Global News Post: Defense

Iran Sets up New Navy Base in Strait of Hormuz

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<st1:city w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">MOSCOW---</span></st1:city><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> (RIA Novosti) <st1:country-region w:st="on">Iran</st1:country-region>’s
Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has established a new naval base in the
Strait of Hormuz, the export route for around 25 percent of the world's crude
oil, the <st1:place w:st="on">Fars</st1:place> news agency said on Sunday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The
base, the fifth in the region, is located near <st1:country-region w:st="on">Iran</st1:country-region>'s
southern port city of <st1:city w:st="on">Bandar Lengeh</st1:city> in the
Hormozgan province, some 1,100 km (700 miles) south of the capital <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Tehran</st1:place></st1:city>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">IRGC
Navy Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi said the zone of operations would cover an area
from <st1:placename w:st="on">Qeshm</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Island</st1:placetype>
and Naze'aat Islands region to the western waters of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Kish</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Island</st1:placetype></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"The
fifth naval zone was started to provide operational coverage for the Naze'aat
Islands, bring about a turning point and start a new trend in the region,"
the agency quoted Fadavi as saying at the opening ceremony.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<st1:country-region w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Iran</span></st1:country-region><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> has threatened to close the Strait of
Hormuz at the end of the <st1:place w:st="on">Persian Gulf</st1:place> in
response to any attack from outside. <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iran</st1:place></st1:country-region>’s largest naval bases are at
the head of the Gulf, around 450 kilometers from the strait, which is just 45
kilometers wide at its narrowest point.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Iran Sets up New Navy Base in Strait of Hormuz

MOSCOW--- (RIA Novosti) Iran ’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has established a new naval base in the Strait of Hormuz, the...

INDIA: Long Range Strategic Missile Agni-IV Test-Fired

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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">BALASORE
(NNN-PTI) -- India has test-fired its nuclear-capable strategic missile Agni-IV
with a strike range of about 4000 km from a test range off Odisha coast. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It
was test launched Wednesday with the help of a mobile launcher from launch
complex-4 of ITR at Wheeler Island, about 100 km from here, at about 1145
hours, defence sources said. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A
high performance on-board computer with distributed avionics architecture and
high speed reliable communication bus and a full Digital Control System were
used to control and guide the missile to the target. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"It
is equipped with modern and compact avionics to provide high level of
reliability," a DRDO official said. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"The
state-of-the-art Ring Laser Gyros based high accuracy INS (RINS) and Micro
Navigation System (MINGS) complementing each other in redundant mode have been
incorporated into the missile system in guidance mode," the sources said. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
sophisticated missile is lighter in weight and has two stages of solid
propulsion. The payload, with a re-entry heat shield can withstand temperature
of more than 3000 degree Celsius, a defence scientist said. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
missile is undergoing developmental trials by country’s premier Defence
Research and Development Organisation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
last trial of the missile, carried out on November 15, 2011 from the same base
was successful. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>--NNN-PTI<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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INDIA: Long Range Strategic Missile Agni-IV Test-Fired

BALASORE (NNN-PTI) -- India has test-fired its nuclear-capable strategic missile Agni-IV with a strike range of about 4000 km from ...

Pakistan Tests Nuclear-Capable Missile

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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Pakistan has successfully test-fired a cruise missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Pakistan's army says the missile has a range of 700 kilometers and was launched Monday from an undisclosed location.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">An army statement says the missile has stealth features and is capable of flying low to the ground.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Pakistan and its arch-rival and neighbor India, which is also nuclear armed, routinely test their missiles and generally notify each other about test dates.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The two countries have fought three wars since they gained independence from Britain in 1947.---VOA News<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Pakistan Tests Nuclear-Capable Missile

Pakistan has successfully test-fired a cruise missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. Pakistan's army says the missile has a ra...

