Press Information Bureau English Releases

India is as concerned with the worsening Security situation inside Pakistan as it is with the continuing infiltration in Jammu & Kashmir. This has been brought out in the Annual Report of The Ministry of Defence for the year 2009 – 10, released here today.

“The increasing incidents of terrorism within Pakistan targeting, inter alia, the security establishment and senior military personnel, and the rising tide of extremism underlined the serious threat to Pakistan itself and to the region”, says the report, noting that “The Pakistani Government made some progress in tackling jihadi insurgency in Swat and the adjacent districts and also in South Waziristan”.

“The continued infiltrations across the LoC and the existence of terrorist camps across the India-Pak border however, demonstrate the continuing ambivalence of Pakistan in its actions against terrorist organisations. India has exercised exemplary restraint in the face of gravest provocation. Pakistan needs to take effective steps to address India’s concern on terrorism directed against it from the territory under Pakistan control. India has never shut the door for dialogue with Pakistan, and is of the view that meaningful dialogue with Pakistan is possible only in an environment free of terror or threat of terror. This calls for Pakistan to take effective measures to dismantle the infrastructure of terrorism on its soil which is directed against India”.

On the other hand, the report has praised Bangladesh on security concerns. “Relations with Bangladesh have been strengthened since the restoration of multiparty democracy in that country. India is appreciative of the increasing cooperation with Bangladesh in security matters, especially vis-à-vis Indian insurgent groups operating from its territory”. Going further East, the report says that cooperation with Myanmar in security matters is being enhanced, while India continues developmental activities in the country which lies at the tri-junction of South and South-East Asia. On Sri Lanka, the report says, there lies “a historic opportunity” to find lasting political settlement in Northern Sri Lanka after the conclusion of operations against the LTTE.

On China, the report says that the relations with it have generally progressed well in the last year based on their strategic and cooperative partnership. “There has been a convergence of views and actions on various issues of international fora. A regular mechanism for exchanges in the military sphere has been established through the ongoing confidence building measures between the Armed Forces of both countries and other military interactions”. But at the same time, the report adds, “India also remains conscious and alert about the implications of China’s military modernisation…”. Rapid infrastructure development in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) and Xinjiang province has considerably upgraded China’s military Force projection capability and strategic operational flexibility. “Necessary steps have been initiated for the upgradation of our infrastructure and force structuring …along the northern borders.”

Focussing on the situation in Afghanistan, the report observes that “the security and stability of Afghanistan is critical to India’s own security concerns. The report takes note of the deployment of additional 30,000 US troops in the AfPak region by May this year and President Barack Obama’s July 2011 timeframe for troop’s withdrawal from Afghanistan.

On Iran’s controversial Nuclear Programme, the report says that “India continued to support a peaceful resolution of the issue which would be in the interest of peace and stability in West Asia. The report also takes note of the worldwide economic slowdown, saying that the challenges confronting the global financial system created strains in the global security environment.

On the internal security challenges, the focus has shifted from the proxy war in Jammu & Kashmir to the left wing extremism and insurgency in North-Eastern States. The report says the arrest of the top leadership of ULFA including its Chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa has been a major breakthrough. On Jammu & Kashmir, the report says “all parameters of proxy war are at an all time low and the current situation indicated a shift towards normalcy and peace… the ceasefire on the borders / LoC is holding out with a few minor aberrations”. Despite improving security situation in the State, infiltration attempts continued. During the period April 01, 2009 to February 28, 2010, 33 infiltration bids were foiled with 50 terrorists killed in the process. During the same period, 213 terrorists were also killed and 68 apprehended in encounters with the Armed Forces.

On developments within the three Armed Forces, the report mentions that the setting up of the Integrated Space Cell (ISC) under the Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Operations), Headquarter IDS as the nodal point for all space related activities of the tri-services was a significant step forward towards modernization. The ISC has worked out the overall satellite communication requirements of the three services till 2020 in coordination with the ISRO. A contract was signed this month to equip two regiments of the Indian Army with the BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile System.

On India’s indigenous missile programme, the report says that the DRDO plans to conduct shortly the 4th Flight Test of Long Range Agni – III missile, capable of carrying a 1500 kg war head. The DRDO is also toying with the indigenous Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) System, based on the Embraer – 145 aircraft platform. The first modified aircraft is expected in mid – 2011.

Samir/PK/RAJ
(Release ID :59945)