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Excerpts of PM's address at the Combined
Commanders' Conference
The Prime Minister addressed the Combined Commanders
Conference of the Indian Armed Forces in New Delhi today. Following are
excerpts from the Prime Minister’s address on the occasion.
“It gives me immense pleasure once again to address the
Combined Commanders Conference of the Indian Armed Forces. You have the
singular privilege and honour of leading our gallant soldiers, sailors and air
warriors. Our men and women in uniform have demonstrated unflinching devotion
to duty each time the nation’s security has been challenged or when we have
faced natural calamities. The armed forces have played a stellar role in
safeguarding our borders, in fighting terrorism and infiltration in Jammu and
Kashmir, insurgencies in the North-East, pirates in the Indian Ocean and aiding
civil authority in Sikkim during the recent earthquake. Our countrymen look up
to the armed forces as the epitome of honesty, integrity, character and
professionalism.
Your Conference is taking place at a time when the country is
faced with multiple challenges. In this age of rapid information flows and
explosion of technologies, one of the most important security imperatives is
our ability to respond to these challenges quickly and in an integrated
fashion. We should be justifiably proud of the excellent civil-military
relations that we have traditionally maintained, and which has been the bedrock
of our democracy. We must, however, continuously build upon this tradition and
leverage the combined will of the nation to meet new and emerging threats.
Broadly speaking, the international strategic and political
environment has deteriorated from our point of view. The policies we adopt,
whether internally or externally, must factor this in. We have paid special
attention to our immediate neighbourhood. This is based on our conviction that
the task of India’s socio-economic transformation will always be more difficult
and less likely to succeed if we do not manage relations with our neighbours
properly; more importantly, if we do not give them a substantial stake in
India’s economic progress and stability. Most major powers today are
preoccupied with their own domestic problems. This has made the task of
effective and coordinated global response to international issues that much
more difficult. While we must work with the international community to address
global issues, we must also strengthen our own capabilities and be ready to
stand on our own feet, whenever required. We must therefore consolidate our own
strategic autonomy and independence of thought and action.
The fundamentals of our economy remain strong. Despite the
global slowdown, we will still achieve a growth rate of close to eight percent
this year. Our short term challenge is to bring down inflation, while in the
long term we have to make our growth process more inclusive, spur agricultural
growth, expand the delivery of education, health and other services, protect
our environment and improve our overall infrastructure. It is equally the
responsibility of the government to equip our armed forces with all the
necessary means to meet all threats to our nation, including those which go
beyond conventional warfare. We have a long history in fighting terrorism.
Today terrorist groups are highly networked, nimble footed and more lethal.
This calls for appropriate responses. Cyber threats are emerging as a major
source of worry. Cyber and information warfare could qualitatively change the
concept of a battlefield. Nuclear proliferation and nuclear security remain a
serious threat in our neighbourhood.
We must focus much more on maritime security, and on securing
our coastline, our exclusive economic zone, our island territories and the sea
lanes of communication. Internally, we have to work assiduously to address
problems in the North East and deal with left-wing extremism in a comprehensive
manner. We have to be sensitive to the needs of the weaker sections of society
and ensure that the fruits of our progress reach them. Issues relating to use
of scarce resources such as land and water and strengthening institutions of
governance require much closer attention than they have received in the past.
The Government will never fight shy of finding the funds for the modernization
of our forces. At the same time we have to recognize that resources are not unlimited.
I would urge upon you to optimize the use of scarce resources. You are the best
judges of how this can be done, but advance and long term planning and the
creation of common institutions, communication networks and infrastructure are
some examples of how this could be achieved. We should keep this in mind
particularly when we build new capacities for meeting emerging threats.
The development of an indigenous defence industry is a
national security objective. We have succeeded in persuading many of the
advanced countries to dismantle their export control regimes targeted at us
which will give us access to high technology, but we need to gear up our own
efforts. Modernisation of the armed forces should not be limited only to
acquisition of foreign equipment or foreign technologies. We have to
progressively reduce our dependence on external sources. This has to be a
national effort, involving our armed forces, our scientists and captains of
Indian industry.
We
are among the world leaders in information technology and a knowledge based
economy. We have a vibrant private sector. It is necessary to put in place
policies to promote a viable defence industry in the country using the large
industrial and skill base that already exists. Greater competition will lead to
greater efficiencies and more research and development. The Defence Production
Policy announced this year is a step in the right direction.
