More Indian Army Oficers Suspected to be in Espionage Racket

NIA is now probing the possible involvement of other Army officers in “supplying” the highly classified data to the Major.The scope of the NIA probe is being widened for two reasons. First, most of the 2,500 files recovered from Major’s personal computer related to commands other than his own, such as Western and Northern Commands, and put out strategic details such as deployment patterns and operational contingency plans. There is no way a Major, that too posted with the Andamans and Nicobar tri-service command, would have access to such information. Though the CFSL did recover the nearly 2,500 files deleted by the Major before the hard disk was seized, it has been unable to trace back the nearly 600 files that were deleted “in a far more professional manner” while the Major was still being questioned by the Army.

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Defence key Focus of India-US Strategic Dialogue

India and the United States begin their first strategic dialogue on Wednesday with both sides keen to move beyond symbolism to concretise cooperation in areas ranging from energy, agriculture, science and technology and education to defence and counter-terrorism.

External Affairs Minister SM Krishna, who would lead the inaugural ministerial level dialogue with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, would outline his vision of India-US relationship transformed by the landmark India-US civil nuclear deal in an address at the India Business Council (USIBC). Krishna's address at the 35th anniversary meeting of the USIBC, representing some 300 US companies investing in India, will focus on the theme of emerging opportunities in India-US cooperation in the field of innovation and knowledge industries, which is one of the sunrise areas of engagement between the two countries.

India on an adventurous and dangerous path: Pakistan Army Chief

January 2, 2010

Paush Krushna Dwitiya, Kaliyug Varsha 5111

Responding to Indian Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor's statement that the Indian Armed forces were ready to fight Pakistan and China simultaneously, Pakistan Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervz Kayani said the situation in the region could get out of control due to such "dangerous adventurism".


"The proponents of conventional application of military force, in a nuclear overhang are chartering an adventurous and dangerous path, the consequences of which could be both unintended and uncontrollable," Kayani said while addressing the military's top brass at the General Headquarters.

The Inter Services Public Relations quoted Kayani as saying the Pakistan Army was fully alert and alive to the 'full spectrum of threat, which continued to exist in conventional and unconventional domains.'

He said the Pakistani army duly supports and is contributing to bring peace and stability in the region, but added that necessary action would be taken to thwart any challenge facing the country.

"But at the same time, it (the military) will continue to maintain the necessary wherewithal to deter and, if required, defeat any aggressive design, in any form or shape such as a firmed up proactive strategy or a cold start doctrine," The Daily Times quoted Kayani, as saying.

"An army supported by 170 million people, with faith in Allah, is a formidable force to reckon with," he added.

Source: Rediff

Indian MoD Allows Blacklisted Firms To participate In Trials

After months of deadlock that stalled the Army’s modernisation plans, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has given the go-ahead for blacklisted firms to participate in trials to kickstart procurement of five vital defence systems. Trials have been cleared for 155 mm towed guns, artillery shells and light vehicles and rifles for special forces.

As reported first by The Indian Express, seven firms were blacklisted earlier this year following the arrest of former Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) chairman Sudipta Ghosh. As a result, several procurement were put on hold. The Army Chief subsequently made requests to at least allow trials in cases where the tainted firms were contenders.

While trials have been allowed in specific cases based on advice from the Law Ministry and the Central Vigilance Commission, the MoD has said that no contracts will be awarded until the firms have been cleared by the CBI.

“The Army Chief had made specific requests that trials should be held as they will take time. The Law Ministry and CVC agreed with the suggestion that trial process can continue in multi-vendor cases but no contracts will be signed till the CBI case is cleared,” said a top MoD official.

Sources said the decision was taken last week, and the Army has already issued orders for trials. The first trial will be held in February for the estimated $-2 billion order to procure 400 much-needed 155 mm artillery guns. The two contenders for the contract are Singapore Technologies (which had been blacklisted) and UK-based BAE Systems.

But another crucial tender to procure over 100 light howitzers for deployment in mountainous border regions adjoining China and Pakistan continues to be on hold as the only contender is Singapore Technologies. “The decision (to allow trials) is only for multi-vendor cases,” the official said. “The light howitzer contract is on hold as it is a single-vendor situation.”

