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Kerala
Fernandes rules out major changes in defence strategy
By Our Staff Reporter
EZHIMALA (Kannur), DEC. 8. The Defence Minister, Mr. George Fernandes, has said that the
post-Afghan war security situation in the country does not call for any major shift in the country's defence strategy.
"Our tactics will keep changing according to the movements of our enemy, but we have not seen any major changes in the security situation," Mr. Fernandes said while talking to reporters at the Ezhimala Naval Academy Project site here today. He was here to review the progress of the project work.
Responding to a query on whether the country's defence strategy would go for a shift in the context of the developments in Afghan war, the Minister said the situation did not call for any change in strategy. "We have not seen any major change in the pattern of terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir. It was feared that the Taliban will make a beeline for Jammu and Kashmir in the event of their rout in the war, but it has not happened," he said.
Reiterating his view that the United States had understood the implications of terrorism after September 11 attacks, he said that the global terrorism was something that the country had been experiencing for many years.
Asked whether India would strengthen its co-operation with Israel to fight against the global menace of terrorism, Mr. Fernandes said that such "co-operation will have to be there among all countries that face terrorism."
"Because terrorism is a global experience, one should not look at this in terms of an alliance between two countries but as a global challenge," Mr. Fernandes said.
Asked about the reported reservations raised by the Navy about the indigenous missile development programme, the Minister said that Trishul missile was in the process of undergoing trials. It would take some time to make the missile operational, he said. To a related question whether the DRDO was planning to seek Israeli expertise in the missile technology to develop its surface to air missiles, the Minister said that "we try to get the best and cost-effective technology wherever it is available."
Mr. Fernandes expressed satisfaction over the progress of the Naval Academy project work. Stating that the work was progressing as per schedule and would be commissioned in 2004, he said the Academy, first of its kind in the country, would be a monument. The ongoing works of road construction were hampered by heavy monsoon rains and the presence of subterranean rock in the area, he said. The Naval Academy project was a highly significant work of the Navy, he said adding that cadets from the country and abroad would be given training here once the Academy became operational.
The Minister was accompanied by the Vice Admiral Hareender Singh,Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command, Vice Admiral Madanjit Singh, Chief of Personnel, Naval Headquarters, Cmde Arun Nair, Director General, Naval Academy project, and Brig. S.R. Mohite, Chief Engineer.
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