INDIA: Army chief says military fully prepared to face any challenge

Record ID: 1380791

  • Title: INDIA: Army chief says military fully prepared to face any challenge
  • Date: 15th January 2013
  • Summary: NEW DELHI, INDIA (JANUARY 15, 2013) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC) CHIEF OF INDIAN ARMY, GENERAL BIKRAM SINGH, GETTING OUT OF A CAR SINGH SHAKING HANDS WITH SENIOR ARMY OFFICIALS SINGH CLIMBING THE STAGE SINGH STANDING ON THE STAGE ARMY OFFICIALS SITTING SINGH SALUTING THE OFFICERS SINGH CLIMBING AN OPEN VEHICLE SINGH STANDING IN THE OPEN VEHICLE SINGH INSPECTING THE PARADE SENIOR ARMY OFFICERS SITTING WITH THE FAMILY MEMBERS SINGH INSPECTING THE PARADE GUESTS SITTING (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) CHIEF OF INDIAN ARMY, GENERAL BIKRAM SINGH, SAYING: "Our country has been continuously facing both internal as well as external challenges and I would like to assure my country, that the Indian Army is ready to face all the challenges to maintain the country's unity, internal security and upholding the principles of safety." SENIOR ARMY OFFICIALS SITTING (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) CHIEF OF INDIAN ARMY, GENERAL BIKRAM SINGH, SAYING: "We have upheld the standards of the operation preparedness of the Army. We have stressed on some important infrastructural projects that will improve connectivity in northern regions including Ladakh and will also prove beneficial to the civilians. We have also stressed on the need to modernise the Army." SENIOR ARMY OFFICIALS SITTING (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) CHIEF OF INDIAN ARMY, GENERAL BIKRAM SINGH, SAYING: "I want to assure the country that we are ready to face all kinds of challenges and we are ready to make any kind of sacrifice for the country." SINGH PRESENTING MEDAL TO A FAMILY MEMBER OF A SLAIN ARMY MAN SINGH SALUTING AN ARMY MAN AND SHAKING HANDS WITH HIM SINGH HONOURING THE ARMY MAN WITH A MEDAL SINGH PRESENTING MEDAL TO A FAMILY MEMBER OF ANOTHER SLAIN ARMY MAN
  • Embargoed: 31st January 2013 00:52
  • Keywords:
  • Location: India
  • Country: India
  • Topics: Conflict,Defence / Military
  • Reuters ID: LVA3NCFK2UH1QWWS75EE7STWK6JV
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: Chief of Indian Army, General Bikram Singh said on Tuesday (January 15) that the country is facing internal as well as external challenges and added that the military is ready to protect the nation.
    Singh's remarks came amid mounting public anger in India after Delhi accused Pakistani soldiers of slitting the throat of one of the soldiers and decapitating him.
    Despite each side blaming the other for the worst outbreak of violence in the area since a ceasefire was agreed nine years ago, analysts said a breakdown in ties was highly unlikely.
    "Our country has been continuously facing both internal as well as external challenges and I would like to assure my country, that the Indian Army is ready to face all the challenges to maintain the country's unity, internal security and upholding the principles of safety," Singh said speaking on the 65th Army Day in New Delhi.
    On Monday (January 14), Singh had threatened to retaliate against Pakistan for the killing of two soldiers in fighting near the border of the disputed region of Kashmir, saying he had asked his commanders there to be aggressive in the face of provocation.
    The two nations have fought three wars, two over Kashmir, since independence in 1947 and are now both nuclear-armed.
    Singh also said there was a need to modernise the army.
    "We have upheld the standards of the operation preparedness of the Army. We have stressed on some important infrastructural projects that will improve connectivity in northern regions including Ladakh and will also prove beneficial to the civilians. We have also stressed on the need to modernise the Army," said Singh.
    Singh added that his soldiers are ready to make any kind of sacrifice for the country.
    "I want to assure the country that we are ready to face all kinds of challenges and we are ready to make any kind of sacrifice for the country," added Singh.
    Last week's fighting in the Himalayan region both nations claim comes at a time when the two sides have made some progress in repairing ties, notably by opening trade links.
    Both armies have lost two soldiers each in the fighting along parts of the 740-km (460-mile) de facto border this month.
    The ceasefire in Kashmir has held since it went into effect in November 2003, surviving even the crisis in ties after the Mumbai attacks in November 2008 by Pakistan-based militants.
  • Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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