A K Antony assures armed forces of adequate funds for modernization

New Delhi June 25 (ANI): Defence Minister A K Antony has assured the top brass that funds will never be a constraint for the modernisation of the Armed Forces and their welfare.

Antony, however, asked them to improve efficacy and efficiency of delivery mechanisms at all levels and sought the cooperation of all senior officials to eradicate corruption and urged them to ensure 'impeccable honesty, integrity and transparency in all transactions'.

The Defence Minister emphasized the need to achieve greater indigenisation in Defence sector. He called for increased and better synergy between the DRDO and the Armed Forces to achieve at least 70 % indigenisation in our procurements within the next ten years.

He was addressing the inaugural day of the two-day conference of the unified commanders in the national capital on Thursday.

The Defence Minister asked the top brass of the all the three services to adopt and further strengthen the tri-services approach to security related issues, as victory in modern warfare can be achieved only through jointness.

'The traditional approach of combating threats with individual services acting according to their own plans must be shed. Jointness seeks the development of core competence by each service and synergising these capabilities.

Furthering his point the Defence Minister said, jointness allows each service to maximise its yield by utilising its core competences to achieve a common goal. Therefore, it is our duty to resort to joint planning and develop integrated capabilities', he said.

Referring to China Antony said, India has always tried to maintain friendly relations with that country. There is enough space for both India and China to grow into influential nations in the evolving international order. But there are complex unresolved issues between the two countries. India believes that these should be resolved through peaceful means.

On Sri Lanka, Antony said, for lasting peace within, Colombo needs to backup its military gains against the LTTE with a political devolution package that satisfies the aspiration of Tamils within a united Sri Lanka

Underlining the importance of the Indian ocean region Antony said, It is imperative for our armed forces to ensure that the sea lanes of communication are not dominated by any one power to the exclusion of others'.

Antony said the Government is trying its best to provide financial resources, surveillance equipment and adequate manpower to bolster Coastal Security and asked the services to make optimum use of available resources both in terms of infrastructure and manpower. He said the onus lies on security forces, intelligence agencies and coastal police stations to work in tandem. (ANI)