Kashmir firing has set back Indo-Pak normalisation process severely: Gujral

Prime Minister I K Gujral said the recent cross-border shelling in Kashmir has retarded the normalisation process with Pakistan greatly.

"However, the diplomatic engagement will continue," he said, addressing the Combined Commanders Conference of the army, navy and air force on Monday.

Gujral said a peaceful and constructive environment was vital for achieving accelerated development not only for India but for the whole region.

National security is the top priority and funds for meeting defence requirements would receive the government's urgent attention, he declared.

''The country's security is central to all policies of the government. There can be no compromise on it,'' Gujral said, "The resources to modernise the armed forces and to sustain the required level of security will have to be found within financial constraints."

The prime minister also said the welfare of armed forces personnel and ex-servicemen would be the government's highest concern.

Defence Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, Minister of State for Defence N V N Somu, the three service chiefs and senior officials including the Cabinet secretary, the PM's principal secretary, the home secretary, the defence secretary and scientific advisor to the defence minister attended the conference.

The country, Gujral observed, was facing a host of challenges from within and without. These should be addressed in an 'optimum and effective way'.

The parliamentary system provided the right mechanism for seeking the views of all political parties. The newly-constituted Cabinet Committee on Security benefits from the advice of relevant ministries and organisations including those of the services and non-government think-tanks, he said.

Speaking about China, Gujral said bilateral mechanisms have been established under which discussions were taking place.

The prime minister stressed the need for expanding co-operation with the central Asian republics which have geopolitical proximity, and historical affinity to India.

He expressed satisfaction at the consolidation of India's political understanding and security ties with Russia. Gujral was also happy that India's defence co-operation and dialogue with other countries including the United States had been initiated and developed.

The prime minister reiterated India's advocacy of general and complete disarmament. He noted that India had been an original signatory to the Chemical Weapons Convention and was among the first 65 countries to have ratified the treaty.

He declared India's position on the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty as 'consistent and principled.'

"The recent sub-critical nuclear test by the US has vindicated India's position that the CTBT is flawed," he said.

Gujral said India would continue opposing the discriminatory Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

The prime minister also said that several measures had been initiated to make the armed forces attractive.

''The key element of an effective defence is the training, motivation and morale of personnel,'' he said.

Therefore, steps have been taken to make up the shortage of officers in the forces through the university entry scheme, induction of women as officers and promotion of serving junior commissioned officers and others as newly created special commissioned officers.

Mulayam Singh, in his address, said that India has undertaken confidence building measures with all its neighbours.

''Our defence preparations have to be viewed in the context of the development of the global, regional and sub-continental levels,'' he said.

India will have to keep her options open on the nuclear issue and also continue with its Integrated Missile Development Programme.

"Prithvi has already entered production stage and Agni is being accorded due priority," Mulayam Singh said.

Several modernisation programmes for the weapon systems have also been undertaken. These include the battle tank Arjun (which has entered the limited series production phase), indigenous 5.56 mm rifles and ammunition (which have been manufactured and issued to the services), modernisation of T-72 tank, sea trials of advanced sonar systems and the tactical weapon control system Panchendriya.

An indigenous engine for light combat aircraft Kaveri is also under multi-test bed evaluation.

Measures have been taken for improving the air defence system and communication network.

"INS Delhi will be commissioned in the near future," the minister continued, "and the Cabinet has approved the acquisition of submarines and frigates from Russia."

In his speech, Somu said national security should be viewed in a more comprehensive manner encompassing, besides external threats and internal law and order, economic, technological and strategic issues.

He called for a continued focus on the indigenous development of technology.

Somu cautioned that mere replacement of equipment would not suffice; instead, it should be replaced with platforms and systems of greatly increased capability to match future needs.

Earlier, presentations on the security scenario were made by the Chiefs of Staff Committee chairman and air chief Air Chief Marshal S K Sareen, army chief General V P Malik and naval chief Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat.

They pointed out that India's defence expenditure at under 2.5 per cent of gross domestic product was much lower than some of our neighbours and outlined plans for optimum utilisation of resources.

UNI