Check non-state actors in Indian ocean: Pranab tells navy

NEW DELHI: For the first time, Government has cautioned naval commanders on the rapid rise of non-state actors in the Indian ocean region and proliferation of terrorists groups in the area.

This caution was sounded by the Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee who directed the navy to keep in readiness adequate tactical concepts and operational capabilities specific to tackling such contingencies if they arise in the region.

"The new emerging concepts of littoral warefare and the capacity to deploy force on land also deserves to be developed as a fourth dimension to the navy's capabilities," Mukherjee told top level commanders in his address.

Making a specific point on the need to introduce foolproof safety measures in the navy, he said navy should make safety of warships and other expensive assets as an integral part of its operational preparedness.

In an apparent reference to recent spate of accidents involving medium and smaller warships the minister said that he was glad to note that navy had drawn up a safety roadmap.

Lauding the contributions made by the country's shipyards, Mukherjee said, "we are witnessing a transition from a biased navy to a builders navy".

He paid glowing tributes to the outgoing naval chief Admiral Arun Prakash saying under his leadership many futuristic inititatives have been taken by the navy.