SPECIAL FRONTIER FORCE vs CHINA’S MILITARY MIGHT

SPECIAL FRONTIER FORCE vs CHINA’S MILITARY MIGHT:

Special Frontier Force vs China - Military Might: Mr. Harsh V Pant, Department of Defence Studies, King's College, London discussed the problem of increased defence spending by China.
Special Frontier Force vs China – Military Might: Mr. Harsh V Pant, Department of Defence Studies, King’s College, London discussed the problem of increased defence spending by China.

Special Frontier Force is a military organization founded by the United States, India, and Tibet to contain the military threat posed by Communist China’s military occupation of Tibet since 1950. Its military mission visualizes the eviction of the military occupier of Tibet through military action. In my opinion, China’s military power, military strategy and military tactics will not assure the inevitability of peace that is imposed by China by its occupation of Tibet. Peace and War are conditions that prevail in relationship with an external reality called Natural Order. Tibetan Resistance is the symptom of the absence of Natural Order. Tibetan Resistance will prevail and Resistance will endure if Natural Order is not restored in Tibet. It is true that China rules Tibet with an Iron Fist. Resistance will endure, and Resistance will prevail to break the knuckles of the military grip over Tibet. I am pleased to share this article written by Mr. Harsh V Pant, Department of Defence Studies, King College, London on the problem of China’s military spending.

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BRACE FOR CHINESE MILITARY MIGHT

By Harsh V Pant

Special Frontier Force vs China's Military Might: Mr. Harsh V Pant, Department of Defence Studies, King's College, London expressed his serious concern about China's growing military spending.
Special Frontier Force vs China’s Military Might: Mr. Harsh V Pant, Department of Defence Studies, King’s College, London expressed his serious concern about China’s growing military spending.

Published: 13th February 2014 06:00 AM

The author is a reader in international relations, department of defence studies, King’s College, London.

It is being estimated that China’s defence budget will reach a whopping US $148 billion in 2014, second only to the defence budget of the USA and leaving behind the combined defence budgets of western nations such as Germany, France and the United Kingdom.
China’s defence budget has risen each year for two decades and the trend shows no sign of abating. Thanks to rapidly rising defence expenditures by China and Russia, global defence spending is rising for the first time in five years. Across Asia-Pacific, there is an arms race brewing as nations try to secure their interests at a time of geopolitical transition. The region is likely to account for nearly 28 per cent of global defence spending by 2020.

Last year China had hiked its defence budget by 10.7 per cent to USD 115.7 billion, well above India’s defence spending of USD 37.4 billion. While its civilian leadership has tried to downplay the increase suggesting much of it will go to human resources development, infrastructure and training, it is the response of the Chinese military that should be a matter of concern. The military has been unambiguous in suggesting when it comes to military spending, there is no need for China “to care about what others may think”.

Divisions within China about the future course of the nation’s foreign policy are starker than ever before. It is now being suggested that much like young Japanese officers in the 1930s, young Chinese military officers are increasingly taking charge of strategy with the result that rapid military growth is shaping the nation’s broader foreign policy objectives.

Civil-military relations in China are under stress with the PLA asserting its pride more forcefully than even before and demanding respect from other states. Not surprisingly, China has been more aggressive in asserting its interests not only vis-à-vis India but also vis-à-vis the US, the EU, Japan and Southeast Asian states. There is a sense that China can now prevail in conflicts with its regional adversaries. Some voices have openly called for wars.

The Air Force Colonel, Dai Xu, has argued that in light of China’s disputes with Japan in the East China Sea and Vietnam and the Philippines in the South China Sea, a short, decisive war, like the 1962 border clash with India, would deliver long-term peace. This would be possible, as Washington would not risk war with China over these territorial spats, according to this assessment.

