The Asia Pacific Group on Money Laundering and Terror Financing have put Pakistan in the Enhance Expedited Followup List (Blacklist) following a seven hour-long meeting in Canberra, Australia. Pakistan was found non-compliant on 32 of the 40 compliance parameters despite repeated warnings to comply.
Pakistan blacklisted after being put on the grey list
What is FATF?
The Financial Action Task force (FATF) is an inter governmental body whose purpose is the development and promotion of policies, both at the national and International levels, to combat money laundering and terrorist financing
The organisation annually evaluates whether countries meet the prescribed conditions, proceeding to put them on the grey list (warning) or Blacklist them if the conditions are not met
FATF meeting
What does this mean for Pakistan?
The blacklist will significantly hamper Pakistan’s already overburdened economy and will make the possibility of an International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout highly improbable. “This is not a good sign for the already troubled economy of Pakistan; the impact of this will be felt by every citizen. with inflation reaching its highest peak in weeks!” says a person with specialized knowledge on the subject.
Pakistani Rangers and Indian Border Security Force personnel taking part in daily border retreat ceremony
What is the impact on China?
The Chinese and Pakistani heads of state shaking hands
China has displayed a history of supporting what some call its “All-weather ally” Pakistan. Given Pakistan’s current financial predicament The People’s Republic of China won’t be able to help but pump additional loans to the country, with the immense cost being borne by its own citizens.
Many Indian Air Force aspirants will be attending AFCAT 2 2019 online exam across the country. SSBCrack wishes all the aspirants for the success in their exam. Candidates who are new to AFCAT can download the AFCAT 2019 question papers with answers attached in the article. These AFCAT previous questions will help you get an idea about the questions you will be facing in the AFCAT online exam. Also Check AFCAT 2 2019 Question Papers
AFCAT 2019 Questions
Candidates who are looking for AFCAT 2 2019 answer keys and AFCAT 2 2019 official cut off marks can referto the links below:
Indian Air Force is going to conduct AFCAT 2 2019 Exam on 24th & 25th August 2019 for Flying and Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) branches. As per the latest news AFCAT 2 2019 will not be conducted in Srinagar centre due to security issues but it will be conducted in Jammu and Leh AFCAT centres.
IAF's Ground Duty Officers to be inducted through NDA
The Indian Air Force (IAF) will induct Ground Duty Branch Officers through the National Defence Academy (NDA) from the 2019 selection cycle. The candidates will have to appear for the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination (II). The last date for filling the online application is September 3 till 6 pm.
For the online submission of the application, the candidates need to go the UPSC website. The candidates can make no changes once the application is submitted. If they need to change, they will have to submit a fresh application with requisite revision by the last date for receipt of application. Though the online application form is available in English and Hindi languages, but it can only be filled in English language.The filling of online application contains two parts.
NDA Sudan Block
In Part I registration, the candidate will have to fill basic information. On submission of details, the candidate will be prompted to check the details and make the correction, if any, in the application. The Part-II Registration consists of: filling up Payment details (except for fee exempted candidates), selection of examination centre, uploading of Photograph, Signature, Photo Identity Card Document and Declaration.
Registration of Part-I and Part-II will be treated as valid from August 7 to September 3.Candidates must press “I agree” button after filling all the correct information. This will open a page and the Registration Number will be generated. The application is incomplete without payment, selection of centre, uploading of scanned photograph, signature, Photo Identity Card Document and agree to declaration. On successful completion of the application, an auto-generated email message will be sent on the registered email-id.
Trained to hunt and kill Maoists, the Central Reserve Police Forces, Commando Battalion for Resolute Action strikes terror into the hearts of Naxalites. They are the go-to unit for counter Naxal Operations, here are five things you must know about India’s elite counter-guerrilla force.
COBRA Operatives on a reconnaissance operation for 6 days
Eliminating Naxals:
Raised in 2008, COBRA is a lethal specialised and highly flexible special operations force tasked to neutralise left-wing extremism (LWE), for this the elite commando’s serving in the CRPF ‘s crack force employ a variety of counter-guerrilla tactics such as, Long-range reconnaissance patrols (LRRP) lasting for days, often with minimal supplies and limited support prompting COBRA personnel to utilize the flora and fauna of the jungle for food and shelter. They are tasked to gather actionable intelligence on the whereabouts of insurgents, formulate a superior strike plan and then proceed to deliver the killing blow by carrying out lethal coordinated ambushes and precision strikes on key targets.
