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Defence forces to be modernised at full pace: Kalam
Hissar (Haryana), Dec 01: Maintaining that the modernisation drive of the armed forces would be carried out at full pace, President A P J Abdul Kalam today said India has always taken initiative for peace so that nations of the region could accelerate the pace of development.
Hissar (Haryana), Dec 01: Maintaining that the modernisation drive of the armed forces would be carried out at full pace, President A P J Abdul Kalam today said India has always taken initiative for peace so that nations of the region could accelerate the pace of development.
"We have offered a hand of friendship to Pakistan to ensure that India and Pakistan which both had ample resources should jointly make efforts for development of the region," he said in brief speech after presenting prestigious standards to Army's two elite armoured regiments the 69th here and to 86th Regiment at Mamoon cantonment near Pathankot.
Kalam told an impressive turned out parades at the two cantonments that government had recently taken a number of steps to enhance the combat capabilities of the forces specially those engaged in checking cross-border infiltration in Jammu and Kashmir and those engaged in anti-militancy operations.
The President said the government wanted the Army units engaged in challenging tasks of fighting terrorists to be equipped with state of art weaponry.
Recalling the yeoman service of the two regiments in 1971 war and in operations like trident, Vijay and Parakaram, he said the country's armed forces had always come victorious with tasks assigned to them. Kalam also appreciated the effort of the soldiers in carrying out humanitarian tasks during natural calamities.
The President said government was also striving hard to improve conditions for troops in the peace time by increasing the married accommodation and providing better education facilities for children of the service personnel.
The 86th Armoured Regiment raised from a mixed class composition at Ahmednagar in March 1977, now is armed with the T-72 tanks and forms part of white tiger armoured division.
The regiment has the distinction of serving in all theatres of operation and recently made history by deploying tanks at a height of over 14,500 metres in the eastern sector.
Before presenting colours to the regiment, Kalam, who is also the supreme commander of the armed forces, reviewed a mounted parade of tanks. He also released a first day cover to commemorate the historic occasion for the regiment.
During the past six years, the regiment has had the distinction of participating in counter-terrorist operations and was also mobilised during Operation Vijay and Parakaram.
While, presenting colours to the 69th Regiment here, President recalled the regiments glorious tryst with destiny in the 1971 conflict when equipped with amphibious Russian PT-76 tanks, it led the assault on Bangladesh capital of Dhaka.
The regiment won the battle honours for East Pakistan and has converted to T-72 tanks in 1989-90. The Director General of Military Operations Lt Gen B S Takhar is a Colonel of the regiment having commanded it earlier. Bureau Report
Kalam told an impressive turned out parades at the two cantonments that government had recently taken a number of steps to enhance the combat capabilities of the forces specially those engaged in checking cross-border infiltration in Jammu and Kashmir and those engaged in anti-militancy operations.
The President said the government wanted the Army units engaged in challenging tasks of fighting terrorists to be equipped with state of art weaponry.
Recalling the yeoman service of the two regiments in 1971 war and in operations like trident, Vijay and Parakaram, he said the country's armed forces had always come victorious with tasks assigned to them. Kalam also appreciated the effort of the soldiers in carrying out humanitarian tasks during natural calamities.
The President said government was also striving hard to improve conditions for troops in the peace time by increasing the married accommodation and providing better education facilities for children of the service personnel.
The 86th Armoured Regiment raised from a mixed class composition at Ahmednagar in March 1977, now is armed with the T-72 tanks and forms part of white tiger armoured division.
The regiment has the distinction of serving in all theatres of operation and recently made history by deploying tanks at a height of over 14,500 metres in the eastern sector.
Before presenting colours to the regiment, Kalam, who is also the supreme commander of the armed forces, reviewed a mounted parade of tanks. He also released a first day cover to commemorate the historic occasion for the regiment.
During the past six years, the regiment has had the distinction of participating in counter-terrorist operations and was also mobilised during Operation Vijay and Parakaram.
While, presenting colours to the 69th Regiment here, President recalled the regiments glorious tryst with destiny in the 1971 conflict when equipped with amphibious Russian PT-76 tanks, it led the assault on Bangladesh capital of Dhaka.
The regiment won the battle honours for East Pakistan and has converted to T-72 tanks in 1989-90. The Director General of Military Operations Lt Gen B S Takhar is a Colonel of the regiment having commanded it earlier. Bureau Report