The increasing assertion by the Chinese military and changing balance of power in the nation’s civil-military relations is a real cause of concern for China’s neighbours. The pace of Chinese military modernisation has already taken the world by surprise and it is clear that the process is going faster than many had anticipated. China launched its first aircraft carrier last year as well as several versions of new fighter jets including a stealth fighter bracing to deal with big US military push into Asia-Pacific.

A growing economic power, China is now concentrating on the accretion of military might so as to secure and enhance its own strategic interests. China, which has the largest standing army in the world with more than 2.3 million members, continues to make the most dramatic improvements in its nuclear force among the five nuclear powers, and improvements in conventional military capabilities are even more impressive.
What has been causing concern in Asia and beyond is the opacity that seems to surround China’s military build-up, with an emerging consensus that Beijing’s real military spending is at least double the announced figure. Tensions are escalating between China and its neighbours. Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe has suggested the two countries are “in a similar situation” to Germany and Britain just before the outbreak of World War One.

At this critical juncture in the regional strategic landscape, India’s own defence modernisation programme is faltering despite this being at a time when India is expected to spend $112 billion on capital defence acquisitions over the next five years in what is being described as “one of the largest procurement cycles in the world”. Indian military planners are shifting their focus away from Pakistan as China takes centre-stage in future strategic planning.

Over the past two decades, the military expenditure of India has been around 2.75 per cent but since India has been experiencing significantly higher rates of economic growth over the last decade compared to any other time in its history, the overall resources that it has been able to allocate to its defence needs has grown significantly. The armed forces for long have been asking for an allocation of 3% of the nation’s GDP to defence.

The Indian Parliament has also underlined the need to aim for the target of 3% of the GDP. Yet as a percentage of the GDP, the annual defence spending has declined to one of its lowest levels since 1962. And now with a slow-down in the Indian economy, the Indian prime minister has suggested that the golden age of defence modernisation is already over.

But defence expenditure alone will not solve all the problems plaguing Indian defence policy. More damagingly, for the last several years now the defence ministry has been unable to spend its budgetary allocation. The defence acquisition process remains mired in corruption and bureaucratese. India’s indigenous defence production industry has time and again made its inadequacy to meet the demands of the armed forces apparent. The Indian armed forces keep waiting for arms while the finance ministry is left with unspent budget year after year. Most large procurement programmes get delayed resulting in cost escalation and technological or strategic obsolescence of the budgeted items. The present defence minister has been one of the most ineffective leaders of India’s defence establishment.

The Indian government is yet to demonstrate the political will to tackle the defence policy paralysis that is rendering all the claims of India’s rise as a military power increasingly hollow. The capability differential between China and India is rising at an alarming rate. Without a radical overhaul of the national security apparatus, Indian defence planners will not be able to manage China’s rise.

An effective defence policy is not merely about deterring China. But if not tackled urgently, India will lose the confidence to conduct its foreign policy unhindered from external and internal security challenges.

Whole Dude – Whole Threat

Kosovo’s Independence – A threat to India

Kosovo’s independence a threat to India.

KOSOVO-A TINY, ECONOMICALLY STAGNANT BREAKAWAY PROVINCE OF SERBIA

Kosovo’s independence – A threat to India

James Palmer is a student in the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts, U.S.A.(james.palmer@tufts.edu) In a guest editorial titled ‘ U.S. blunders by recognizing Kosovo independence’ that was published in The Detroit Free Press on Monday, March 31, 2008, he claims that the decision to recognize Kosovo’s independence is foolish. In doing so, he states that the United States and its European allies have undermined international law and opened the door to separatist movements world wide to follow suit.

THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE INTERNATIONAL LAW:

Kosovo’s independence – A threat to India

The United Nations Charter enshrines the inviolability of state sovereignty. Mr. Palmer argues that in recognizing Kosovo without a UN Security Council Resolution, the United States and its European allies have weakened two of the fundamental principles of international law: that states are free to determine their internal composition and that their territorial integrity must be respected. Security Council Resolution 1244 placed Kosovo under the UN administration and provided for Kosovo’s autonomy within Serbia. Now, the administrative authority is transferred from the UN sanctioned mission in Kosovo to an EU mission that has no legal mandate in the province. The main problem is that Kosovo’s independence undermines a system of international law. Kosovo’s independence sets the precedent for ethnic enclaves within other sovereign states. As per Mr. Palmer, the dangerous precedent it has created is: the carving off of a sovereign state’s territory in favor of an ethnic and religious minority threatening violence – a model to be replicated elsewhere.

America has been making ill-fated decisions in the Balkans for at least a decade and a half. Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence has only re inflamed the divisions and enmities of the 1990s. Mr. Palmer warns that the ethnic Albanians in the states of Bosnia, Macedonia and Montenegro are emboldened and they are calling for creation of “greater Albania” which would result in a new round of ethnic cleansing and more violence.

KOSOVO AND KASHMIR – AMERICAN POLICY:

Kosovo’s independence – A threat to India

America and its European ally Great Britain have consistently worked to undermine the interests of India in the United Nations and the Security Council had passed resolutions which ignore India’s territorial integrity and India’s sovereignty over areas of Kashmir that Pakistan illegally occupied during its wars of aggression in 1947-48 (First Kashmir War).

Kosovo’s independence – A threat to India. Soviet Prime Minister Nikita Khrushchev in Srinagar, Kashmir in 1955.

India could protect its vital interests in the Security Council only on account of the help provided by the Soviet Union. Leaders of USSR, Nikita Khrushchev (1953-1964) and Leonid Brezhnev (1964-1982) played the role of a life savior and had helped India to defend its position with regard to Kashmir. At the end of the cold war, America to exercise its role as the world’s only Super Power had changed its attitude towards the basic principles of the United Nations Charter which govern international relations. America would now like to intervene on its own initiative without obtaining a mandate from the United Nations. American support to militant groups based in Kashmir clearly poses a great threat to India’s sovereignty over Kashmir and India should protect itself from the dangerous precedent created by the unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo.

Kosovo’s independence threatens the Republic of India due to the threat posed by American interventionism.

Whole Scholar – Islamic Scholar of Indian Army delivers Sermon in Kaptai, Bangladesh

A Personal Tribute to Colonel B K Narayan, The Regiment of Artillery, Indian Army.
Whole Dude – Whole Scholar: Operation Eagle 1971-72. A Sermon in Kaptai, Bangladesh

GLORIOUS QURAN – SURAH VIII – SPOILS OF WAR, VERSE 61: “AND IF THEY INCLINE TO PEACE, INCLINE THOU ALSO TO IT, AND TRUST IN ALLAH. LO! HE IS THE HEARER, THE KNOWER.”

Whole Dude – Whole Scholar: Operation Eagle 1971-72. A Sermon in Kaptai, Bangladesh.

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO SAINT MATTHEW, CHAPTER 5, VERSE 9: “BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS, FOR THEY WILL BE CALLED SONS OF GOD “

Whole Dude – Whole Scholar: Operation Eagle 1971-72. A Sermon in Kaptai, Bangladesh.
Whole Dude – Whole Scholar: The military operation – Operation Eagle 1971 in the Chittagong Hill Tracts was inclined towards PEACE. A Sermon in Kaptai, Bangladesh.

Operation Eagle 1971 was conceived by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to deliver peace to the people of Bangladesh who had earlier declared their independence from Pakistan. I had the good fortune to serve under the Command of an Islamic Scholar who had performed Hajj and who had retained the entire book of Holy Quran in his memory and a true master of Islamic religious tradition and rituals of worship. Peace is the greeting of the Righteous. The Righteous while engaged in war are inclined towards Peace. My South Column Infantry Unit Commander of Operation Eagle, Lieutenant Colonel B K Narayan belonged to the Regiment of Artillery and during the time I spent with him I learned about the peace traditions of Righteous Muslims. Kindly read my personal tribute to this Islamic Scholar who had served Indian Army in its Olive Green Uniform. 

