'More Lady Cadets will be recruited in the Army'

Chennai, Sept 16: Indian Army will recruit more Lady Cadets and is looking for newer avenues for deploying them, Vice-Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen S Pattabhiraman said today.

Talking to newspersons after reviewing the Passing-Out Parade at the, Officers Training Academy (OTA), here, he said the Centre had asked the Army to find out areas where more women could utilised.

''The women cadets were performing well in the training period and they were strong enough to be employed in the army,'' he added.

Earlier, reviewing the parade after taking salute from the cadets, Lt Gen Pattabhiraman said due to the changed security environs, the country was expecting a more challenging role from the young officers.

''External threat has acquired a new form through global terrorism and the newly emerging possible threat of bio and nuclear terrorism cannot be ignored as well,'' he said.

The synergy between high technology, modern means of communication, sophisticated instant banking system and religious fundamentalism had made terrorist attacks virtually an act of war against society.

On the importance of science and technology in warfare, Lt Gen Pattabhiraman said science and technology had profound effects on warfare. ''Emerging technologies are responsible for the ongoing 'Revolution in Military Affairs' and in the coming years there will be greater impact of these on the art of warfare,'' he added.

Stating that terrorism has become a global menace, he said the world community was now becoming aware of this live threat. ''The world has started appreciating the fact that we as a nation have been one of the oldest victims of global terrorism.'' Lt Gen Pattabhiraman the newly inducted officers to realise this and lead the battle from the front by honing the skills for war-fighting and also to fight the proxy war currently being waged in Jammu and Kashmir and to subdue anti-national elements and militants in other parts of country.

In all 280 cadets, including 70 Lady cadets, were commissioned as officers in the army.

UNI