India-Pakistan begin Siachen talks amidst clamour for demilitarization

Amidst growing clamour from the peace activists from both the countries to turn the world’s highest battlefield- Siachen Glacier- into “Mountain of Peace”, India and Pakistan on Monday began the defence secretary-level talks on the issue in Rawalpindi, the Garrison City of Pakistan. 

Even as Pakistan Army Chief General Ashfaq Kayani has sent feelers about softening of Paksitan’s stand on the issue in the aftermath of an avalanche in the region claiming lives of 140 Pakistani soldiers, nothing “dramatic” is likely to come out of the two-day talks. 

Indian Defence Secretary Shashikant Sharma along with his Pakistani counterpart Nargis Sethi will hold talks to resolve the issue. Besides the delegation level meeting, the two defence secretaries are slated to have a one-on-one meeting as well. Sharma is accompanied by defence ministry and foreign ministry officials; and Director General of Miltiary Operations.

The talks are in the series of talks held by the two countries to reach a mutually agreed upon solution on the issue. Last Secretary-level talks were held in mid-2011 in New Delhi without yielding any results.

Both the Armies continue arduous deployment on the frigid heights of Siachen Glacier since 1984, the price paid in terms of lives claimed by harsh weather and money spent by these two developing countries. Even though not a single shot has been fired in the Siachen (literally translating into Valley of Roses) Glacier since 2002, the loss of lives on both side of the continues. India lost 26 soldiers in last one year alone.

The issue came to fore as the Pakistan Army suffered its worst tragedy as 140 soldiers were entombed in the region after a massive avalanche in April. Emphasising that both countries needed to resolve the Siachen issue, General Kayani had blamed India for a tough stand.

The bone of contention is that while India has been seeking authentication of present troop deployment in the region before demilitarization, Pakistan has been insisting on the restoration of troop positions as agreed in 1972 Shimla agreement.

Indian troops are sitting on dominating positions on the Glacier with a great strategic value for acting as buffer between Chinese controller Shaksgam valley and Pakistan occupied Baltistan.

The root of imbroglio is that 1949 Karachi agreement mentions no demarcation of border between the two countries beyond a peak marked NJ-9842 for reference and mentions that thereafter the border lies northward of the Glacier. This leaves a room for interpretation.

Pakistan claims that the line joins NJ 9842 with Karakoram Pass, which is North West of NJ 9842. The Indian position is that the line runs towards the glaciers along the watersheds formed by the Saltoro Range as per the internationally accepted principle of border delineation.

IMA's Passing Out Parade

Sorry folks! Had been off on a road trip. Had attended Indian Military Academy (IMA) Dehradun's Passing Out Parade on June 9 and have been driving virtually incessantly for the past five days.

It was a memorable experience. The "josh" is almost contagious as young boys get their hard earned stars on the shoulders. I was so upbeat about watching the cap tossing ceremony. But the previous Indian Army chief  General VK Singh has done away with the practice as it was disrespecting the uniform.

 Here are some of the pics

Me outside IMA's Dakshin Dwar

The Gentlemen cadets paying homage to the martyrs at Hut of Remembrance a day prior to their PoP

 Pipping ceremony

The newly commissioned officers taking their first salute

Show some Josh

First casualty in Tatra scam: BEML Chief suspended

In a first casualty in the Tatra scam, that was exposed by the former Indian Army Chief General VK Singh, the Defence Ministry has suspended BEML Chief VRS Natarajan.

MoD's statement

"The Government has put the CMD of BEML Shri VRS Natarajan under suspension following a recommendation by the CBI that he should be kept away from the post to ensure fair investigation.    The charge of CMD has been given to P Dwarkanath, the senior most functional Director in BEML.  The CBI is currently investigating into various charges against Natarajan."

(Update at 7.32 pm

The Tatra Scam has claimed its first scalp as Defence Ministry on Monday suspended the defence major Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) Chief VRS Natarajan following CBI recommendations to ensure “fair” probe into the matter.

Natarajan, head of the ‘Navratna’ Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) BEML for 12 years, has been in the eye of storm since former Indian Army Chief General VK Singh blew off the lid from the irregularities in supply of the trucks from the Czech firm. The former Chief had levied charges that the trucks in service with the Indian Army for the last 25 years were “over-priced” and “sub-standard”.

In a brief statement Defence Ministry’s spokesperson Sitanshu Kar said: “The Government has put the Chief Managing Director of BEML VRS Natarajan under suspension following a recommendation by the CBI that he should be kept away from the post to ensure fair investigation.” Following Natarajan’s suspension BEML’s senior most functional director P Dwarkanath will officiate as the Public Sector Undertaking’s Chief.

However, the suspended BEML Chairman insisted that he would come out clean. “I respect the decision of the government. I will come out clean in the case,” Natarajan told reporters in Bangalore.

Earlier on June 6, the Defence Ministry had sought an explanation from Natarajan for going to the media threatening General VK Singh to either apologize or else he will be slapped with a defamation suit. The Ministry said that no permission was given to the BEML Chairman in this regard.

General VK Singh had kicked up a furore after he claimed that a bribe offer of Rs. 14 crore was made to him on behalf of Tatra trucks to clear more acquisition of these sub-standard trucks. The first of Tatra trucks were inducted into the Indian Army in 1986 and presently there are 7,000 of these trucks with the force. The Tatra trucks are the backbone of the Indian Army as its whole missile systems and Cold Start or “Pre-emptive” Strategy to mobilize troops swiftly is based on these trucks, with flexible axle – “the only of its kind in the world for on road and off road application”.

BEML used to manufacture the trucks in India under license from Vectra. By now BEML was envisaged to indigenize the trucks completely, but, only 60 percent of the heavy duty vehicles’ components are manufactured in India.

The Defence Ministry had ordered the CBI to probe Natrajan’s role in the dubious deal. Defence Ministry AK Antony had sanctioned the probe in February after a two-and-half-year-long inquiry by Ministry and BEML’s officials beginning 2009 confirmed the foul play.

BEML had come under scanner, after Antony’s Cabinet colleague Ghulam Nabi Azad wrote written a letter to Congress President Sonia Gandhi alleging irregularities on the part of Navratna Company in the Tatra truck deals. The letter was then forwarded to the Defence Ministry for investigation. Azad had got the complaints from a DRDO official Dr. D Hanumanthappa

 

Following this the Defence Ministry claims that the vigilance wings of the Defence Ministry and BEML have been examining the matter and there have been communication between the CBI and the Chief Vigilance Officer of BEML on these allegations. It was after this inquiry that Antony sanctioned a CBI probe into the matter on February 21 this year.