Forces ready for short wars, says Army chief

Pakistan is using “new methods” to create unrest and tension in Jammu and Kashmir, because of which the Army is always prepared for “short wars,” Army Chief Gen Dalbir Singh said on Tuesday.

“(Due to) the frequency of ceasefire violation and infiltration bids by our western neighbour, the border remains live and active. New methods continue to be employed to create unrest in Jammu and Kashmir,” said the Army chief at a tri-service seminar to mark the golden jubilee of Indo-Pak war of 1965.

August saw about 55 ceasefire violations on the western front whereas the total number of ceasefire violation in 2015 is close to 250 till now. The number of ceasefire violations spiked to 583 in 2014 – a significant jump from 347 violations in 2013.

Singh said the Army was “acutely aware” that “swift, short nature of future wars” are likely to offer limited warning time.

“This calls for maintaining very high levels of operational preparedness at all times, something that has now become inherent in our operational strategy. The commitment of my force has increased manifold in scope and intensity,” he said.

Singh cited recent terror strikes in Jammu and Kashmir, and Punjab as examples of how Pakistan has not shown any sign of stopping its proxy war strategy to bleed India.
His arguments were backed by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, who said India’s security situation is complex and requires round-the-clock surveillance.

Last month, the National Security Adviser-level talks between India and Pakistan were cancelled at the eleventh hour because of disagreement on the agenda, involvement of separatist leaders from Kashmir and ceasefire violation.

The Director General of the Border Security Force and Pakistan Rangers are scheduled to meet next week in Delhi. After the border guards, the Director Generals of Military Operations of the two armies are also likely to meet, as per an understanding agreed up by India and Pakistan when the two prime ministers met in Ufa, Russia, in July.

On the 1965 war, Parrikar and Gen Singh said it dealt a heavy blow to Pakistan, which tried a misadventure. The defence minister said India clearly won the war though sceptics call it a draw. A new book titled “1965: Turning the Tide: How India Won the War” was released by Vice-President Hamid Ansari.