| Submit your comments on this article |
| India-Pakistan |
| India ready for war: army chief |
| 2009-01-15 |
| Indian Army chief General Deepak Kapoor said on Wednesday his troops are ready for war, but admitted that "waging war is a political decision" and a last resort -- referring to rising tensions with Pakistan in the wake of the Mumbai attacks. Political decision: "Waging war is a political decision," Kapoor told a press conference here. He claimed the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks came from Pakistan, and "in view of that ... we are keeping all our options open". "It must be understood that it is not to create any war hysteria and the options include diplomatic, economic and -- as a last resort -- fighting," he said. He said the armed forces were required to maintain a high level of 'combat readiness' at all times. Kapoor said the Indian Army was aware of Pakistani troop movement from the western to eastern border. "Having known this fact, let me assure you that the Indian Army has factored this in its plans." He said the 'strike formation' around the Indo-Pak border in December was 'routine'. Army to fight terrorism: Kapoor said the army would continue playing a role in countering terrorist threats, although such operations were the responsibility of the Home Ministry and the agencies under it. About the nuclear threat faced by the region, Kapoor said, "The presence of nuclear weapons in our neighbourhood underlines that any conventional war can ... turn into a nuclear war". |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 PAKISTANI DEFENCE FORUM > CHINA ENVOY: CHINA WILL NEVER LEAVE PAKISTAN ALONE, by itself to face its worldly pressures and travails. Read, US + INDIA. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2009-01-15 00:37 |