The Army will now also go ahead with trials for artillery ammunition and armoured fighting vehicle tank protection systems — in both, another blacklisted firm, Israeli Military Industries (IMI), was a contender.Two other contracts for light-weight assault rifles and light strike vehicles for special forces — for both, Singapore Technologies is a contender — will also go ahead with trials.

Courtesy

Asia Defence

Indian Refueler Program May Be Rebid

NEW DELHI - India's purchase program for six midair refuelers may be rebid after questions arose regarding bid cost and competitiveness, Indian Defence Ministry sources said.

"The procurement proposal had been progressed in accordance with the Defence Procurement Procedure-2006 and thereafter referred to the Ministry of Finance, who has expressed certain reservations relating to the competitiveness of the bids and the reasonableness of the price," says a Dec. 14 Defence Ministry release, quoting the official reply of Defence Minister A. K. Antony to India's Parliament.

Though the release does not specify the program is facing serious problems, Defence Ministry sources said that because of objections from the Finance Ministry, the program will be quashed and rebid next year.

Four years ago, a request for proposal was sent to U.S.-based Lockheed Martin and Boeing, EADS and Ilyushin of Tashkent.

Lockheed Martin and Boeing did not respond to the tender, leaving only Ilyushin and EADS in the fray.

Ilyushin's bid was lower than that of EADS but the Air Force favored buying the A330 multirole tanker over the IL-78 of Ilyushin, which it had been using. The matter was referred to the Finance Ministry, which rejected the Air Force request, saying the lowest bidder should be the obvious choice.

http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NEWS/newsrf.php?newsid=12084

Army and IAF face off over new war plan

The army and air force are battling it out over how to beat Pakistan in a flash war if and when that happens.

The Indian Air Force is not convinced about its role in the army's "cold start doctrine" for a future Indo-Pak war.

The strategy envisages the air force providing "close air support", which calls for aerial bombing of ground targets to augment the fire power of the advancing troops.

The growing tension between the two services is evident in a statement of air vice-marshal (retd) Kapil Kak, deputy director of the air force's own Centre for Air Power Studies.

"There is no question of the air force fitting itself into a doctrine propounded by the army. That is a concept dead at inception," Kak said.

A senior army officer disputes the notion of a conceptual difference between the two services. "The air force is supposed to launch an offensive under the doctrine by hitting targets deep inside enemy territory," he said. But he admitted the air force was hesitant about 'close air support'.

'Cold Start' is a post-nuclearised doctrine that envisages a "limited war" in which the army intends to inflict substantial damage on Pakistan's armed forces without letting it cross the threshold where it could think of pressing the nuclear button.

The doctrine intends to accomplish the task before the international community led by the US and China could intercede to end hostilities. Kak said, "The air force has the primary task of achieving 'air dominance' by which Pakistan's air force is put out of action allowing the army to act at will."

But he sees little necessity for the air force to divert frontline fighter aircraft for augmenting the army's fire power, a task that, in his opinion, can be achieved by the army's own attack helicopters and multiple rocket launchers that now have a 100-km range.

But he agrees the two services should work according to a joint plan. It means the air force would launch 'battlefield air strikes' to neutralise threats on the ground based on an existing plan. But that would be different from an army commander calling for air support on the basis of a developing war scenario.

That is not the only problem facing the doctrine. In the past few weeks, many have expressed doubts about the army's ability to launch operations on the basis of the new doctrine.

There are also apprehensions about the army's incomplete deployment of forces, lack of mobility and unattended infrastructure development.

But senior officers say the army has identified the units, which would constitute the eight division-strong independent battle groups out of its three strike corps. These battle groups would comprise mechanised infantry, artillery and armour.

"The forces have exercised as constituted battle groups at least six times since 2004. Each of the identified unit knows where they will be deployed," a senior General said.

According to him, the time for deployment has been cut down to "days". "No longer will the movement of troops require three months like it did when Operation Parakram was launched after the attack on Parliament in 2001," he said.