Six Killed in Mid-Air Collision in Western India

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<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">NEW DELHI, India (NNN-Xinhua) -- Two Indian Air Force choppers collided mid-air in the western state of Gujarat on Thursday, killing six personnel on board the helicopters, a senior police official said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"The mid-air collision between two Mi-17 helicopters took place over paddy fields in a village near the state's Jamnagar district at 12.30 p.m. (local time). All the six air force personnel on board the two training choppers, including two pilots, were killed in the mishap," he said on condition of anonymity.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Local TV channels reported that at least three fire engines have rushed to the site where the mangled choppers crashed after the collision.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">However, there has been no civilian casualty on the ground, the official said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"A probe has been ordered into the incident," he added.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Indian Air Force has yet to confirm the death toll. -- NNN-XINHUA<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Six Killed in Mid-Air Collision in Western India

NEW DELHI, India (NNN-Xinhua) -- Two Indian Air Force choppers collided mid-air in the western state of Gujarat on Thursday, killing six...

INDIA: Govt. to Watch Development of Border Areas

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<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">NEW DELHI, India (NNN-Bernama) -- The Indian government is aware that China is developing infrastructure in the border regions across India and a constant watch is being kept on developments having a bearing on national security, said the External Affairs Ministry. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Minister of State in External Affairs E Ahamed said that the government is aware that China is building infrastructure in border areas opposite India in Tibet and Xinjiang Autonomous Regions, Press Trust of India reported. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">These infrastructure projects include the Qinghai-Tibet railway line with a proposed extension up to Xigaze and Nyingchi, and development of road and airport facilities, Ahamed told the Upper House of parliament on Thursday. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On steps taken in this matter, Ahamed said: "The government is giving careful and special attention to this development to meet our strategic and security requirements and also to facilitate the economic development of those areas." <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"The government is taking all necessary measures to safeguard security," he added. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On the land boundary agreement with Bangladesh, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said that a protocol has been signed during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to the country in September last year. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The protocol addresses outstanding land boundary issues pertaining to un-demarcated land boundary, exchange of enclaves and territories in adverse possession. -- NNN-BERNAMA <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
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INDIA: Govt. to Watch Development of Border Areas

NEW DELHI, India (NNN-Bernama) -- The Indian government is aware that China is developing infrastructure in the border regions across Indi...

US Troop Deaths Top 2,000 in Afghanistan

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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">By VOA News<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The number of U.S. military members killed in the war in Afghanistan has surpassed 2,000, with more than half the deaths coming in the past 27 months.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The increased casualty rate came after U.S. President Barack Obama sent thousands of extra troops into the country to intensify the U.S.-led NATO coalition's battle against insurgents.  <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Those troops are withdrawing, along with their international counterparts, as Afghan forces take increasing security control ahead of a 2014 deadline for foreign combat troops to leave Afghanistan.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The Afghan army and police have endured a larger number of casualties since the war began in 2001.  Statistics dating back to 2007 show more than 6,500 Afghan security forces have been killed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The United Nations has reported that more than 13,000 Afghan civilians have also died as a result of the conflict since 2007.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">U.S. military officials have expressed concern about a recent series of attacks by Afghan forces on international troops that have killed 10 service members, mostly Americans.  At least 39 coalition members have been killed in such attacks this year.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Martin Dempsey arrived in Afghanistan Monday for talks with NATO and Afghan commanders that focused on the killings.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Afghan militants on Tuesday fired rockets at a plane used by the top U.S. military officer, but a spokeswoman says he was "nowhere near" the aircraft at the time.  The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

US Troop Deaths Top 2,000 in Afghanistan

By VOA News The number of U.S. military members killed in the war in Afghanistan has surpassed 2,000, with more than half the deaths comi...

Russian-Indian INDRA Military Drills to Begin on Sunday

Russian-Indian INDRA Military Drills to Begin on Sunday

MOSCOW (RIA Novosti) --- Russia and India will begin joint INDRA-2012 anti-terrorism military exercises in the Siberian republic of Buryat...

