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Agosta
90-B (SM-2)
Lt
Cdr SALMAN ALVI says that the latest submarine
is a step forward in Submarine technology.
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Introduction
In today’s modern warfare, submarines
play a very vital role and directly affect
the outcome of war. These submarines by
virtue of their stealth, sustained endurance
and lethality, are considered to be one
of the most potent fighting platforms
at sea. Pakistan Navy, since its birth
in 1947, was quick to realize the importance
of this technology and started off with
submarine force in the year 1964 with
acquisition of PNS/M Ghazi from USA. In
1969-70, Pakistan Navy acquired 3 DAPHNE
class submarines from France. Later in
1975, another DAPHNE class submarine and
in 1980-81, 2 AGOSTA 70 class submarine
were acquired.
In early 90’s, when the need to
acquire submarines arose, Pakistan Navy
decided to construct new submarines in
Pakistan, instead of acquiring on hot
transfer basis. On 21 Sep 1994, Pakistan
Ministry of Defence production signed
the contract for construction of 3 AGOSTA
90B submarines at PN Dockyard with DCN
international, France. The contract included
a strong element of transfer of technology
in a phased manner embedded in it.....more
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The
Composite Dialogue Survives
Columnist SULTAN
AHMED says that despite dire predictions
in the wake of the recent Mumbai bomb
blasts, the Indo-Pak talks are going ahead.
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The Composite Dialogue between India and Pakistan
has been saved. The foreign secretaries
of Pakistan and India who met on the sidelines
of the SAARC foreign ministers conference
at Dhaka have decided to continue the
dialogue that began in January 2004 and
has been through three rounds. When the
Indian and Pakistan foreign secretaries
meeting scheduled for July 20th-21st was
put off following the Mumbai train explosions
which killed 181 persons and injured hundreds,
it seemed the composite dialogues was
doomed. But the Indian Prime Minister
Dr. Manmohan Singh was quick to announce
that the peace process will not be abandoned.
The foreign secretaries of the two countries
who met in Dhaka asserted that the valuable
achievement of the composite dialogue
during the last two and a half years should
not be wasted. And that is the right thing
to do, war is no solution to the dispute
between the two nuclear weapons armed
neighbors. Negotiations for a peaceful
settlement of all the disputes are the
only way out after the futility of wars
has been clearly established. ......more
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Judging Our Leaders
Contributing
Editor Air Marshal (Retd) AYAZ AHMED KHAN
looks at the quality and calibre of the
leadership since the Quaid.
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Did
Pakistan have any leader of merit after
Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah? The
answer is no. The military and civil
rulers who followed Jinnah did not have
the qualities of head and heart that
Quaid-e-Azam had. They corrupted institutional
democracy, failed to respect rule of
law, rigged elections, did not respect
judiciary, prevented implementation
of election results, triggering a rebellion
and consequently the breakup of one
Pakistan. Their sense of commitment
was polluted by ill advice and the desire
to perpetuate. Jinnah was an educated,
enlightened and sagacious leader. He
repeatedly warned the nation about provincialism,
obscurantism, fanaticism, sectarianism
and ethnic-ism. Great leaders like Jinnah
are born once in a century, and frankly
it is wrong to compare other fallible
beings of lower stature with the great
man who was Pakistan's only true leader.
Rulers who followed him did not have
the character or commitment to serve
Pakistan selflessly. Some of them promoted
the above "poisons" as Jinnah
called them. They thought they were
above the law, and they twisted the
law to suit their own purpose. But each
one of them did something good as well,
which should not go unsung ......more
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The
Capture of Jaurian
Columnist M A
GILANI presents his views on Operation
Grand Slam-September 1965 War.
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Introduction
The capture of JAURIAN is based on my
personal reminiscences because I had the
honour of commanding 14 Punjab in CHAMB-JAURIAN
sector during the September 1965 war.
It was a resounding victory, at low cost
of casualties, for the small force operating
as part of Operation Grand SLAM. It was
captured on 5th September 1965.
JAURIAN was the Administrative
Box of the enemy for the units operating
in front. It was situated on the CHAIMB-JAURIAN-AKHNUR
road, and well protected by the TROTI
feature on its right and front, and by
the semi hilly ground on its left, with
the river CHENAB on its extreme left.
The strategic communication centre of
AKHNUR was located about 14 km in the
east.
The famous BERI PATTAN
Bridge over the CHENAB situated in the
vicinity of AKHNUR was the most important
link over which military convoys passed
to and fro regularly. For the interest
of our learned readers it is mentioned
that the BERI PATTAN Bridge was demolished
with direct hits by our long range artillery
guns during December 1948.......more
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