Army Chief General J J Singh on Sunday said 75 per cent of the country's land forces along with IAF and Navy were equipped and trained to fight battles of the future.
NEW DELHI: Strongly rebutting claims that the bulk of 1.3 million strong Indian Army is bogged down in tackling insurgency, Army Chief General J J Singh on Sunday said 75 per cent of the country's land forces along with IAF and Navy were equipped and trained to fight battles of the future.
"Only 25 per cent of the army is engaged in counter terrorism operations and border deployment," Gen Singh said as he hung his boots after a career spanning over 43 years.
"We have kept the bulk of our forces free and have by rotation, been training personnel on advanced weapon systems being acquired and to fight battles in nuclear and chemical warfare environment," the Army Chief said as he was given a colourful farewell guard of honour at the lush green lawns of South Block.
The outgoing chief declared that Indian Army had now fully acquired and assimilated night fighting technology and also futuristic weapons systems like network centric radars, sensors, unmanned aerial vehicles and other force multipliers.
Gen Singh, who also had more than year-long stint as Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee(COSC) said that country's new specialised formations like the Strategic Forces Command, armed to handle the nation's nuclear and missile arsenal, Integrated Defence Staff as well as the Andaman-based Tri-Service Command were fast "coming of age".
On the appointment of the chief of defence staff, Gen Singh said it is a matter to be studied by the government.
"It is a matter to be studied by the government. It will take a decision at the right time," he said, adding there is no cause for concern at all.
In his interaction with media, he also touched upon the subject of increasing incidents of suicide and fratricide in the armed forces and said that concerted efforts have been launched to check this.
Gen Singh however, said the rate of suicides in Indian Army is less than half compared to other armies in the world.
"Our army is highly motivated. It is not an alarming trend. However, we are enquiring into these cases."
On complaints of army excesses, including reports of raiding police stations in Jammu and Kashmir, the army chief said this may be due to some provocations.
"These are isolated incidents. There could have been some provocation for it, but we do not condone any act of high handedness and we will enquire and take action," he said.
"But if others are at fault, they should also rectify themselves," he said.
On the A V Singh committee report, he said there may be differences on it, adding it will be resolved.
"But all the three forces feel that it should be a just and fair deal," Gen Singh added.
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