December 16-31, 2016
Defence
AGNI-V: Enhances India’s Strategic Deterrence Capabilities
On 26 Dec 2016 India conducted the fourth and final test-firing of its most formidable missile, the Agni-V. Post the successful testing of the Agni-V, India has entered into an exclusive club of countries (US, Russia, China, France and UK) which hold ICBMs in their inventory.
With a range of over 5,000-km the Agni-V is a 50-tonne missile which is powered by three-stage rocket motors and is designed to carry a 1.5-tonne nuclear tipped warhead. The present test was launched from a missile canister. This is significant as it gives the missile greater survivability as well as gives the armed forces the requisite operational flexibility to swiftly transport and launch the missile from wherever required. In addition, the hermetically-sealed canister also gives the missile higher reliability, enhanced mobility, less maintenance and longer shelf-life. The missile will now undergo user-trials before entering into full-scale production and induction.
While it would take another couple of years for the Agni-V to be inducted into India’s arsenal, there is no denying the fact that the Agni-V is a "game-changer" in strategic deterrence as with its enhanced range it now brings the whole of China and much more within its range.
Indo-Russia Bilateral Naval Exercise (INDRA NAVY - 16)
The 9th edition of INDRA NAVY, an annual bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian Navy and Russian Navy was held in the Bay of Bengal from 14 to 21 December 16.The primary aim of exercise was to increase inter-operability amongst the two navies and develop a common understanding and procedures for maritime security operations. The scope of the exercise included wide-ranging professional interactions in harbour and operational activities across the spectrum of maritime operations at sea.During the exercise, the Indian Navy was represented by INS Ranvir, a guided missile destroyer, INS Satpura, an indigenous frigate, and INS Kamorta, an indigenous Anti Submarine Warfare(ASW) corvette. In addition, an IN submarine, P8I Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft, Dornier Short Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft, Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer and other integral rotary wing helicopters participated in the exercise. The Russian Federation Navy (RFN) was represented by ships from the Pacific Fleet, based at Vladivostok, namely Admiral Tributs, a destroyerand Boris Butoma, a fleet tanker.
The exercise was held at a rather opportune time, especially when considering the recent proximity that Russia has exhibited in its relations with China and Pakistan. The Indian Navy has had a long history of very close association with the Russian Navy since a number of its platforms are of Russian origin, one of the most recent being the aircraft carrier Vikramaditya, the erstwhile Russian ship Admiral Gorshkov. India and Russia share a deep strategic relationship with cooperation extending across the entire spectrum of national defence. The Indian Armed Forces are still heavily reliant on Russian technology for a number of important platforms like armoured vehicles, submarines, and fighter aircraft as also weapons and sensors. India and Russia also share development partnerships in a number of future projects. It is therefore extremely important that India should bolster this relationship with Russia which has provided the critical leverage necessary in India’s relations with the world during very testing times. Conduct of exercises like INDRA with the involvement of all the three service of the two nations serves to foster mutual respect and strengthen confidence which will enable this bilateral relationship to become stronger in the future.
Internal Security
Investigation against Terror Funding in Jammu & Kashmir
The National Investigating Agency (NIA) has initiated investigation into large scale transfer of funds from Pakistan to India through the import of Californian Almonds via Cross-Line of Control (LoC) trade mechanism at Trade Facilitation Centres (TFCs) located at Salamabad, Uri, District Baramulla and the Chakkan-da-Bagh in Poonch district of J&K. Such transfers of funds is in violation of the state policy of prohibition of trade in ‘third-party origin goods’ through illicit mechanism. NIA suspects that these funds are used for supporting terrorism and separatism in the state. NIA’s New Delhi unit has registered a case under Section 17 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 and also scheduled under NIA Act. The NIA team has filed an FIR before the NIA Special Court at Jammu and conducted searches and seized several incriminating documents, at several places connected with the alleged crime.
NIA Special Court awards Capital Punishment to Indian Mujahedeen (IM) Terrorists
The NIA special court convicted five IM terrorists on December 13, 2016 in the Dilsukh Nagar, Hyderabad twin blast case of 2013. In the 31 month long trial, the NIA Special Court awarded death sentence to all the five convicted on December 19, 2016. This is the first major conviction of IM terrorists in the country. The convicts include the IM co-founder Mohammed Ahmed Siddibapa, alias Yasin Bhatkal who was arrested in a closely coordinated operation with the intelligence agencies.
NIA Files Charge Sheet against JeM Leaders in Pathankot Terror Attack Case
A comprehensive charge sheet was filled by the NIA in the NIA Special Court on December 19, 2016 in connection with the Pathankot terrorist attack case of January 2016. It may be recalled that during the intense gun battle at Pathankot air base on January 2, 2016, seven security personnel and four Pakistani terrorists belonging to the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorist outfit were killed. The investigation included analysis of electronic inputs, voice sampling, tracing of international call details, examination of witnesses, complicated DNA profiling etc. against JeM leaders Maulana Masood Azhar and Mufti Abdul Rauf. Evidences include detail intercepts and statements of witnesses that Kashif Jan and Shahid Latif who had guided, equipped and launched the four terrorists, have also been named as accused.
