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Imported equipment, low morale are problems for army: former chief

zavis2003

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Kolkata, July 5 (IANS) Dependence on imported equipment and low morale of the officers was posing a serious problem for the Indian Army, its former chief Gen. V.P. Malik said here Saturday. “Even today we are importing 70 percent of our equipment. As long as we have to depend on equipment from outside, we will be inconvenienced by any rise in prices,” he said.

To buttress his argument, Malik referred to how Russia suddenly escalated the cost of an aircraft carrier by $1.2 billion last year.

Malik, the army chief during the 1999 Kargil war, said at that time, Indian troops were low on tangible assets, but high on morale and confidence.

“This asset is almost on the verge of extinction now. There is an acute shortage of officers. Young men and women with great leadership capabilities are not joining. Those in the army want to quit,” he said, while addressing a seminar on “Indian Defence Forces’ preparedness to deal with challenges of the 21st century.”

“The low morale of the forces is becoming visible. I couldn’t dream of such a scenario when I joined the army,” he regretted.

He also criticised the political leadership for ignoring the recommendation to create the post of Chief of Defence Staff.

“That was a right recommendation made years ago. But the government chickened out. This was unfortunate.”

Malik expressed himself against using the army for internal security duties.

“You can’t switch a soldier on and off from external to internal security. These two need completely different orientations,” he said.

Continuing with his hard-hitting speech, Malik said that the government made a mistake by neglecting the border states soon after independence. “Unless we assimilate these people, our defence cannot be strong.”

Replying to a query as to why the strategic roads in border states like Arunachal Pradesh still lay in neglect, Malik said: “In 1986, the government gave us huge resources to build infrastructure like airfields and roads. Work was on at a great pace. Then in 1988, (then prime minister) Rajiv Gandhi went to China. After that, the fund flow dried up.”

Malik highlighted the need for military might to sustain India’s core values.

“Unless you are alert about the need for protecting your independence, how can you evolve as a great nation?” he asked at the seminar held on the eve of Syama Prasad Mookerjee’s 107th birth anniversary and dedicated to the memory of Field Marshal S.H.F.J. Manekshaw.

“In order to protect your soft power - your cultural ethos - you can’t do without adequate hard power. They need to compliment each other,” he added


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Imported equipment, low morale are problems for army: former chief
 
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Kolkata, July 5 (IANS) Dependence on imported equipment and low morale of the officers was posing a serious problem for the Indian Army, its former chief Gen. V.P. Malik said here Saturday.

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Malik highlighted the need for military might to sustain India’s core values.

“Unless you are alert about the need for protecting your independence, how can you evolve as a great nation?” he asked at the seminar held on the eve of Syama Prasad Mookerjee’s 107th birth anniversary and dedicated to the memory of Field Marshal S.H.F.J. Manekshaw.

“In order to protect your soft power - your cultural ethos - you can’t do without adequate hard power. They need to compliment each other,” he added

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I am not at all surprised.

He is merely pointing out in bluff, soldierly language, direct and to the point, what all of us know and are unable to deal with: how to be a peaceful nation without emasculating the military.

I do not know of any nation on earth that has achieved this yet. However, we seem to have erred on the side of pacifism and neglect of our military duties more than most.

With China in its present belligerent mood, looking for trouble and seeking to dominate the neighbourhood, this may mean serious trouble for us. It may be noticed that the General's only concerns, at least as reported, were about this nation. I think he is right. I think that Pakistan has already entered into an introspection which will help us Indians hugely; I expect a certain openness and willingness to deal with the consequences of peace to emerge from this. I think that peace with Bangladesh depends entirely on which faction of their fractured polity is in power. We will have trouble with one, and relative peace with the other. Until the Maoists come to full power in Nepal and allow the Chinese military access down the Kathmandu highway, we are not in serious trouble there either. The usual abuse and accusations of acting like big brother, nothing more. Sri Lanka needs time to put itself together again. So there is one overarching concern that we have to deal with. Fair enough.

I just hope that the politicians realise that their peculiar ways of defining meum and tuum will not help the country in the long run.
 
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Gen. V. P. Malik...i am surprised...is he currently the General of Indian Armed Forces...pls. can anybody give an update as to why Mr. Malik's Comments so happening for today's....scenario :) LOL
 
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Well what he told is is true
Kargil scenario was his failure and whjat he acheived from late action was just washing the clothes

He knew that there are bigger uch bigger gaps in India's Security
thats y every month we see failure in indian security
such as riots
16 recongnized movements of independence
and many more

And one more thing which is still in disguiss is indian army role in terrorism

i means that COL PROHIT
 
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Gen. V. P. Malik...i am surprised...is he currently the General of Indian Armed Forces...pls. can anybody give an update as to why Mr. Malik's Comments so happening for today's....scenario :) LOL

He is only the previous head of the army, so he has no knowledge of morale, or army culture at the moment.

It is understood, that serving officers never air any such concerns, it is usually retired officers, with tacit approval from the current army chiefs, that offer their views, and air concerns about armies.

This is common practice.
 
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