The army also debunks the idea that the troops lack mobility. Some armed forces observers have said only 35 per cent of the army is mobile inside the country.

They have, thus, concluded that even less numbers would be mobile inside the enemy territory.

The army officials, however, pooh pooh the criticism claiming 100 per cent of the Indian troops are mobile.

Courtesy-- Bharat-Rakshak.com

dOSE (dEFENCE aRENA cURRENTLY)

Tejas engine offset offers come in

European aerospace company Eurojet and America's General Electric submitted offset proposals for their bids for light combat aircraft Tejas engines to the ministry of defence on Friday, a day before the deadline expires -- December 12.The Indian government invites offset proposals from bidders of defence and civil aircraft deals.

Little choice for IAF

IN the Medium-range Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) sweepstakes, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is confronted with many choices, all of them bad.

Whatever the IAF’s reasons for wanting a new aircraft, the government means to use the deal to make international political capital, gain leverage in bilateral relations, and cement a strategic partnership. The Air Staff Quality Requirements – insofar as these can be deduced – are opaque.

Is the IAF in the market for an aircraft to carry a heavy weapon load over a long distance in extended regional operations, or for a warplane to augment its existing strength in localised air defence, strike, and similar short-legged, Pakistan-centric, missions? This fuzziness, deliberate or not, will help the government to make the final selection, based less on technological trends or performance parameters than on the basis of which purchase best serves the country’s larger strategic interests. The candidate aircraft are currently undergoing flight tests in diverse Indian conditions – desert, high altitude, and high humidity – to determine their utility. If the aim is to get the maximum political bang for the buck for the $10.4 billion for a fleet of 126 MMRCA and the lucrative opportunity to sell other military hardware in the future and to enhance the supplier country’s political influence and its trade, technology, and military footprint in India, Delhi better secure a lot more than just some flying machines.

Army to use Zanskar ponies to carry supplies in higher reaches NEW DELHI: If China's People's Liberation Army can use yaks to ferry supplies alonG the border, the Indian Army is planning to brandish a new weapon of its own: the famous Zanskar ponies. The Army plans to gradually replace mules with Zanskar ponies -- one of the indigenous breeds of equines whose native tract is the Zanskar Valley in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir -- to ferry supplies, arms and ammunition to soldiers manning forward posts in the area. "We have undertaken `in situ' breeding of Zanskar ponies in Ladakh region. These ponies are better suited than mules for snow-bound high-altitude areas,'' said Army's Remount Veterinary Corps (RVC) director-general Lt-General J K Srivastava on Thursday. "These ponies, with a lifespan of 25 years, can each carry 50-60 kg. We plan to supply Army formations in the region with 300 of these ponies as pack animals,'' he added. Incidentally, DRDO's Defence Institute of High-Altitude Research lab at Leh has also been conducting research on Zanskar ponies, including conservation, multiplication and upgradation of the local equine germplasm. RVC is also into horse and dog breeding and training. It already rears and trains guard, sniffer and search-and-rescue dogs for Army, National Security Guards, Central Industrial Security Force and other paramilitary forces. In its latest endeavour, RVC is now planning to import around 40 dogs of breeds like Cocker Spaniel, Beagle, German Shepherd, Belgian Shepherd and Labrador to further improve their gene pools. "RVC dogs have performed tremendously well in the most difficult and challenging counter-terrorism operations. We will provide the dogs to Delhi Police for the Commonwealth Games next year. The National Disaster Management Authority has also sought search-and-rescue dogs,'' said Lt-Gen Srivastava. sOURCE-- bHARAT rAKSHAK . COM

Crash of Helicopter Manufactured by HAL

An Advanced Light Helicopter (Dhruv) sold to Ecuadorian Air Force by HAL crashed in Quito during a military parade injuring two of its pilots, recently.

Ecuadorian Air Force have successfully carried out several missions on Dhruv helicopters in their difficult terrains.

As per the reported statements, it appears that the helicopter may have been manoeuvred excessively. The built-in safety features ensured that both the pilots walked away without any major injuries after crash landing.

