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Time of India
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Operation Sindoor a courageous step: 1971 war veteran
1 2 3 Kendrapada: Duryodhana Mohanty , a 75-year-old war veteran from Barunadia village in Kendrapada district, has called Operation Sindoor against Pakistan a "courageous step".Mohanty, who fought in the 1971 Indo-Pak war , noted the contrast between modern warfare technology and conventional weapons used five decades ago. "The use of missiles and armed drones for Operation Sindoor has changed warfare completely," said on his wartime experience, Mohanty recalled using basic equipment like self-loading rifles, mortars and howitzers during the 1971 conflict. "The maximum gun range then was just about a km," he said, comparing it to advanced missile systems now, many of which were tested at the integrated test ranges on Dr Abdul Kalam Island and Chandipur in a soldier of the 14th Battalion of Brigade of The Guards, Mohanty participated in crucial battles from Habiganj to Dhaka. "We crossed the border from Agartala to reach East Pakistan on Dec 1, 1971," he recalled. The seventeen-day war resulted in numerous casualties, including eight soldiers from his witnessed the surrender of Pakistani forces under General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi, along with 93,000 troops, to the allied forces led by General Jagjit Singh Aurora on Dec 16, 1971. "It was a proud moment for us. We celebrated the victory by dancing with Mukti Bahini on the streets of Dhaka," he said, displaying his war serving 32 years in the Army, including participation in Operation Meghdoot to secure the Siachen glacier in 1984, Mohanty retired in 2002. He currently serves as the sarpanch of Barunadia gram panchayat, having won the post for the third time in veteran now lives with his family in the village, drawing a monthly pension of Rs 41,000. His eldest son Amit is an ex-soldier, while his younger son Arjit serves in Odisha police.
The Print
01-05-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Lt Gen Pratik Sharma takes over as Northern Army Commander amid heightened tensions with Pakistan
The DCOAS (strategy) oversees critical directorates within the Indian Army, including operations and intelligence. Lt Gen Sharma, who was earlier the deputy chief of the Indian Army (strategy), takes over following the superannuation of Lt Gen M.V. Suchindra Kumar on 30 April. New Delhi: Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma Thursday took over as the general officer commanding-in-chief (GOC-in-C) of the critical Northern Command amid heightened tensions with Pakistan on one side and continued stand-off with China on the other. Commissioned into the 2nd Battalion of the Madras Regiment, the new Northern Army commander has served as the director general of military operations (DGMO), the crucial wing of the Indian Army that oversees the operational requirements and strategies. Lt Gen Sharma has also served as the commander of the Ambala-based 2 Corps, also known as the Kharga Corps, which is one of the two Strike Corps meant for the Western borders. He has also commanded a Division in the Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir. Incidentally, Lt Gen Sharma had been stationed in Kashmir since the Pahalgam attack and was part of all security briefings and planning. The Northern Command looks after both the borders with Pakistan and China, besides having a counter-infiltration and counter-terrorism role. In over three decades, Lt Gen Sharma has served in multiple operational environments, including Operation Pawan, the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF)'s operation in Jaffa, Sri Lanka in the late 1980s; Operation Meghdoot, the 1984 Indian Army operation to take back the Siachen Glacier, which continues; Operation Rakshak, a counter-terrorism operation in Jammu and Kashmir that began in the 1990s; and Operation Parakram, the 2001-02 standoff between India and Pakistan. He has also served in the military secretary branch and was the director general, (information warfare), a recently institutionalised information directorate at the Army headquarters in New Delhi. Other key appointments Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, who was earlier the air officer commanding-in-chief of Central Air Command in Allahabad, has taken over as the new chief of integrated defence staff (CISC) following the superannuation of Lt Gen J.P. Mathew. A seasoned test pilot and qualified flying instructor with over 3,300 flying hours, Air Marshal Dixit brings in extensive operational and planning experience and has commanded a Mirage squadron. He will be replaced by Air Marshal Balakrishnan Manikantan, currently AOC-in-C of the Southern Air Command. Meanwhile, Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari has taken over as the new vice-chief of the Air Staff following the superannuation of Air Marshal S.P. Dharkar. Tiwari was earlier commanding the South Western Air Command in Gandhinagar, and he will be replaced by the current Training Command Chief, Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor. (Edited by Sanya Mathur) Also Read: Ultra & Alpine Quest—technologies that keep Pakistani terrorists, especially LeT, going in J&K
Time of India
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Pakistan suspends Simla Agreement: Here are several instances when it violated the truce deal
Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated sharply following the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 26 tourists. In retaliation, India announced a string of strong measures, including the suspension of visa services for Pakistani nationals and the cancellation of all previously issued visas, even those granted on medical grounds. Mirroring India's actions, Pakistan convened a rare meeting of its National Security Committee (NSC) chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. GIF89a����!