The CRPF’s elite COBRA has ten battalions, commandos from this unit are exclusively trained in guerrilla tactics and jungle survival, operating in small, well-coordinated and agile units. With principles of hot pursuit and force dispersion forming the skeleton of how they operate. The relatively small force utilise similar guerrilla tactics as their adversary, with ruthless persistence and surgical precision.
COBRA Operators deployed in the jungles of Chattisgarh
Most equipped CAPF unit:
The central government had set up the COBRA in 2008 with, 13,000 crore rupees making the elite CRPF unit most equipped and funded CAPF unit in the country. To further enhance the elite forces combat capability, the CRPF has in a first, invited international bids offering contracts for, modern 5.66 mm carbines, 24,000 bullet-proof helmets, over 300 explosive detectors and another 300 wire/cable locator equipment to counter Naxalites.
COBRA Operators are attune to the jungle
The CRPF is also set to buy 29 bomb trucks and 350 bomb blankets, on the lines of the elite National Security Guard’s (NSG) bomb detection unit, for its COBRA unit. The step has been taken after the CRPF faced serious causalities in past years, with 46 commandos being killed by Naxalites in 2016.
Armed to the teeth:
The COBRA commandos operate indigenously manufactured
equipment manufactured in the Ordnance Factories controlled by the Ordnance
Factories Board, Ministry of Defence, Government of India. The crack commando
force has been armed to the teeth matching the firepower of army infantry
platoons with:-
INSAS rifles
AK rifles
X-95
Browning Hi-Power
Glock pistols
Heckler & Koch MP5 submachine guns
Carl Gustav recoilless rifle.
Glock 19 9mm pistol sported by COBRA’s
COBRA sniper teams are ace marksmen with the ability to eliminate critical targets completely undetected, completely merging with the surrounding foliage. These elite sniper teams use a variety of precision weapons, most commonly the,
Dragunov SVD
Mauser SP66
Heckler & Koch MSG-90 sniper rifles.
COBRA’s Train on a variety of weapon systems
As aforementioned Cobras are trained extensively in guerrilla and jungle warfare tactics in the CRPF’s specialised jungle warfare institutions in Belgaum and Koraput. They operate on the philosophy ‘to kill a guerrilla you must be a guerrilla.’ Their training regime(physical) and duration are on similar lines of the Elite Counterterrorism unit the NSG and while counter-terrorism is the NSG’s game, counter-guerrilla is the COBRA’s.
COBRA soldiers taking aim with Israeli X95
Trained by Intelligence agencies:
Trained extensively in HUMINT and HVT Tracking
Operating on pinpoint intelligence these jungle warriors are extensively trained in gathering intelligence and counterintelligence tactics by spooks from some of the country’s premier intelligence agencies. Their intelligence acumen adds to their potency as an elite commando force capable of operating independently to counter a grave asymmetrical national security threat.
The Inter Squadron
Boxing Championship was conducted at the Indian Naval Academy in Ezhimala on 19
August 2019. Naval cadets from all six squadrons of the naval academy took part
in the combat sport, competing in eight different weight classes. The Daredevil
squadron won this year’s boxing tournament, bagging the most amount of
victories.
A glimpse of this years competition
The Commandant of the Indian Naval Academy, Vice Admiral SV Bhokare, (AVSM, YSM, NM) awarded the Daredevil squadron the Inter Squadron Boxing Championship Trophy and distributed individual prizes to the boxers.
Blue corner emerges victorious
Boxing plays a crucial role in military training. The sport is incorporated into officer training all around the world. Every cadet regardless of the academy is required to have at least one bout. The brutal sport builds psychological resilience and the physical endurance expected of defence service officers in their role.
