Continuing with the excellent tradition of strong bilateral and defence ties between India and Bangladesh, General M.M. Naravane, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) has started a five day visit to Bangladesh from 8th to 12th April. General Naravane’s visit comes in the midst of Swarnim Vijay Varsh celebrations which mark 50 years of the liberation of Bangladesh, made possible by the historic leadership of the Bôngobondhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and heroics of the Mukti Bahini who fought shoulder to shoulder with Indian Armed Forces. 

The Army Chief paid tributes to the martyrs of the Liberation War by laying a wreath at the Shikha Anirban on Thursday. This was followed by one to one meetings with the three Service Chiefs of the Bangladesh’s Armed Forces. General Naravane is also scheduled to visit the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Museum in Dhanmondi, where he will pay tributes to Bangladesh’s founding father. The COAS will interact with Bangladesh’s Minister of Foreign Affairs on 11th April at Bangladesh Army’s Multipurpose Complex in Dhaka where he will attend a seminar on UN Peace Support Operations and deliver a keynote address on “Changing Nature of Global Conflicts: Role of UN Peacekeepers”

General MM Naravane is also scheduled to interact with the Force Commanders of the United Nations Missions in Mali, South Sudan and Central African Republic and the Deputy Chief Operations Officer of the Royal Bhutanese Army on 12th April. He will also attend the closing ceremony of Exercise Shantir Ogrosena, a multilateral UN-mandated counterterrorism exercise comprising the Armed Forces of India, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka along with observers from the US, UK, Turkey and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia among others. The Chief will also witness the innovations of the Bangladeshi Armed Forces personnel during the Hardware Display. The Chief of the Army Staff will interact with the members of Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support and Training Operations (BIPSOT) during the last leg of his visit. This visit will further deepen the bilateral relationships between the two Armies and act as a catalyst for closer coordination and cooperation between the two countries on a host of strategic issues.

For the PLA, being wayward is the way forward. Touting its technological edge over other countries, China is ‘arming’ some of its soldiers with personal identification tags to, in their words, “improve personnel management as well as battlefield logistics and medical support”. Cutting through the deliberately dense military jargon, it means that China is finding it hard to keep a lid on its soldiers. PLA’s conscript-heavy army is dealing with a number of disciplinary issues amongst its soldiers. Combined with the stress of winter deployment along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and its attendant risks of isolation, mental and physical issues, PLA is desperate to keep track of soldiers who have an unfortunate habit of ‘wandering’ across the LAC.

Two such incidents have already occurred during the PLA’s Western Theatre Command’s deployment against India on the LAC. India had captured Corporal Wang Ya Long on October 19 last year after he “strayed” across the LAC in Ladakh’s Demchok sector. Similarly, another soldier had been apprehended by India on 8 Jan this year from the South Bank of Pangong Tso and returned after due deliberations on 11 Jan. The unintended pilgrimages of both these soldiers were caused due to misreading of the terrain which is quite shocking given Global Times’ oft-repeated claims of 3D mapping the entire LAC along their side.

The electronic trackers, colloquially called ‘dog tags’ in everyday language, have been some time in the making. They were first advertised in 2017 through a Chinese language blog and it was claimed that 13 units across PLA’s Army, Navy and Air Force would form testbeds for the technology. Admittedly, only an ill-disciplined force with no handle on the whereabouts of its soldiers resorts to these tactics. Since the PLA has virtually no combat experience (beating hapless villagers with sticks does not count as one), the morale and motivation amongst its troops has touched excruciatingly low levels. The icy and windy conditions help their case. There have been credible reports of a significant number of Chinese troops falling prey to acute mountain sickness and hypothermia which, despite tall claims of thermal accommodations and gaming arcades, has failed to alleviate their conditions.

There is a secondary ‘dog tag’ too. This tracks the wearer’s heart rate and stores additional information such as his fingerprints, history of allergies and injury history. Picture this: a Chinese PLA soldier perched on icy peaks along the LAC starts feeling uneasy. His pulse and blood pressure drops and his watch starts pinging this data to his commander, who’s busy discussing the contents of haversacks and how to make them an ounce lighter. Trying to ascertain the sick soldier’s location, the battalion commander tries to send relief through drones but has to finally rely on mules and porters which consumes precious time, resulting in a debilitating blow to the soldier. Though a hypothetical, this is not a fictional scenario. Reports have already mentioned that most of Chinese technologies do not work as planned or at all in the forbidding terrain of Aksai Chin.