HAL has assured the Ecuadorian Government that HAL will meet all the contractual obligations and are committed to provide full support required by Ecuadorian Air Force. There have been no indications that existing potential customers have viewed this accident as a setback on Dhruv helicopters’ capabilities.

This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Shri MM Pallam Raju in a written reply to Shri NR Govindarajar in Rajya Sabha

Source: Indian Ministry of Defence; issued Dec. 2, 2009

Israel has offered to upgrade IAF Mirage-2000 aircraft at low prices

Israel is close to swinging an order to upgrade French-origin Mirage 2000 aircraft with the Indian Air Force (IAF) despite France’s charm offensive in hosting the Indian military on the Champs Elysees. Tel Aviv has offered to upgrade the frontline fighter aircraft, of which the IAF has three squadrons, at rates nearly 40 per cent less than the price quoted by the French.

Israel, whose chief of defence staff returns to Tel Aviv after visiting New Delhi this week for the first time since diplomatic relations were established in 1992, is also favoured to win an order for 18 quick-reaction surface-to-air missiles (QR-SAMs) from the Indian Army that could cost more than Rs 2,000 crore.

Read more -- http://theasiandefence.blogspot.com/search/label/India

NSG to have permanent structures at new hubs

New Delhi, Nov 26 (PTI) NSG commandos deployed at their new hubs in four cities and currently housed in temporary locations will have permanent structures at their earmarked lands by next year.

The permanent structures and multi-storey buildings will come up by next year at these places, National Security Guard (NSG) Director General N P S Aulakh said.

Till the permanent structures come up, the commandos will be housed in pre-fabricated structures by mid-December this year at their designated lands, he said.

"The National Building Constructions Corporation (NBCC) had given us the deadline of November 30 for completion of pre-fabricated structures and roads etc. At the most, we will move into all the four hubs by second week of December," he said.

The regional hub at Mumbai was operationalised on June 30 while Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata hubs were inaugurated on July 1 by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram this year.

Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2009 in Babina, India

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Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2009 in Babina, India
What is it?
The exercise Yudh Abhyas is a regularly-scheduled Indian Army/U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC) co-sponsored bilateral exercise hosted by the Indian army. The exercise is designed to promote cooperation among the two militaries while sharing training, cultural exchanges and improving partnership readiness. This year the exercise will include a multi-echelon, full-spectrum combined operation focusing on a United Nations Peace Keeping Operation scenario, while executing a maneuver live-fire exercise.
Seventeen Stryker fighting vehicles from the 2nd Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division stationed at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii are scheduled to participate in the only U.S. bi-lateral exercise with the Indian Army, in Babina, India, Oct. 12-29.
What has the Army done?
Yudh Abhyas 2009 (YA09) is the 6th annual U.S./Indian exercise, promoting regional stability and security. In past exercises, staff exchanges and command post exercises developed joint operating skills. YA09 differs as the exercise constitutes the largest troop exchange since the YA partnership exercise commenced in 2004. Like any other Theater Security Cooperation Program, YA also allows the participants from both armies to train together, share tactics, techniques and procedures and enjoy an enriched appreciation for each other's culture and professional traditions.
What continued efforts does the Army have planned for the future?
Exercise Yudh Abhyas is an exercise with one of our joint partners in the Pacific area of responsibility. The relationship between U.S. Army Pacific and the Indian military grows stronger with each annual event. Yudh Abhyas will continue to be one of our premier exercises in the Pacific for many years to come and the plans for the 2010 staff exercise are already being finalized.
Why is this important to the Army?
Routine bilateral dialogues establish strategic and operational guidance for future defense cooperation. Additionally, this exercise provides a valuable opportunity for U.S. Army Pacific to train with our Indian army counterparts to improve joint operation skills of our forces while building personal relationships.

source-- http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2009/10/mil-091021-arnews02.htm

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दिसंबर में होगा ब्रह्मोस-2 का परीक्षण