Here Is a Glimpse of This Years Inter Squadron Boxing Tournament
Commandant awards a victorious combatantDaredevil squadron being awarded the championship trophyRed corner pull back evasivelyBlue corner lands a flawless overhand right
Wing Commander Abhnandan Varthaman became a household name with his calm and composure in the face of the enemy inspiring an entire nation, as they anxiously anticipated the return of the Indian fighter pilot, who was caught in Pakistani territory after downing a technologically superior Pakistani F-16, following the events of Operation Bandar. With Wing Commander Abhinandan soon to return to regular flying duties let us get know five things which will shed light on the flying aces unparalleled courage and levelheadedness in the face of enemy capture.
Digital Sketch of Wing Commander Abhinandan
Third Generation MiG-21 pilot:
Donning the uniform to become an air warrior was perhaps in Abhinandan’s blood, as two generations of the Varthaman family have earned the honour of serving in the air force, before Abhinandan.
MiG-21 Bison the aircraft which shot down the superior F-16
Wing Cdr. Abhinanadan’s father was Air Marshall Sinhakutty, one of the air forces top brass and recipient of the Visisht Seva Medal in 2002. An honour he received for commanding a MiG-21 fighter squadron in the east, where his unit served with the distinction of having flown 9,500 sorties without a single accident. His father has received countless honours throughout his distinguished air force career, and was himself a highly decorated MiG-21 pilot. His grandfather too was a renowned MiG-21 pilot, making Wing Cdr. Abhinandan the third generation of his family to fly the iconic soviet aircraft.
Air Marshall Sinhakutty addressing the press during his sons capture
His mother was the primary source of his courage:
As aforementioned, Abhinandan was an air force brat, however his demeanour and steely resolve was not simply a reflection of growing up on IAF stations. According to Group Capatain Tarun Singha, a close friend of the family, it was the courageous exploits his mother, Dr Shobha Varthaman, which rubbed off on the daredevil officer.
Dr Shobha Varthaman worked for Doctors Without Borders
Abhinandan’s mother served as a doctor for the aid organisation ‘Doctors Without Borders.’ During her illustrious career, she volunteered to provide medical assistance in some the most violent conflicts in modern times, put herself in harms way on a near daily basis.
Wing Cdr Abhinandan’s parents Dr Shobha and Air Marshall Sinhakutty Varthaman
The family friend has written extensively about Dr. Shoba’s daredevil exploits in war ravaged countries. The gutsy lady has provided medical and humanitarian assistance in the northern territory of the Ivory coast in 20005, a place known for it lawlessness. A hot-spot where only the machete and the AK-47 ruled. While serving in the Ivory Coast she traveled 300 km away from the peacekeeping corridor, into the heart of rebel-controlled territory to provide immediate assistance to civilians caught in the cross fire, forced to suffer the cost of war.
UN Peacekeepers in War torn Ivory coast
She was deployed to civil war-ravaged Liberia and Nigeria
where indiscriminatory killings and violent Inter/intra tribal conflicts
between villages, the powerful oil companies and the government.
Inter faction killing in Liberia
Dr Shobha experienced some close calls during her time in the second Gulf war in Iraq, serving as the only anesthesiologist in the region at the time. She has seen the worst of the Iran-Iraq standoff and later served in Papa Guinea in 2009 where she treated tribals who were wounded by arrow heads and other primitive weapons.
US Marines deployed during the second Gulf War
She ran both an orthopedic hospital and pediatric hospital in earthquake ravaged Haiti where over 300,000 people lost their lives, during this crisis various crime groups resorted to raiding hospitals for medical supplies.
Abhinandans’s father was a consultant for
the 2017 film Kaatru Veliyidai:
Air Marshall Sinhakutty worked as a consultant for the 2017 Tamil film Kaatru Veliiyidai, with its story revolving around a squadron leader from the Indian air force captured by the Pakistani army, after advancing into enemy territory during the Kargil war. The similarities between the real and reel situations were indeed quite stark.
The Indian Air Force MiG-21
Bison Squadron No. 51 has come up with new shoulder patches with title ‘Falcon
Slayers’ to commemorate the shooting down of Pakistan Air Force’s F-16 fighter
jet by Wing Commander Abhinandan on February 27 2019.
