Systematic military intelligence analysis, of the kind that is routine in Rawalpindi and Beijing, would leave Pakistan and China with no doubts about India's military weakness. But the Indian public might miss the broader picture.
Patriotism as a motivation for the youth was not so strong today as it was soon after the country's independence, Army chief General Deepak Kapoor said, pointing out that priorities of the youth were very different now.
Rubbishing the chances of a repeat of the 1962 Sino-Indian war which China won, Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor on Tuesday said the Army was capable of defending Indian territory and warding off any aggression"The charter of the Army is to defend Indian territory at all costs. This talk of a repeat of 1962 is totally incorrect and uncalled for," he said.The Army, Kapoor said, had the requisite capability to defend the Indian territory.
"We do expect enhanced attempts at infiltration this summer and the trends for that are already there. Infiltration are aided and abetted by our western neighbour," Kapoor told media persons after his farewell Guard of Honour at the South Block lawns in New Delhi.
Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor decorated former cricketer Kapil Dev with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel after the latter voluntarily joined the Territorial Army during a ceremony in New Delhi on Wednesday.
Asked to comment on happenings in Myanmar, the new army chief said Indian armed forces had good relations with the armed forces of that country and "we are for maintaining these close relationships".
"Troops should enhance vigil on the border and the LoC keeping in view the increased attempts of infiltration from across the border in 2009 as compared to last year," he told the Unified Headquarter's meeting in Jammu.
With China rapidly modernizing its military, India needs to be wary of likely implications, which will impact the nation's security, Army chief Deepak Kapoor warned on Thursday.
Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor said on Tuesday there is no "trace" of Taliban in the country amid reports some of these elements have infiltrated but women are being "trained" on the other side of the Line of Control to cross over for terror acts.
Chief of Army Staff General Deepak Kapoor on Saturday sought to allay Pakistan's apprehensions over the positioning of troops along its border by asserting that India was never a threat to its neighbour.
Former Army Chief Deepak Kapoor on Thursday told a judicial panel conducting inquiry into the Adarsh Society scam that he didn't think that the high-rise would be a security threat due to its proximity to a military station.
"We have information that women are being trained on the other side to infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir," the Army Chief said, when asked about the possibility of involvement of women handlers in the Pulwama encounter that ended with the killing of two.
There has been no fresh induction of artillery guns since the infamous Rs 1,437-crore Bofors deal, under which 410 155mm 39-calibre field Howitzers were bought in 1986.
The strategies were fine-tuned by top brass, including Army chief General Deepak Kapoor during a two-day table-top war game in Pune last week, army sources said in New Delhi on Monday.
Known for its stunning feats, the team from the Army's Signal Corps made it to the record book on June 11 this year when it successfully displayed its skill to carry 251 men on 11 motorcycles for a record-breaking distance of 240 metres.
The terror attacks on Mumbai was a test of India's patience and the Army is ready to face any challenge posed by terrorism, Army chief General Deepak Kapoor said today.
As the government is busy preparing Budget, the Army on Thursday sought more funds for the force, saying this would help in its modernisation process.
Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor today said Pakistan was following a "dichotomous policy" in fighting terrorism -- operating against militants within the country and "perpetuating terror" in India.
"Movement of Pak troops has been factored in India's planning. We are keeping all options -- diplomatic, economic and, as last resort, fighting option -- open," the army chief told media persons. "There is no need for any kind of hysteria; there is no cause for concern for us," Gen Kapoor added.
India is "seriously" looking at the "disparity" in border infrastructure on its side in Arunachal Pradesh compared to the development on the Chinese side and is "trying to change that", Army Chief Deepak Kapoor has said.
Antony has asked Defence Secretary Shekhar Dutt to furnish the report by Friday.
The government will name an under-construction complex for warfare studies in the Delhi Cantonment after Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw. "We have decided to rename the Param Vir Complex being constructed at the entrance to Delhi Cantonment as Manekshaw Centre in memory of the iconic military leader," Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor said on Monday.
"There are projects already in the pipeline for ensuring the kind of night vision capability that some of our adversaries have. It takes at least three to four years and some of the projects are likely to fructify in the next year or so," Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor said.
Earlier this week, Defence Minister A K Antony advised General Kapoor to initiate disciplinary action against Lt General Prakash, as against the Army chief's recommendation to initiate administrative action against his former aide.
Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor said on Tuesday there have been "no occupation" of Indian territory by Chinese troops. "Quite a large number of these reports are not correct. I am trying to assure everyone here and to the nation that there have been no major issues of Chinese transgressions so to say. They come upto certain areas. We also have our perceived Line of Control upto where we also go. There have been no occupation of Indian territory," Kapoor told reporters.
Chief of Army staff General Deepak Kapoor on Sunday said it was important to ensure that the control of Pakistan's nuclear weapons command does not go to "wrong hands".
A top military official, Lt Gen Awadesh Prakash, allegedly involved in the Sukna land scam faces court martial with the Union Defence Minister A K Antony asking army chief General Deepak Kapoor to initiate disciplinary action against the officer.
The Defence Ministry on Wednesday announced a major reshuffle in the top echelons of the force, naming Lieutenant General Milan Lalitkumar Naidu as the new Vice Chief of Army Staff.
Seeking to down play the Indian Army chief's remarks that all options were open for dealing with Pakistan, Premier Yousuf Raza Gilani today said there was "tremendous" public pressure on Indian government after the Mumbai attacks and insisted that there was "no threat of war".
After blowing the lid off the Adarsh Housing Society scam in Mumbai, Trinamool Congress MP Ambica Banerjee has now alleged that another defence land in the metropolis was given away to a private pharma company through a NOC from the army.
Responding to Indian Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor's statement that the Indian Armed forces were ready to fight Pakistan and China simultaneously, Pakistan Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervz Kayani said the situation in the region could get out of control due to such "dangerous adventurism".
The terrorists exchanging heavy gunfire with security forces in Bhati Dhar jungles of Poonch are suspected to be from Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed terror group, the army said on Wednesday, but did not specify any time frame for flushing them out.
"Lieutenant General Avadesh Prakash has taken leave for ten days beginning Tuesday," senior Army officers said in New Delhi amidst speculation that he was asked to proceed on leave by Army chief General Deepak Kapoor.
"The army is certainly facing shortage of officers and we will see how we can combat it. But if the government needs manpower in the anti-terror operations, we will certainly provide them," Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor said, when queried about the army's manpower constraint and meeting the government demand for NSG.
Holding that the Adarsh Housing scam was a classic case of fence eating the crops and 'consistent failure' of Centre and Maharashtra government, the Comptroller and Auditor General on Tuesday said rules were bent to benefit relatives of politicians, public servants and senior service officers including former Army chiefs Gen Deepak Kapoor and N C Vij.
Terror infrastructure in Pakistan is 'existing and active', according to Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor, who puts the number of terror camps there between 30 and 50. "Pakistan seeks to convey an impression that it is taking action against terrorists and their infrastructure but the infrastructure is still active," said Kapoor. Kapoor said there were some other camps which were not located along the LoC but possibly in certain other areas.
As the operation to flush out terrorists in Mumbai got over, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday held a meeting with the chiefs of defence services and intelligence agencies to discuss the unprecedented attacks and ways to prevent such recurrences.
'In the absence of any further testing of nuclear warheads, it is essential to focus upon the associated structures of nuclear defence.'
Pakistan on Thursday said it was "disturbed" by reports that India could be preparing for additional nuclear tests and hoped a unilateral moratorium on testing would remain in place in the region.