Lieutenant General Bikram Singh takes over as GOC-in-C of Eastern Command

April 1, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Kolkata, Apr 1(ANI): Lieutenant General Bikram Singh on Thursday assumed office of the General Officer Commanding–In-Chief (GOC-in-C) of the Eastern Command in Kolkata.

An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Lieutenant General Singh was commissioned into the Sikh Light Infantry Regiment in 1972.

He is a Post Graduate from the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, and has done the Higher Command Course at Mhow and the US Army War College, Pennsylvania.

With over 38 years of active service, he has held a number of important command and staff appointments.

He commanded an infantry battalion in the northeast and along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.

He was the Corps Commander of the prestigious 15 Corps in his last command tenure.

Lieutenant General Singh has also served in three United Nations (UN) peacekeeping missions.

In his last UN assignment, he was the Deputy Force Commander and GOC of a multinational division in Africa, comprising officers and troops of 48 nationalities.

He has been awarded the Uttam Yudha Seva Medal (UYSM), Ati Vishisth Seva Medal (AVSM), Sena Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) for his meritorious service so far.

He has also held some important staff appointments at Army Headquarters, which include, two tenures each in the Directorate General of Military Operations and the Directorate General of Perspective Planning. Before taking over as GOC-in-C, Eastern Command, he was the Director of General of Staff Duties at IHQ of Defence Ministry (Army). (ANI)

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Kayani’s key role in strategic talks with US shows who calls the shots in Pak: NYT

March 23, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Karachi, Mar. 22 (ANI): While Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi is leading the Pakistani delegation for the Pak-US strategic talks beginning on Wednesday, it is Pak Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani who is actually in-charge of running the show.

It is well known in Pakistan that Qureshi is just the nominal head of the Pakistani delegation, and it is General Kayani who has been calling the civilian heads of major government departments, including finance and foreign affairs, to his army headquarters to discuss final details, the New York Times reports.

General Kayani’s role in organizing agendas for talks has raised alarm in Pakistan, a country with a long history of military juntas.

Pakistan’s’ leading financial newspaper, The Business Recorder, wrote: “The government needs to consolidate civilian rule instead of handing over its responsibilities, like coordination between different departments, to the military.”

“General Kayani is in the driver’s seat. It is unprecedented that an army chief of staff preside over a meeting of federal secretaries,” Rifaat Hussain, a professor of international relations at Islamabad University, was quoted as saying.

A spokesman at the American Embassy in Islamabad said that General Kayani will attend meetings at the Pentagon with the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen, and Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates on Monday.

He will also attend the opening ceremony of the talks between Secretary of State Hilary Clinton and Qureshi at the US State Department on Wednesday.

The most pressing issues in the talks are likely to be the eventual American pullout from Afghanistan, and Pakistan’s concerns about India, the editorial says.

The spokesman for the Pakistani military, Gen. Athar Abbas, said that Pakistan would be “conveying very clearly” its displeasure with India’s offer to help train the Afghan Army at the behest of American and NATO forces.

Another key agenda on General Kayani’s priority list would be to successfully renegotiate an aid package of 30 billion dollars with the US, the paper says. (ANI)

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Kayani’s key role in strategic talks with US shows who calls the shots in Pak: NYT

March 22, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Karachi, Mar. 22 (ANI): While Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi is leading the Pakistani delegation for the Pak-US strategic talks beginning on Wednesday, it is Pak Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani who is actually in-charge of running the show.

It is well known in Pakistan that Qureshi is just the nominal head of the Pakistani delegation, and it is General Kayani who has been calling the civilian heads of major government departments, including finance and foreign affairs, to his army headquarters to discuss final details, the New York Times reports.

General Kayani’s role in organizing agendas for talks has raised alarm in Pakistan, a country with a long history of military juntas.

Pakistan’s’ leading financial newspaper, The Business Recorder, wrote: “The government needs to consolidate civilian rule instead of handing over its responsibilities, like coordination between different departments, to the military.”

“General Kayani is in the driver’s seat. It is unprecedented that an army chief of staff preside over a meeting of federal secretaries,” Rifaat Hussain, a professor of international relations at Islamabad University, was quoted as saying.

A spokesman at the American Embassy in Islamabad said that General Kayani will attend meetings at the Pentagon with the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen, and Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates on Monday.

He will also attend the opening ceremony of the talks between Secretary of State Hilary Clinton and Qureshi at the US State Department on Wednesday.