Whole Dude – Whole Scholar: Operation Eagle 1971-72. A Sermon in Kaptai, Bangladesh
Whole Dude – Whole Scholar: Operation Eagle 1971-72. A Sermon in Kaptai, Bangladesh.

http://bhavanajagat.wordpress.com/2007/09/22/a-sermon-in-kaptai-bangladesh/

A Personal Tribute to Lieutenant Colonel B K Narayan, The Regiment of Artillery, Indian Army. An Islamic Scholar Who Served in Olive Green Uniform. The Imam of Friday Prayer in Kaptai on December 17, 1971.

A Sermon in Kaptai, Bangladesh Ops 1971-72. A personal tribute to Lieutenant Colonel B K Narayan, the Regiment of Artillery. An Islamic Scholar who served in Olive Green Uniform. The Imam of Friday Prayer on December 17, 1971.
A Sermon in Kaptai, Bangladesh Ops 1971-72. A personal tribute to Lieutenant Colonel B K Narayan, Islamic Scholar who served in Olive Green Uniform. The Imam of Friday Prayer in Kaptai on December 17, 1971: Glorious Quran, Surah VIII, SPOILS OF WAR, Verse 01: “And if they incline to peace, incline thou also to it, and trust in Allah.Lo! He is the Hearer, the Knower.”

I was in college from 1962 to 1965 and obtained the Bachelor of Science degree from Osmania University, Hyderabad. I remember this period as the Golden Age of immortal Mohd. Rafi whose melodies still fill my ears. I grew up in this cradle of Urdu language Culture and had acquired my love for ghazals and qawwalis. I spent time in Lucknow, a crown jewel in the Urdu speaking world, where you meet in the market place, ordinary folks who speak in tones that have made the language famous for its sweetness. Much later, I had served in the Royal Oman Army and took my first lesson in Arabic language. My love for Urdu and my Knowledge of Arabic language pales when I write about this Islamic Scholar and Arabic language expert whom I met in India during 1971. He passed away on Sunday, May 2, 2004, in Bahrain where he worked for over 20 years as the Head of the Translation Department at the Bahrain Archives. This is not a tribute about his academic accomplishments, the books that he had published, his military career or about his famous friendly relationship with President Gamal Abdel Nasser and President Anwar Sadat of Egypt. I am writing this tribute to recognize his personal qualities and the values that he had promoted. I am writing this tribute to recognize him as a “peacemaker.” He represents a symbol of hope and the light that he had shown may lead us on to a path of peaceful co-existence.

A personal tribute to Lieutenant Colonel B K Narayan, an Islamic Scholar who served in Olive Green Uniform. The Imam of Friday Prayer in Kaptai on December 17, 1971: ” (This is) a Scripture that We have revealed unto thee, full of blessing, that they may ponder its revelations, and that men of understanding may reflect “.(Holy Book of Quran, Surah XXXVIII, “SAAD” verse 29)

I met Lieutenant Colonel.B K Narayan in Demagiri, Mizoram in October 1971. He hails from  Karnataka, and he grew up as a Hindu. We gathered in Demagiri to make preparations to launch Operation Eagle in support of Bangla Muslims seeking freedom from military dictatorship imposed by Pakistan. In Demagiri, I reported to him to serve as his Medical Officer of the South Column Unit. He had the unique distinction of commanding an Infantry Unit in the conduct of War while he belonged to The Regiment of Artillery. I have not known a ‘GUNNER’ who could plan and execute Infantry Attacks on Enemy posts. Colonel Iqbal Singh, the Chief of Staff at the Force Headquarters also belonged to The Regiment of Artillery. But, the role played by Colonel Narayan as an Infantry Commander during War is exceptional and has no comparisons that I am aware of. I had the opportunity to converse with him for extended periods of time and came to know his admirable personality. It is not the knowledge of Arabic language that has made him unique and sets him apart from all other language experts. He is special because of his love for Islamic Culture and his ability to project the deep understanding of that Culture when he speaks to others. He performed the holy pilgrimage of Hajj and had observed all the rituals of that spiritual journey like a true and devout Muslim. When he narrated his Hajj experience, I could know the sense of joy and the purity of his intentions. His observance of Hajj, a ritual performed by all devout Muslims, was genuine, real to its core.

