Army Chief General Manoj Pande on Sunday said his top priority will be to make sure operational readiness of the force to deal with any challenge. He also said the Army will not allow any loss of territory in the backdrop of ongoing stand-offs with China at the border in Eastern Ladakh.
Pande also said the global geopolitical situation is changing rapidly "as a result of which we have multiple challenges ahead", asserting that the Army, in "coordination and cooperation" with the Indian Air Force and the Navy, will unitedly deal with any situation. He was apparently referring to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Interacting with media after inspecting Guard of Honour here on Sunday, the new Army chief said he will focus on the ongoing reforms, restructuring and transformation of the Army to enhance its operational and functional efficiency besides giving importance to achieving self-reliance in defence.
He said his "utmost and foremost" priority would be to ensure very high standards of operational preparedness to face current, contemporary and future security challenges across the entire spectrum of conflict.
On the situation at the Line of Actual Control(LAC)in Ladakh, Pande said in an interview to ANI, the Indian troops are holding important physical positions and will not permit any change in the status quo or any loss of territory.
Calling the situation at the LAC normal, he said the Indian Army has given an adequate response to unilateral and provocative actions by China to change the status quo by force.
On the India-China border talks, the new Army chief said the process is ongoing. “We believe this is the way forward. We are confident that as we continue to talk with the other side we will find a resolution to the ongoing issues,” he said.
Highlighting the preparedness of the Indian security forces, the Army Chief said additional equipment and troops have been inducted in the border areas. Our focus has also been on infrastructure development to match logistic and operation requirements, he added.
On the situation with Pakistan, Pande said the DGMOs of the two armies arrived at an understanding a year ago that helped in improving the situation for the civilian population on the ground on both sides of the Line of Control(LOC).
The Army chief said he will take forward the "good works" of his predecessors, and assured the soldiers and officers of the Army that ensuring their welfare will be his key priority.
Pande on Saturday took charge as the 29th Chief of the Army Staff after incumbent General M M Naravane retired. Pande, who was serving as the Vice Chief, became the first-ever officer from the Corps of Engineers to rise to the top job.
Before taking charge as Vice Chief of Army Staff on February 1, Pande was heading the Eastern Army Command that takes care of the LAC in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh sectors.
"I am aware of the big responsibility and I am praying to God that I am given strength, capability and wisdom so that I can carry on with the responsibility," Pande said.