The most pressing issues in the talks are likely to be the eventual American pullout from Afghanistan, and Pakistan’s concerns about India, the editorial says.

The spokesman for the Pakistani military, Gen. Athar Abbas, said that Pakistan would be “conveying very clearly” its displeasure with India’s offer to help train the Afghan Army at the behest of American and NATO forces.

Another key agenda on General Kayani’s priority list would be to successfully renegotiate an aid package of 30 billion dollars with the US, the paper says. (ANI)

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Gen Kapoor flags in all-women Army team that scaled Siachen’s highest peak

September 10, 2009 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Sep 9 (ANI): Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor flagged in the first ever women expedition team for army corps of engineers to Indira Col, Siachen, today at Army Headquarters here.

The Indian Army has achieved another milestone in the history of Indian mountaineering by undertaking an ‘All Women Officers Expedition’ to Siachen glacier.

The Corps of Engineers in consonance with its spirit of adventure has organised this unique expedition to the highest and coldest battlefield in the world, Siachen Glacier, a junction point of three countries – India, China and Pakistan.

The expedition led by Major Megha Astagikar summitted Indira Col, located at an altitude of 20,187 feet, after trekking 103.10 kilometers on August 15, which coincided with the 62nd Independence Day.

Enroute to Indira Col, the team halted at eight camps to carry out acclimatisation, training and build-up of essential logistics. Braving inclement weather and extremely difficult terrain conditions, Indira Col was summitted well before the planned schedule.

The team traversed across the most treacherous high altitude terrain characterised by high avalanche-prone snow bound area with deep crevasses, steep ice-walls and scarce oxygen.

The 17 women officers expedition team was flagged-off by the Vice Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Noble Thamburaj on August 3.

Prior to undertaking the expedition, a detailed planning and rigorous training in basic ice-craft and mountaineering skills was carried out by the team at the Army Mountaineering Institute, Siachen Base Camp.

Major AR Ramakrishnan, the trainer of the expedition team, inspite of being a battle casualty during ‘Operation Vijay’ summitted Indira Col alongwith the team making the achievement of the expedition spectacular and creditable. (ANI)

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Lt. Gen Loomba takes charge as Director General of Military Intelligence

September 1, 2009 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Aug 31(ANI): Lieutenant General RK Loomba, General Officer Commanding 3 Corps, on Monday took over as the new Director General of Military Intelligence.

Lt. Gen Loomba assumed responsibility from incumbent Lieutenant General DS Bartwal, who is proceeding on retirement.

An alumni of the National Defence Academy, Lt. Gen Loomba was commissioned into the Skinner’s Horse of Indian Army in June 1970.

He served in Operation Cactus Lily with his Regiment, and has served as Brigade Major in a Mountain Division.

He has held numerous important appointments at all levels including at the Army Headquarters, he has been Commander Higher Command Wing training the officers for higher direction of war. (ANI)

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Nepal faces political turmoil over decision to sack Army Chief

May 4, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Kathmandu, May 4 (ANI): Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal will address the nation today about the ongoing political developments in the country.

Later, a cabinet meeting has been scheduled.

In another development, President Ram Baran Yadav has sent a letter to Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) General Rookmangad Katawal asking him to continue in his position.
A copy of the letter was also sent to Dahal. However, he reportedly refused to accept the letter.

Following the President’s intervention, Dahal met Attorney General Raghab Lal Vaidhya and the Law Secretary this morning.

Finance Minister Dr Babu Ram Bhattarai, Defense Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa, secretariat member Barsha Man Pun are also holding a meeting to discuss the party’s strategy.
Dahal and other Maoist leaders have said the President’s letter to the army headquarters asking Katawal to continue in his position is unconstitutional,nepalnews reports. (ANI)

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Indian envoy meets Prachanda over COAS row twice

April 22, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Kathmandu, Apr 22 (ANI): Indian Ambassador to Nepal Rakesh Sood met Prime Minister Prachnada twice in 24 hours over the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) clarification episode.

During the meeting, which lasted for half an hour, Sood reportedly expressed ‘concern’ over the government order to Nepal Army chief, seeking his clarification for “challenging civilian supremacy”.

General Rookmangud Katawal has submitted his clarification in writing to Cabinet Secretary Bhoj Raj Ghimire.

The clarification was submitted by Nepal Army spokesperson Brigadier General Ramindra Chhettri on behalf of General Katawal.

Defending the charges against him, General Katawal said he has worked according to the laws promulgated by the elected government, the government directives and democratic values.

