The News Freedom
New Delhi, January 11
Army Chief, General Manoj Pande, navigated a diplomatic tightrope walk on Thursday, characterizing the situation along the country’s northern borders as “stable but still sensitive.” Striking a balance between cautious optimism and preparedness, he assured that India maintains robust communication channels at both diplomatic and military levels while keeping its forces on high alert for any potential challenges.
In his annual press conference held in New Delhi, General Pande emphasized the need for a modern and agile army, highlighting the constant drive towards innovation and integration of niche technologies. He underscored the “Atmanirbharata in Defence” initiative, indicating significant progress in indigenous weapons development and modernization efforts.
General Pande underlined the pivotal role of the Indian Army in safeguarding national security and fostering a stable environment conducive to ongoing progress. He urged the armed forces to maintain unwavering commitment in countering security threats and asserted the ongoing transformation process aimed at building a future-ready army.
Discussing the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir, the Army Chief reported improving conditions in the valley while expressing concern about Rajouri and Pooch. He mentioned the elimination of 45 terrorists over the past three years and the thwarting of five infiltration attempts in the last year.
Speaking on the changing character of warfare, he highlighted a holistic transformation process initiated last year, emphasizing progress and achievements. General Pande reaffirmed the commitment to Atmanirbharta and outlined the ongoing efforts to transition into a modern, agile, adaptive, and technology-enabled force as part of the Transformation Roadmap.
