The Hindu : `A step in the right direction for Sino-Indian ties'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Nov 16, 2003

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`A step in the right direction for Sino-Indian ties'

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI NOV. 15. Describing the recent talks between the National Security Adviser, Brajesh Mishra and the Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister, Dai Bingguo, as a "step in the right direction", the Vice-Chief of the Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Shantonu Choudhry, said this would open a new chapter in Sino-Indian border relations.

He was delivering the fourth T.S. Narayanaswami Memorial lecture on "India's Security Challenges" under the auspices of the India Cements Educational Society today. "China has developed rapidly. And China is now strengthening its Western-Central-Eastern connectivity and a possible rail link likely to materialise by 2007 will have to be keenly watched by India."

Maintaining that local support was essential to retain tenancy in any occupied area, he said the September 11 attacks in the United States had given a paradigm shift to security concerns. The Army was in the process of upgrading its strength by acquiring hi-tech equipment from the U.S., with which it had conducted joint defence exercises.

Referring to Sri Lanka, he said: "We have been told to keep our antennas up" following the recent failure of the Norway-initiated peace talks. The armed forces were also fully geared to meet any eventuality on the Indo-Pakistan front as "cross-border terrorism" was still reigning high.

B. Raman, former Additonal Secretary in the Union Cabinet Secretariat, called for a concrete strategy, both short-term and long-term, to deal with the whole gamut of security issues.

M.R. Srinivasan, former Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, wanted the armed forces not to depend on imports and urged the Centre to encourage more indigenous support for upgrading its military prowess. T.S. Vijayaraghavan, former Secretary of Defence Production, stressed the need for the latest military gadgetry to meet any future security threat, especially on the India-Pakistan front. S. Gopal, former Special Director of RAW and Principal Secretary, Directorate-General of Security in the Cabinet Secretariat, spoke on the various facets of the growing security threat both within and outside.

Vice-Admiral Raman Puri, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff, said there was lack of self-confidence to meet any security threat and other emergency situations.

N. Ramachandran, vice-president, India Cements Educational Society, said the annual meeting provided a platform for debate.

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