Abhinandan Inspired shoulder patch given to members of the 51 squadron
Abhinandan was stationed at Srinagar air base with his squadron No. 51, when PAF F-16 jets intruded Indian air space in retaliation to Balakot airstrike by the IAF a day earlier. He engaged in a dogfight with a vastly superior F-16 jet and shot it down, being the first ever first ever pilot in military aviation history to shoot down a US-made F-16 fighter jet. Since his release, Wing Cdr. Varthaman has been officially moved from No. 51 Squadron to No. 23 Squadron (Panthers) which is equipped with MiG-21 Bison and based at Suratgarh Air Force Station but the F-16 kill will remain with his previous No. 51 Squadron while the kill will be credited to Varthaman.
The heroics of the day also
earned the squadron the title ‘AMRAAM Dodger’, for successfully evading the
AMRAAM missiles of the PAF F-16s. Pilots of the Su-30MKI Squadron, which also
took part in the aerial intercept and survived the volley of 4-5 AMRAAMs fired by
the Pak jets, have also given themselves the ‘AMRAAM Dodger’ title in new
patches.
Abhinandan was beaten up, choked, deprived of sleep by Pakistani captors but he didn’t share critical military secrets.
“Wing Commander Abhinandan didn’t break nor share any military information despite Pakistani “interrogation”
According to a senior officer, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman staved off Pakistani interrogators trying to extract crucial information on Indian troop deployment, high-security radio frequencies and sensitive logistics during the first 24 hours of his captivity in Pakistan after his MiG-21 Bison was shot down in a dogfight over the Line of Control.
According to another IAF officer who was a part of Abhnanadans’s debriefing team, Wing Cdr. Abhinandan was made to stand for long hours in stress positions designed to break him and was further subjected to loud music to increase his discomfort, the official said, requesting anonymity.
USAF personnel going through SERE Training to prepare for the eventuality of capture
He added that as Pakistani officers tried to extract information from him about the frequencies that the IAF uses to transmit messages, deployment of fighter jets and logistical arrangements. According to the incident reports, there have been signs of internal injuries caused during his time in captivity, it is believed to have been caused by the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) interrogators during their bid to extract information, though it cannot be confirmed for certain.
Wing Commander Abhinandan didn’t break, share military info despite Pakistani “interrogation”:
With the gallant air warrior having received the Vir Chakra, the countries third highest military award on the countries 73rd independence day, a new generation of flying aces can take inspiration from Wing Commander Abhinandan’s heroic exploits.
A fierce gun battle is underway between terrorists and security forces in Baramulla of North Kashmir. It is being said that at least 2-3 terrorists are likely trapped in an encounter. J&K Police Special Operations Group (SOG), Indian Army and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel have been deployed to neutralise the militants.
Soldiers from the Army’s Rashtriya Rifles combating insurgents in the valley
This has been the first security forces encounter with terrorists since the abrogation of Article 370 from the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir on 5 August 2019. Further details are awaited.
Guidelines to reader: You may skip next paragraph if
you want. This is a long piece I have tried to be as detailed and as concise as
possible. I have tried to paint entire picture, so that you can derive your own
learnings from my experience. I consider myself to have gotten lucky, I did not
do any special preparations & therefore I have not shared any “strategies”.
I advise you to devise your own plan & strategy. If you knew that you are
going to a battle, would you not prepare & plan as good as you can to
emerge victorious? Would you not arm yourself to teeth & train hard? Please
do the same for SSB, plan and prepare well. May you emerge victorious!
Dear Reader,
before I tell you my story I would like to take this opportunity to express my
gratitude & gratefulness to people who I credit for my recommendation from
33 SSB. I am thankful and owe this moment to Cdr Natarajan & the entire
faculty at Armed Forces Preparatory Academy Nagpur, Capt Gurbax Gulati, Lt.
Gen. Vinod Vashisht, Lt. Anil Markana, Dr. S Venkata Krishnan, Pratik Nayak,
Tufel Noorani, & many others who I cannot recall at the moment including
friends, family, teachers & parents.