A Sermon in Kaptai, Bangladesh Ops 1971-72. A personal tribute to Lieutenant Colonel B K Narayan, an Islamic Scholar who served in Olive Green Uniform. On Friday, December 10, 1971, the South Column Unit under his Command fought a furious battle with Pakistan’s Security Forces just east of Barkal and forced them into a retreat On Friday, December 17, 1971, Colonel Narayan conducted the Friday Worship Service in Kaptai acting as the Imam of Friday Prayer.

From Tlabung, Demagiri, South Column marched to Borunasury and then we marched towards Barkal after neutralizing the enemy post at Jalanpara and had encounters with aggressive enemy patrolling to resist our advance at two other locations. Finally, on Friday, December 10, 1971, the enemy fought a very decisive battle on the east side of Karnaphuli River to stop our advance towards Barkal. After losing the battle, the enemy promptly beat a retreat and withdrew from Barkal, Rangamati, Kaptai, and further moved out of Chittagong without putting up a fight. Col Narayan was able to quote the Quran from his memory and would convey his understanding of the verses with great clarity. I personally witnessed his amazing performance in a little town called Kaptai, on the banks of Karnaphuli Lake, Rangamati Division of Bangladesh. He conducted the Friday Worship Service for the local Bangla Muslims and delivered a sermon which was received with great appreciation by the worshipers. His job in Uniform did not impose any obligation to organize such an event. He held that prayer meeting entirely on his own initiative and it was purely an expression of his love to worship in the Islamic tradition and it also affirms his faith that the worship of God is not limited by one single tradition.

The Friday Prayer Service was held at the State Guest House in Kaptai where I stayed after my Unit had captured Kaptai. It had a large Conference Room. Col Narayan contacted the Muslim Clerics of the local Masjid and they were absolutely delighted when they met him. His Scholarship and devotion to Islam had captivated them and they immediately agreed to convene the local congregation at the Guest House and organize the Friday Prayer Service. The Conference Hall got totally packed with worshipers. I could watch the proceedings directly from my room in the State Guest House. The Bangla Muslim Community of Kaptai were truly appreciative of Colonel Narayan and his military campaign for bringing Peace and Joy to their Community.

I knew Colonel Narayan’s great admiration for Arab people. He always described them as peace-loving people. He knew this as a fact and it was based upon his understanding of Islamic Culture and traditions. I would describe Colonel Narayan as God’s humble servant. It is important to remember and pay tribute to such “peacemakers” as we can achieve true peace through reflecting and understanding the revelations from the Holy Scriptures of all people. The Regiment of Artillery of Indian Army must record this historical contribution made by a Gunner officer who served as an Infantry Commander during the Bangladesh Ops of 1971-72.

Special Frontier Force – Establishment Number. 22 – Operation Eagle – Liberation War of Bangladesh 1971:

A personal tribute to Lieutenant Colonel B K Narayan, an Islamic Scholar who served in Olive Green Uniform. The Imam of Friday Prayer in Kaptai on December 17, 1971. OPERATION EAGLE – BANGLADESH OPERATIONS – 1971-72 – A SERMON IN KAPTAI, BANGLADESH

Mrs. Indira Gandhi, Prime Minister of India initiated Liberation of Bangladesh during 1971 with military action in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. The battle plan of this military action is known as Operation Eagle. She conceived this battle plan to bring peace in that region. She was inclined towards peace. She wanted to deliver peace to people of Bangladesh who had earlier declared their independence from Pakistan. During Operation Eagle, Bangladesh Operations of 1971-72, I served in South Column, an Infantry Unit Commanded by Lieutenant Colonel B K Narayan. He was a great Islamic Scholar. He had explained to me that PEACE is the greeting of Righteous people.

