No surgical strike on terror camps in Pak: India
India on Thursday ruled out the possibility of any surgical strike on terror camps inside Pakistan, but asserted that adequate measures would be taken to ensure its interests are protected.
''No, no,'' Minister of State for Defence M M Pallam Raju, said when asked about the possibility of surgical strikes on terror camps inside the neighbouring country.
He told reporters here, "We will take adequate measures to see to it that our nation is safe, our citizens are safe, and our interests are safeguarded.''
While expressing hope that Pakistan will act against terror camps operating from its soil, he said India will also ensure that its interests are protected and the nation is secure.
"The first responsibility is towards ensuring adequate security towards which we are leaving no stone unturned. Beyond that whatever information we have about these camps, we have brought it to the notice of our neighbour and we hope they will take action on that," he said on the sidelines of a seminar at the Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses here.
"It is a stated policy that they (Pakistan) will do infiltration in Jammu and Kashmir. Across the borders, we are taking adequate safety measures and we are continuing to talk to that government. I am sure there will be results at the end of the day," he said.
Defence Minister A K Antony had yesterday said there were 42 terror camps inside Pakistan and that the neighbour had not done enough yet to dismantle the terror infrastructure.
On the gaps in the Army's anti-tank missile systems, Raju said the Defence Ministry would provide whatever capability the Services needed within the time frame that they sought.
"The entire endeavour of the Ministry is to supply the capability that the Services want within the time frame that they seek," he said.
Asked if the Defence Ministry would do away with the system of 'Sahayaks (batman)' for Army officers as strongly recommended by a Parliamentary committee, Raju said it was for the concerned Service to examine it, just like the Air Force and the Navy have acted on it.
"It is for the Army to look into it and see what is appropriate," he added.