China also does not realise that for its soldiers and officers whose hi-tech education is limited to weighing mess tiffins and undergarments, it is very difficult to ease them into understanding, navigating and finally exploiting these technologies. The only ‘hurdle’ mentioned by a fictional PLA officer in the use of the medical trackers in that the “buttons are too big”, as quoted by China Daily. Also, the American troops’ experience with similar trackers couple of years back exposed the loopholes in using wearable tracking devices which created location maps that eked out covert American bases abroad. Of course, the Americans are much more adept at using technology to further their own ends and the Chinese are far behind. Exhorting them to continue wearing these trackers will only serve the purpose of their adversaries.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that India and Seychelles share a vital partnership in India’s foreign policy for the Indian Ocean Region during his virtual summit with Seychelles President Wavel Ramkalawan. The virtual event was the first interaction between PM Modi and Seychelles President Ramkalawan.

“India and Seychelles share vital partnership in the Indian Ocean neighbourhood. Seychelles is central to India’s vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR). India is honoured to be a partner of Seychelles in the development of its security capabilities, and in meeting its infrastructural and developmental needs,” PM Modi said at the virtual meeting. “Today marks an important milestone in our relations. We are meeting to jointly inaugurate several new projects completed under our development partnership,” PM Modi added.

The virtual event was organised for the joint e-inauguration of several development assistance projects funded by India in Seychelles and the handing over of a Fast Patrol Vessel supplied by India Navy for the use of the Seychelles Coast Guard.

During the virtual event, Prime Minister Modi and President Ramkalawan jointly inaugurated the new Magistrates’ Court building in Seychelles. The building is the first Indian assisted infrastructure project in Seychelles and has been completed with grant assistance of $3.5 million from Government of India. Situated in the heart of Seychelles’ capital city of Victoria, flaunting a modern design and built to high quality standards, the Magistrates’ Court will significantly boost the capacity of the justice system of Seychelles and become a landmark of bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

PM Modi also handed over a 48.9 m Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) to the President of Seychelles during the virtual event. The FPV, built by M/s GRSE, Kolkata at as cost of INR 100 crore, has been gifted to Seychelles under Indian grant assistance to meet its urgent requirement of strengthening its maritime surveillance capabilities. The modern and state of the art vessel will significantly boost the capability of the Seychelles Coast Guard in effectively patrolling and protecting its vast marine estate and help in combating threats such as maritime piracy, drug and arms smuggling and illegal fishing in Seychelles’ waters. The supply of the vessel is in line with time-tested and deep cooperation between India and Seychelles in the field of maritime security and India’s role as a trusted and preferred security partner of Seychelles.

During the event, Prime Minister and the President of Seychelles also jointly e-inaugurated a 1 MW ground mounted Solar Power Plant built with Indian grant assistance in Romainville Island of Seychelles. Ten (10) Indian High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDPs) in Seychelles were also e-inaugurated by the two dignitaries. Speaking at the occasion, Prime Minister Modi emphasised the importance of development partnership in people-oriented infrastructure projects in further strengthening cooperation with Seychelles.

The Prime Minister noted that the new Magistrates’ Court built with modern design and state-of-the-art facilities will serve as the perfect seat for delivery of judicial services to the people of Seychelles. The Prime Minister said that the gift of a Fast Patrol Vessel to Seychelles demonstrates India’s commitment to strengthen Seychelles’ own capacities in safeguarding and surveilling its maritime space.

President Wavel Ramkalawan expressed his deep gratitude for India’s continuous support in meeting the security and developmental needs of Seychelles as reflective of the strong and close ties between the two countries. The e-inauguration of the new Magistrates’ Court Building, 1 MW Solar Power plant, the HICDPs and the handing over of the FPV demonstrates India’s steadfast role as a longstanding and reliable partner of Seychelles and its commitment towards a deepening bilateral relationship. The cooperation projects showcased at the event are in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘SAGAR – Security and Growth for All in the Region’.

Lieutenant General J.S. Nain, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command, along with Anita Nain, Regional President, Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA), visited Jodhpur Military Station. The Army Commander was briefed by Lieutenant General P.S. Minhas, General Officer Commanding, Konark Corps on the operational preparedness.

Army Commander expressed that he is extremely proud of the training and preparedness of the Corps and have supreme confidence that our Western Borders are secured with thorough professionalism and highest degree of tri-services synergy. Army Commander further pronounced that the “nation is in safe hands” and commended all ranks of the Konark Corps. The regional president, AWWA, Anita Nain, visited ASHA School, a school for differently abled children to get to know the facilities being provided to the children. Anita Nain complimented the school management for the dedication and hard work of the staff towards a very noble cause for the society.

The virtual event will be the first interaction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with President Wavel Ramkalawan of Seychelles. President Ramkalawan came to power after landmark victory in October 2020 elections in Seychelles. His party Linyon Democratic Seselwa has 2/3rd majority in the Seychelles National Assembly.

