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  DECODING PAKISTAN’S PASNI PORT OFFER TO THE US “ Leveraging foreign presence on its soil to enhance own security, is an old ploy of Pakistan, as discernible from ceding the Trans-Karakoram Tract comprising the Shaksgam Valley to China in 1963, followed by formalising Chinese control over Gwadar port operations in 2013, and now proposing operational control and development of Pasni port by the US .” – Col RS Sidhu Backdrop The May 2025 Indarmy launched Operation ‘Sindoor’ against Operation ‘Bunyan ul Marsoos’ of Pakistan military has turned out to be a watershed event in the series of military confrontations between the two warring adversaries. Its impact goes beyond that of the 1971 war, that led to carving out Bangla Desh by severing the spatially separated eastern half from Pakistan. Operation ‘Sindoor’/’Bunyan ul Marsoos’ lasted for 90 hrs, but its geopolitical reverberations are transforming the strategic landscape in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). The deep precision ...
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                                        VELAPANTI DIARIES 6 THE MOJO OF THE WHIMSICALS “ Mojo is an essential ingredient for being Whimsical !” – Col RS Sidhu   Backdrop The Whimsicals were last engaged in major action as a team, while undertaking the 19 days motorcycle odyssey to Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh in May of 2024. Health issues of family elders, and the drudgery of monotonous familial duties precluded the Whimsicals from engaging in group Velapanti . It is ironical, indeed, that the very Velapanti articulations employed by the Whimsicals to escape the grind of dull domestic chores, was also the cause that precluded them from indulging their favourite Velapanti moments! It led to serious soul searching whether we had lost our mojo , the very raison d’ etre of the claim to being Whimsical. A couple of in-person sessions and group chats on closed SM platforms conv...
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BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO HIGH ALTITUDE TREKKING “ You have not explored the frontiers of your full potential if you have not been called Mad at least once in your life. ” -            Col RS Sidhu Growing pollution and stress of urban lifestyles is taking its toll, giving rise to a new genre of Indians, who are willing to come out of the comfort zone of their laidback lifestyles to be far away from the maddening crowds and polluted environment of the cities, even if it’s for a short break. The stress is on the outdoors to beat the stress of urban living! Giving rise to a new vacationing trend of o utdoors adventure. The high Himalayas - with its pristine landscapes, solitude and opportunities galore for adrenaline pumping thrills – is emerging as the leading vacationing destination of the new Indian. As more and more new enthusiasts take to high altitude treks, it is worthwhile for them ...