Army Begins Celebrating Kargil War Anniversary

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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span dir="RTL"></span>  </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Drass (NNN-PTI) -- The Indian Army In Its Full Military Grandeur Wednesdat Began The Two-Day Celebrations Of The 13th Anniversary Of Its Victory In The 1999 Kargil War With The Hoisting Of A Massive National Flag At The War Memorial In Drass Sub-Sector Of The District</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span dir="RTL"></span>.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">General Officer Commanding-In-Chief Of Army's Northern Command Lt Gen K T Parnaik And Member Of Parliament Naveen Jindal Were The Chief Guests At The Flag-Hoisting Ceremony, Which Was Held Earlier In The Morning</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span dir="RTL"></span>.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span dir="RTL"></span>"</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Since Independence, The Indian Army Fought Several Wars And In Every War It Was Victorious. The War Of 1999 Was A Unique War," Lt Gen Parnaik Said As He Paid Tributes To The Officers And Soldiers Who Died In The War</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span dir="RTL"></span>.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A Polo Match Between A Local Team And Army's Ladakh Scouts Will Be Held Later In The Day Followed By A Cultural Programme By Local Artists And Army Units</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span dir="RTL"></span>.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A Motorcycle Show By Army's 'Tornadoes' Team Will Also Be Held On The Day One Of The Celebrations</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span dir="RTL"></span>.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Two-Day Commemoration Will Also Include A Wreath Laying Ceremony At The War Memorial, 'Sainik Samelan' (Soldiers Meet), Memorial Service And Band Display, All Scheduled For Wednesday</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span dir="RTL"></span>.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Bollywood Singer-Musician Trio Of Shankar, Ehsaan And Loy Will Also Perform A Stage Show As Part Of The Anniversary Commemoration, Army Officials In-Charge Of Organising The Events Here Said</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span dir="RTL"></span>.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Kargil War, Which Began In May 1999, Lasted More Than Two Months Before Pakistan Soldiers Withdrew From The Mountain Tops They Had Occupied Overlooking The Srinagar-Leh Highway</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span dir="RTL"></span>.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In The Battle With Pakistani Forces, The Army Nearly 500 Officers, Soldiers And Jawans, Many Of Whom Were Posthumously Felicitated With Gallantry Awards</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-hansi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span dir="RTL"></span>.</span><span dir="LTR"></span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span dir="LTR"></span> </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">--NNN-PTI</span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Army Begins Celebrating Kargil War Anniversary

Drass (NNN-PTI) -- The Indian Army In Its Full Military Grandeur Wednesdat Began The Two-Day Celebrations Of The 13th Anniversary Of Its...

India Test-Fires Agni I Missile

India Test-Fires Agni I Missile

NEW DELHI, India (NNN-Xinhua) -- India Friday successfully test- fired home-made, nuclear-capable and surface-to-surface Agni I ballistic ...

Iran Says Ballistic Missile Tests 'Response to Threats'