Oct 11, 05:18 pm

नई दिल्ली। भारत व रूस के संयुक्त प्रयास से बनने वाली ब्रह्मोस-2 क्रूज मिसाइल का परीक्षण दिसंबर में किया जाएगा। पनडुब्बी से मार करने वाली ब्रह्मोस-2290 किमी तक मार करने में सक्षम है।
रक्षा मंत्रालय के सूत्रों की मानें तो परीक्षण से भारत व रूस के संयुक्त उपक्रम से बनी ब्रह्मोस की क्षमताओं का आकलन किया जाएगा। पानी के भीतर से मार करने वाली हथियार प्रणाली को जवाबी कार्रवाई के लिए सबसे बेहतर माना जाता है।
विशेषज्ञों की राय में ब्रह्माोस को इस प्रणाली में शामिल करने से भारत की 'पहले वार नहीं' करने की नीति और अधिक मजबूत होगी।
हाल ही में भारत ने स्वदेश निर्मित परमाणु पनडुब्बी 'आईएनएस अरिहंत' को पानी के अंदर मार करने वाले हथियारों में शामिल किया था। इस साल की शुरुआत में भारत 700 किमी तक मार करने वाली और परमाणु हथियार ले जाने में सक्षम के-15 शौर्य मिसाइल का सफल परीक्षण कर चुका है।
ब्रह्माोस को थल सेना और नौसेना अपने बेड़े में पहले ही शामिल कर चुकी हैं, जबकि वायु सेना इसे अपने लड़ाकू विमान सुखोई-30 एमकेआई से जोड़ने पर काम कर रही है।

Source :-  http://in.jagran.yahoo.com/news/national/general/5_1_5856396/

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India, Russia to develop new hypersonic cruise missile

India and Russia have agreed to develop and induct a new hypersonic version of their joint venture 290-kilometre-range BrahMos cruise missile by 2015.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in this regard was signed between the two sides last month, in which they agreed on the final parameters for the new version of the cruise missile, Defence Ministry sources said.

The new missile, they said, will be known as ‘BrahMos-2’ and will have a speed of over 6 Mach (around 6,000 kilometres per hour) with a striking-range of 290 kilometres.

The range of the missile will not be extended as the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), to which Russia is a signatory, does not allow it to help other countries to develop missiles with ranges above 300 kilometres, they said.

Under the agreement, the two sides have decided to retain the physical parameters of the missile so that after the induction of the missiles there is no need to replace the launchers and other ground infrastructure for using new missiles.

The missiles will be “picked and put” in the old launchers for usage by armed forces in the two countries, the sources added.

BrahMos is the only operational supersonic cruise missile with a speed of 2.8 Mach and is three-and-a-half times faster than the American Tomahawk cruise missiles.

The missile has already been inducted into the Navy and the Indian Army, and the IAF is also working on integrating it on its frontline air superiority fighter SU-30MKI.

A number of Naval ships have been armed with the BrahMos and the under-construction Talwar Class frigates in Russia will also have it as their main weapon.

The Army, till now has raised one regiment of the BrahMos and is expected to induct two more regiments of an upgraded version of the missile by the end of the current fiscal.

Lt Gen PC Bhardwaj, takes over as Vice Army Chief

Lieutenant General PC Bhardwaj, took over as Vice Army Chief today at South Block, New Delhi.

Lieutenant General PC Bhardwaj was commissioned into First Battalion the Parachute Regiment on 14 Jun 1970. The General is an alumnus of National Defence Academy, Indian Military Academy, Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and National Defence College. A specialist in Special Operations he was the first person from the Indian Army to undergo the rigorous Commando Divers Course at Naval Diving School. He excelled on the course, qualifying as an instructor. He has also attended the prestigious Special Forces Officers Course at Fort Bragg, USA doing well again and earning an instructor rating.

