Sea Guardian-3 Exercises are taking place at a time when China has significantly expanded its maritime presence in the waters of the Indian Ocean. This also includes the construction of a major base in Djibouti in the Horn of Africa and the sale of several modern platforms to regional navies.
- Joint exercise of China and Pakistan at Karachi Port
- Chinese Navy reached Pakistan with its high-tech submarine
- China gave 4 Type-054 A/P frigates to Pakistan Navy
New Delhi : Pakistan Navy and China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy are conducting joint exercises. The Sea Guardian-3, a joint exercise of both the navies, was started on Saturday at Pakistan Navy Dockyard in Karachi. NDTV has accessed some high resolution satellite images of this joint military exercise. In this, many frontline warships of China, a submarine and dockyard can be seen at Karachi Port.
Sea Guardian-3 Exercises are taking place at a time when China has significantly expanded its maritime presence in the waters of the Indian Ocean. This also includes the construction of a major base in Djibouti in the Horn of Africa and the sale of several modern platforms to regional navies. Recently China has also given 4 Type-054 A/P frigates to Pakistan Navy.
Commander of the Kingston Naval Base, Rear Admiral Liang Yang and Commander of the Pakistan Fleet, Vice Admiral Muhammad Faisal Abbasi also reached the occasion. Both have described this joint exercise as a symbol of close and strategic relations between the navies.
Last year, several Chinese surveillance and oceanographic survey ships were also detected in the Indian Ocean. Earlier this month, a Chinese ocean research ship Shi Yan 6 stopped in Colombo, then moved north into the Bay of Bengal between the coast of Tamil Nadu and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It is widely believed that China is actively monitoring the waters of the Indian Ocean, including the Bay of Bengal, to enable extensive submarine operations across the region.
Type 039 diesel-electric submarine is also included among the Chinese naval ships parked in Karachi. Its exact capability is also hidden in the secrets of the Chinese Navy. The presence of the boat in the waters of the Arabian Sea also shows Beijing's confidence in being able to deploy naval assets several thousand kilometers away from its home ports.
It is believed that this is the eighth joint military exercise after the Chinese PLAN (People's Liberation Army Navy) deployed submarines in the Indian Ocean since 2013. China is also known for its nuclear powered fast submarines in the Indian Ocean. These submarines can theoretically remain submerged indefinitely, as they do not need to surface except to load supplies on board. However, it is not clear whether this submarine has also been deployed with the Chinese fleet participating in the joint naval exercise between China and Pakistan.
Sources monitoring the deployment of Chinese warships in the Indian Ocean for the Sea Guardian-3 Exercises say that after entering the area through the Strait of Malacca, the Type-039 submarine and her accompanying Auxiliary ships were regularly tracked by Navy P8 reconnaissance aircraft.
Sources say that this is an indication of what could be a bigger presence of China in the region in the future. According to sources, "It is not a question of if-but as to when China decides to deploy a carrier battle group in the Indian Ocean region."
In April 2015, the Government of Pakistan reportedly agreed to purchase 8 variants of Type 039 submarines in a deal worth $5 billion. Of these, 4 submarines were to be built by Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works. No submarine has been delivered yet.
Satellite images accessed by NDTV indicate the presence of a Chinese Type 926 submarine tender parked in Karachi. The presence of Type 926 submarines is believed to be an indication of the presence of Chinese submarines in the vicinity. The Chinese battle group also includes 1 Type 52D destroyer, 2 Type 54 frigates and 1 Type 903 replenishment oiler. This helps warships and submarines maintain long-range operations.
Former Navy chief Admiral Arun Prakash (retd) told NDTV, "Our planners and decision makers have to clearly acknowledge the fact that China has a keen interest in the Indian Ocean, especially its sea lanes, which are largely China-owned." "These are major routes for energy, trade, raw materials and finished goods. As a result, China's naval presence is being seen in the Indian Ocean. China has deployed warships as well as submarines here."
