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[Stratpost]
A line of MV-22 Osprey aircraft from Marine Medium Tilt-Rotor Squadron 266 arrives at Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy, Sept. 10, 2010. The squadron is deployed aboard USS Kearsarge, which is en route to provide relief to flood-stricken regions of Pakistan. US Navy photo by Lt. Cmdr. ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Navy today successfully test-fired several surface-to-air missiles to assess its air defence capabilities, officials said. Three surface-to-air missile tests were carried out in Sonmiani area of Sindh province, a navy spokesman said, adding all missiles hit their targets precisely. Naval chief Admiral Noman Bashir and Air Defence Commander Vice Admiral Tayyab Ali Dogar witnessed the drill. "The successful testing will add to the defence capability of the Pakistan Navy," Bashir said. A combination of surface-to-air missiles was tested, the navy said in a statement. The "fire and forget" missiles are equipped with highly sensitive infrared homing heads that can intercept high speed aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles. These weapons give the navy the flexibility to operate with various missiles and strengthen the ground-based air defence, the statement said. The area of responsibility of the navy's Air Defence Battalion stretches from Sir Creek in the east to Jiwani in the west, it added. [Stratpost]
India has denied accreditation to members of the Chinese media for reporting the air show, Aero India 2011, beginning in Bangalore next week. This came out at the press conference held by the Secretary for Defense Production, Raj Kumar Singh to brief the media on the show. A Chinese journalist present at the conference complained that he and his colleagues had been unable to register for accreditation as the online registration form did not provide China as an option. Singh was seen consulting his colleagues seated with him on the issue and as it turned out, they informed the media present that this was done on the direction of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, which has approved the list of countries from whom participation has been invited. Besides China, Pakistan and Iran are also missing from the list of approved countries, both in terms of media accreditation as well as participation from vendors. “China was sent an invite for the last edition, but it did not participate. PESHAWAR: About 22,000 people have fled the Mohmand tribal region of northwest Pakistan after the military launched an operation there last month to flush out Taliban fighters, according to officials. The military operation has forced 14,700 people to flee their homes in the semi-autonomous tribal region bordering Afghanistan, an official of the local political administration told PTI on condition of anonymity. Other officials put the figure of displaced people at nearly 22,000. "Many more residents of Mohmand Agency are leaving their homes as the security forces have intensified the operation that began on January 27," the official of the political administration said. The military has used combat aircraft, heavy artillery and ground forces to target militants in Saafi, Khwezai, Pindyali and Ambar areas of Mohmand Agency. Nearly 100 militants have been killed so far, officials said. There have been reports of casualties among the security forces and civilians but this could not be independently confirmed. [Stratpost]
The Indo-Asian News Service (IANS) has reported that Chinese officials and media are now welcome to attend the air show, Aero India 2011, that begins in Bangalore on Wednesday. A week before the show, top officials in the Indian Defense Ministry said in New Delhi that Chinese officials and media had not been invited to the show on the directions of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). A Chinese journalist had complained on Tuesday at the Defense Ministry briefing on the air show that he and his colleagues had been unable to register for accreditation as the online registration form did not provide China as an option. The IANS news report from Bangalore says, “India Sunday changed its mind and has now asked Beijing to send a two-member delegation and a media representative to the biennial event.” “Defense ministry officials said here that in consultation with the external affairs ministry, the invitation was sent to China asking it to send a two-member official delegation and a journalist based in their embassy here to the air show,” said the report, and quoted an unnamed source as saying, “The external affairs ministry has now given its nod to invite the Chinese delegation and their visit is being facilitated. New Delhi — The prestigious $10.2 billion contract to sell India 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) will undoubtedly heat up during the forthcoming Aero-India Show 2011 in Bangalore. The main contenders for the MMRCA race will be highlighting the salient features of their aircraft in full-flight displays at the show during the second week of February. While the main MMRCA contenders have confirmed their participation at the Aero-India show, only the Russian MiG-35 which is in the MMRCA race will not be showcasing its fighter craft. The Indian defence ministry is currently persuading the Russian contender to make its presence felt at the airshow. While the MiG-35 may not make it to the airshow, a Russian delegation is surely expected in India for Aero-India 2011. The other five contenders for the MMRCA include Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet, Lockheed Martin’s F-16 Super Viper, Eurofighter’s Typhoon, Dassault Aviation’s Rafale and Saab’s Gripen. Barring Russia, each contender is bringing in two to three aircraft along with elaborate teams and flight simulators for displays since India will make a choice in July this year. ISLAMABAD: A suicide bombing at an army recruitment centre in northwest Pakistan on Thursday killed at least 10 people, said a police official. Residents said the bomber struck while recruits were conducting morning training in the town of Mardan. PESHAWAR: A teen suicide bomber in a school uniform attacked soldiers during morning exercises at a Pakistani army training camp on Thursday, killing 27 troops and wounding 40 others, police and the military said. The attack in the northwest town of Mardan showed that despite years of army operations against their hideouts along Pakistan's border with Afghanistan, Taliban and al-Qaida-linked fighters retain the ability to strike back. It was one of the worst attacks on security forces in recent months. Senior police official Abdullah Khan said 27 soldiers died and around 40 were wounded, some critically. Khan said an examination of the body parts at the scene indicated the bomber was a teenage boy, which is a common finding in suicide bombings in Pakistan. The army, which tends to release information much slower, put the death toll in an earlier statement at 20 and confirmed the general circumstances. Despite his apparent disguise, the bomber's ability to get his explosives into the facility undetected signalled a failure on the part of the military. PESHAWAR: A suicide bomber in a school uniform attacked soldiers during morning exercises at a Pakistani army training camp on Thursday, killing 20 troops and wounding 20 others, police and the military said. The attack in the northwest town of Mardan showed that despite years of army operations against their hideouts along Pakistan's border with Afghanistan, Taliban and al-Qaida-linked fighters retain the ability to strike back. It was one of the worst attacks on security forces in recent months. The army confirmed the casualties and circumstances in a statement. Police official Abdullah Khan said some wounded were in critical condition. Despite his apparent disguise, the bomber's ability to get his explosives into the facility undetected signalled a failure on the part of the military. Such army areas are usually heavily guarded, though an attack on the same training facility in 2006 killed 35 soldiers. Troops quickly cordoned off the area and even police had a difficult time getting through. ISLAMABAD: A teenaged suicide bomber in school uniform attacked a military training centre in Pakistan's northwest on Thursday, killing 27 people, most of them soldiers, and injuring at least 40. The attacker, said to be around 14, walked into Punjab regiment headquarters' parade ground in Mardan, 115km north-west of Islamabad, and blew himself up as army recruits were lining up for the morning parade, officials and eyewitnesses said. An attack on the same facility killed more than 30 soldiers in 2006. "The attacker from a civilian school near the academy was wearing a suicide jacket and carrying a school bag,'' said police officer Abdullah Khan. Soldiers in bullet-proof jackets and helmets cordoned off the blast scene standing alert on jeeps mounted with machine guns to prevent access to the site. Pakistani Taliban spokesman Azam Tariq claimed responsibility for the attack and said it was carried out to avenge American drone strikes and Pakistani military operations in the country's tribal areas. |
