#Countering External & Internal Security Challenges

Government scraps free movement between India and Myanmar to ensure internal security

 

Earlier this week, Amit Shah had announced that government would begin fencing 1643-km-long India-Myanmar border

 

The Home Ministry has decided that the Free Movement Regime (FMR) between India and Myanmar be scrapped to ensure the internal security of the country and to maintain the demographic structure of India’s North-eastern states bordering Myanmar, Home Minister Amit Shah said on Thursday.

Earlier this week, Shah had announced that the government will begin fencing the India-Myanmar border.

 

 

 

 

“It has decided to construct a fence along the entire 1643-kilometer-long Indo-Myanmar border. To facilitate better surveillance, a patrol track along the border will also be paved.

 

"Out of the total border length, a 10 km stretch in Moreh, Manipur, has already been fenced. Furthermore, two pilot projects of fencing through a Hybrid Surveillance System (HSS) are under execution. They will fence a stretch of 1 km each in Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur. Additionally, fence works covering approx 20 km in Manipur have also been approved, and the work will start soon,” he had tweeted on February 6.

 

 

Supply 31 MQ-9B Armed Drones To India

 

 

Advancing the India-US strategic alliance, the Joe Biden administration has formally informed the US Congress about its decision to supply 31 MQ-9B armed drones to India. Valued at an estimated $3.99 billion, the acquisition of these high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is poised to enhance India's capabilities in countering present and future threats. The proposed deal outlines the allocation of 15 Sea Guardian drones to the Indian Navy, while the Army and Air Force will each receive eight Sky Guardian drones.

 

These drones will significantly bolster India's maritime security and domain awareness capabilities. As both governments work out the deal's specifics and delivery timeline in the coming months. Despite ongoing legal issues such as the Gurpatwant Singh Pannun case, the drone agreement underscores the maturity of bilateral ties, demonstrating the resilience of strategic and defense cooperation.

 

Recognizing the critical importance of maritime security, especially in the face of a resurgence in piracy and targeted attacks on ships in the Red Sea by militant groups, the acquisition of these drones becomes paramount. Recent anti-piracy operations conducted by the Indian warship INS Sumitra, assisted by a leased MQ-9B drone, exemplify the practical application of this advanced technology. As the US Congress is expected to approve the drone deal, the Indian defense forces are poised to significantly enhance their firepower and surveillance capabilities.

DRDO successfully concludes four flight trials of ABHYA

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) achieves success with four flight trials of the high-speed expendable aerial target 'ABHYAS.' Conducted at Odisha's Integrated Test Range, the trials focused on key mission objectives, showcasing the effectiveness of the revised robust configuration with a single booster. ABHYAS, designed by DRDO's Aeronautical Development Establishment, serves as a cost-effective alternative for weapon system practice and holds export potential. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulates DRDO for the achievement, emphasizing its significance in enhancing India's defence capabilities.

 

#Indian External Security & Internal Security

3 Army personnel injured in LoC landmine explosion

Three Army personnel were injured in a landmine explosion near the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district. They were patrolling when the mine activated, leading to injuries. Landmines along the LoC can shift due to natural factors, causing these incidents. Similar incidents have occurred in recent months, emphasizing the ongoing danger in the region.

Sunset for MiG 21s as squadron retires fighters after 57 years

The IAF's Uttarlai (Rajasthan) based 4 Squadron has been operating various types of MiG 21 for 57 years and was one of the last three remaining units operating the Bison version of the aircraft. The two remaining MiG 21 Bison squadrons are expected to phase out the fighters by 2025.

India explores options for release of ex-Navy personnel awarded death sentence in Qatar

Qatar does not have a widespread record of executing people lodged in its jail. According to Amnesty International, the country executed one condemned Nepali migrant worker in 2020, that too after a 20-year hiatus. The Gulf state had once said that a death sentence was equivalent to a life sentence.

India to establish defence wings around the world, says Army Chief

Chief of Army Staff Chief Gen Manoj Pande emphasized India's outlook, focusing on respecting sovereignty and territorial integrity, peaceful dispute resolution, and adherence to international rules and regulations, amid ongoing border tensions with China. He highlighted India's commitment to engaging stakeholders positively and expanding defense cooperation outreach with friendly foreign partner nations.

CSIR-NIIST, HAL sign MoU to strengthen indigenisation in aerospace, defence sectors

The CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST), based in Kerala, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) in Bengaluru to collaborate in India's aerospace and defense sectors.

Govt reserved 75 % of defence capital acquisition budget for purchases from local companies: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh

The move is to ensure adequate demand assurance for the domestic industries, he said at the 'India Manufacturing Show-2023' here, as he listed the steps taken for MSMEs in the defence sector. "We are the first government which imposed restrictions on itself for the import of weapons. We released five positive indigenisation lists, under which 509 equipment have been identified, the manufacturing of which will now take place in India.

Sunset for MiG 21s as squadron retires fighters after 57 years

The IAF's Uttarlai (Rajasthan) based 4 Squadron has been operating various types of MiG 21 for 57 years and was one of the last three remaining units operating the Bison version of the aircraft. The two remaining MiG 21 Bison squadrons are expected to phase out the fighters by 2025.

Trouble in India’s Eastern Neighbourhood

Trouble is brewing in India’s eastern neighborhood. Both Bangladesh and Myanmar are experiencing uprisings of different natures. In Myanmar, a pro-India group and its alliance seem to be gaining control, indicating a shift in power dynamics. However, the situation in Bangladesh raises concerns.

Myanmar military says lost control of Chinshwehaw town on the Chinese border

Myanmar's military has lost control of a strategic town on the Chinese border following days of clashes with ethnic armed groups, in what analysts say is the biggest military challenge it has faced since seizing power. Myanmar's borderlands are home to more than a dozen ethnic armed groups, some of which have fought the military for decades over autonomy and control of lucrative resources.

Bhutan is not giving in to China's hardball diplomacy

Beijing has continued to up the ante against Bhutan. In 2020, it laid claim to the Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary, home to some of the world's most-endangered mammals, in the east of Bhutan. The fact that this sanctuary can be accessed only through the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh suggests that the move was directed against both Bhutan and India.
Against this backdrop, it is scarcely a surprise that a Sino-Bhutanese border settlement is still not on the cards. Indeed, Bhutanese Prime Minister Lotay Tshering said in March that demarcation of the frontiers of Bhutan, China and India where they converge at the Doklam Plateau can be done only trilaterally.
Bhutan remains treaty-bound to respect Indian interests. India remains opposed to the cession of Bhutanese territory to China, particularly around the Doklam Plateau. So while Bhutan and China may reach more incremental agreements on how to take forward their talks, the end still appears nowhere in sight.

Have heart-to-heart conversation: Rajnath Singh to Meitei, Kuki communities in Manipur

"The Northeast has been peaceful in the last nine years. However, we have witnessed violence in Manipur and it is painful for us," Singh said