A personal tribute to Lieutenant Colonel B K Narayan, an Islamic Scholar who served in Olive Green Uniform. The Imam of Friday Prayer in Kaptai on December 17, 1971. OPERATION EAGLE – BANGLADESH OPERATIONS: The Flag of The Regiment of Artillery of Indian Army. This is a story about a Gunner, an Officer of The Regiment of Artillery who had commanded an Infantry Unit during India-Pakistan War of 1971 and had planned and executed Infantry Assaults on Enemy Posts to Liberate Bangladesh. His Unit was the first to receive the Gallantry Awards of Vir Chakra during the Liberation War of Bangladesh.
The Military Operation in Chittagong Hill Tracts during Indo-Pak War of 1971 aimed at restoring Peace and to help Bangla Muslims to live in Dignity. My Unit had captured Kaptai and this Dam was not targeted for inflicting any kind of damage.
A personal tribute to Lieutenant Colonel B K Narayan, an Islamic Scholar who served in Olive Green Uniform. The Imam of Friday Prayer in Kaptai on December 17, 1971. OPERATION EAGLE – BANGLADESH OPERATIONS: The Military Operation in the Chittagong Hill Tracts during the India-Pakistan War of 1971 aimed at restoring Peace and to deliver Peace to Bangladesh Muslims to help them live in Dignity. My Unit had captured Kaptai and this Dam was not targeted for inflicting any kind of damage. For example, we carried explosives to execute operational plans to evict the enemy but not to harm the people. In any case, Pakistan withdrew its forces after the decisive battle fought on Friday, December 10, 1971.

 