As a 2Lt in the 1971 war, he was awarded the Vir Chakra for conspicuous bravery. He commanded his parent unit, 1 PARA (Cdo) in CI Ops in the East and was awarded the Shaurya Chakra for a daring rescue operation. He commanded a Mountain Brigade in Nagaland and also the elite Parachute Brigade. As a Major General he commanded Counter Insurgency Force Delta in Doda/Kishtwar and thereafter was appointed as the General Officer Commanding Delhi Area, where he was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal for distinguished service. The General Officer commanded 14 Corps, responsible for the vast areas of Ladakh and the Siachin Glacier before assuming command of Northern Command on 01 March 2008. For his distinguished service rendered, he was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal on 26 Jan 2009, making him the most decorated soldier in the Indian Army.

He has held many prestigious Instructional and Staff Appointments. He served as an Instructor at Infantry School Mhow and at the Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School. He has been a Brigade Major of an Infantry Brigade and Deputy Director General at the Directorate General of Military Operations, Army Headquarters. He was appointed as the Defence Attache at Embassy of India, Yangon (Myanmar) from 1994 to 1997.

Repeat of 1962 war not possible: IAF chief

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A repeat of the 1962 India-China war is not possible now as the Indian armed forces have enhanced their capability, Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik said.

A repeat of 1962 is not possible now. I am confident, are you? Naik said, asserting IAF's enhanced capability. Indian armed forces were humiliated by Chinese forces in a short but bloody war over boundary disputes in 1962. "We are building up infrastructure, but it is not adversary-specific. It is capability enhancement... There should not be lack of confidence in the armed forces among the public. We are prepared for any eventuality," Naik added. Naik last month created a flutter when he admitted that the IAF's force level was one-third that of China and thus "inadequate".

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IAF Inducts Rapid Action Mobile Medical Hospital

An ultra-modern fully air-conditioned, ‘Rapid Action Mobile Medical Hospital’ was inducted into Indian Air Force by the Vice Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal PK Barbora, at the IAF’s Hindon airbase near Ghaziabad, today. Air Marshal P Madhusoodanan, Director General Medical Services (Air) who conceptualized the need for such a setup was also present during the induction ceremony.

The mobile medical Hospital, the first-of-its-kind in the country is field/disaster area deployable 25-bedded hospital with a full complement of Operation theatre, oxygen generating system and other sub-systems that would aid the military and civilians in both disaster areas and operational grounds. The system is air/road transportable and will serve as a key force multiplier to the expert disaster medical management teams on ground who have till now been working under serious constraints of facility. More such units will be inducted and positioned in each command zone after evaluation so that the entire geographic spread of the country is duly covered, informed DGMS (Air

News Watch (military) 12/9/09

BSF retaliates to rocket attack from Pakistan, villagers protest (Fourth Lead)

AMRITSAR - Three rockets fired in quick succession from Pakistan exploded near a village in India’s Amritsar district, triggering retaliatory gunfire by Indian border guards, officials said Saturday as angry villagers from the region held protests.

Officials: 7 killed in attacks, battles in Russia’s North Caucasus, suicide bombing injures 3

GROZNY, Russia — Russian authorities say seven people have been killed in attacks and gunbattles in the North Caucasus region, most of them alleged militants.

2 US troops among 50 killed in spate of Afghan violence; 20 civilians killed by roadside bombs

KABUL — Nearly 50 Afghan civilians, security forces and militants were killed in a spate of attacks around the war-torn country, including an overnight military raid targeting insurgents in the increasingly violent north, officials said Saturday. A roadside bomb killed two U.S. troops in the east.

Somalia shelling kills 15, most at home for disabled former army officers

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Mortars slammed into Somalia’s capital, killing three civilians and at least 12 men at a home for disabled veterans, an official said Saturday. Nearly a dozen other former soldiers were wounded in the attack.

One soldier, eight militants killed in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD - At least one soldier and eight militants were killed in clashes in Pakistan’s northwestern region, the army said Saturday.

Pakistan says troops kill 22 militants in Khyber tribal region

ISLAMABAD — Hundreds of tribal police in the northwestern Khyber region have quit their jobs because of militant threats, even as Pakistani forces reported killing 22 insurgents in an ongoing military operation there, officials said Saturday.

48 civilians, security forces, insurgents killed in rash of attacks in war-torn Afghanistan

KABUL — Some 48 Afghan civilians, security forces and militants were killed in a spate of attacks around the war-torn country, including an overnight military raid targeting insurgents in the increasingly violent north, officials said Saturday.