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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjovTcpRbCgjZdb7-L0EodumGwZUZ-t36zPPa3KgPz_IJEd6nik20q5isfC1mbeSx__bl5i359pdBFycFW2MU3bITNyl5EybSuoQ4RFu3mrs9xkO_S5TSf0EMWUEmbxWDQ_WNDhTxuDbiI/s1600/2012070413180488.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjovTcpRbCgjZdb7-L0EodumGwZUZ-t36zPPa3KgPz_IJEd6nik20q5isfC1mbeSx__bl5i359pdBFycFW2MU3bITNyl5EybSuoQ4RFu3mrs9xkO_S5TSf0EMWUEmbxWDQ_WNDhTxuDbiI/s1600/2012070413180488.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: justify;">NNN--- Members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard celebrate after launching a missile during their maneuver in an undisclosed location in Iran on 3 July 2012. Iran successfully used missiles with long, medium and short ranges during the main phase of "The Great Prophet 7" drills. The missiles targeted and destroyed hypothetical bases of ultra-regional forces set up in dessert areas in the central Iranian province. The official IRNA news agency said the surface-to-surface missiles successfully hit their targets. The semi-official Fars said the salvos included the so-called Shahab-3 missile. Iran has tested a variety of missiles in previous war games, including a Shahab-3 variant with a range of 2,000 kilometers that can reach Israel and southern Europe. The missiles are also capable of hitting U.S. bases in the region.Photo courtesy IRNA ---NNN</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Iran says it has successfully tested medium-range ballistic missiles which experts say are capable of hitting Israel.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Official Iranian media quoted a leading officer in the Revolutionary Guards Corps Tuesday as saying the exercises included the Shahab 3 missile, which flew up to 1,300 kilometers. Shorter-range Shahab 1 and 2 and other missile classes were also tested during the last two days.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">IRGC Deputy Commander Hossein Salami said the drills are a direct response to Iran's enemies who talk of a "military option being on the table."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The West suspects Iran wants to build nuclear weapons. Iranian officials have in the past threatened to wipe Israel off the face of the Earth. Israel has hinted at an attack if diplomatic efforts and sanctions fail to eliminate Iran's nuclear ambitions.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">A European Union oil embargo meant to pressure Iran over its nuclear program went into effect Sunday.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Meanwhile, The New York Times reports the United States has moved "significant military reinforcements" into the Persian Gulf to deter Iran from possible attempts to close the Strait of Hormuz.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Thirty-five percent of the world's seaborne oil currently passes through the strait.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">U.S. Navy Captain John Kirby, said Tuesday the U.S. has eight minesweepers in the Gulf, which he said is "up from a few months ago." He acknowledged the assault ship U.S.S. Ponce is in the Gulf. But he said he has seen nothing to indicate unusual Iranian activity in the region.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Kirby told reporters the U.S. will maintain a strong security presence in the Middle East and that "our commitments remain firm to allies and partners there."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">He said about 40,000 American troops are in the region and that Iran's missile tests are part of an annual exercise "that they've done before."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Iranian state television showed footage of several missiles being launched. A number of analysts have challenged some of Iran's military assertions, saying its missiles are still relatively inaccurate and of limited use in conventional warfare.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> ---VOA News<o:p></o:p></span></div></div></div>

Iran Says Ballistic Missile Tests 'Response to Threats'

NNN--- Members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard celebrate after launching a missile during their maneuver in an undisclosed location in ...

Asia-Pacific Countries Should Settle Bilateral Disputes as Per International Law: Antony

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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">India and US Hold Defence Talks<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ966gmPKP7eYG0nEdkZi9cINIi89OMqOUP1wkcn-2Vrmm7DMP6AY5kOLBTJZ9DlgBivj17pQBVPfKtRCPVkLu6OFQ8LwJEMdGM7k7KjFGhulBg7yC_Y_TPlxZMsnGhmMQtW9zuGR-iGY/s1600/l2012060640980.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ966gmPKP7eYG0nEdkZi9cINIi89OMqOUP1wkcn-2Vrmm7DMP6AY5kOLBTJZ9DlgBivj17pQBVPfKtRCPVkLu6OFQ8LwJEMdGM7k7KjFGhulBg7yC_Y_TPlxZMsnGhmMQtW9zuGR-iGY/s640/l2012060640980.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The US Secretary of Defence, Leon E. Panetta and the Defence Minister, A. K. Antony,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 7.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">at the delegation level talks, in New Delhi on June 06, 2012. Photo © PIB</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">New Delhi (PIB) --- The US Secretary of Defence Leon Panetta met the Defence Minister AK Antony here today. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Panetta was accompanied by a ten member delegation, including the US Ambassador to India and other senior officers from the US Department of Defence. The Indian delegation included the Defence Secretary Shashikant Sharma, Secretary (Defence Production) Shekhar Agarwal and the Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister, Dr. VK Saraswat. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">During the delegation level talks which lasted about an hour, both sides took note of the ongoing bilateral cooperation between India and the US in the area of defence. They agreed that there were opportunities for enhancing bilateral ties in area of mutual interest and concern. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">During the discussion of the defence trade, Antony emphasized that the priority for India is to move beyond the buyer-seller transactions and to focus on transfer of technologies and partnerships to build indigenous capabilities. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The US Secretary of Defence assured the Indian side that the US Government will initiate measures to facilitate technology access and sharing. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Both sides also exchanged views on the security situation in South Asia, West Asia and the Asia-Pacific and on various global security challenges, including in the area of cyber security. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">With regard to the security concerns the Asia-Pacific, Antony conveyed that India supports unhindered freedom of navigation in international waters for all. At the same time, with regard to bilateral issues between countries, he stressed that it is desirable that the parties concerned themselves should settle contentious matters in accordance with the international law. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Antony emphasized the need to strengthen the multilateral security architecture in the Asia-Pacific and to move at a pace comfortable to all countries concerned. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Earlier on his arrival at South Block, Panetta was accorded a traditional tri-Service Guard of Honour and laid wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Antony will be hosting a dinner for Panetta later this evening.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Asia-Pacific Countries Should Settle Bilateral Disputes as Per International Law: Antony

