Antony calls for strengthening defence capacity

NEWDELHI: Watching the growing defence ties between Islamabad and Beijing with serious concern, the latest being the decision to equip Pakistan with 50 new JF-17 Thunder combat jets under a co-production agreement, Defence Minister A K Antony has called for increasing India’s own capability to counter the coming threat.

“It is a matter of serious concern for us. The main thing is, we have to increase our capability, that is the only answer,” Antony said after addressing the Unified Commander’s Conference called to discuss regional implications following the elimination of Osama bin Laden by the US Navy Seals.

With the US keen to get out from the region or maintain minimum deterrent force, India is expecting realignment in the region and is closely watching Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Geelani’s visit to China. The conference also took stock of Pakistan’s growing naval capabilities.  The Indian Navy is getting apprehensive of growing capabilities of Pakistan in terms of infrastructure as well as the hardware whereas the government has not taken any initiatives to counter it.

Pakistan on its 1,200 km long coastline has five operational Naval bases - Jiwani, Gwadar, Pasni, Ormara and Karachi ports, whereas India has only three such bases in - Mumbai, Kochi and Karwar.

Moreover, the Pakistan navy could leave India behind as it is acquiring six submarines from China and Oliver Hazard Perry class frigates from the US. Though India has 14 submarines, only four are expected to remain operational by 2014.

The conference viewed the US operation as a watershed in the global war on terror and as a vindication of India’s long standing view that Pakistan is the nerve centre of international terrorism. “Pakistan’s position as the centre of terrorist activities in the region has now been internationally stamped,” Antony noted.

Sources said, Antony told commanders that the fallout of Osama bin Laden’s elimination is also going to affect India.

When referred to statements by Army Chief General V K Singh and Air Chief P V Naik on India’s capability to launch a US kind surgical strike, Antony refused to comment and said “The Prime Minister has expressed his view. I don’t have anything to say.”