NEW DELHI: India would have to stand firm to counter growing Pressure from some countries using human rights as a front as this was indirectly helping Pakistani designs to destabilize the country the Defense Ministry has said in its annual report.
Calling for a complete reassessment of threat perceptions to the country’s security in the context of unipolar-world and present un- Settled International order the report says that India would have to stand firm to counter the pressures which may be sought to be placed on us. Asserting that a new dimension to the militancy problem had been added by induction of foreign mercenaries with sophisticated weapons into Jammu and Kashmir the report said that this had added to the militant deprecations in the Valley.
The report states that Pakistan has been using the territory of some neighboring countries to infiltrate trained militants arms and ammunition and explosives into India.
Taking note of increasing de- fence spending of Pakistan and its move to acquire highly sophisticated weapons which go far beyond its legitimate needs the report said this was coupled with Pakistan’s acquisition of new M- 11 missile system from China and great defense competition between the two countries.
Along with this the report says India also needed to take note of reported proliferation of missiles in Saudi Arabia and Iran It also says that China has embarked upon an ambitious program of monetization of its armed forces and had purchased state-of-art fighter dir. craft from Russia. All these developments the report said would compel India to adopt prudent measures to ensure its own security through a self sufficiently Strong defense capability.
On the Sino-Indian relations the report says there has been a perceptible movement with the Signing of the historic agreement to maintain peace and tranquility ‘on the borders between the two countries. Under the agreement the report says the two sides would strictly respect and observe the line of control with neither side overstepping it.
The report says that under the agreement to reduce military forces deployed on the border on the principle of mutual and equal security and other confidence building measures including intimation of military exercises and not violation of each other’s air Space.
While India was taking measures to decimate the threat of militants the country was also facing indirect international pressure in the shape of increased restraints being imposed by industrially advanced nations on transfer of defense technology.
the report said was proving a major constraint and thus called for greater play on re- Search and development.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 1, 1994
