Army capable to check infiltration: Gen Rawat

‘India has no extra-territorial ambitions’

KOLHAPUR, Nov 1: Quoting a report of the Intelligence Bureau (IB), Army chief Bipin Rawat asserted that Indian Army is very competent to check the infiltrators of terrorists in the Indian area, in the face of an increase in infiltration activity.
The Army chief was here to attend an ex-servicemen’s rally organised by 109 Maratha TA Batalian on Wednesday evening.
Later, while talking to the media, he said that in its report, the IB indicated that the Indian security system continues to remain very strong and capable to face any challenges from the terrorists, while saying that it was not suitable to disclose a confidential report before the media.
It is not clear thus far whether the use of sniper rifles would be undertaken by the terrorists, but we will use our AK-47 with the installation of modern camera equipments, Army chief Rawat said while adding that the Army had also transformed its action plan in accordance with the constantly changing policy of the terrorists.
The Army chief further added that the Naxals were targetting ordinary people but the Central police was competent enough to fight them and there was no need of help from the Army to them.
Expressing dissatisfaction, he said that it was not proper to organise a rally for the demand of ‘one rank one pension’.
Meanwhile, Gen Rawat said India has no extra-territorial ambitions, but its aim is to ensure a conducive external and internal security environment for unhindered economic progress and socio-political development.
Contested sovereignty of maritime territories pose a major challenge in East Asia and the South China Sea and these disputed maritime boundaries are threatening international waters, Gen Rawat said, speaking at a seminar on ‘Evolving Geo-Politics of the Indo-Pacific Region-Challenges and Prospects’ in New Delhi.
Harinder Sidhu, the High Commissioner of Australia to India, who also delivered a special address at the seminar, said if invited, Australia is willing to join the Malabar Exercise.
“It makes sense for Australia to exercise with whom we work closely in Indian and Pacific Oceans,” Sidhu said.
Malabar is a trilateral exercise between India, the US and Japan, and Australia is keen on joining the naval drill.
She said with shared interest, its strategic location in the Indo-Pacific, Australia should also be considered in the top ranks of India’s partnerships.
In his keynote address, Gen Rawat said, “Our security policy flows from two basic cardinals. That is, we have no extra-territorial ambitions and we have no desire to transplant our ideologies on others. Our aim is to enure a conducive external and internal security environment for unhindered economic progress and socio-political development. Thus, stability in the Indo-Pacific region is essential.”
He said within the Indo-Pacific, the Indian Ocean Region remains India’s primary area of interest.
India, he said, is committed to uphold and strengthen the rules-based order in Indo-Pacific.
Humanitarian And Disaster Relief (HADR) operations, Search and Rescue (SAR) missions, protection of vital Sea Lanes of Communication, and robust defence of India’s island territories are major aspects on which the Army is investing in capability development towards tri-services efforts, he said.
On her part, referring to the maritime disputes in the Indo-Pacific, Sidhu said Australia has been concerned by the pace and scale of China’s activities in the South China Sea, including the use of disputed beaches and artificial structures for military purpose.
Batting for a greater military cooperation with India, she said for the first time, in its 2017 Foreign Policy White paper, Australia placed India in the front rank for international partnership.
“While India has always been an important partner for Australia, our strategic partnership has been stronger than it has ever been. But with shared interest, our strengths as a country and strategic location in the Indo-Pacific, Australia should also be considered in the top ranks of India’s partnerships.
“To do that we need to work to take the relationship to the next level. To cement our burgeoning military ties, it makes sense for India and Australia to agree on a Mutual Logistics Support Agreement between our militaries,” she said.
This will cement the increasing interoperability of defence forces of the two countries.
On Quad, a group comprising India, Australia, the US and Japan formed to promote shared interests in the Indo-Pacific, the envoy said she is often asked whether it is achieving its objective.
“In my view, it is doing exactly what it was intended to do. The purpose of any dialogue is to build understanding and deepen shared interest. The Quad is intended to do no more and no less than that,” she said. (Agencies).

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