NEW DELHI: On a day of take overs in the Armed Forces, developments on the eastern and western frontiers of the country caused consternation in the security establishment.
After taking over as the Chairman, Chief of Staffs Committee (COSC), Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor on Monday confirmed that a Chinese helicopter had entered Indian territory in the Leh region and new Navy Chief Admiral Nirmal Kumar Verma (who replaced Admiral Sureesh Mehta in the South Block) expressed concerns about Pakistan fiddling with the Harpoon missiles supplied by the US.
General Kapoor received the baton of COSC from Admiral Sureesh Mehta who retired on Monday. The Army Chief said there had been several violations and an incursion by a Chinese helicopter in the past few months. General Kapoor said it could have happened due to a navigational error “but that does not justify it”.
India has raised the matter with the Chinese authorities even as General Kapoor claimed that such issues are discussed at border meetings. The problem is about the perception of the Line of Actual Control (LAC). “We also go up to the LAC as we perceive it to be,” he said.
There have been reports of incursions by Chinese troops all along the eastern border. An army team is already in Beijing on a goodwill visit to clear the misunderstandings.
Harpoon modification a threat: Navy Chief
If General Kapoor put the focus on China, Admiral Verma raised alarm bells on Pakistan. Reacting to reports in the US media about Pakistan modifying the Harpoon missiles to target India, he said “it was a matter of grave concern which should be taken up with the weapon supplier”.
The US was told about the danger of proliferation and it has maintained that the weapons were being given to Pakistan for self-defence.
Even Admiral Mehta termed it as a serious issue. He said it was clearly a threat to India and it has obviously nothing to do with self-defence.
Admiral Verma stressed on building the capability to thwart such threats. He said the security should be such that nobody should come close enough to launch such a missile against India. “We are ready for this kind of threat,” he said. Talking about China’s military strength, he said India should have confidence in its own abilities. “We should have a sense of confidence,” he said. Every nation pursues its own interests in international waters. India should have its own interests, he said.