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Carefree Walks, New Roads, Electricity In Villages — How Ceasefire Has Changed Life Along LoC

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Carefree Walks, New Roads, Electricity In Villages — How Ceasefire Has Changed Life Along LoC

Poonch/Bhimber Gali (J&K): The ongoing ceasefire between India and Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, which began on 25 February this year, has made life easier for both civilians and the Army.

For civilians living along the LoC, the silence of the guns means that they can live a normal, ordinary life, like people in other parts of the country — take a carefree walk on the freshly-laid roads without having to worry about being hit by a bullet or mortar shells, sleep under the open sky. Children can attend school without interruption.

For the Army, both in India and Pakistan, meanwhile, the period of peace allows them to stock up, regroup and fortify, before the ceasefire is violated. It is also a time for officers to walk or drive through areas they could not approach before as they would come under directed fire.

This period of peace also gives the civil administration an opportunity to quickly build community bunkers, carry out door-to-door Covid vaccination drives and provide basic infrastructure like electricity and roads.

Despite the ceasefire, however, the soldiers remain on alert 24×7 with no let-up in patrolling, counter-infiltration tactics, laying of ambushes, and surveillance activities.

On a visit to the forward-most villages and Army posts along the LoC in the Bhimber Gali and Poonch sector in Jammu and Kashmir, ThePrint interacted with the villagers and soldiers, to get a first hand understanding of the situation.

Villagers Hope For Continued Peace

“This peace is a blessing for us. A few months back, we would not be standing here and talking,” Mohammed Arif Khan, sarpanch of one of the villages right next to the LoC, said.

Standing next to a school in Dharati village, Khan said Pakistan frequently targeted the civilians and shells fired from mortars have fallen in the very same area where he was standing. “I just hope this peace prevails. I am thankful to whoever made this happen,” he said.

Yunus, a resident of Kanga village next to the LoC, was thankful for the new roads laid only during the ceasefire, making life easier for the villagers.

“Had guns not fallen silent, the road construction could not have happened. They had targeted a JCB (earthmover machine) earlier, which resulted in a young boy losing his leg. Thankfully, the Army has provided him with a prosthetic leg,” he said.

Sajid, a 11-year-old boy from one of the villages that have borne the brunt of the ceasefire violations by Pakistan in the past, said he can now play in the open and not run for cover when the “bombs” start falling. Meanwhile, a young girl from another village, who wants to become an “officer” when she grows up, said attending schools would be an issue as Pakistan even targeted schools. “We have a bunker right next to my class. We had to rush in every time Pakistan fired,” she recalled.

Classes are being held at present with schools following all Covid-19 precautions.

For residents of Kosaliyan village, no firing means one can live a normal life like everyone else.

“Earlier, fear was our constant companion. One never knew when a shell would land near us or hit our vehicles. We can now live peacefully just like you do,” said Honorary Captain Mohammed Sadiq (Retd), a Shaurya Chakra awardee and sarpanch of the village.

People in his village are mostly labourers, and often employed by the Army as porters.

In January 2020, Pakistani forces crossed over to the Indian side of the LoC and ambushed a group of 10 porters who were carrying ration items to an Army post.

“They chopped off the head of one and took it away with them while shooting another (in the leg). The boy’s leg had to be amputated. With the ceasefire on, we are living our life thinking no barbarity will be inflicted on us,” he said.

The veteran said there have been days when the Pakistani army fired hundreds of mortar shells, with many directed at the villages. For residents of Datot village, the ceasefire has meant that the power department could bring in wires, transformers and spares to ensure that electricity is restored in the village.

“The village has been out of electricity for several years as supply was damaged in ceasefire violation. However, new transformers or spares could not come because vehicles would be targeted by Pakistan,” Mohammed Gulshan Khan, a sarpanch of another village said about Datot.

Soldiers Get A Breather

For the soldiers deployed along the LoC, the ceasefire has meant they can breathe a little easy. They have, however, not let their guards down since anti-infiltration tactics and surveillance is constantly on.

“The only difference for us is that there is no firing. We continue to do all the rest just like it was before. So we continue with our constant surveillance, laying of ambushes as part of a counter-infiltration grid among many others,” said a source posted in the area.

Asked how the Pakistan Army was utilising this ceasefire period, the source explained that they have been seen fortifying their bunkers that were destroyed or hit by Indian troops. Asked if India was also not fortifying its own positions and stocking up, the officer said both armies are doing it. While Indian soldiers are visiting areas within their own territory, which they otherwise would not because of sniper attacks, the Pakistanis are also doing the same.

“The only difference is that we now see many Pakistani soldiers in uniform than before, as they would earlier wear a civilian dress and move around,” another source said.

Asked how long one expects the ceasefire to continue, another source said: “The last time when India and Pakistan attempted a ceasefire was in 2018 and it lasted for four months. We are making sure from our end that there are no ceasefire violations. The violation will come from Pakistan first.”

All posts, big or small, along the LoC are designed in such a way that minimal impact is caused to the soldiers inside.

The biggest casualty factor along the LoC is splinters and sniping.