My Unit never discussed any Battle Plan that required blowing up the Dam over Karnaphuli River at Kaptai.
A personal tribute to Lieutenant Colonel B K Narayan, an Islamic Scholar who served in Olive Green Uniform. The Imam of Friday Prayer in Kaptai on December 17, 1971. OPERATION EAGLE – BANGLADESH OPERATIONS: My Unit never discussed any Battle Plan that required blowing up the Dam over Karnaphuli River at Kaptai. However, we discussed the Plan to capture Rangamati, and Kaptai and carried explosives if a contingency arises for their use. The Pakistan Security Forces withdrew from Rangamati and Kaptai without offering any resistance.
OPERATION EAGLE -BANGLADESH OPERATIONS: Major General Sujan Singh Uban, Inspector General of Special Frontier Force, was my Commander during Operation Eagle 1971-72 but he made no mention in his book about the Imam of Friday Prayer in Kaptai’. He did not destroy Kaptai Dam during the 1971 War. His son’s claim about Kaptai Dam is totally incorrect.
A personal tribute to Lieutenant Colonel B K Narayan, an Islamic Scholar who served in Olive Green Uniform. The Imam of Friday Prayer in Kaptai on December 17, 1971. OPERATION EAGLE – BANGLADESH Ops: THE SERMON IN KAPTAI. We helped the Bangladesh Muslims to regain their freedom and dignity. The India-Pakistan War of 1971 and the Birth of Bangladesh are very significant achievements of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. As I was then serving in Establishment No. 22 under the Cabinet Secretariat, I had a direct and personal understanding of her Foreign Policy Initiatives. She personally approved our military Operation in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. In the conduct of this War, we had faced a very critical moment and it needed her personal intervention and a decision that she alone could make. I rendered my services and had overcome the challenge posed by that critical situation. The importance of this situation could be understood as it needed an intervention from the Prime Minister. I am now asking the Government of India to recognize my GALLANT response in enemy’s territory without any concern for my personal safety.
Electricity generated at Kaptai helps to operate Chandraghona Paper Mills near Kaptai.An engineer who had worked in the Paper Mills at Chandraghona, a Bangla Muslim had helped my Unit during our military operation in Chittagong Hill Tracts.When our Unit reached Kaptai, the engineer happily returned to his home. I went and visited the Paper and Rayon Fiber Mill at Chandraghona.
A personal tribute to Lieutenant Colonel B K Narayan, an Islamic Scholar who served in Olive Green Uniform. The Imam of Friday Prayer in Kaptai on December 17, 1971. OPERATION EAGLE 1971: Electricity generated at Kaptai helps to operate Chandraghona Paper Mills near Kaptai.An engineer who had worked in the Paper Mills at Chandraghona, a Bangla Muslim had helped my Unit during our military operation in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. When our Unit reached Kaptai, the engineer happily returned to his home. He had joined Lieutenant Colonel Assar in a military operation at Chittagong. I went and visited the Paper and Rayon Fiber Mill at Chandraghona.
A personal tribute to Lieutenant Colonel B K Narayan, an Islamic Scholar who served in Olive Green Uniform. The Imam of Friday Prayer in Kaptai on December 17, 1971. Lieutenant Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands(December 1985 to December 1989) – Lieutenant General(Retd) TS Oberoi, PVSM, VrC., former General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Headquarters Southern Command, Pune, former Inspector General, Special Frontier Force, former Commandant, Headquarters Establishment No. 22, Commander Operation Eagle –  Bangladesh Ops. He is the tall person in this photo wearing the dark brown turban. I knew him since 1971. Under his able leadership, the Liberation of Bangladesh had commenced in the year 1971 during the Indo-Pak War. Apart from his military wisdom, he took good care of all men under his Command. While I was proceeding to the Chittagong Hill Tracts, he had individually greeted all the members of my team and had delayed the departure of aircraft to ensure that a hot breakfast was served to all the men boarding the aircraft. He paid personal attention to all the aspects of the military mission to ensure the wellbeing of men apart from achieving success in accomplishing the military task. The sense of warmth he radiated is easily felt when we meet him in person. His grandson provided me the link to this photo. Photo Credit – Trishna-Ajay-Picasa Web Album.

R. R. Narasimham, B.Sc., M.B.B.S.,     

Service Number: MS-8466, Rank: Captain Branch: Army Medical Corps/Short Service Regular Commission;

Designation: Medical Officer, South Column, Operation Eagle

Organization: Headquarters Establishment No. 22  C/O 56 APO. Special Frontier Force, Vikas Regiment

My father created the SFF, I commanded it

By Inspector General GURDIP SINGH UBAN (retd)

September 22, 2020 Rediff.com

Major General Sujan Singh Uban, a legendary veteran of the Second World War, was a natural choice to raise, train and command the Special Frontier Force and mould them into a well oiled fighting machine, recalls his son Inspector General Gurdip Singh Uban (retd), who led SFF troops during the Kargil War.

As the Indian Army moved in with their major thrust into East Pakistan, the SFF, while supporting the flank of the Indian Army, by a blitzkrieg, cleared the Chittagong Hill Tracts, destroyed the Kaptai dam and encircled and prevented the escape of Pakistan’s 97 Brigade and No 2 Commando Battalion, all of whom were taken prisoner.

The SFF was poised for the capture of Chittagong port when a ceasefire was declared; a daring move which paid handsome dividends.

This earned them the title ‘Phantoms of Chittagong’.

A personal tribute to Lieutenant Colonel B K Narayan, an Islamic Scholar who served in Olive Green Uniform. The Imam of Friday Prayer in Kaptai on December 17, 1971. The Kaptai Dam was not destroyed during the Bangladesh Ops 1971-72.
A personal tribute to Lieutenant Colonel B K Narayan, an Islamic Scholar who served in Olive Green Uniform. The Imam of Friday Prayer in Kaptai on December 17, 1971.