New Delhi: India today ruled out the
possibility of any surgical strike on terror camps inside
Pakistan, but asserted that adequate measures would be taken
to ensure its interests are protected.
"No, no," Minister of State for Defence M M Pallam Raju,
said when asked about the possibility of surgical strikes on
terror camps inside the neighbouring country.
He told reporters here, "We will take adequate measures to
see to it that our nation is safe, our citizens are safe, and
our interests are safeguarded."
While expressing hope that Pakistan will act against
terror camps operating from its soil, he said India will also
ensure that its interests are protected and the nation is
secure.
"The first responsibility is towards ensuring adequate
security towards which we are leaving no stone unturned.
Beyond that whatever information we have about these camps, we
have brought it to the notice of our neighbour and we hope
they will take action on that," he said on the sidelines of a
seminar at the Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses here.
"It is a stated policy that they (Pakistan) will do
infiltration in Jammu and Kashmir. Across the borders, we are
taking adequate safety measures and we are continuing to talk
to that government. I am sure there will be results at the end
of the day," he said.
Defence Minister A K Antony had yesterday said there were
42 terror camps inside Pakistan and that the neighbour had not
done enough yet to dismantle the terror infrastructure.
On the gaps in the Army's anti-tank missile systems, Raju
said the Defence Ministry would provide whatever capability
the Services needed within the time frame that they sought.
"The entire endeavour of the Ministry is to supply the
capability that the Services want within the time frame that
they seek," he said.
Asked if the Defence Ministry would do away with the
system of 'Sahayaks (batman)' for Army officers as strongly
recommended by a Parliamentary committee, Raju said it was for
the concerned Service to examine it, just like the Air Force
and the Navy have acted on it.
"It is for the Army to look into it and see what is
appropriate," he added.
PTI
First Published: Thursday, March 18, 2010, 17:58