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Fernandes calls for a special anti-insurgency force

Defence Minister George Fernandes has stressed the need for an alternative force to relieve the army of the task of undertaking counter-insurgency operations in different parts of the country.

"The army should not be exposed to the public too often," he said. "This only leads to disorientation of the jawans who are trained to fight only the enemy."

He suggested that the 40,000 strong Territorial Army could be used more effectively for tasks like providing security to vital installations. "This force can also be enhanced," he said.

On the question of trimming the armed forces, raised in a book titled Overcoming Crisis in Leadership: The Indian Army by Brigadier Kuldip Singh, which he released, the minister agreed it needs a closer look, especially after the nuclear tests this year. But so long as the army is called upon to carry out counter-insurgency operations, it is difficult to effect any cuts in its numbers, he added.

Fernandes said a new defence philosophy needs to be developed after Pokhran II. The task force on the national security council has put forth its recommendations. "A decision on these will be taken soon," he promised.

He also pointed out that while the potential threat to India lies only to the west and the north, "we should not overlook the strategic importance of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands".

On the crisis of leadership, he said the issue needs wider debate encompassing the political executive and the bureaucracy. "The political leadership and bureaucracy need a lot of introspection on the issue," he said.

Fernandes also revealed that the government is thinking of setting up administrative tribunals to provide "speedy justice" to armed forces personnel.

On the statement of his adviser Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, that signing the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty will not affect India's nuclear programme, Fernandes said, "It will be difficult for us to sign the treaty unless certain unfavourable provisions are struck off."

Asked whether India's moratorium on nuclear tests was forever, he replied, "No policy can remain in perpetuity."

Earlier, speaking on the occasion, former Cabinet secretary T S R Subramanian questioned the need for a national security council. "In our parliamentary democracy, the Cabinet is supreme and we already have a Cabinet committee on political affairs which has all the key players, including the three service chiefs, to decide on these issues," he pointed out.

UNI

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