Big boost to Army units in west; six Apache attack choppers to be deployed on Pakistan border

Army chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane on Saturday announced that six Army Apache attack helicopters would be deployed on the Pakistan borders to help the Indian security forces personnel stationed there. The Army chief further said that the choppers would be deployed at locations where there is a threat of armoured columns.

While speaking to media, General Naravane said, "Six Army Apache attack choppers would be given to an Army unit on the western borders from where there is a greater threat from armoured columns."

Explaining why the rebalancing of deployment of the forces and weapons is being carried out, the Army chief said that the Indian Army is more than ready to take back Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK)."If Parliament wants that area should be taken, we will definitely do so and action will be taken accordingly," added Army chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane.

Shifting focus to the border issues with China, General Naravane said that India's priority is to maintain peace and calm on the border. He, however, acknowledged that there are threats from both sides.

"We have to balance our requirement. On the northern border we are going in for capacity building, roads, habitats, storage for weapons by moving advanced weapons towards the eastern side," he said about the China border.

Talking about his recent visit to Siachen, the Army chief said, "As far as land borders are concerned this is where (Siachen) the two countries -- (China and Pakistan) are the closest. So the chance for collusivity is the most. Here and in Shaksgam valley."

Earlier in October last year, the then Army chief and now Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat had stressed that PoK is an Indian territory illegally occupied by Pakistan. "The territory is not controlled by the Pakistani establishment, it is controlled by terrorists. Pakistan administered Kashmir is actually a terrorist-controlled country or a terrorist-controlled part of Pakistan," Rawat had said.

 timesnownews