The Vice Chief of Army Lieutenant General Devraj Anbu averred that surgical strikes can again be carried out by the Indian Army if the situation so warrants.
In reply to a question at Indian Military Academy (IMA) here on Saturday, the officer said that the Army has proved its capabilities of carrying out surgical strike in the recent past. “If the enemy resorts to some misadventure the army might go again for such strikes,” he affirmed.
Quizzed on the role of women in the army and on the training being imparted to them at IMA Dehradun, he said that women are already performing multiple roles in the armed forces.
Mentioning that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also laid emphasis on giving the women officers permanent commission in the army, Lt Gen Anbu said that the army has undertaken a long-drawn- out process to incorporate the women in the armed forces and soon they would be seen in their new roles.
On the question of making changes in the training of officers in the wake of rising terror strikes, Lt Gen Anbu said that the training is an evolving and continuous process in which the experiences of the past, both good and bad, are incorporated.
Earlier on the day, while addressing the passing out contingent, Lt Gen Anbu said that the young officers should lead the men under them by showing leadership qualities by setting before them personal examples. Referring to the Indo-Pak war 1971 the victory day of which is celebrated on December 16, the Vice Chief of Army said that the war was the best example of a military blitzkrieg particularly when the war had been won in 14 days.
Exhorting the young officers to take pride in the golden past of the army, he said that the legacy of victory must continue.
Lt Gen Anbu further said that though the war technology is fast changing with time it is always the man behind the equipment who counts. He also cautioned the young officers not to fall prey to the information warfare waged by the enemy which is continuing 24X7. “We must be on our guard and serve the country to the best of our ability,” he added.
Lt Gen Anbu congratulated the GDs on successful completion of their training at IMA, and complimented them for the excellent parade, immaculate turnout as well as the crisp and energetic drill movements indicating the high standards of training and discipline imbibed by the young Gentlemen Cadets.
He also congratulated the Gentlemen Cadets of friendly foreign countries who also got commissioned.