Lt Gen Hardev Singh Lidder’s book on Operation Sarp Vinash shows why the Indian Army’s 2003 campaign to clear terrorist strongholds in Rajouri-Poonch still matters today.
Zoya & Ayan, 13 were killed when a Pakistani shell struck their home in Poonch. Their father, still being treated for his injuries, is unaware of their deaths.
As areas along LoC saw Pakistani firing & shelling following Op Sindoor, civic volunteers stepped in to evacuate families, offering food, water & bedding—often in their own homes.
Qari Mohammad Iqbal, the teacher, was wrongly portrayed as ‘terrorist’ by several media outlets. Other victims of Pakistan shelling recall blasts; some of them escaped miraculously.
The collusion between the new class of bureaucrats, politicians, businessmen and trade union bosses perpetuates itself partly because of the short-run benefits and partly because they see no way out of the system, wrote author MH Mody in 1980.
IAF is firming up plans to revamp airlift capabilities with medium transport aircraft that will be assembled in India & serve as its main workhorse. Embraer is leading contender as of now.
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