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The Defence Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee has stressed the need to work out the optimum and most cost-effective combinations of technology and manpower as per country’s defence requirements. Addressing the Army Commanders’ Conference here today, the Minister said that the most potent challenges forced by the country is not from conventional wars but from unconventional threats, at both, the low end of the spectrum such as religious fundamentalism, terrorism, insurgency, arms smuggling and at the high end from nuclear and missile threats and weapons of mass destruction. Shri Mukherjee said we have to strengthen our border and airspace management, internal security and maritime environment to face these challenges successfully.
Referring to our neighbours, Shri Mukherjee said that our approach towards Pakistan is to pursue a dialogue with the Government on all outstanding issues and simultaneously to expand people-to-people contacts and promote confidence-building measures. He however, cautioned that there is a need to guard us against the use of softer borders to promote subversion and terrorism. On relations with China, the Minister said that periodic discussions are being held on bilateral issues. Referring to developments in Nepal, he said the situation there is a cause for worry.
On defence cooperation with various countries, the Defence Minister said that Russia continues to be our major strategic partner. While there has been an expansion in Defence cooperation with the US, Israel has also emerged as an important technological partner, he added.
Underlining the importance of coordination in planning, equipping and operations between the three services, the Minister said joint plans have to be drawn up by them. He emphasized that any service equipment should be compatible with that of other services for effective inter-operability.
Speaking of modernization, Shri Mukherjee said that the term means much more than just equipment and technology. The new technology provides an increased range of options for operations and compels us to rethink our doctrine and the way we looked at the situations. He said the change in security scenario requires constant review so as to assess how Army operates or reacts in a given situation.
Referring to the reorganization, the Defence Minister said that as a part of streamlining the command and control for our western borders, approval has been given for creation of the new South-Western Command. About AV Singh Committee recommendations, Shri Mukherjee said that this is only the beginning. The main purpose of the report was to achieve better combat effectiveness by bringing down the age profile of the field commanders, he said. The Defence Minister noted that this can be achieved and maintained on a sustained basis only if the entire package of recommendations is implemented. He underlined the need to complete the implementation process soon. The Minister expressed concern that a large part of our Defence budget allocation is taken up by manpower expenditure. He asked the Army Commanders to think in terms of lesser number of men and also for a smaller ‘tail’ in the Army.
The Defence Minister noted with satisfaction the various welfare measures carried out by the Government in the interest of the Armed Forces personnel and said that the implementation of the Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme is progressing as per schedule. He said all 227 poly clinics will be operational by 31st March next year. The Defence Minister expressed concern over the slow progress of the Married Accommodation Project and underlined the need to review the progress of the scheme on a regular basis.
The Defence Minister was of the view that situation in Jammu and Kashmir has shown a perceptible change towards the better. He said the cease-fire along the LoC except for a few violations has generally held. Shri Mukherjee said that infiltration figures as also casualty figures have come down. However, he cautioned the security forces to be alert, as the terrorist infrastructure along the LoC remains still intact.
Lauding the role of Army in recent rescue and relief operations with special reference to Tsunami and unprecedented snowfall in Kashmir valley, he said that their dedication has won national and international admiration.
The Defence Minister hailed Operation Sadbhavna and said that this spirit of winning hearts and minds of the people needs to be encouraged in insurgency-affected areas. However the Minister cautioned army about the reports of human rights violations and described them as disturbing. In this context, the Defence Minister said that we must realize that while dealing with insurgents, we are operating within our own territory and any allegations of human rights violations will not only sully the image of the army but also reduce our effectiveness in tackling militancy.
The four day Army Commanders’ Conference is being attended by the Senior Commanders and Principal Staff officers at the Headquarters.
SKS/SM/RAJ
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