Army chief’s stern warning to Pak
Enemy of nation will be dealt with sternly
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Oct 7: In a stern warning to Pakistan, albeit without naming it, Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat today declared that Army may have to prepare to fight the battle across the borders in contact with adversary and declared that enemy of the nation will be dealt with sternly and troops were ready to meet with any eventuality.
In a hard-hitting statement after his return to New Delhi yesterday from six-day Russia visit, Gen Rawat declared that enemy of the nation will be dealt with very sternly and that troops were ready to fight enemy across the border.
“We may have to prepare to fight battle across the borders in direct contact with enemy. At the same time, we should also be prepared for non contact warfare,” he said.
He added that when adversary can prepare and launch operations against us he may not be even aware if non contact war is going to become precursor of attrition warfare.
“The line between mobilisation, warning and final combat will be very vague,” the Army chief asserted.
Gen Rawat’s stern warning on hitting the enemy inside their territory assumed significance as it comes close on the heels of increased infiltration attempts of militants from Pakistan in Kashmir and mutilation of the body of Indian soldier in Ramgarh sector of Samba district along the International Border.
His warning that enemy of the nation will be dealt with sternly is being seen as clear and categoric warning to the militants, who were trying to escalate violence in Jammu and Kashmir especially in the Valley ahead of Municipal and Panchayat elections.
Amid fears of U S sanctions over the S-400 deal with Russia, Gen Rawat asserted that India follows an independent policy and was also keen on getting the Kamov helicopters and other weapon systems from Moscow.
India and Russia had on Friday signed a multi-billion-dollar deal to procure the S-400 Triumf air defence system, which could attract sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
The act is primarily aimed at countering Russia, Iran and North Korea.
India and Russia concluded the deal notwithstanding the US warning that it would be a “focus area” for it to implement punitive sanctions against a nation undertaking “significant” business deals with the Russians.
Gen Rawat, who returned Saturday night after a six-day visit to Russia, held talks with military officials of that country to enhance bilateral cooperation.
He said the Russians were very keen on associating with the Indian Army and defence forces. “Because they do understand that we are a strong Army, capable of standing up for what is right for us, based on our strategic thought process,” he said.
On his Russian visit, Gen Rawat recalled a question posed to him by a Russian Naval officer that India seemed to be looking westwards at America, which has put sanctions on Russia, and that Washington has also threatened to impose restrictions on New Delhi for dealing with Moscow.
To this, Rawat responded saying, “Yes, we do appreciate that there could be sanctions on us, but we follow an independent policy”.
Rawat also sought to assuage Russian concerns over India’s growing ties with the US.
“You (Russia) can be rest assured (that) while we may be associating with America in getting some technology, but we follow an independent policy.
“I told them while we are talking sanctions and you are questioning on sanctions, President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at this juncture, are signing the treaty on purchase of S-400 weapon system despite the fact that we may face challenges from America in the future,” the Army chief said.
Gen Rawat said India was looking forward to procuring Kamov helicopters and other weapon systems and technology from Russia.
He said New Delhi was looking to get space based systems and technologies from Moscow to enhance its space capabilities.
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