During his tour of Indian Ocean countries in 2015, Seychelles was the first destination of PM Modi, after which he also visited Mauritius and Sri Lanka. This was the first prime ministerial level visit to Seychelles after a gap of 33 years. It was during this tour of the Indian Ocean countries, the PM had pronounced India’s vision of ‘SAGAR- Security and Growth for All in the region’.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar was the first Foreign Minister to visit Seychelles after assumption of office by the newly-elected President Ramkalawan. During his visit to Seychelles on 27-28 November 2020 where he carried a personal congratulatory message from PM Modi for the newly elected President of Seychelles.

President Ramkalawan is of Indian origin. He has his ancestral roots in Gopalganj district of Bihar. He visited India in January 2018 as a part of the PIO Parliamentarian’s Conference and also visited his native village ‘Parsauni’. There are three ministers—i.e. Devika Vidot, Billy Rangasamy and Naadir Hassan—in his cabinet with Indian origins.

Projects to be inaugurated

1) The 48.9 m Fast Patrol Vessel: It has been built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineering Ltd. (GRSE), at a cost of INR 100 crores. The ship will be used for multi-purpose operations, such as patrolling, anti-smuggling, anti-poaching, and search and rescue (SAR). The FPV has already been delivered to Seychelles with assistance of Indian Navy on March 16, 2021 and will be handed over by the Prime Minister to the Seychelles Coast Guard during the virtual event. Christened as ‘PS Zoroaster’, the FPV is the fourth ship to be gifted by India to Seychelles. The other vessels gifted by India include PS Topaz (2005), PS Constant (2014), Patrol Boat Hermes (2016). Over 50% of Seychelles’ maritime and air assets and around 70% of capacity development in terms of training, exercise and human resource expertise are provided by India. These HICDP projects are aimed at implementing small people-oriented projects which contribute significantly towards the socio-economic development and improvement of local communities.  29 projects have so far been taken up for execution under this MoU. 

2) The Magistrates’ Court Building: This project is a landmark project and will help bring Magistrate courts spread over different locations in Mahé into a single building. It is situated next to the Supreme Court of Seychelles built by Chinese assistance in 2013. The Magistrates’ Court Building houses eight court rooms spread over three floors; waiting areas for the public and parking space for court users, police vans and magistrates; separated holding cells for men, women and child accused; multi-functional conference rooms, meeting rooms and video rooms. 

3) The 1 MW solar project: It is in addition to the installing of solar systems at 146 government building rooftops and domestic households which has already been completed and commissioned. The 1 MW solar plant project will generate around 14 lakh Units of power annually meeting electricity consumption of around 400 Seychellois houses all-round the year. The plant is also expected to save an annual consumption of 3,25,000 Ltrs of fuel for Public Utilities Corporation (PUC) of Seychelles resulting in overall savings of around SCR 3.5 Million (approx $2.25 lakh) per year to PUC.

4) Covid Assistance: Seychelles has also been one of the first beneficiaries of India’s Covid assistance. Seychelles received over 4 tonnes of life saving medicines including 50,000 tablets of HCQ under Mission ‘SAGAR’ in May 2020.  Seychelles was the first African country to have received 50,000 doses of Covishield vaccine doses from India on January 22, 2021 under India’s Vaccine Maitri initiative.

At an impressive Passing Out Parade held on at INS Garuda, Kochi, eleven officers of the Indian Navy and two officers of the Indian Coast Guard graduated as Observers. Rear Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) reviewed the parade and awarded the coveted ‘Golden Wings’ to the passing out officers. The officers of the 92th Regular were trained in air navigation, flying procedures, tactics employed in air warfare, anti-submarine warfare and exploitation of airborne avionic systems. These officers would serve on-board Maritime Reconnaissance and Anti-Submarine Warfare aircraft of the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard.

Lieutenant Ankush Kumar Yadav from the regular observer course was awarded the Uttar Pradesh Trophy on being adjudged ‘First in the Overall Order of Merit’ while Lieutenant Ravinder Nain was awarded the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command Trophy for being adjudged ‘Best in Flying’. Assistant Commandant Ankur Singh Pawar was awarded Sub Lieutenant RV Kunte memorial Book Prize on being adjudged ‘Best in Ground Subjects’. The occasion also had 4 officers of the Indian Navy being graduated as Qualified Navigation Instructors (QNIs). The QNIs were trained at imparting instructional techniques on ground and during flying. They were provided in-depth knowledge of tactics and sensor exploitation. These officers would function as Qualified Navigation Instructors at Observer school before proceeding to take up operational assignments at various frontline naval air squadrons. The successful QNIs were also awarded the ‘Instructor Torch’ by FOST.