successful, meeting the army's requirements. These types of ammunition include high explosive rounds, smoke rounds, and Dual Purpose Improved Conventional Munition (DPICM) rounds. Notably, DPICM rounds are used to target a large area. Final Trials Soon As per the report, the final trials to be conducted by November this year. The army will conduct these trials and if the higher authority finds the ammunitions suitable then these ammunitions will be purchased in large quantity. 'The work of making the ammunition is almost complete and we are now moving towards user trials. The user is already involved in this project,' ET quoted a source as saying. Notably, the Army is working with the DRDO for this project. Anil Ambani's Company Link It is worth mentioning that these ammunitions are being made under the Development cum Production Partner (DCPP) program. Two companies have been selected to contribute in the program. These companies will first make samples and if the samples are given green signals from the Army then the process for procurement of ammunition in large quantities will be initiated. Reliance Infrastructure's company Jai Ammunition Limited and government company Yantra India Limited have been engaged in making ammunition in collaboration with DRDO for the last two years. How Much Power Will You Get? India will need ammunition worth about Rs 10 thousand crore in the next ten years. Not only this, if the project is successful, then the country can sell a large number of ammunition. It simply means that India will not need to buy ammunition from countries like Russia, France, and US etc. Rather, we will be able to earn money by selling the ammunition. How Much Does India Import? A Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) report reveals that India was the world's second-largest arms importer from 2020 to 2024, accounting for 8.3% of global imports. Russia, France, and Israel were India's primary suppliers, with Russia providing 36% of India's arms imports. However, India's arms imports decreased by 9.3% during this period compared to the 2015-2019 timeframe, likely due to increased domestic weapons design and manufacturing capabilities
