Indian Army Chief General Manoj Pande on Sunday highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by the security forces in dealing with a “proxy war” in Jammu and Kashmir.
In a message aired on All India Radio on the eve of Army Day on January 15, the Army Chief, while not explicitly naming Pakistan, alluded to the neighboring country’s involvement in supporting proxy activities in the region.
“The Indian Army has a vital role to play in ensuring a stable and secure environment, which is crucial for the nation’s progress to continue unabated,” PTI quoted him as saying.
“The transition towards becoming a modern, agile, adaptive and technology-enabled, future-ready force, will continue as part of our transformation roadmap,” he added.
General Pande emphasized the Indian Army’s commitment to countering the proxy war with a professional approach and collaborative operations with other security forces in the region. He assured the nation that the Indian Army maintained a robust posture at the borders and was fully prepared to handle any threats, prioritizing the protection of the country’s territorial integrity at all costs.
In his message, the Army Chief mentioned the achievements in capability development aligning with the concept of ‘atmanirbharta’ (self-reliance), to which the army was fully dedicated. General Pande outlined the army’s commitment to transforming into a modern, agile, adaptive, and technology-enabled force, emphasizing the importance of technology as a catalyst for transformative change.
For the year 2024, General Pande declared it as the ‘Year of Technology Absorption,’ signifying the army’s focus on leveraging technology for future readiness. He stressed the continued responsibility towards veterans and ‘Veer Naris,’ describing it as a sacred commitment. The army chief pledged ongoing efforts to enhance welfare initiatives, proactively address grievances, and reach out to ex-servicemen.
The Army Day parade, scheduled to take place in Lucknow, will commemorate the achievements of Field Marshal KM Cariappa, the first Indian Commander in Chief of the Army, who assumed command on January 15, 1949, marking a significant moment in India’s military history. Army Day is observed annually on January 15.