India and US Hold Defence Talks The US Secretary of Defence, Leon E. Panetta and the Defence Minister, A. K. Antony, at the delegation l...

Indian Troops on Vantage Higher Ground in Siachen: Pakistan

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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">LAHORE (NNN-PTI) -- Conceding that Indian soldiers were sitting at higher ground, Pakistan Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar has said that the military standoff between the two countries on the Siachen glacier cannot be resolved under the current circumstances.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">"Under the current circumstances, it is difficult to solve the Siachen issue. India is sitting at a high altitude and it considers that it is in a better position," he said while talking to reporters in the capital of Punjab province.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Pakistan cannot withdraw from Siachen unilaterally, he said on Sunday.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">"If we pull out, the families of martyrs will raise questions," he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">An avalanche hit a high-altitude Pakistan Army camp in the Siachen sector on April 7, burying 139 people under dozens of feet of snow.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Search teams are yet to find any trace of the buried men.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">There have been calls from mainstream political parties to find a solution to the Siachen issue in the wake of the avalanche.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">During recent visits to the site of the disaster, Pakistan Army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani said all issues between the two countries, including Siachen, should be resolved to ensure "peaceful co-existence" which would allow them to focus on development.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">However, Kayani also contended that India had hardened its position on the Siachen issue, especially compared to the situation in 1989, when the two sides were "close to a resolution". -- NNN-PTI<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Indian Troops on Vantage Higher Ground in Siachen: Pakistan

LAHORE (NNN-PTI) -- Conceding that Indian soldiers were sitting at higher ground, Pakistan Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar h...

Maintain High Level of Preparedness, Indian Navy's Top Brass Urged

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><b>M. SARASWATHI </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">NEW DELHI, India (NNN-Bernama) -- Indian Navy's top brass have been urged to maintain high levels of preparedness at all times on the backdrop of complex security situation in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), Defence Minister AK Antony said. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">"Today, the security situation in our immediate neighbourhood has become really complex. Considering the challenges in the Indian Ocean Region, it is essential to maintain high levels of operational preparedness at all times," he said. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">"On the one hand, there are some political developments and on the other hand, a number of other factors are a cause for worry and need to be factored into our preparations, both in the short-term and long-term," the minister said when addressing the Naval Commanders Conference here Tuesday. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">India's strategic location in the Indian Ocean and the professional capability of the Navy bestows upon it a natural ability to play a leading rolem in ensuring peace and stability in the IRO. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The security of maritime activity through the sea lanes in Indian Ocean is of crucial importance for the economic prosperity of India and the world. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">"The free movement of trade and energy supplies and various economic activities such as fishing and extraction of mineral resources is equally crucial for economic security," he added. -- NNN-BERNAMA<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Maintain High Level of Preparedness, Indian Navy's Top Brass Urged

M. SARASWATHI NEW DELHI, India (NNN-Bernama) -- Indian Navy's top brass have been urged to maintain high levels of preparedness at a...