The former Navy chief further said, "Over the last two decades, China has built substantial maritime bases across the IOR (Indian Ocean Region). It is called the 'string of pearls'. In fact, it is a series of friendly ports of China, Which are funded by China. The Chinese Navy uses them when needed. In the year 2016, China had prepared its first overseas military base in Djibouti (Africa). China will continue to do so in other countries in the future also."
In April this year, Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar had said that the Indian Navy was 'monitoring' the deployment of Chinese naval assets at Pakistani ports. He had said, "There is a large presence of Chinese ships. At any given time there are three to six Chinese warships in the Indian Ocean region." China also deploys research ships i.e. research warships in this area.
The process of tracking Chinese naval assets has been a consistent effort of the Indian Navy. Chinese ships head west to enter Indian Ocean waters through key choke points, the Strait of Malacca, Lombok or the Sunda Strait. Indian Navy's P-8 maritime reconnaissance aircraft and warships deployed on missions are often deployed to intercept Chinese ships and monitor their movements for long periods of time.
India works closely with the US in monitoring the movement of Chinese warships. The US has often been a major maritime partner of India for real-time intelligence. Last week, 2+2 talks were held in New Delhi between the Foreign and Defense Ministers of the two countries. In this, both sides underlined 'their strong commitment to the security of a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific'. China's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative was its basis. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is an ambitious initiative to build two new economic routes connecting China with the rest of the world. China took this initiative in 2013 with the aim of investing in more than 150 countries. Beijing supports this initiative, particularly through a growing strong maritime presence in the Indian Ocean region.
Washington supported Indian efforts to balance Beijing's growing economic power in countries like Sri Lanka by announcing an investment of more than $500 million in the Colombo Port Terminal on November 8. Colombo Port Terminal is being developed by Adani Group.
Sri Lanka has been heavily dependent on funding from China for its ports and highways projects. This country has also had to struggle to repay its debt. Same thing happened in the case of deep water Hambantota port. After Sri Lanka developed economically, this port was leased to China for 99 years.
Last year, Yuan Wang 5, a Chinese research ship, docked in Hambantota despite security concerns raised by India. It is reported that this ship was on a mission to monitor Indian missile tests from Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha.
Debate in the Senate on the government's decision to deport Afghan refugees
In the meeting held in the Senate on Monday, some members of the Senate demanded the government to review its decision to expel the Afghan refugees from the country.
In the meeting held on Monday in Pakistan's upper house, the Senate, there was a discussion on the expulsion of illegally staying foreigners, especially Afghan refugees, where the Senate members also demanded the government to review its decision.
After the decision of the caretaker government, the return of illegally residing Afghan refugees from Pakistan continues, but on the other hand, Pakistan is also facing criticism.
Former finance minister Ishaq Dar said in the meeting held in the Senate on Monday that 'Sadia Abbasi has said that things are being taken away from Afghans, it is sad.'
Ishaq Dar said that 'Government should ensure that such an incident should not happen, evict them (Afghans) in a dignified manner.'
"No one supports not deporting illegal refugees, but they should be allowed to take what they have," he added.
At the same time, Ishaq Dar also raised the question that 'who said to engage the Taliban in Kabul, to leave the hardened terrorists in prisons?'
Ishaq Dar further said that 'It is our mistake that we let the hardened terrorists go. Those who did this should be called and asked, called on TV and apologized to them.'
During the debate in the Senate session, Senator Shafiq Tareen demanded the government to review the decision to evict Afghans from the country, saying that 'the forced rounding up of Afghans has started, there is an atmosphere of fear.'
He said, 'What will these women and children do when they go to Afghanistan in this winter?'
On this occasion, Senator and Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti said that 'there is no crackdown against refugees, but the crackdown is against illegal aliens.'
Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfaraz Bugti said that three lakh Afghan citizens have returned till today. Foreigners are also asked for documents in Afghanistan.
