To: ratan lal who wrote (9725 ) 11/22/1999 4:39:00 PM From: JPR Respond to of 12475
Secure the sea lanes in the 'hood deccanchronicleonline.com More punch for Navy: George New Delhi: Defence Minister George Fernandes on Monday said the Indian Navy would have to play a greater role in future asserting that presence of the maritime force in the region would allow friendly littoral States to gather confidence. Underscoring the importance of security of sea lanes of communication in the Indian Ocean as also protection of India?s exclusive economic zone, he said ?the coming century is Asia?s century and India will be a major player to shape the future. The role cut out for the Navy will therefore grow in terms of significance.? Inaugurating the week-long Annual Navy Senior Officers? Conference here, Fernandes said ?as our neighbourhood is hostile, littoral States around us with whom we have good relations, will gather confidence with the Indian Navy?s presence in the region. Defence diplomacy is one of the biggest roles of the Navy.? Tipnis expresses happiness over downing of Paki's spy plan---JPR Addressing the five-day bi-annual Air Force Commanders? Conference, Air Chief A Y Tipnis said the downing of intruding Pakistani aircraft Atlantique was a ?turning point? which had sent a clear signal to ?the adversary not to attempt any aggressive misadventure.? Stating that the IAF?s air maintenance role in Kargil would increase, he said while airpower had played a decisive role in Kargil operations, the IAF had subsequently taken the responsibility of air maintenance to support the Army posts. The Navy Commanders? Conference is slated to discuss Navy?s programmes, structures and war-fighting doctrines. The Navy is all set to acquire force multipliers too. Maritime facilities, Navy?s long-term plans for the strategic naval base at Karwar and Naval academy at Ezhimla are also likely to be discussed. Expressing confidence that the Advanced Jet Trainer would be inducted into IAF ?very soon?, Tipnis said the ?increasingly decisive role? of the Air Force in future conflicts required continuous upgradation of its fleet. armoury. He directed the commanders to take steps to bring downthe accident rate while expressing concern at the presentflight safety record. The air chief said the iaf?s response to provide succourto orissa cyclone victims was swift which led to distributionof relief materials in remote areas.