A little
introduction & background: My first brush with SSB was at Allahabad through
NDA entry, I was screened out back then. I blame myself for the lack of
awareness & preparation back then. This rejection was tough for me to
digest; I was not expecting a screen-out. On the return journey I resolved to
be back someday & get at least screened in & if the stars aligned maybe
a recommendation for the FAUJ followed by a good career trajectory & a fair
share of glory. Fast forward 5 years [completion of B.Tech took me 5 years, a
little bad luck coupled with backlogs] down the line I decided to appear for
CDSE to give a final shot to the resolve 19 year old me had made. When the
results came out the lady luck was smiling at me, I had cleared writtens
without any extraordinary preparation. I decided not to waste the opportunity
that the almighty had bestowed upon me.
As soon as I saw
my name in the list I started Googling about material for preparation of SSB, I
went through Blogs, answers on Quora, videos on YouTube, and any available
material for free on internet. I was dead sworn against the idea of taking
coaching. Therefore, I ordered Cdr. Natarajan’s book from Amazon. I got in
touch with Capt. Gurbax Gulati & took some guidance from him [I have no
defense background no one in my family, extended family or immediate social
circle happens to be in defense. Capt did not know me we happened to be at same
workplace, & I was desperate for guidance so I just walked to him]. After
finishing off the book, I still felt I lacked experience & practice required
to get screened-in. I looked up about
AFPA & it’s way to teach, I felt it to be different from typical coaching
academy. I have always learnt better in smaller group, so the 25 students
per batch advertisement appealed me & I signed up for it. Apart from the
guidance I got to meet a bunch of students from the whole of the country, I
noted every detail we were taught. I tried to get better every day in those 2
weeks, since I knew the joining of job was just around the corner & I
wouldn’t get any time later to practice or recall it.
Fast forward to reporting day for 33 SSB: My SSB started the moment I met first of the fellow candidate, I tried to ensure I interact with as many candidates that I can. I tried to connect with them know them better remember the names & details. Things in long run get easier (in terms of co-ordination & rapport) if you know who is your partner/comrade/buddy. To some of you this may come naturally, for others it may require a little effort. Personally for me I have been INFJ-A [Introversion (I), Intuition (N), Feeling (F), Judgment (J)] personality type, I had to put in some efforts. If you have to put in some efforts do it, it’ll be worth it but do not be fake/artificial/unnatural. I took the initiative to load everyone’s luggage on the bus along with other since I thought this would give me opportunity to get closer with most of the individuals. Remember to develop camaraderie with fellow candidates, not that you should get carried away. You are here to clear the SSB but do not look at others with a sense of insecurity or competition, rather look at them as partners. Do what you would do for your closest friend.
After settling
down I opened up my notes tried to revise them, I ensured I read them carefully
& project whatever is expected from candidates. I did fairly well in PPDT,
I opened up the discussion. During the discussion I was carefully listening to
everyone’s story [Please listen to everyone’s story & try to remember them,
it helps a lot. Would you not be open to a person who has been receptive &
respectful to you?] My story was different from others but I identified a
common theme in everyone’s story and opened the discussion by proposing it as a
common theme. The Group’s response was a resounding affirmation. [Qualities
Projected: Initiative, Ability to Influence Group, Social Adaptability,
Co-operation) Later as the discussion proceeded I tried to keep forth logical
points based on observation [Therefore it is important to observe picture
carefully & remember it] Think Logically, Perform Freely. Have logical
reasons to justify your statements; Do not hesitate in putting forward your
points or speaking up/discussing. If you remain silent the assessors cannot
evaluate your OLQs. If you are silent you will be screened out anyway, you
would rather speak up give your 100% of efforts & then accept your fate.
The Psych Tests
were scheduled for Day-1, again here I had done no practice/preparation. I
performed freely and I avoided all the don’t’s and showed my honest self. I
could not manage the required number of 45 quality SRT, I could only do 38. I
missed 3 WATs, missed details in 1 TAT, did not have any prepared story for
blank slide, I wanted to be spontaneous. The SSB expects you to be spontaneous,
so I tried to be spontaneous. In SD again I was spontaneous. Being spontaneous
does not mean being careless or negative, I always kept in mind the guidelines
like: be realistic, be positive, project your strengths, let them know how you
are working on your weaknesses. Credits for Psych/PPDT to Ashok Kumar
Thamburaj.
