Bharat Rakshak

I feel you have a point, however, is there a reason that the GoI does not come out and say they will never give it up? Or have they said it in some other terms?

Siachen is not going to be "given up" because it commands the Karakoram pass and the possibility of Chinese and Pakis linking up. Call me a spoilsport but I think too much time is wasted in "predicting" the gifting away of territory to Pakistan. This in fact has nothing to do with Pakistan and represents a basic mistrust of the Indian leadership, and a misunderstanding of the way government functions that manifests in statements all over the forum that something or the other is going to be given up. Yet another case of Indians being convinced that other Indians do not see India like they do but are traitors waiting to bring India down.

India missed a big chance during the Kargil war. India should have continued further and annexed all of Baltistan and should have attained position to cut off Karakoram Highway anytime it wants.

The bigger enemy is China and one way to deal with China is to cutoff its use of Pakistan as its proxy to tie down India.
With China getting more and more involved in the Northern Areas and even planning to extend the KKH upto the pakistani coast, the biggest way to counter that would to be annex Baltistan.

The exact geography and topography of the area needs to be checked to see if we can build a motorable road from kargil upto Skardu from south of Deosai plains.

The local population in Baltistan are also not too friendly to the establishment in Islamabad or more correctly Rawalpindi, and with a reasonable degree of autonomy and good infra, education and medical development, could be manageable.

Plus if would also offer India a another bargaining chip with regards to China in the form of Shaksgam valley.

In future J&K could then be split into Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh-Baltistan.

chinese 3rd gen = ROW 4th gen

Estimated to have more nuclear weapons than India , Pakistan is rapidly developing and expanding its atomic arsenal , spending about $2.5 billion a year to develop such weapons, a report has said.

"Pakistan has been rapidly developing and expanding its nuclear arsenal , increasing its capacity to produce plutonium, and testing and deploying a diverse array of nuclear-capable ballistic and cruise missiles," said the report 'Assuring Destruction Forever: Nuclear Modernisation Around the World'.

"Pakistan is moving from an arsenal based wholly on HEU to greater reliance on lighter and more compact plutonium-based weapons, which is made possible by a rapid expansion in plutonium production capacity," said the 150-page report by Reaching Critical Will of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom.

"Pakistan is also moving from aircraft-delivered nuclear bombs to nuclear-armed ballistic and cruise missiles and from liquid-fueled to solid-fueled medium-range missile. Pakistan also has a growing nuclear weapons research, development, and production infrastructure," it said.

According to the report Pakistan is estimated to have 90-110 nuclear weapons.

"A long-term concern now driving Pakistan's nuclear programme is the US policy of countering the rise of China by cultivating a stronger strategic relationship with India. This may tie the future of Pakistan and India's nuclear weapons to the emerging contest between the United States and China," said the report.

Pakistan has a number of short-range, medium, and longer-range road-mobile ballistic surface-to-surface missiles in various stages of development.

"It has developed a second generation of ballistic missile systems over the past five years. It is estimated that Pakistan could have a stockpile of 2750 kg of weapon-grade HEU and may be producing about 150 kg of HEU per year," it said.

Estimates suggest Pakistan has produced a total of about 140 kg of plutonium, the report said.

While not much information is available on the funding of Pakistan's nuclear weapons project, the report said estimates indicate that Pakistan spends about $2.5 billion a year on nuclear weapons.

Despite extensive foreign military assistance, Pakistan's effort to sustain its conventional and nuclear military programmes has come at increasingly great cost to the effort to meet basic human needs and improve living standards, the report said. India, the report said, is estimated to have 80-100 nuclear warheads.

"It is also developing a range of delivery vehicles, including land- and sea-based missiles, bombers, and submarines," it said.

"While nuclear weapons used to be seen as a 'necessary evil', there is no more enthusiasm for India to become a bonafide nuclear weapon power that can exercise its military might in the region," it said.

Interview with JF-17 Test Pilot Group Captain Khalid Mahmood

Interview Part-1
Interview Part-2

The actual report to the above news is in the link below

Assuring destruction forever: nuclear weapon modernization around the world [pdf]

Interesting looking fast interceptor craft from PN/PMSA:

PN UAVs (Uqaab?) - note new Camo, hardened shelters and insignia on the trooper's arm

a fine day in the annals of CT ops - pakistan navy's turn to lead it

http://www.cusnc.navy.mil/articles/2012/CMF009.html

PAKISTAN ASSUMES COMMAND OF COUNTER TERRORISM TASK FORCE

Commander, Combined Maritime Forces Office of Public Affairs

Commodore Mukhtar Khan, Pakistan Navy, relieved Commodore Jonathan Mead, Royal Australian Navy, as Commander, Combined Task Force (CTF) 150 (counter-terrorism), during a change of command ceremony onboard PNS Badr, Mina Salman port, Bahrain, April 17.