In his clarification, General Katawal defended the recruitment of 3,010 soldiers in the army saying the army headquarters duly informed the government, the UNMIN and the Joint Monitoring Coordination Committee before initiating the recruitment process, nepalnews reports.

On the reinstatement of eight brigadier generals, the CoAS furnished the argument that he had just complied with the direction of the Supreme Court (SC) by extending the tenure of the Generals who were retired by the government.

General Katawal defended the boycott of events in the Fifth National Games, by stating that the decision was taken after athletes refused to play citing last minute changes in the game’s tie set. (ANI)

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Nepalese prime minister faces contempt of court charge

April 9, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Kathmandu – Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal along with several top Maoist leaders face contempt of court charges over their reaction to a recent court ruling, media reports said Thursday.

A writ was filed at the Nepalese Supreme Court Wednesday against Dahal, Finance Minister Babu Ram Bhattarai and four other top Maoist leaders for their public criticism of the court, the Kathmandu Post newspaper said.

The charges centre on their public outbursts as well as Maoist demonstrations across the country after the court overturned a government decision to retire eight army generals by ignoring the army headquarters’ recommendation to extend their term by another three years.

“The leaders of the ruling party have breached the laws of the land by disgracing the Supreme Court and its order to reverse the decision to send the generals into retirement,” the newspaper quoted the writ against the Maoist politicians as saying.

“Dahal is the key figure in the contempt of court because he is the leader of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoists), which had attacked the Supreme Court,” the writ argued.

It remains unclear what action, if any, would be taken against the prime minister and other Maoist leaders if they are found guilty of contempt of court.

The Maoist-organized demonstrations in several parts of Nepal followed the court decision to reinstate the generals last month. The Maoist cadres also burned effigies of Supreme Court judges.

The Maoist leaders addressing the gatherings threatened to storm the courts with thousands of protestors.

The eight brigadier generals have since resumed their posts.

The row over the retirement of the generals has been seen as a sign of worsening relations between the army and the Maoists, who were archenemies during Nepal’s decadelong communist insurgency.

There were also fears that the row between the Maoist-led government and the army could jeopardize integration of thousands of former rebel fighters into security agencies as part of a peace deal that ended the insurgency in 2006.

The Maoists formed a coalition government in August 2008 after emerging as the single largest party in elections. (dpa)

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Army major averts major CNG blast on ring road

April 8, 2009 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Apr. 8 (ANI): An Army major averted what could have been a major CNG blast on New Delhi’s Ring Road.

Colonel Mukesh Chadha, Commanding Officer of the Army Headquarters Transport Company was returning from the Small Arms Firing Range when he saw a CNG driven Maruti van in flames near the Moti Bagh Gurudwara.

After immediately raising the fire alarm, Chadha and his associates used fire extinguishers and water bowser to bring the fire under control.

The timely action ensured safety of the driver and his van. (ANI)

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Nepalese court reinstates eight generals forced into retirement

March 24, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Kathmandu – Nepal’s Maoist-led government on Tuesday suffered a serious setback after the Nepalese Supreme Court reinstated eight army generals who had been forced into retirement.

The eight brigadier generals were forced into retirement after the defence ministry led by a former Maoist rebel leader Ram Bahadur Thapa ignored the recommendation of the army headquarters to extend their terms by another three years.

“The government’s decision not to renew the terms of the generals does not have valid reasons and orders the government not to implement its decision,” the court said.

The court also asked the government to furnish reasons, if any, for its decision and said further action would be dependent on the reply.

The court hearing followed challenges by the eight generals who said the decision violated army regulations.

“We are happy with the court’s decision and paves the way for the government to act in line with the existing regulations in any such cases in the future,” said Narendra Bahadur Rawal, one of the generals whose term was not extended.

Under the regulation, the terms of generals is first extended by three years and for another two years after that. It is always carried out on the recommendation of the army headquarters.

The decision to force eight generals into retirement came after months of cooling relations between the army and the Maoist-led government.

The standoff between the two sides erupted after the army recruited nearly 3,000 new soldiers earlier this year to fill positions that fell vacant due to retirements and deaths.

The move was strongly opposed the Maoists who described it as a violation of the peace agreement that ended the communist insurgency.

Defence Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa even ordered the army to stop the recruitment, but it was rejected on grounds that it was necessary to maintain the army’s strength.

The government decision came under criticism from its own coalition partners and the opposition Nepali Congress.

Nepal’s army led the fight against the Maoist rebels during the decade long insurgency that killed nearly 14,000 people. (dpa)

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