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Surgical Strike Wipes Out Two Terrorists That Revived Militancy In Kashmir

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Surgical Strike Wipes Out Two Terrorists That Revived Militancy In Kashmir

New Delhi: The killing of Abbas Sheikh of Kulgam, the founder chief of ‘The Resistance Front (TRF), along with Central Kashmiris dreaded terrorist Saquib Manzoor Dar, in a surgical strike in the interior of Srinagar on Monday, is rated as the most spectacular achievement of the Jammu and Kashmir Police in recent years for a host of reasons.

For the Police, TRF is not an independent dreaded terrorist organisation with capacity for proactive attacks on the ‘hard targets’.

“It is nothing but the name given tactically to a group of the local LeT (Lashkar-e-Tayyiba) cadres after Pakistan began to feel the heat of the FATF (Financial Action Task Force) action. The masters of the militancy in Pakistan want to project Kashmir’s insurgency as an indigenous movement seeking implementation of the UN resolutions on Plebiscite. But the whole world knows who are this group’s cadres and who is sponsoring them”, said a senior officer in the J&K Police.

TRF’s statements, unusually written in flawless English, have invariably maintained that it was an indigenous militant organisation. Nevertheless, the organisation has no hesitation in claiming responsibility for the attacks on the soft targets—the civil, unarmed Policemen, non-local businessmen and the pro-Indian political activists.

Unlike the Fidayeen attacks and other armed strikes on the security forces by the traditional guerrilla groups like LeT, Jaish-e-Mohammad and Hizbul Mujahideen, TRF has concentrated pre-eminently on the ‘soft targets’ apparently to generate and maintain a wave of fear post-August 2019. While the mass support to militancy has considerably diminished in the last over two years, three formidable organisations—LeT, JeM and HM—have suffered significant reverses.

Contrarily, TRF has emerged as a dreaded banner, due to its audacious, high profile assassinations and the number of its ‘sleeper cells’ and over-ground workers (OGWs).

On 2 August 2021, IGP Kashmir’s office tweeted the list of 10 militants who, according to the Police, were the valley’s most wanted terrorists. It included the names of Abbas Sheikh, Saquib Manzoor and Wakeel Shah, who was among the three militants killed in an encounter last week at Nagberan, Tral. “Three of the ten are down and out. Rest seven will also meet the same fate soon”, said an officer at J&K Police headquarters.

Saleem Parray, who spread a wave of terror with beheading of some civil in Hajin Bandipora in 2017-18, figured at serial number one of the list, even as his activities and whereabouts are not known any more. Yousuf Kantroo of Chak Kawoosa Budgam, who is known to have escaped from cordoned areas over a dozen times in the last 5 years, was number two, followed by Abbas Sheikh at number three.

“Saleem Parray was on top of the list but our prime target was none other than Abbas Sheikh since August 2020”, said an officer. “He was active since 2006 and was the longest surviving terrorist. He was arrested twice and released. Lastly, he joined back in 2014 and worked with HM and LeT. Finally, he was made TRF’s first chief”, said the officer about the 45-year-old militant.

As many as 25 members of Sheikh’s extended family acted as militants—16 from his immediate family. His sister Naseema was arrested under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in June 2020. Sheikh’s militant nephews, killed in different encounters, included Naseema’s son Toufeeq. Saquib stood at number eight.

Through all counterinsurgency campaigns after 2014, the south Kashmir districts of Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam and Anantnag—traditional strongholds of Jamaat-e-Islami and Peoples Democratic Party—survived as a hub of terrorism after Burhan Wani’s killing in an encounter in July 2016. In northern Kashmir, few incidents occurred in Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora.

However, the Central Kashmir districts of Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal, witnessed minimal incidents and encounters. This area emerged as the face of the Government of India’s transformation operations after the PDP-BJP coalition’s breakdown in June 2018. Months after withdrawal of J&K’s Statehood and special status, TRF surfaced with some spectacular killings.

In the summer capital of Srinagar, which remained terror-free for a long time, as many as 15 major militant strikes and encounters have taken place in the last 20 months. Those killed in the militant attacks include at least seven Police and CRPF personnel. Of the 102 militants killed since January 2021, over a dozen were neutralised in Srinagar alone.

Officials insist that militancy in Srinagar and its contiguous districts was revived with an extensive network by none other than Abbas Sheikh and Saquib Manzoor. On account of this profile, both figured in the superlative A++ category. “It was an unprecedented, meticulously planned operation that 10 personnel of SOG (Special Operations Group) Srinagar in civvies reached the duo in a densely populated neighbourhood of Allochi Bagh and eliminated them with flawless precision”, said a senior officer in Srinagar District Police.

In a lengthy press release, the J&K Police attributed most of the terror strikes, particularly those executed in Srinagar and its peripheries, in the last 20 months to Abbas Sheikh and Saquib Manzoor.

“No doubt martyrdom of Abbas Sheikh is a loss but sacrifices are part of our freedom struggle. The entire family of Abbas have given immense sacrifices. More than 15 family members have joined the resistance camp since 1990 and these sacrifices won’t go in vain”, TRF’s statement said. “TRF is firm and strong to take revenge on Commander Abbas and his associate Saqib. The message is clear and loud to J&K Police and its mercenaries who disguised in civvies and carried out encounter in Srinagar. We will reciprocate with intensity soon”.

According to the Police FIRs, those killed by Abbas Sheikh, Saquib and their associates included BJP leader Abdul Hamid Najjar near Ompora Budgam railway station on 9 August 2020, advocate Babar Qadri at Hawal on 24 September 2020, goldsmith Satpal Nischal at Saraibala on 31 December 2020, two Police constables at Shiv Shakti Sweet Shop, Baghat Barzulla, on 19 February 2021, three CRPF jawans at Lawaypora on 25 March 2021, Constable Rameez Raja at the BJP activist Anwar Khan’s residence at Nowgam Srinagar on 1 April 2021, Constable Javed Ahmad Kambay at Saidpora Eidgah on 17 June 2021, Inspector Pervez Ahmad Dar at Nowgam Srinagar on 22 June 2021 and mobile phone shop owner Umer Nazir Bhat at Habbakadal on 23 June 2021.

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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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