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NEW DELHI: After concentrating for long on taking the war to the enemy in the plains, basically a Pakistan-centric policy, the Army is now also steadily building its capabilities for offensive mountain warfare with China on mind.
This comes at a time when the Army's new doctrine and "proactive strategy", which also factor in the worst-case scenario of grappling with both China and Pakistan simultaneously in a two-front war, are now ready and the 1.13-million force is poised for a comprehensive transformation into a lean, mean fighting machine.
"As of today, we are capable of meeting any threat on our borders, whether it is simultaneous, single or double...We are also restructuring to ensure offensive capabilities in the mountains as well," said General V K Singh on Friday, a day ahead of the Army Day.
"The aim is to transform into a more agile, more lethal, networked force capable of meeting all future challenges...how our strategic assets, in terms of the strike corps (Mathura-based 1 Corps, Ambala-based 2 Corps and Bhopal-based 21 Corps) and other assets, can be synergised to deliver a more lethal punch," he added.
All this comes after creation of the new South-Western Army Command at Jaipur in 2005, between the Western and Southern Commands, for a greater offensive punch along the entire western front with Pakistan.
Since then, India is also finally taking steps to strategically counter the stark military asymmetry with China all along the 4,057-km Line of Actual Control. Apart from basing Sukhoi-30MKIs in northeast and upgrading several airstrips and helipads, two new infantry mountain divisions and the first battalion of Arunachal Scouts are now virtually in place.
With 1,260 officers and 35,011 soldiers, the two new divisions have their HQ in Zakama (Nagaland) and Missamari (Assam). Plans are also afoot to create a new mountain strike corps as well as a third artillery division.
It was after the 10-month forward troop mobilisation on the western front under Operation Parakram in 2002 that the Army began to develop the capability to mobilise fast and strike hard across the border.
Read more: Eye on China, Army focuses on mountain warfare - The Times of India Eye on China, Army focuses on mountain warfare - The Times of India
This comes at a time when the Army's new doctrine and "proactive strategy", which also factor in the worst-case scenario of grappling with both China and Pakistan simultaneously in a two-front war, are now ready and the 1.13-million force is poised for a comprehensive transformation into a lean, mean fighting machine.
"As of today, we are capable of meeting any threat on our borders, whether it is simultaneous, single or double...We are also restructuring to ensure offensive capabilities in the mountains as well," said General V K Singh on Friday, a day ahead of the Army Day.
"The aim is to transform into a more agile, more lethal, networked force capable of meeting all future challenges...how our strategic assets, in terms of the strike corps (Mathura-based 1 Corps, Ambala-based 2 Corps and Bhopal-based 21 Corps) and other assets, can be synergised to deliver a more lethal punch," he added.
All this comes after creation of the new South-Western Army Command at Jaipur in 2005, between the Western and Southern Commands, for a greater offensive punch along the entire western front with Pakistan.
Since then, India is also finally taking steps to strategically counter the stark military asymmetry with China all along the 4,057-km Line of Actual Control. Apart from basing Sukhoi-30MKIs in northeast and upgrading several airstrips and helipads, two new infantry mountain divisions and the first battalion of Arunachal Scouts are now virtually in place.
With 1,260 officers and 35,011 soldiers, the two new divisions have their HQ in Zakama (Nagaland) and Missamari (Assam). Plans are also afoot to create a new mountain strike corps as well as a third artillery division.
It was after the 10-month forward troop mobilisation on the western front under Operation Parakram in 2002 that the Army began to develop the capability to mobilise fast and strike hard across the border.
Read more: Eye on China, Army focuses on mountain warfare - The Times of India Eye on China, Army focuses on mountain warfare - The Times of India