�,D; 5 5 Next Stay Playback speed 1x Normal Back 0.25x 0.5x 1x Normal 1.5x 2x 5 5 / Skip Ads by Among the key resolutions passed was the decision to place all bilateral agreements with India 'in abeyance', specifically naming the Simla Agreement—a key diplomatic accord that has shaped India-Pakistan relations since the early 1970s. Repeated violations of the Simla Agreement by Pakistan Despite its foundational role in shaping Indo-Pak relations post-1971, the Simla Agreement has seen repeated breaches—mostly by Pakistan. Several key incidents highlight how the accord's principles were either undermined or bypassed entirely. Siachen intrusion and Operation Meghdoot (1984) According to the 1949 Karachi Agreement, the ceasefire line extended to point NJ9842 and was to continue 'north to the glaciers.' Live Events Despite this, Pakistan made moves in the early 1980s to occupy the Siachen Glacier region, attempting to shift the military balance in the area. In response, India launched Operation Meghdoot in 1984 and took full control of the glacier. The military operation, still ongoing in terms of deployment, marked a direct violation of the understanding not to alter territorial arrangements unilaterally. Kargil War (1999) In one of the most blatant breaches, Pakistani soldiers and armed insurgents crossed the LoC and occupied positions on Indian territory in the Kargil sector. The intrusions spanned an area of about 150 square kilometres and strategically overlooked the Srinagar-Leh highway (NH-1). India launched a military campaign to reclaim the positions in a conflict that lasted nearly three months. This action contradicted the agreement's clause that barred any attempt to change the LoC through force. Ceasefire violations post-2003 Both countries recommitted to a ceasefire along the LoC in November 2003. For several years, the truce held—with no reported firing between 2003 and 2006. However, since 2006, Pakistan has frequently violated the ceasefire through shelling and cross-border firing, leading to military and civilian casualties. These actions continue to undermine the Simla Agreement's core objective of maintaining peace and mutual respect for established boundaries. What is the Simla Agreement? Signed on July 2, 1972, and effective from August 4 the same year, the Simla Agreement was a landmark peace accord between Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Pakistan's Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. It followed the conclusion of the 1971 India-Pakistan war, which resulted in the creation of Bangladesh and saw the surrender of over 90,000 Pakistani soldiers—an event considered the largest military capitulation since World War II. The accord aimed to 'end the conflict and confrontation' and lay the groundwork for peaceful bilateral relations. It formalised the ceasefire line from the war into what is now known as the Line of Control (LoC), reinforcing a commitment to resolve all issues—especially Kashmir—through peaceful dialogue and without altering the status quo unilaterally.
Times of Oman
13-04-2025
- Politics
- Times of Oman
Siachen Day: Indian Army honours bravehearts of world's highest battlefield
New Delhi: April 13 marks Siachen Day, commemorating the Indian Army's Operation Meghdoot in 1984. On this day, Indian troops landed at Bilafond La Pass and captured key positions on the Siachen Glacier, securing a strategic advantage in the disputed region of Kashmir, the world's highest battlefield. The poem "Quartered in snow, Silent to remain, When the clarion calls, They shall rise and march again" beautifully captures the spirit of the Indian Army's presence in Siachen. It highlights the soldiers' ability to remain vigilant and prepared, even in the harshest of conditions, and to respond swiftly when called upon to defend the nation. Indian soldiers have been stationed in the harsh environment of the Siachen Glacier for decades, enduring extreme temperatures and challenging terrain. The day marks the historic launch of Operation Meghdoot in 1984, when the Indian Army established full control over the Siachen Glacier, thwarting adversarial attempts to claim the strategically vital region. It celebrated the 41st anniversary of the famous Operation, which was carried out by the Indian forces. Siachen has been a bone of contention between India and Pakistan ever since the Karachi Agreement of 1949, when the area was left undivided due to the hostile terrain and extremely rough weather. Operation Meghdoot was India's bold military response to what New Delhi calls Pakistan's "cartographic aggression" in the uncharted territory of Ladakh, north of map reference NJ9842, where New Delhi and Islamabad had agreed the Line of Control (LoC) ran up to. Intelligence inputs about impending Pakistani military action prompted India to secure strategic heights on Siachen, deploying troops via airlifts and air-dropping supplies to high-altitude airfields. The primary objective behind this operation was to pre-empt the seizure of Sia La and Bilafond La passes by the Pakistan Army. Launched on April 13, 1984, this military operation was unique as the first assault launched on the world's highest battlefield. It was launched under the leadership of Lieutenant General Manohar Lal Chibber, Lieutenant General PN Hoon, and Major General Shiv Sharma. It is distinguished by being one of the greatest examples of seamless coordination and synergy between the Indian Army and the Air Force. The military action resulted in Indian troops gaining control of the entire Siachen Glacier. According to a press release from last year, the operation involved the IAF airlifting Indian Army soldiers and dropping them on the glacial peaks. Although the operation began in 1984, IAF helicopters have been operating in the Siachen Glacier since 1978, flying the Chetak helicopter, which was the first IAF helicopter to land in the Glacier in October 1978. The Indian Army launched Operation Meghdoot to secure strategic heights on Siachen with the deployment of troops. Playing an irreplaceable role in this effort, IAF's tactical and strategic airlifters, An-12s, An-32s, and IL-76s transported stores and troops and air-dropped supplies to high-altitude airfields, from where Mi-17, Mi-8, Chetak, and Cheetah helicopters ferried men and material to dizzying heights on the glacier, far above the limits set by the helicopter manufacturers. Located at a height of around 20,000 feet in the Karakoram Mountain range, the Siachen Glacier is known as the highest militarised zone around the world. It is located so strategically that while it dominates Shaksgam Valley (ceded to China by Pakistan in 1963) in the north, controls the routes coming from Gilgit Baltistan to Leh from the west, and at the same time, it dominates the ancient Karakoram Pass in the eastern side too. Further, towards the west, it borders nearly the entire of the Gilgit Baltistan, which too is an Indian territory illegally occupied by Pakistan in 1948. Every year, the day honours all the Siachen Warriors who have served their motherland while successfully thwarting the enemy's evil designs over the years. To this day, the Siachen Warriors continue to guard the 'Frozen Frontier' with tenacity and resolve against all odds.