The ceremony concluded the Royal Australian Navy's third command of CTF 150, a multi-national task force that conducts maritime security operations (MSO) in the Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.

Commodore Mead said: “This is the third time Australia has led CTF 150, and it is clear that we have had a powerful and far reaching effect on the maritime domain. We should not underestimate the role which CTF 150 is playing to defeat terrorist activities on the high seas.”

Commenting on the success of CTF 150, Commodore Mead highlighted the recent $5 million drug seizure by HMAS Parramatta in February and the $22 million drug seizure by HMS Westminster in April. By coordinating with the ships in CTF 150, from five different navies, as well law enforcement agencies and coast guards, more than 400 kilos of illegal narcotics was located and destroyed from both incidents.

Mead further added, “The destruction of the drugs was a victory for those who are helping to create a lawful and stable maritime environment, and a set back to terrorists who seek to finance their activities through illegal transportation of narcotics on the high seas.”

This will be the sixth time command of CTF 150 has been held by the Pakistan Navy, who have also held command of CTF 151 (counter-piracy) three times. The 25 personnel team will be based in Bahrain.

Commodore Khan responded: “It is a great honor for me to take command of such an amazing coalition force. Coalition forces are the way forward. CTF 150 is unique and necessary. It promotes common regional goals. The Pakistan Navy has taken a proactive stance to help create a lawful and stable maritime environment. Our partnership through CTF 150 is the hallmark of what a coalition stands for and what it can accomplish.”

CTF150 is a sub command of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) and exists to create a lawful and stable maritime environment free from terrorism, smuggling and other illegal activities across an area of two million square miles, covering the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and Gulf of Oman.

For further information contact the Combined Maritime Forces Public Affairs Office on 011-973-1785-9981 or via email at
M-BA-CUSNC-CMF_PAO@me.navy.mil
Photos:

120417-N-OX597-045 MINA SALMAN PIER, Bahrain (April 17, 2012) From right, Pakistan Navy Commodore Mukhtar Khan, U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Mark Fox, Commander, Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), and Royal Australian Navy Commodore Jonathan Mead listen to opening remarks at a change of command ceremony aboard Pakistan Navy frigate PNS Badr (F184). Khan relieved Mead as commander, Combined Task Force (CTF) 150. CTF 150 is one of three task forces operating under CMF, a 26-nation naval partnership which exists to promote security, stability and prosperity across approximately 2.5 million square miles of international waters in the Middle East, including some of the world's most important shipping lanes. CTF 150 conducts counter-terrorism and maritime security operations in the Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, Red Sea, and Indian Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Richard Doolin/Released)

120417-N-OX597-050 MINA SALMAN PIER, Bahrain (April 17, 2012) From right, Pakistan Navy Commodore Mukhtar Khan, U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Mark Fox, Commander, Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), and Royal Australian Navy Commodore Jonathan Mead salute the Pakistan and Australian national anthems during a change of command ceremony aboard Pakistan Navy frigate PNS Badr (F184). Khan relieved Mead as Commander, Combined Task Force (CTF) 150. CTF 150 is one of three task forces operating under CMF, a 26-nation naval partnership which exists to promote security, stability and prosperity across approximately 2.5 million square miles of international waters in the Middle East, including some of the world's most important shipping lanes. CTF 150 conducts counter-terrorism and maritime security operations in the Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, Red Sea, and Indian Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Richard Doolin/Released)

Attn dhoti wearers, pls to commence shivering: Pakistan to launch missile; alert forces India to rejig flights to Gulf

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/node/116244

Days after India conducted its Agni-V test, Pakistan has informed India it too is conducting a 'long-range missile test in the Indian Ocean' anytime from April 24 to 29 (from 8.30 to 11 am IST), and asked the Indian civil aviation authorities Monday evening to issue a NOTAM (notice to airmen) to warn commercial airlines and pilots to steer clear of the area.

Pakistan-China Joint Mil exercise YOUYI-IV

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIk__i7J0xU

Pak PN took delivery of the 1st trimaran hulled FAC today (pic in china mil thread), in a Tianjin shipyard. another is expected by end 2012.

looks like it will be the std inshore and raiding platform for the PN, kind of like the Osa class boats used to be for IN ....