10 Killed In U.S. Drone Strike in NW Pakistan

10 Killed In U.S. Drone Strike in NW Pakistan

ISLAMABAD (NNN-Xinhua) -- At least 10 people were killed and one was injured in a U.S. drone strike early Saturday morning in Pakistan...

India Developing Radar-Destroying Anti-Radiation Missile

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">NEW DELHI (NNN-Bernama) -- After the success of Agni-V project, India is developing an Anti-Radiation Missile (ARM) which can hugely multiply the strike capabilities by destroying the enemy's advance warning system, Press Trust of India (PTI). <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Production of the ARM, which is among the most advanced missiles, is being undertaken on priority basis by the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), which specialises in the missile development. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Such missiles can be mounted on Sukhoi fighter planes Su-30 MKI, 140 of which have already been acquired by India from Russia and around 100 more are expected to be delivered in due course of time. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">These missiles can detect radar by tracking its electro-magnetic radiation and pulses generated, an official told PTI, adding these would be independent of the radar wavelength and be able to destroy it. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Such missiles, currently in use of some major powers like the US, can detect and attack a radar antenna or transmitter with minimal aircrew input. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The proportional guidance system that homes in on enemy radar emissions has a fixed antenna and seeker head in the missile's nose. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The Anti-Radiation Missiles in use by the US Air Force move at the speed of over Mach 2, propelled by a smokeless and solid-propellant rocket motor.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The US Air Force introduced High Speed Anti-Radiation Missiles (HARM) on the F-4G Wild Weasel and later on specialised F-16s equipped with the HARM Targeting System <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">(HTS).--NNN-BERNAMA<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

India Developing Radar-Destroying Anti-Radiation Missile

NEW DELHI (NNN-Bernama) -- After the success of Agni-V project, India is developing an Anti-Radiation Missile (ARM) which can hugely mul...

PAKISTAN TESTS NUCLEAR-CAPABLE MISSILE

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<div class="Section0"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLNqOS0fqlSVqW6AgcVTuBMJkGKG3l2Fkt-_XAFibQ_r16uhXqtkEc6mzRO9EbHJc1co2woj8T63Pq8D6Pwm7xvxx4zdKM8egJ_4Bo3FbvDzhv918VIRCOV4cGGL0NS3jO03F9nSGyZxA/s1600/2012042612414422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLNqOS0fqlSVqW6AgcVTuBMJkGKG3l2Fkt-_XAFibQ_r16uhXqtkEc6mzRO9EbHJc1co2woj8T63Pq8D6Pwm7xvxx4zdKM8egJ_4Bo3FbvDzhv918VIRCOV4cGGL0NS3jO03F9nSGyZxA/s1600/2012042612414422.jpg" /></a></div><div class="p0" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="p0" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="p0" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12pt;">NNN--- </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12pt;">Pakistan’s Shaheen-1A missile before its launch on April 25 2012 seen here with the team responsible for its successful launching. Pakistan launched an upgraded ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead near ISLAMABAD, its capital, days after its neighbour India conducted its own missile test. The Shaheen-1A missile which was fired into the sea is capable of flying up to 750 kilometers (465 miles). The missile is also capable of carrying both nuclear and conventional combatant warheads simultaneously. photo courtesy ibtimes.com</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12pt;">--- NNN</span></div><div class="p0" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"><o:p></o:p></span></div></div></div>

PAKISTAN TESTS NUCLEAR-CAPABLE MISSILE

NNN--- Pakistan’s Shaheen-1A missile before its launch on April 25 2012 seen here with the team responsible for its successful launching...