The Ministry of Defence has over the last few years taken
several steps to streamline the processes of acquisition. I am glad that the
Defence Procurement Procedure 2011 contains new provisions to encourage private
sector participation in ship building and expansion in the scope of the offset
guidelines. Procurement procedures must ensure transparency, probity and
accountability. We must also constantly work towards reducing time for
processing proposals. Well formulated long term integrated plans will
facilitate this task. Our armed forces must attract the best and the brightest
of our youth. The skills of those who are already in the forces should be
continuously upgraded and broad-based so that our forces operate at the cutting
edge of technology. As Commanders, you have a special responsibility to
inculcate the finest qualities of character, integrity and professionalism
among your junior officers and men and women. We live in an increasingly open
society characterised by instant communications and mass media. These impose
greater responsibilities on all public institutions of our Republic, including
the armed forces.
Ensuring the welfare of ex-servicemen is a responsibility
that the nation has towards our men and women in uniform. It is necessary that
the relevant plans and schemes are implemented diligently, that we ensure
appropriate retraining and above all, we show compassion to those who have
served our nation so well. You are commanders of one of the finest armed forces
in the world. Our nation is truly proud of your achievements and indebted to
you for your bravery, for your valour and for your sacrifices. I wish you even
greater success in the service of our nation in the year to come.” [PIB press
release].
In the annual address to the combined commanders
conference in New Delhi the Prime
Minister has chosen to speak on the critical issues that have emerged over the
past year to include the increase in Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal, radicalization
of the armed forces and cyber security. Thus the assessment remains grim yet
quite realistic given that there is a flux across the World with the many
economic and political challenges faced by even the developed economies during
the past few years. The other major issue is the range of threats that are
faced by nations including sub-conventional warfare and cyber security. The
threat of terrorism has also received due consideration. The need for
self-reliance in defence in relation to
modernisation of the armed forces is another key facet that could be identified
by the Prime Minister given that there are major challenges in this field with
lack of progress on indigenization over the past many years.
PM Address on 11 Oct Army Commanders’ Conference
Begins
A five days Army Commander’s Conference commenced at Manekshaw
Centre New Delhi today. Being attended by Army Commanders of all the
Operational Commands and Army Training Command, the Army Chief during the
opening address, emphasised on the macro level security ‘issues, both internal
and regional. He expressed concern over the security situation in Afghanistan.
Being mindful of our Northern and Western borders, the Army Chief
spoke about various proposals for accretion of forces which were in the
pipeline and the need to look at infrastructural projects along the borders
with greater deliberations. The Army Chief complemented Northern and Eastern
Commands for their remarkable efforts in containing insurgency and terrorism in
their respective theatre of operations. However, he stated that the situation
was still fragile and needed due attention. On Disaster Management and Aid to
Civil Authorities, he complemented all Commands for their efforts, as the first
responders to any situation in our country and their contribution to the
Nation’s growth.
With respect to transformation, Army Chief mentioned that
significant steps have been initiated for ‘Force Structuring’. Various test
beds have been set up for the Northern and Western borders and the same will
implemented once approval is accorded for the force accretions. He brought out
that proposals for ‘theatrisation’ of Combat and Combat Services Support have
been completed and they would be test bedded during the forthcoming Southern
Command Exercise with Troops ‘SUDARSHAN SHAKTI’. Once the efficacy is
ascertained, it would be implemented. Processes are also on for re-structuring
of Army Headquarters, so that it becomes a more responsive and synergised
organisation. Regarding Army Aviation, the Chief stressed that the Army and the
Air Force are deliberating at the highest level and the focus is to continue in
the direction as envisaged. All these steps undertaken would ensure that our
Army is more agile, responsive and effective.
So as to bring about greater satisfaction for the troops, the Army
Chief brought out various aspects pertaining to rations enhancement, clothing
and also a number of schemes put in place for empowerment and education of our
troops. The Army Chief also mentioned about the “Training Audit” which would
soon be put into place as per procedures recommended by Army Training Command.
In the end, Army Chief emphasised that as always operational preparedness and
training are getting due attention of everyone in the Army and thus
complemented all for their joint efforts.
The five days conference is focusing on various macro level issues
pertaining to operational preparedness, equipment sustainment for mission
readiness and maximising combat power generation capability of the Army,
enhancing professional military education for Scholar Warriors, logistics and
other administrative aspects. Procedures to ensure efficient ‘Budgetary
Management’, ‘Improvement of Habitat in High Altitude Areas’ and ‘Night landing
capability for Airfields in the Northern and Western theatres was deliberated
on the first day of the Conference.
It was brought out that due
to low temperatures at night, the carrying capacity of IL-76 would increase,
thus helping in winter stocking as also for operational logistic build up.
Induction of recruits was also debated on the first day, where in all were in
consonance that ‘online tests’ should be resorted to. Tomorrow, 11 October, the
Army Commanders will join for the Combined Commanders’ Conference, involving
Commanders and Principle Staff Officers of all the three services, who would be
addressed by the Hon’ble Prime Minster. [MOD India Press Release].
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