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INS Arihant’s Nuke-Capable K-4 Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile ‘Ready To Roll’

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INS Arihant’s Nuke-Capable K-4 Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile ‘Ready To Roll’


NEW DELHI: India tested its nuclear capable K-4 submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), designed to have a strike range of 3,500 km, for the second time in six days on Friday. The missile test, as the one conducted on January 19, was undertaken from an undersea platform in the shape of a submersible pontoon off the coast of Andhra Pradesh according to a report by Rajat Pandit of TOI.

The solid-fuelled K-4 missile is being developed by DRDO to arm the country’s nuclear-powered submarines in the shape of INS Arihant and its under-development sister vessels. INS Arihant, which became fully operational in November 2018 to complete India’s nuclear triad, is currently armed with the much shorter K-15 missiles with a 750 km range.

“The K-4 is now virtually ready for its serial production to kick-off. The two tests have demonstrated its capability to emerge straight from underwater and undertake its parabolic trajectory,” said a source.

India has the land-based Agni missiles, with the over 5,000-km Agni-V inter-continental ballistic missile now in the process of being inducted, and fighter jets jury-rigged to deliver nuclear weapons. But INS Arihant gives the country’s deterrence posture much more credibility because nuclear-powered submarines armed with nuclear-tipped missiles are considered the most secure, survivable and potent platforms for retaliatory strikes.

Once the K-4 missiles are inducted, they will help India narrow the gap with countries like the US, Russia and China, which have over 5,000-km range SLBMs. The K-4 missiles are to be followed by the K-5 and K-6 missiles in the 5,000-6,000 km range class.

The 6,000-ton INS Arihant, which is propelled by an 83 MW pressurised light-water reactor at its core, in turn, is to be followed by INS Arighat, which was launched in 2017. The next generation of nuclear submarines, currently called S-4 and S-4*, will be much larger in size.





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After Upgradation, Sukhoi Su-30MKI Indigenisation To Reach 78%

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After Upgradation, Sukhoi Su-30MKI Indigenisation To Reach 78%


India has received clearance to upgrade 84 Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets, which will result in 78% indigenization after the upgrade

In a significant step towards bolstering its military might with indigenously developed technology, India is poised to witness its Russian-origin Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets evolve into a domestic platform. Speaking at a recent lecture.

The upgrade program is being led by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in partnership with the Indian Air Force and other partners. The upgrade is expected to cost US$7.5 billion.

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the upgrade. The upgrade is part of India’s efforts to improve the capabilities of its primary fighter aircraft, it refers to as the “Super Sukhoi”.

This initiative is a part of a larger effort by the Indian Air Force to modernize its ageing fleet. Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari asserted the critical role of an offensive air force as demonstrated in current global conflicts and emphasized India’s move towards an indigenized arsenal. To this end, the IAF has been proactive, from upgrading its Mirage 2000 to enhancing its MiG-29 fleet.

In summary, the IAF’s commitment to updating their combat forces with the latest technology, including shifting to fifth-generation fighter jets, ensures operational preparedness and a strong deterrence capability. The gradual indigenization of its air fleet marks a pivotal shift in India’s defence landscape, reducing dependency on foreign imports and fostering technological sovereignty.





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Akash Weapon System Exports For The Armenian Armed Forces Gathers Pace

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Akash Weapon System Exports For The Armenian Armed Forces Gathers Pace


According to unconfirmed reports, Armenia is a top contender for an export order for Akash SAM system manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).

While there is no official confirmation because of the sensitivities involved, documents suggest that the order for the same has already been placed the report further added.
There are nine countries, in turn, which have shown interest in the indigenously-developed Akash missile systems, which can intercept hostile aircraft, helicopters, drones and subsonic cruise missiles at a range of 25-km. They are Kenya, Philippines, Indonesia, UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Vietnam and Algeria reported TOI.

The Akash export version will also be slightly different from the one inducted by the armed forces. The 100-km range air-to-air Astra missiles, now entering production after successful trials from Sukhoi-30MKI fighters, also have “good export potential”, said sources.

Akash is a “tried, tested and successfully inducted systems”. Indian armed forces have ordered Akash systems worth Rs 24,000 crore over the years, and MoD inked a contract in Mar 2023 of over Rs 9,100 crores for improved Akash Weapon System

BDL is a government enterprise under the Ministry of Defence that was established in 1970. BDL manufactures surface-to-air missiles and delivers them to the Indian Army. BDL also offers its products for export.

Akash Weapon System

The AWS is a Short Range Surface to Air Missile (SRSAM) Air Defence System, indigenously designed and developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). In order to meet aerial threats, two additional Regiments of AWS with Upgradation are being procured for Indian Army for the Northern borders. Improved AWS has Seeker Technology, Reduced Foot Print, 360° Engagement Capability and improved environmental parameters.

The project will give a boost to the Indian missile manufacturing industry in particular and the indigenous defence manufacturing ecosystem as a whole. The project has overall indigenous content of 82% which will be increased to 93% by 2026-27.

The induction of the improved AWS into the Indian Army will increase India’s self-reliance in Short Range Missile capability. This project will play a role in boosting the overall economy by avoiding outgo of precious foreign exchange to other countries, increasing employment avenues in India and encouraging Indian MSMEs through components manufacturing. Around 60% of the project cost will be awarded to the private industry, including MSMEs, in maintaining the supply chain of the weapon system, thereby creating large scale of direct and indirect employment.





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