Malik promises better weapons
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Jan 15 — The Chief of the Army Staff, Gen V.P. Malik, said today that improved weapons and equipment were being introduced in the Army to enhance its force multiplier and low intensity war capabilities.

Addressing officers and jawans on Army Day at the Parade Ground in Delhi Cantonment, General Malik said: "We have taken concrete steps to enhance our force multiplier and low intensity war capabilities in surveillance, night observation, mobility, anti-mine and improvised explosive device (IED) operations besides electronic warfare."

Asserting that efforts to improve weapons and equipment profile would gather momentum, he said a comprehensive programme for information technology had also been charted for the Army. He said this programme would enable us to exploit its multifarious dimensions in the next millennium. He also announced the inauguration of Army website on Internet.

"The efficiency and performance of the force depends on the abilities and morale of its soldiers," the Army Chief said, adding this could be possible by ensuring that the forces were well equipped, well trained and well looked after.

He assured the soldiers that the current year, declared as "year of the jawan", would be devoted to the training, greater educational awareness, facilities and welfare measures for the troops.

General Malik also lauded the troops for performing their duties with total commitment braving difficulties and dangers whether in the Siachen Glacier, Jammu and Kashmir or in the North-East.

General Malik presented 19 Sena Medals, 10 of them posthumously, and 11 Vishisht Seva Medals (VSMs). Two units (8 and 58 engineer regiments) received special appreciation for deftly carrying out the groundwork for the May, 1997 Pokhran nuclear explosions while 15 units were the recipients of COAS citation for successfully meeting the challenge of insurgency in various parts of the country.

Earlier, the Army Chief reviewed a smart parade, commanded by Maj. Gen S.K. Awasthy, General Officer Commanding (Delhi area), where Tungushka, the Russian-made state-of-the-art air defence weapon radar, satellite communication systems (Satcom), RTS (radio trunk systems), MBT, Arjun, surface-to-surface missile, Prithvi, and EMP (engineering mine plough) also formed part of the parade, attended among others by Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal A.Y. Tipnis, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Sushil Kumar and military attaches from foreign countries.

The regiments taking part included 61 Cavalry, Madras Regiment, Maratha Light Infantry, Rajputana Rifles, Rajput, Sikh Light Infantry, Garhwal Rifles, Kumaon Regiment, Jammu and Kashmir Rifles and Assam Regiments.

Following is the list of awardees:

Sena Medals: Brig Richard Khare (Infantry), Col Satish Chander Singh Pathania (34 Rashtriya Rifles), Maj Ram Chander Chillar (Intelligence), Maj P.P.S. Sidhu (posthumous, 13 Field Regt), Maj Ranjan Kumar Lamba (6 JAK Rif), Maj Deep Bhagat (9 Para, special forces), Maj Sanjay Singh (posthumous, 26 Rajput), Maj Mukesh Kumar (posthumous, 3 Sikh), Capt Naveen Sharma (posthumous, 8 Rashtriya Rifles), Capt Manu Chaudhary (16 Engr. Regt), Lt Virendra Prasad Bhatt (Signals), 2 Lt Manpervesh Herr (13 Guards), 2 Lt Abhay Singh (3 Kumaon), Sub Joginder Singh Verma (posthumous, 26 RR), Hav Dharam Pal Singh (posthumous, 15 Guards), Hav Jiwan Singh (posthumous, 3 Kumaon), Rfmn Dharamjeet (posthumous, 20 JAK Rif), Gdrs Champa Lal Geel (posthumous, RR) and sep Diwan Singh (posthumous, 3 Kumaon).

Vishisht Seva Medals: Lt Gen Harjinder Singh Bagga (Infantry), Maj Gen Bopanna Bittanda Kariappa (Infantry), Maj Gen (retd) Vijay Kumar Sareen (AOC), Brig Ashok Kapur (Infantry), Brig Harish Chandra Singh (Armd), Brig Rajiv Chopra (Arty), Brig Sheodraj Singh Ahlawat (Infantry), Col Sanjiv Chachra (Rajput), Col Maan Singh (13 Guards) and Lt Col Ajay Kumar Dutta (AMC).

COAS unit citations were given to 5 Dogra, 13 Mahar, 881 Lt Regt, 666 R and O Sqn, Army Aviation, 7 Maratha Li, 2 Rajput, 3 Kumaon Rifles, 19 Kumaon, 10 Assam, 15 Assam, 17 Bihar, 1/5 Grenadiers, 21 Rashtriya Rifles, 30 Rashtriya Rifles and 31 CIU.

Changing face of 'azaadi'
From Sanjeev Singh Bariana
Tribune News Service

AMBALA, Jan 15 —There is a definite shift in the cause of militants in Kashmir. It has changed from "azaadi" to fundamentalism says a report prepared by the Indian Army on proxy war in the valley.

The information was provided at the Army Day function here today.Detailed information on various aspects of the war which has been updated till December 31 was also presented.The report says the leadership is gradually passing into the hands of foreign mercenaries and that the local support is diminishing.

There are reports of more than 25 training centres for militants abetted by Pakistan. The prominent places being Gultari, Kel, Rawalakot, Sialkot, Gilgit, Lipa, Jura, Chham and Jungle-Mangal. The list of arms supplied by Pakistan includes rocket launchers, anti-aircraft guns, anti- tank missiles, SAM -7 missiles and mines besides automatic guns.

The report says each militant is paid Rs 2500 per month in addition to rewards for major action. The compensation for the slain militants ranges between Rs 20,000 and Rs 30,000.A guide receives about Rs 25,000. Foreign mercenaries on two years contract are paid Rs 2 lakh prior to infiltration and another Rs 2 lakh on return.

There is extensive generation of funds through narco trade.Reports with the Army indicate that there is a monthly expenditure of Rs 4 crore to Rs 5 crore by the ISI to sustain militant groups.

The data on militancy (till December 31, 1998) shows that a total of 7776 militants had been killed since 1990; 24029 arrested and 1823 had surrendered. The Army casualty was 959 while a total of 3241 civilians were killed. Forces recovered 22,000 weapons.

The report also contains various conversations between two Pakistan posts intercepted by the Indian Army. The conversation on April 21, 1998 says:" Activate all your mujahids. Two groups of mujahids have reached the border from Garhi training camp. Pakistan army has started firing on the seven Indian posts in the N Area.These mujahids will cross the border under cover of fire and reach Srinagar tomorrow evening".

The number of foreign mercenaries killed by security forces has increased over the years. A total of 1073 have been killed. Of these 472 were unidentified while 201 came from Afghanistan. The percentage increased from 5.4 per cent of the total militants killed in 1995 to 37.88 per cent in 1998.

Highlighting the technical proficiency of the Indian Army in the "Year of the Jawan" numerous jawans, NCOs and JCOs briefed the general public about the capabilities and characteristics of weapons of their units. Children and the general public were impressed by the sheer size and advance techniques of the armaments on display. Particularly impressive were the Bofors, T- 72 tanks, bridge laying tanks, Schilka Air defence guns, Armoured recovery vehicles, ZU 23 air defence guns.

Speaking on the occasion Maj-Gen A.K. Vasudev, GOC (Artillery) , highlighted the contribution of the defence forces .He said the year has been announced as the year of the "jawan" and a number of welfare activities were being carried out for their families. He also gave various factual details about the proxy war to the general public.