In a terse message to Pakistan, India’s new Army Chief Gen. Dalbir Singh Suhag on Friday said the response to any provocation by Pakistani rangers as in the past-- beheading of Indian soldier or infiltration or violating ceasefire-- would be “more than adequate, intense and immediate”.
Speaking to mediapersons after his welcome Guard of Honour as Chief of Army Staff, he said the Indian side’s response to any act of transgression or violence will be more than adequate in the future.
Responding to a question on the former Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh’s comment that
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Gen. Suhag said: “It has been done. Please understand that when we use force, that use is from tactical to operational to strategic levels.”
Pakistani Special Forces under the Border Area Teams (BAT) had decapitated Lance Naik Hemraj and mutilitated the body of Lance Naik Sudhakar Singh, which was followed by the killed of five Indian troops in the same sector in a joint attack by Pakistani Special Forces and LeT terrorists.
Assuring that he will ensure that the soldiers are always motivated and equipped with the latest weapons and equipment for their assigned roles, Gen. Suhag said his priority will be to enhance operational preparedness and the effectiveness of the Indian Army. Force modernisation, infrastructure development, optimisation of human resources, welfare of serving personnel and ex-servicemen are issues that he flagged as “close” to his heart.
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The new Army Chief’s appointment was mired in controversy when the BJP first expressed displeasure at the UPA government’s decision to announce his appointment during the end of its tenure. But when the BJP-led NDA came to power, >Defence Minister Arun Jaitley said that the new government would not oppose the appointment of Gen. Suhag as the new Army Chief.