The Union Minister for Defence, Shri Manohar Parrikar accompanied by the Chief of Army Staff, General Dalbir Singh, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha and the VCNS Vice Admiral P. Murugesan laid wreath, at Amar Jawan Jyoti, on the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas, in New Delhi on July 26, 2015.
The Union Minister for Defence, Shri Manohar Parrikar accompanied by the Chief of Army Staff, General Dalbir Singh, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha and the VCNS Vice Admiral P. Murugesan laid wreath, at Amar Jawan Jyoti, on the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas, in New Delhi on July 26, 2015.
The Union Minister for Defence, Shri Manohar Parrikar signing the visitor’s book after paying homage to martyrs, at Amar Jawan Jyoti, on the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas, in New Delhi on July 26, 2015.
'16 years since Kargil, army still short of equipment' | Zee News
Last Updated: Sunday, July 26, 2015 - 21:10
New Delhi: As the country marks the 16th anniversary of the
Kargil war on Sunday, former army chief Gen. V.P. Malik, who headed the
Indian Army during the conflict, says the force is still facing problems of shortage of weapons and equipment, though there has been much progress since 1999.
"There was a shortage of weapons and equipment during the Kargil war, the same problem persists today," the former Army chief told IANS.
"As I keep hearing, large number of deficiencies are there, and it (sorting out the problem) should be a priority," he said.
Army Chief General Dalbir Singh,
speaking at the Kargil war memorial at Drass, in Jammu and Kashmir, on Saturday, said that shortage of clothing and equipment has been identified and it would be tackled soon.
A report of the parliamentary standing committee on defence recently painted a grim picture of modernisation plans of the Indian Army,
giving a long list of shortages from wheeled guns, tanks, missiles, and ammunition, to basic amenities like bullet-proof jackets, night vision devices, and even mosquito nets.
The panel, in its report said the shortage of basic amenities includes shortfall of 2,17,388 high ankle boots, of 13,09,092 canvas brown rubber sole shoes with laces, 4,47,000 ski masks, and 1,26,270 number of mosquito nets.
Malik however added that the Army has come a long way from the 1999 conflict when India even lacked surveillance equipment along the border.
Asked about the difference between the situation in 1999, and today, the former army chief said: "The situation is different today; 1999 was different. There were no surveillance devices on the border, one had to walk from one post to other in the snow."
"Today things are better, we have some sort of devices," he said, adding that upgradation of equipment is needed.
Gen. Malik also mentioned that India has stationed more troops along the border now, a process that was started with raising of the 14 Corps after the Kargil war.
The former army chief also stressed on including the army in the decision making process, instead of being consulted only after a conflict starts.
"We must have military leadership in the decision making loop. Wars can happen suddenly, instead of consulting when something happens," said the retired general.
"Political talks can be on, but the Army should be kept aware of the strategic environment," he said.
The Kargil war was fought in the summer of 1999 to evict Pakistani regular forces who had intruded and occupied posts vacated for the winter on the Indian side of the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Kargil war was fought for more than 60 days, ended on July 26.
The attack by Pakistan on the Indian side was seen as a long planned act, and while initially Pakistan blamed it on insurgents, documents found on the dead bodies and statements by Pakistani leaders and their army chief showed involvement of Pakistani forces.
In the conflict, the
Indian Army lost around 500 officers, soldiers and jawans.
IANS
PM Modi remembers Kargil heroes in 10th edition of 'Mann Ki Baat' | Zee News
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who paid his tribute to the Kargil martyrs in the tenth edition of his 'Mann Ki Baat' programme, said the battle was not just fought on borders, but every village and city contributed in it.
He said that every soldier is attached with the country just as a farmer is attached to his land.
"My beloved citizens, 26th July is being celebrated as Kargil Vijay Diwas. Just as a farmer is connected with his land, similarly a soldier is attached with his country......I salute these soldiers, who make all efforts to restrict the enemy's effort without caring about their lives. The Kargil battle was not just fought on borders, India's every village, city and town has made a contribution to that," he said.
The Prime Minister's 'Mann Ki Baat' programme aims to deliver his voice to the general masses of the country since television connection is still not available everywhere, especially in the rural regions of remote locations.
ANI
**************
Army's capabilities have grown since Kargil war: Lt Gen Hooda | Zee News
Last Updated: Sunday, July 26, 2015 - 15:14
Drass: Indian Army on Sunday said its capabilities have grown "exponentially" since the Kargil war and the force was confident of dealing with any kind of situation on the borders with Pakistan and China.
"We are fully confident on both the borders. There used to be only a brigade before the Kargil war. Now there is a full division.
"Readiness has improved many manifold and similarly, with the counter-terrorism grid, measures have been put in place and so along the LAC with China, the capabilities have grown exponentially," Northern Army Commander Lt General D S Hooda told reporters after laying a wreath at the Kargil War Memorial here.
"So, I just want to tell everyone, tell the nation, please be confident. We are there on the borders and our capability exists to do well," he said.
The army commander said there was a difference in perception with regard to the border with China, but both the sides understand that the border needs to be kept calm and peaceful.
"There are some areas where there is a difference in perception of Line of Actual Control (LAC). It is not that there are differences all along the LAC, but there are few areas where there are problems.
He said both the sides undertake patrolling up to their perception of LAC. "So, just as we look at Chinese action as transgression, they look at our actions as transgression. But the overall sense is that there needs to be peace and calm on the border," he said.
The army commander said there is regular engagement with the Chinese army and the kind of tension that takes place on the LoC is not there at the LAC.
"Border meetings take place very regularly and therefore you will find that in this area, the kind of tensions that take place on LoC are not there.
"I mean we have had incidents that like in Dipsang in 2013 and 2014 but there is an understanding on both sides that we need to keep the border calm. Both the sides understand that there are limits which they do not cross," he said.
Lt Gen Hooda said the army has taken action to counter infiltration and was considering replacing the existing fence with a hi-tech one.
"This year there have been seven to eight infiltration bids. Traditionally, when the snow starts melting, the infiltration starts. In the next three-four months, you will find an increase in infiltration attempts.
"We have taken actions. This year we have actually increased deployment along the borders. More troops have gone up. We are looking at a hi-tech fence to replace the existing fence, so more surveillance measures are being taken. I think we are confident about dealing with this," he said.
: Indian Army on Sunday acknowledged that there was a shortage of ammunition, but said the government was seized of the matter and attempts were being made to address the issue.
"See it has been reported in Parliament, there is some shortages of ammunition that exist and lets not really direct it at any one or specific to one border.
"The weaponry is common in the Indian Army but there are some shortages in some ammunition and there are efforts to try and build up these stocks," Army's Northern Commander Lt gen DS Hooda told reporters here.
He said though the day-to-day operations of the army would not be affected by the shortage, there needs to be a huge build up in a war-like situation.
"Frankly, it will not, sort of, effect the day to day operation.That level of stocks is available.But if you are looking at war time, then you need to build up huge amount of stocks. There are some shortages and the government is seized of it. The MoD is seized of it and there are attempts (to address that)," he said.
On the implementation of One Rank One Pension (OROP), he said the government has accepted it and "I am hopeful that it will come".
Lt Gen Hooda said the force understands the requirements of its soldiers and was extremely sensitive to their needs.
"Frankly, the military is such an organisation where the bonding is close.The kind of welfare that we look into, basic items are all there for the soldier.
"Let me tell you that as far as the requirement of the soldiers is, everyone is extremely sensitive to their needs and the one sole agenda of the senior officers is that the guy on the border has what he needs," he said.
PTI
