Keep vigil, PM tells forces
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Nov 24 — The Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, today called upon the armed forces to maintain constant vigil on the country’s borders.

Addressing the Combined Commanders’ Conference here, he said the military coup in Pakistan had increased the possibility of escalation of proxy war in Jammu and Kashmir. He assured the commanders that the country’s defence needs would be met and no shortage of funds would be allowed to come in the way of defence preparedness.

The Prime Minister pointed out that an important lesson of Operation Vijay was that conventional capability had not lost its relevance despite nuclear capability. Emphasising the need for high-tech equipment and force multipliers, he said necessary funds would be allocated and a high state of operational preparedness should always be maintained.

Mr Vajpayee called for a detailed study into the country’s security needs on the basis of which defence policy should be formulated. A new approach in this regard had been made with the formation of the National Security Council, he said.

Reaffirming India’s commitment to peace and development and a more just international economic order, Mr Vajpayee underlined the need for global nuclear disarmament. He pointed out that as a sovereign nation India would make its own assessments about its security concerns.

The Prime Minister emphasised the need for indigenous defence production to ensure self-reliance. He commended the role of defence undertakings during the Kargil conflict.

Referring to India’s relations with other neighbours, he said relations with China had improved despite some problems. He expressed concern over the situation in Afghanistan where terrorism and extremism had affected our security environment. Reiterating India’s stand, he said outside interference in Afghanistan must stop.

The Prime Minister and the Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes, paid homage to the brave soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice fighting against invaders in Kargil and insurgents in Jammu and Kashmir and the North-East. They said the nation was eternally indebted to these heroes. An improved welfare package for the families was under implementation. They commended the role of the armed forces in providing relief to civil authorities in the cyclone-hit areas of Orissa.

In his address, the Defence Minister underscored the need for raising allocation for defence in relation to the GDP. There would be no overlooking of the needs of defence and the necessary resources would be made available. He called for utilisation of funds in a cost-effective manner for the which joint planning by the Services, the ministry and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) was essential.

Mr Fernandes highlighted the various measures taken by the DRDO to implement its plan for increased self-reliance in defence. A large number of products, including the missile systems and the electronic warfare systems, had already been developed. The perspective plans covering up to the 10th Five Year Plan period by ordnance factories and the defence public sector undertakings were under preparation in consultation with the services, he said.

Referring to the Kargil conflict, the Defence Minister said the Pakistani misadventure was not an aberration but part of the chain of events starting from 1947-48. He asked the three services to jointly foil the nefarious designs of Pakistan.

Earlier, the Chief of the Army Staff and Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, Gen V.P. Malik, the Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Sushil Kumar, and the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal A.Y. Tipnis, delineated the threat perceptions and the country’s security environment and the operational preparedness of the armed forces to meet any challenge.