Indian Army in 2006: Challenges and Achievements

New Delhi, Jan 7 (UNI) For the Indian Army, the year 2006 proved to be a year of challenges and achievements as it continued to guard the nation from external and internal threats.

Though a ceasefire is holding along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, troops continued to guard it against infiltration and exfiltration by anti-national elements. In the hinterland, in J&K and the North East, it continued to seek and apprehend/ neutralise terrorists.

In J&K alone, close to 600 militants were killed and over 400 apprehended while over 200 surrendered.

In the process large quantities of arms, ammunition and other war-like stores and equipment were recovered. Various militant groups have either been neutralised or considerably weakened. The commonman continues to look up to the Army as an important organ of the nation to provide safety, security and succour.

Modernisation: Trials for identifying 155 mm/52 Calibre towed- guns are underway and the selection process will commence once these are completed.

Electronic surveillance devices such as unmanned ground sensors, Battle Field Surveillance Radars, Infra Red Sensors, Hand held thermal imagers and the like have been introduced to assist in counter-terrorism operations.

The Army is also working towards Network-Centric Warfare concept for a digitised battlefield of the future.

Besides, the Army is adequately prepared to operate in the prevailing Nuclear, Biological, Chemical (NBC) environment in the region and these capabilities are regularly reviewed keeping in view of the changing threat scenario, as required.

Contributions In UN Peacekeeping: Besides the ongoing contribution in various Peace Keeping Missions under the UN banner, the Indian Army dispatched a contingent for the first time to Golan Heights. They joined the UN Disengagement Observation Force (UNDOF) with troops from Canada, Japan, Australia, Poland and Slovakia.

UNDOF is deployed in an Area of Separation between Israeli and Syrian Forces The 4 Sikh, deployed in Lebanon, was awarded the Force Commander's Unit Citation for the stupendous manner in which this battalion performed its tasks. This battalion was located between two warring faction in the region. In a rare honour, them UN Secretary General Kofi Annan also visited this battalion.

Sino-Indian Border Personnel Meetings: Besides Chushul, Nathula and Bumla for the first time ever, a Sino-Indian border personnel meeting was held in Area Kibithu in Arunachal Pradesh on November 18, 2006. Peace and tranquility prevails on the Sino-Indian frontier.

Joint Exercise: The Indian Army continued to hold joint exercises with foreign armies.

Some of these were with the Uzbekistan Special Force in January 2006, United States for Counter-terrorism in October 2006 and with the US Marines, also in October 2006.

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