megimoo
06-09-2009, 11:59 PM
India ramps up military presence along China border
India is ramping up its military deployment along the border with China, positioning two army divisions, each comprising around 25,000 to 30,000 personnel, as also a squadron of frontline Sukhoi Su-30 MKI combat jets at a key airbase in the northeast, military officials said.
This apart, the induction of the first of three airborne warning and control systems (AWACS) aircraft will be a potent force multiplier in the military's capabilities to monitor the movement of troops and aircraft in Chinese territory.
"Hitherto, the Indian defence establishment's focus had been on Pakistan but there is a growing realisation that we cannot ignore China's growing military might and its ability to quickly move troops and equipment thanks to the railway line it has built up to Lhasa," a top military official told IANS, speaking on condition of anonymity.
"India and China might have put their border dispute on the back burner as they move ahead in other spheres but there is a growing realisation that we need to refocus on China, the warming diplomatic relations and the joint war games notwithstanding," the officer added.
Thus, it was a matter of little surprise that India's normally taciturn defence establishment chose to speak through a former Indian Army chief, Gen. J.J. Singh, who is now the governor of the strategic northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh - parts of which Beijing claims - to detail its road map for the heightened deployment along the China border.
"To develop India's capability to effectively meet the future security challenges, deployment of more troops along the India-China border is necessary," Singh told reporters Monday in Arunachal Pradesh capital Itanagar.
He said two army divisions, each comprising around 25,000 to 30,000 personnel, along with artillery, medical, signals and engineering support, would be positioned along the 3,500 km long international border.
"The exercise would be completed in a phased manner in the next few years along with development of roads and other infrastructure along the borders," Singh said.
"Increase of the force level, and improvement of weapons, fighting platforms, intelligence acquiring and other equipment are aimed at enhancing the capabilities of the Army troopers to effectively meet any sort of challenges," he added.
http://www.newkerala.com/nkfullnews-1-52752.html
India is ramping up its military deployment along the border with China, positioning two army divisions, each comprising around 25,000 to 30,000 personnel, as also a squadron of frontline Sukhoi Su-30 MKI combat jets at a key airbase in the northeast, military officials said.
This apart, the induction of the first of three airborne warning and control systems (AWACS) aircraft will be a potent force multiplier in the military's capabilities to monitor the movement of troops and aircraft in Chinese territory.
"Hitherto, the Indian defence establishment's focus had been on Pakistan but there is a growing realisation that we cannot ignore China's growing military might and its ability to quickly move troops and equipment thanks to the railway line it has built up to Lhasa," a top military official told IANS, speaking on condition of anonymity.
"India and China might have put their border dispute on the back burner as they move ahead in other spheres but there is a growing realisation that we need to refocus on China, the warming diplomatic relations and the joint war games notwithstanding," the officer added.
Thus, it was a matter of little surprise that India's normally taciturn defence establishment chose to speak through a former Indian Army chief, Gen. J.J. Singh, who is now the governor of the strategic northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh - parts of which Beijing claims - to detail its road map for the heightened deployment along the China border.
"To develop India's capability to effectively meet the future security challenges, deployment of more troops along the India-China border is necessary," Singh told reporters Monday in Arunachal Pradesh capital Itanagar.
He said two army divisions, each comprising around 25,000 to 30,000 personnel, along with artillery, medical, signals and engineering support, would be positioned along the 3,500 km long international border.
"The exercise would be completed in a phased manner in the next few years along with development of roads and other infrastructure along the borders," Singh said.
"Increase of the force level, and improvement of weapons, fighting platforms, intelligence acquiring and other equipment are aimed at enhancing the capabilities of the Army troopers to effectively meet any sort of challenges," he added.
http://www.newkerala.com/nkfullnews-1-52752.html