India Set to Develop Resusable Rockets

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="p0" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><br />
</span></div><div class="p0" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">  </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="p0" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">NEW DELHI</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">(NNN-Bernama) -- After the successful launch of Agni-5 Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), India is all set to develop reusable rockets that will combine the technologies of both ballistic and cruise missiles, Press Trust of India reported. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="p0" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"><br />
</span></div><div class="p0" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="p0" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">As part of plans to develop reusable ballistic missiles, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will test an "indigenously developed" scram jet engine next year, its chief V K Saraswat said. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="p0" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"><br />
</span></div><div class="p0" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="p0" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">"We have propulsion technology, we have re-entry technologies, we have the technology which can take a re-entry system to deliver a payload and have yet another re-entry system which will bring the missile back when it re-enters the atmosphere on its return journey," he explained. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="p0" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"><br />
</span></div><div class="p0" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="p0" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">"We have demonstrated the performance of a scram jet engine operating at Mach six speed (six times the speed of sound)." </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="p0" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"><br />
</span></div><div class="p0" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="p0" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">On the range of Agni-5 missile which was scuccessfully test-fired off Odisha coast recently, the DRDO chief said that with moderate modifications, "it can be extended to any range which is of our interest." </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="p0" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"><br />
</span></div><div class="p0" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="p0" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">Reacting to reports that India does not possess sufficient indigenous technology for missile guidance systems, Saraswat said Agni-5 has used a "completely indigenous" and high precision missile guidance system with "0.001 degrees of per hour accuracy." </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="p0" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"><br />
</span></div><div class="p0" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="p0" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">On technological capability available with the agency, Saraswat said: "DRDO has built the necessary technologies, production infrastructure and design capability for developing a booster or a sustainer... We have the capability to develop a re-entry nose cone which could withstand higher temperature and velocity." </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="p0" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"><br />
</span></div><div class="p0" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="p0" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">On the development of Kaveri engine, Saraswat said it too has performedwell and was "flown an IL-76 aircraft in Russia, 55 hours of successful flight... We are going to upgrade it so that it can be used in India's LCA Mark-II and future systems." </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="p0" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"><br />
</span></div><div class="p0" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="p0" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">On criticism that DRDO sometimes does not live up to expectations, he said the agency was as good as its counterparts in advanced countries. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="p0" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"><br />
</span></div><div class="p0" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="p0" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';">"Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), F-18 and Eurofighter took similar number of years and cost wise they were three times more than what we have put in our LCA," he said. -- NNN-BERNAMA </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12.0000pt; mso-spacerun: 'yes';"><o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

India Set to Develop Resusable Rockets

NEW DELHI (NNN-Bernama) -- After the successful launch of Agni-5 Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), India is all set to deve...

Indian Army on High Alert in Areas on Loc

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">SRINAGAR (NNN-Xinhua) -- Indian army has been on high alert in snowbound areas on line-of-control (LoC) where avalanches triggered by heavy snowfall has damaged fencing, a top Indian army officer said Friday.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The step has been taken in anticipation of infiltration from other side of LoC.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"We have increased vigil on LoC in the areas where fencing was damaged due to heavy snowfall and avalanches," said Lt. General Syed Atta Hasnain, General officer Commanding of Indian Army's 15 Corps in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu & Kashmir.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In a press briefing at an Indian army base in Handwara around 75 km northwest of Srinagar city,Hasnain warned of possible attempts of infiltration from the other side during the coming months.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In a joint operation on Thursday Indian army and police killed five militants during a fierce gunfight in Handwara forest. An Indian army trooper was also wounded in the standoff.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The army said they seized five assault rifles and large quantity of ammunition from the gunfight site. Last week five militants were also killed in the area.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Indian army said avalanches triggered by heavy snowfall had extensively damaged the fencing along the line of control (LoC)in February.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"As snow starts to melt, we will fix the fencing again," Hasnain said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">LoC is the de facto border dividing Kashmir into Indian and Pakistani controlled parts. The Indian army fenced LoC in 2004 to stop infiltrators from sneaking into their part.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kashmir has a rugged terrain. Landslides and avalanches are often triggered by heavy rains and snows.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">New Delhi and Islamabad in 2003 agreed to observe a ceasefire along the International Border and LoC in Kashmir. Though some violations have been reported on both sides, the ceasefire remains in effect.--NNN-XINHUA<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Indian Army on High Alert in Areas on Loc

SRINAGAR (NNN-Xinhua) -- Indian army has been on high alert in snowbound areas on line-of-control (LoC) where avalanches triggered by heavy...