12 police injured in clashes in German city of Hamburg following far-right rally

HAMBURG — Police say 12 officers have been injured in clashes with left-wing demonstrators in the German city of Hamburg following a far-right rally.

Iran wants talks, but won’t concede on nuclear drive

TEHRAN - Tehran Saturday said it was ready to resume diplomatic talks with the West on the basis of its latest proposals regarding global issues, but vowed to make no concessions in the nuclear dispute.

Cuba says ‘Commander of the Revolution’ Juan Almeida Bosque dead of heart attack at 82

HAVANA — Juan Almeida Bosque, a comrade-in-arms of Fidel Castro since the start of his guerrilla struggle more than a half-century ago, has died of a heart attack. The 82-year-old was one of several Cuban vice presidents and had been among only three surviving rebel leaders who still bore the honorary title “Commander of the Revolution.”

Bombs kill 3 near tomb of revered Shiite cleric in central Baghdad

BAGHDAD — Two bombs exploded moments apart near the tomb of a revered Shiite religious figure in central Baghdad on Saturday, killing three people and wounding 22, police and hospital officials said.

Russia disappointed by Iran proposals

MOSCOW - Russia expressed disappointment with the latest proposals by Iran in the row over Tehran’s nuclear programme, according to media reports Saturday.

Russian security forces kill four militants

MAKHACHKALA - Four militants were killed Saturday in a counter-terrorist operation on the outskirts of Makhachkala, the capital of Russias North Caucasus republic of Dagestan, a police spokesman said.

Somalia shelling kills 15, most at a home ex-army officers who lost limbs

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Mortars slammed into a home for disabled veterans in Somalia’s capital, killing at least 12 disabled men and wounding nearly a dozen, officials said Saturday.

Violence kills 2 people in Iraq’s capital and violence-plagued northern city of Mosul

BAGHDAD — Iraqi police officials say two people were killed in incidents involving bombs in the capital and the violence-plagued northern city of Mosul.

State police chiefs to discuss security threats

NEW DELHI - Measures to tackle terror and Maoist threats, strengthening internal security and filling the gaping vacancies in the state police forces will be topmost on the agenda at the three-day annual conference of state police chiefs beginning here Monday.

45 civilians, security forces, insurgents killed in rash of attacks in war-torn Afghanistan

KABUL — Forty-five Afghan civilians, security forces and militants were killed in a spate of attacks around the war-torn country, including an overnight military raid targeting insurgents in the increasingly violent north, officials said Saturday.

Report: British special forces are giving counter-terrorism training to Libyan infantry

LONDON — Some of Britain’s most elite soldiers have been training Libyan forces in counterterrorism and surveillance for the past six months, a U.K. newspaper said Saturday.

BSF fires into Pakistan after rocket attack (Third Lead)

AMRITSAR - Three rockets fired in quick succession from Pakistan exploded near a village in India’s Amritsar district, triggering retaliatory gunfire by Indian border guards, officials said Saturday.

SKorea not opposed to dialogue between US and NKorea on resuming disarmament talks

SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea would not oppose the United States holding direct talks with North Korea to persuade the communist regime to rejoin stalled international nuclear disarmament negotiations, the Foreign Ministry said Saturday.

Afghan scribe’s body abandoned to avoid more casualties: NATO

KABUL - NATO said Saturday its forces had to leave behind the dead body of an Afghan journalist to avoid “more casualties” after its airborne operation freed a Western journalist.

Space shuttle Discovery detours to California, astronauts prepare for homecoming in Houston

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. — After diverting to California, astronauts from space shuttle Discovery prepared to reunite with their families and NASA managers in Texas on Saturday.

Questions and answers about the US role and future in the Afghanistan war

WASHINGTON — Eight years past the terror attacks that led to the war in Afghanistan, the connection between that country and al-Qaida has dimmed in memory, terror leader Osama bin Laden remains at large and the fighting grinds on.

