Air Marshal downplays US report on Indo-China war

Last Updated: Friday, February 03, 2012, 21:11

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Tags: Air Marshal, United States, Indo-China war

Bangalore: Air Marshal Dhiraj Kukreja Friday indicated that the armed forces were not strengthening themselves for a "limited conflict" with China, as claimed by the US intelligence.

"The US intelligence publishes reports specially pertaining to other countries ... our strong armed forces are more of deterrence to enemies eyeing our territories," he told reporters here.

India does not have any territorial aspirations and is a peaceful country, Kukreja said, adding, "to maintain peace, the country needs to have strong armed forces."

Director of US National Intelligence James Clapper had said a few days ago that "The Indian Army believes a major Sino-Indian conflict is not imminent, but the Indian military is strengthening its forces in preparation to fight a limited conflict along the disputed border, and is working to balance Chinese power projection in the Indian Ocean."

India is looking at peaceful interaction with nations in the wake of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh saying Indian strategic interests have extended up to countries like Vietnam, Kukreja said.

Asked if the US was having any motive behind predicting limited India-China conflict, he said "I can't say there is any motive ... Every country has self-interest and it works accordingly."

PTI

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First Published: Friday, February 03, 2012, 21:11

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Petrus - Mumbai
It,s a shame that the army is not preparing for a limited conflict, because China is preparing for the same. The Chinese have been preparing to destroy as much as possible Indian military capability in a blitz-krieg, leaving India no opportunity at all to react. So, army must have its plans ready to destroy as many Chinese targets as possible within the same short period. In fact, in a short war, India can gain most, because they can attack more Chinese goals than China can attack in India. But only if army has prepared itself, that can happen.