COMBINED COMMANDERS' CONFERENCE 2002
EXTRACTS OF ADDRESS BY PRIME
MINISTER
The past year
has been one of trials and challenges for the nation and its armed
forces. Addressing a Combined Commanders’ Conference, Prime Minister
Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee said that we had already been facing
a prolonged period of low intensity proxy war, which took its
toll of men and resources. But the brutal terrorist attacks last
year on the Jammu & Kashmir State Assembly and our national
Parliament compelled us to the decision on mobilisation of troops
on the Line of Control and the international border with Pakistan.
He said, this has been termed in our media as an exercise in coercive
diplomacy. It was, in fact, one prong of a two-pronged thrust.
On the diplomatic front, we asked the world to exert pressure
on Pakistan to stop its cross border terrorism. The military thrust
was to show that we were resolved to take action, if diplomatic
efforts did not succeed.
Our
military mobilisation sharply focussed international attention
on the ravages of terrorism, which India has suffered for over
two decades. The international community has now publicly recognised
the fact of cross border terrorism and has openly called upon
Pakistan to halt it. It has also acknowledged that the brutal
killing of men, women and children in Jammu & Kashmir is not
a freedom struggle, but naked terrorism driven by Pakistan.
He said, with this realisation also came the understanding
that we would not talk with Pakistan while the terrorists’ guns
are held to our heads. Most countries have accepted the validity
of our position that we can have a meaningful dialogue only if
cross border terrorism ends.
PM
said that our engagement with the international community over
the past year has also made it absolutely clear that while the
world should come together to persuade or coerce Pakistan to stop
cross border terrorism, it is for India and Pakistan to sit together
bilaterally to resolve all issues between them, including Jammu
& Kashmir. He said that, we cannot underestimate the crucial
role of our military deployments in achieving these signal successes.
We significantly furthered our
political and diplomatic goals by the mobilization, without having
to take the final fateful step. To stress this point he quoted
the military strategist Clauswitz wrote that War is politics continued
by other means. In our case, our military readiness was in continued
pursuit of our legitimate security objectives. The nation pays
tribute to the professionalism and dedication of our Armed Forces
in maintaining full battle readiness continuously for a prolonged
period. It was a major test of endurance, which you passed with
distinction …
PM said that "The successful conduct of the Jammu & Kashmir
elections and the re-deployment of our Armed Forces have generated
the speculation that India may now be willing to engage in dialogue
with Pakistan. The question posed both within our country and
outside is - what will we do next? He said that the sad fact remains
that cross border terrorism continues. The physical threat to
voters and candidates has now been transformed into death threats
against elected representatives. After the J & K elections,
even foreign observers have admitted that the residual insurgency
in the State is foreign in conception, participation and execution.
But we do not see any hint of a genuine desire on the part of
Pakistan to substitute terrorism with dialogue.
Mr
Vajpayee said that the fresh speculation has now started on the
next SAARC Summit to be held in Islamabad. In fact, it has always
been India’s position that regional cooperation in South Asia
should not be held hostage by bilateral political differences
between member countries. We have consistently advocated economic
cooperation and cultural exchanges as a means of preparing a climate
conducive for political reconciliation. But we have reached a
strange situation where every worthwhile proposal for economic
cooperation is being systematically sabotaged on irrational fears
and political considerations. Then we are told we are dragging
our feet on dates for the Summit! SAARC has a potentially historic
role to fulfil in the equitable development of the 1.5 billion
people of our sub-continent. We do not want to trivialise the
Association through a Summit without substantive content. Let
us therefore first talk of substance before we start focussing
on dates.
The
Prime Minister said that threats to our security from terrorism
are not only restricted to Jammu & Kashmir, but also elsewhere
in the country. We have also seen that virtually every democratic
society is vulnerable to this threat. Its targets are varied:
from a temple in Gujarat to nightclubs in Bali and a theatre in
Moscow. Its methods are unconventional. We have to remain alert,
sharpen our intelligence capabilities, build up our defences and
anticipate unexpected targets and tactics. The Armed Forces have
to be an integral part of this multi-disciplinary effort. Mr.
Vajpayee said that we need to strongly counter the increasing
activities of insurgent groups in our Northeast. Some of them
are receiving sanctuary, finance, training and assistance from
some of our neighbours. It is time for us to take firm action
on this. As on the western front, we cannot condone foreign sustenance
for an insurgency, whose domestic support is dwindling …
The
Prime Minister said that last year he had referred to the transformation
in offensive and defensive military strategies due to emerging
technologies. Information warfare, cyber terrorism, revolution
in military affairs, ‘no contact’ war and outer space weaponry
are catchwords of the new generation. Technology has also created
chemical and biological weapons of great diversity, which are
difficult to detect. Many of these techniques and weapons can
fall into the hands of non-state actors. These are major challenges
for our defence and national security apparatus…
Referring
to some important welfare issues raised by servicemen and ex-servicemen
Mr. Vajpayee said that nearly two Lakh dwelling units are being
built for our servicemen. He said that last week, the CCS has
approved a new contributory health scheme, which would cover over
90% of the ex-servicemen in the country …