Pakistan, India investigate overnight rocket blasts on Indian side of frontier

ISLAMABAD — India said that three rockets were fired into the country from Pakistan overnight, but Pakistani officials said Saturday they were launched from India. No one was injured in the blasts.

Despite prolonged quiet, Lebanese and Israelis fear renewed fighting

BEIRUT — Despite one of the quietest periods in decades along the Israel-Lebanon frontier, people on both sides of the border seem to fear that another eruption of violence is only a matter of time.

AP Interview: Russian envoy to Afghanistan advises NATO: more troops will hurt war on Taliban

KABUL — Russia’s ambassador to Afghanistan has some advice for top NATO commanders fighting the Taliban based on the Soviet Union’s bitter experience battling Islamist insurgents here in the 1980s: Don’t bring more troops.

107 MM army-type rockets fired into India: BSF (Second Lead)

AMRITSAR - Even as the Pakistani authorities Saturday denied that any rockets were fired from its side into Indian territory, paramilitary Border Security Force (BSF) officials here said they were fully equipped to retaliate against any provocation from the neighbouring country.

Emergency officials: Suicide bomb blast in Chechnya injures 3 police

GROZNY, Russia — An emergency official says a suicide bomber has wounded three police officers in the capital of Russia’s war-scarred Chechnya province.

Pakistan denies border firing

LAHORE/AMRITSAR - Tension prevailed at the Pakistan-India border after loud explosions were heard on the Indian side near the Attari-Wagah check post. However, Pakistan denied Saturday that its forces were responsible for the blasts.

1 person killed in amid clashes between police, protesters on anniversary of Chile’s 1973 coup

SANTIAGO, Chile — Police and hooded protesters clashed Friday in Chile’s capital on the anniversary of the 1973 military coup that toppled elected President Salvador Allende. State television reported one death amid the disturbances.

BSF women at Pak border from today

Sept. 10: At the crack of dawn on Friday, Border Security Force buglers at the Attari-Wagah India-Pakistan border will welcome India’s first women troopers, who will simultaneously take up position at observation posts along both the Punjab and West Bengal frontiers.

The first batch of 178 BSF women, all aged between 18 and 25, who were inducted after a grand passing-out parade at Kharkan camp near Hoshiarpur, have already reached their designated positions and will begin duty in the morning.

"Of the first batch, 60 girls have been posted to West Bengal and the rest (118 troopers) to Punjab," BSF DIG (G Branch) Jagir Singh said.

The women troopers’ arrival comes as major relief for women belonging to farming families in Punjab’s border villages who can now join the men in working on farms across the electrified security fence. These women had not been able to cross this fence since it was constructed in the early 1990s since the BSF had no arrangements to be able to frisk and search females.

This will mean substantial savings for many small farmers who were forced to hire labour to till their farms on the Pakistan side.

Mr Jagir Singh said the new recruits will also handle normal travellers and be on duty during the daily retreat ceremony, attended by nearly 20,000 spectators every evening. "Though all trained in weaponry, the girls for the moment will not be deployed in combat roles and will not be required to carry arms," he added. The officer expla-ined that of the 700 women recruited into the BSF, two batches had completed their training. The remaining batches will be inducted in the coming months after completing their compress-ed 38-week training course at the Kharkan camp.

BSF units in Punjab have constructed special facilities, including private living quarters, independent recreational areas and even was-hrooms reserved for the "la-dies" in every office block.

ATV project - Indigenous Nuke Sub marine

India’s first indigenous nuclear-powered submarine will be launched at Vishakapatnam for trial on July 26.

The top-secret ‘Advanced Technology Vessel’ (ATV) project will re-induct India into the exclusive club of five countries that operate nuclear submarines, called silent killers for their extensive ability to remain under water because of nuclear-powered engines unlike the diesel electric versions that have to come up to recharge their batteries and thus stand a greater chance of being spotted.

India briefly used a nuclear submarine leased by Russia from 1988 to 1991. Since then it has been trying to build one of its own. It has signed an agreement for the transfer of a couple of nuclear-powered Russian Akula class submarines, one of which is likely to be inducted by the Indian Navy this year itself.