According to him, all possible assistance is being provided to the returnees. The perception that action is being taken against Afghan immigrants is wrong.
While Tahir Bizenjo said that the United Nations and the human rights organizations of the world are also paying attention to the return of Afghans.
Tahir Bizenjo said that Pakistan's years-old Afghan policy has failed. Pakistan needs a new Afghan policy.
Senator Mushtaq Ahmed took a strong stance while speaking in the Senate session and said that 'Foreign policy is meant to make friends, you are making enemies.'
He said that 'this move will increase hatred, you are evicting Afghans without a notice plan.'
Pakistan's caretaker government announced in October that it was giving illegal foreigners in Pakistan a deadline of November 1 to voluntarily return to their country.
In the light of the orders of the government of Pakistan, the evacuation of all illegal foreigners including Afghans from the country is going on, but looking at the statistics it is possible that it will take about nine months to evict all the foreign Afghans.
According to the statistics released by the Interior Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, from September 17 to November 9, more than 197,000 Afghans have gone to Afghanistan through Torkham and Waziristan's border border with Afghanistan.
Similarly, according to Jan Achakzai, the caretaker information minister of Balochistan, 80,000 Afghans have returned by November 9, including 26,000 from Sindh province, and this figure was 50,000 as of November 3.
New drill machine, 900 mm pipe: Know how the rescue team is trying to save 40 laborers trapped in the tunnel?
Uttarakhand Tunnel Collapse: Officials said that about 21 meters of slab blocking the tunnel has been removed and 19 meters of the passage remains to be cleared.
New Delhi:Uttarakhand Tunnel Collapse: Every possible effort is being made to save 40 laborers trapped inside a tunnel in Uttarakhand for more than 48 hours. A partial portion of an under-construction tunnel collapsed at around 5 am on Sunday in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand. After which the rescue operation is being carried out continuously to save the workers trapped inside the tunnel.
The rescue team is trying to rescue the trapped workers.
Under this, the rescue team has started the work of cutting and removing the rocks that have fallen in an area of 200 meters. The rescue team is trying to make a way to reach the trapped workers and take them out. This distance is approximately 40 meters.
About 21 meter of slab blocking the tunnel has been removed.
Officials said about 21 meter of slab blocking the tunnel has been removed and 19 meter of passage remains to be cleared. The rescue team was initially able to clear 30 meters of rocks, but some soil fell again, so the teams were only able to clear 21 meters. Rescue operations are being delayed due to loose debris, which is being stabilized and excavated with shotcrete up to 40 metres. The work of collapsed towel has started.
The rescue team is planning to send a 900 mm pipe inside the tunnel
According to the information, the rescue team is planning to send a 900 mm diameter pipe inside the tunnel, which should be so wide that the trapped people can get out by making a hole in the pile of debris. Can get out of it. The rescue team will use an auger machine to drill into the debris.
The scene show huge piles of concrete blocking the tunnel, with twisted metal rods from its collapsed roof buried in the debris, creating further obstacles for rescue workers. After the collapse of the tunnel under construction on Brahmakhal-Yamunotri National Highway on Sunday morning, the workers, who are mostly migrants from Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Odisha, Uttarakhand and Himachal, were trapped inside it.
Successful communication with the workers through walkie-talkie.
According to established information, all the workers trapped in the tunnel are safe and they are being supplied food and oxygen through pipelines. An official said that the rescue team has successfully established communication with the workers through walkie-talkies. He told that initially the rescue team was through a note on a piece of paper, but later managed to connect using radio handset.
4.5 km long tunnel will connect Silkyara-Dandalgaon in Uttarkashi. Let us
tell you that the 4.5 km long tunnel being built on Brahmakhal-Yamunotri National Highway will connect Silkyara and Dandalgaon in Uttarkashi. It is part of the Chardham project and once completed it is expected to reduce the distance by 26 km.