India Commissions Nuclear Powered Submarine 'INS Chakra'

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">VISAKHAPATNAM, India <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(NNN-Bernama) -- India inducted its Russian-made nuclear powered submarine 'INS Chakra' on Wednesday into the Indian Navy, joining an elite group of five nations possessing such sophisticated warships, the Press Trust of India (PTI) reported. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Defence Minister A K Antony formally commissioned the Akula II class Nerpa, rechristened INS Chakra, into the Indian Navy at the Ship Building Complex here on the southeast Indian coast along the Bay of Bengal. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">With the country entering the select club consisting of the US, Russia, the UK, France and China with nuclear submarines after a gap of two decades, Antony said, "INS Chakra will ensure security and sovereignty of the country." <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He did not subscribe to the view that the induction of nuclear powered submarines will lead to any arms race in the region. He said the armed forces will be strengthened to meet any challenge. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"India does not believe in arms race. We are not a confrontationist nation. We are a peaceloving nation. But, at the same time, the armed forces will be strengthened to meet any challenge," Antony told reporters when asked about Pakistan's reaction that INS Chakra's induction will lead to arms race in the region. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"We have a vast land border. We have more than 7,500 kms of coastline and more than two million square kilometres of Exclusive Economic Zone. We have to protect the sea lanes of our core area of interest," he said. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">With INS Chakra and indigenously built INS Arihant expected to start operational patrols soon, India will soon have two nuclear submarines guarding its vast maritime boundary. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">With a maximum speed of 30 knots, the submarine can go up to a depth of 600 metres and has an endurance of 100 days with a crew of 73. The vessel is armed with four 533mm torpedo tubes and four 650mm torpedo tubes. -- NNN-BERNAMA </span></div>

India Commissions Nuclear Powered Submarine 'INS Chakra'

VISAKHAPATNAM, India (NNN-Bernama) -- India inducted its Russian-made nuclear powered submarine 'INS Chakra' on Wednesday into t...

Indian Military School to Teach Chinese

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">SRINAGAR, India (NNN-Bernama) -- An Indian military school has decided to introduce the Chinese language in its curriculum, a defence official said Wednesday. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The students at the Rashtriya Military School (RMS) at Chail in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh will be learning the Chinese language as part of their academic curriculum from this year, Xinhua news agency reported. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"RMS Chail is one of the leading five military schools of the country which is introducing Chinese in its curriculum from the current academic session as a pilot project," said Lt Col Arun Kulkarni, principal of the school. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Stress is laid on all round personality development of the students enabling and training them to be good officers," he said. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Chinese language in the school will be introduced from class VI to X and it will be compulsory for all the students. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Chail military school in Solan district, some 120 km from Chandigarh, isone of the oldest military residential schools in Asia. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The school traces its history to the King George Royal Indian Military College, which was established in Jalandhar in Punjab in February 1922 and laid the foundation for the other four military schools - Ajmer and Dholpur in Rajasthan, and Bangalore and Belgaum in Karnataka. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">All these schools provide education to the children of defence personnel and civilians to prepare them for their entry as officers in Indian armed forces. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chandigarh defence officals said the military school at Chail has produced a number of officers for India's prestigious National Defence Academy. -- NNN-BERNAMA<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Indian Military School to Teach Chinese

SRINAGAR, India (NNN-Bernama) -- An Indian military school has decided to introduce the Chinese language in its curriculum, a defence offi...