Defence of sea links vital: Army Chief

Chandigarh, Nov 23 (UNI) Army Chief Gen Deepak Kapoor today stressed the importance of defending sea links of the country besides air strips in the present security scenario.

''Besides air strips, the defence of the sea links was important as most of our energy supplies come through them,'' he said in his address at the XIX annual session of National Congress for Defence Studies and conference on 'Changing Dimensions of International Security:Implications for India' at the Panjab University here.

He said most of the conflicts in the world these days were centered around energy security.

He also highlighted the importance of environmental security, security of information and humanitarian aspects.

Gen Kapoor said unresolved boundary issues with India's neighbouring countries, proxy war in the Jammu and Kashmir and the insurgency in the Northeast were the major challenges to Indian security.

About the challenges before the Indian army, he said the need for restructing and rightsizing the force, adequate budgetary support for modernisation and adequate development of human resources were the major ones.

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