Fake Currency Racket – Abdul Sala, prominent aide of Dawood, Arrested on Deportation from Saudi Arabia
Prominent aide of Dawood Ibrahim, Abdul Salem was arrested by the NIA at the Indira Gandhi International Airport on December 22, 2016. Abdul Salam is known for collaborating with members of Dawood Ibrahim gang and was deported by the Saudi authorities. Salam who hails from Malappuram, Kerala, was wanted by the NIA in a 2014 case of fake currency seizure of over Rs 9 lakh at the Nedumbassery airport in Kerala. A case was first registered by the Kerala Police in January 2013 following the apprehension of Abid Chullikulavan Hassan by the custom officials at the Nedumbassery International airport. Investigation was taken over by the NIA in July 2014. The NIA statement said that Abdul Salam was a part of the criminal conspiracy to smuggle fake Indian currency to India via the United Arab Emirates. The statement also said that Salam had facilitated the smuggling through Abid Chullikulavan Hassan. The handing over of the wanted criminal was executed under a joint cooperation between India and Saudi Arabia formalised during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Riyadh in May 2016.
LET Militants Flee from Security Forces’ (SF) cordon in Haijan, Bandipora
Three Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants fled from a cordon in Hajan area of Bandipora District in Kashmir in the early morning of December 22, 2016. The militants who were hiding in the village were identified as Musaib, Maviya and Khitab, all Pakistanis, who had infiltrated into Kashmir and were operating in the area for past few months. On a tip off, the security forces cordoned the area but the locals pelted stones and facilitated fleeing of the three militants. Militants also fired several rounds at the armed forces personnel before fleeing. The army and state police launched combing operation in the area; however, no one was arrested.
International Terrorism
Attack in Christmas Market, Berlin
After months of warning of possible terror attacks during the end of the year festive season in the United States (US) and Europe, Germany finally became a victim. Threat perceptions had increased manifold due to the ongoing coalition military operations in Iraq and Syria, both from the terrorists and the over ground radicalised elements, particularly in Europe. On 19 December, a black truck ‘ploughed’ into a Christmas market filled with revelers in Berlin and killed 12 people and injured more than 50 others. This was a grim reminder of a similar attack in Nice (in France) in July 2016, in which 86 persons were killed. The attack was carried out by a Tunisian named Anis Amri. The Daesh claimed responsibility by hailing the ‘martyrdom’ of its ‘soldiers’. While these are not orchestrated or coordinated attacks, the rising trend of individuals taking to acts of terror fits well into Daesh’s scheme of things, particularly at this juncture when radicalization is noticeably rising in Europe.
The problem is likely to get more acute as Europe is currently facing threats not only from major outfits such as Daesh, Al-Qaeda or Jabhat Fateh al-Sham (formerly Al-Nusra Front), but also from self-radicalised people, criminals who are teaming up with returning foreign fighters in countries such as France and Belgium. In the recent months, Daesh-related documents have been recovered in Syria, containing plans for external operations against the Western interests. Although precautionary measures were in place, activities of low-lying individuals are becoming difficult to detect and prevent. Social-media propaganda campaigns by Daesh supporters are being well-received by uninitiated sympathizers. Its latest English publication, Rumiyah, called for more ‘lone’ attacks, even describing the types of knives to be used by ‘jihadists’ and urging them to intensify their activities in “quiet neighbourhoods, beaches, allays and forests for a reasonable kill count”. These methods have been increasingly used in the recent times during both inspired and directed attacks, and repetition of similar carnage should not be ruled out.
Mosul Liberation Campaign
The coalition campaign for the liberation of Mosul in Iraq was paused for a few days during mid-December, mainly to avoid further casualties to the Iraqi Security Force (ISF) and other partners involved in the operation. Speaking on this issue, a senior US military official said, “The U.S.-trained Golden Brigade, the first of three brigades of the CTS [Counter Terrorism Service], is facing a 50% casualty rate and could be rendered combat ineffective in a month if the rate remains constant”. This was mainly in eastern Mosul, and as a result, during this period, the ISF decided to rely more on “artillery and precision airstrikes”. Iraqi and US commanders envisaged tough resistance from Daesh in the days to come. As the operation progressed, the fight against Daesh is getting more difficult due to the changing tactics of the outfit’s fighters. For instance, Daesh fighters even used home-made parachutes to drop explosives. There were also reports of Daesh specifically targeting civilians in eastern Mosul with mortars and explosives and killing those who tried to flee. Meanwhile, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi expressed hope that Iraqi troops, backed by US-led military coalition, would flush out Daesh from the country, even as a top US general predicted another “two years of hard work to clear the so called Islamic State from its twin capitals of Mosul and Raqqa”.
After a brief pause, the second phase of the operation was launched on 29 December. With increased deployments, ISF could make further gains in eastern Mosul and five neighborhoods were recaptured. With these, ISF is inching closer to Mosul’s airport and military base. Following these gains, it is expected that Daesh’s attacks not only in Mosul but also in other cities, including Baghdad, will increase in the coming days. Its capacity to fight back, was seen in late December and early January when a few blasts in Baghdad, pushed back the coalition forces. Daesh also attempted to cut the supply routes connecting Baghdad and Mosul but failed. As a result, it is going to be a major challenge for the Iraqi prime minister to unite all the sects and tribes in his fight against this dreaded outfit. The security challenges ahead are enormous as there are higher chances of Daesh fighters regrouping in some areas which were liberated earlier.