My interview was
scheduled for the same day as Psych i.e. on Day-1, I could not do any
preparation for interview that I had planned for 4 days at SSB [Learning:
Prepare for interviews in advance before coming for SSB, as Raghu Raman says be
prepared “ Aaj Mukabla Hogaa”.] My interview had lots of I don’t know sir, I am
not aware sir. I did some intelligent guessing but before I did that I told the
interview that this is my guess and this is my methodology/assumptions for
guessing. Do not lie in the interview, these guys are very experienced they are
trained to detect a lie and keep smiling. You won’t even know what they may
have found out about you. The man on the other side of desk is trained &
smarter than you, accept that before you enter the room. Prepare for interview
like you would prepare for any job interview know deeply and in detail about
organization, it’s assets, organizational structure, your motivation for
joining it (Do not say patriotism: The fact that you are interested in service
before self is a testament for patriotism, patriotism can be one of the reason
it cannot be the only reason). The important and crucial part of tackling the
interview is to always keep smiling, handle the stress with ease & not to
lose your nerve when you are backed against the wall. Stay abreast with current
affairs, an officer is expected to be well rounded about the happenings taking
place in surrounding. (Tip: Make Newspaper & Books your best friends). It’s
okay to give a wrong answer/commit a factual mistake, it is what makes you
human. But do not bluff. Do not lie. Do not get under stress after realizing
you have committed a mistake, try to rectify it if you can Or let bygones be
bygones. Prepare for a list of rapid fire questions. Credits for interview
performance to Col. Rahul Gowardhan
GTO part is
fairly simple & easy, you will be good in GD if you are well rounded with
current affairs. For GPE think logically, perform freely. Try to give an
organized plan in your answer sheet by clearly mentioning your AIM, RESOURCES,
SITUATIONS TO BE TACKELD IN PRIORITY. Individual Obstacles are simple if you
have had good practice. For GTO Tasks, keep in mind Cantilever Principle watch
Cdr Natarajan’s video course that’s available on Amazon.in. Apart from it the
advice we were given is “Bindass Andar Ghuso, Daro Matt” Do not hesitate in
entering the Task. Credits for GTO: Cdr Natarajan, Col Ravi Nair
The conference
is easy if you are good at handing interview, you’ll know as soon as the
conference starts, if it is going to be a long one or a short one. The way
board president started off I knew this one was going to be a long one, in that
moment I knew the conference held the fate of borderline case. For someone like
me I simply didn’t want go down without putting up a fight. I had been praying
for a long conference, a border line case instead of a 2 minute conference.
When the moment came, the same rules applied not to get under stress, to keep
smiling & give sharp confident responses. The conference went on for 15
minutes. I did not realize about the length of conference until I was told
about it by my group members. By the end of conference I was satisfied of being
considered for recommendation if not recommended. Later after 2 hours when the
result came out, it took few seconds to let the verdict sink in. My fellow mates
were clapping, and I could not have been humbled more. More than the happiness
of result I was happy about the warmth with which fellow mates & friends
had accepted the verdict. All in all it was a humbling experience; all of the
group members had played their share in Chest Number-17’s recommendation.
Dear Reader, I
hope this read was worth your time. May you emerge victorious!
-Achl Joshi, Chest No: 17 recommended for INA JAN 2020 GS(X)
Supreme Court lawyer Alakh Alok Srivastava filed a criminal complaint against activist and Jammu and Kashmir People’s Movement leader Shehla Rashid over her allegations against the Army on the situation in Kashmir. Demanding immediate arrest and stringent action against Rashid, Srivastava said her comments incited dissatisfaction towards the Government of India, which is prima facie an offence of Sedition under Section 124 A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Rashid, in a series of tweets posted on the night of August 18, accused the Indian Army of “torturing” locals in the garb of “interrogating” them and creating an “environment of fear” in Shopian, located in southern Kashmir. She even said “Armed forces were entering houses at night” and “picking up boys”.
