Army Day 2023 | Indian Army ready to tackle any contingency along LAC, says Army Chief

Referring to the situation along the western border, the Army Chief said the ceasefire continues at LOC and there has been a substantial reduction in violations

Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Pande addresses the 75th Army Day celebrations at Govinda Swamy Parade Ground in Bengaluru on January 15, 2023. | Photo Credit: PTI

Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Pande on Sunday said the Indian Army is maintaining a strong defence posture along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and is ready to tackle any contingency.

General Pande, while addressing the Army Day Parade 2023 in Bengaluru, said that despite difficult terrains and hostile weather conditions along the LAC, the Indian Army troops are serving fearlessly in these areas.

“Along the LAC, while maintaining a strong defence posture, we are ready to tackle any kind of contingency. Our troops are serving fearlessly in these areas and they are provided with all the support they require in the form of weapons, equipment and facilities,” General Pande said.

Proactive measures by security forces

On the situation along the Western border, the Army Chief said with ceasefire being maintained along the Line of Control, while violations have decreased, terrorist infrastructure continues to exist across the border.

“But our counter-infiltration grid has been consistently preventing infiltration bids from the border,” the Army Chief said.

General Pande said there have been many instances of drones being used to smuggle drugs and arms across the international border in Jammu and Punjab. However the counter-drone jammers, spoofers and other technologies have been successful in foiling them.

He also said that several proactive measures undertaken by the security forces have helped maintain peace in the hinterlands of Jammu and Kashmir and that the local people have rejected violence and are proactively taking part in government programmes.

“While there is a decrease in violence due to measures undertaken by the security forces, many proxy terrorist organisations have indulged in targeted killings to make themselves visible,” he said.

Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Pande during the 75th Army Day celebrations at Govind Swamy Parade Ground in Bengaluru on January 15, 2023. | Photo Credit: PTI

Good response to Agnipath recruitment rallies

General Pande termed the introduction of the Agnipath scheme as a progressive step. He said the recruitment rallies have received very good response from the youth across the country.

While the training of the first batch of male Agniveers has started, training of women Agniveers will start in March this year.

Commenting on the emergence of information warfare, cyber and space wars are new war domains, the Army Chief also said grey-zone warfare has reiterated that in future conflicts, non-kinetic warfare will be as critical as kinetic warfare.

“As a result of these, war zones are becoming more complicated, confrontational and dangerous. The Indian Army needs to be prepared for these changing scenarios,” he said.