National defence is fundamental to preserving our independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity and must , therefore, rule supreme in national planning and shaping of strategic priorities. Our defence forces should always be ready laced with modern weaponry coupled with enhanced border infrastructure to meet any challenge or diverse set of threats as is evident from the intentions , hostilities and expansionist ambitions of China and Pakistan – the two neighbours of this country. Despite always stretching arms , long and warm, for peace, co-operation and mutual understanding of each other’s positions and respecting the same , both these countries are implicit and explicit in their adamant policy on the obverse coupled with rigidities of evil and iniquitous intentions against this country. Complacency of whichever nature or degree resulting from whichever type of goofs or things taken for granted in the past has cost this country badly in 1962 and even thereafter by losing territories in the North Eastern sector to China . We have had hostilities on large scale thrust on us in 1947-48, 1965 , 1971, 1999 and a proxy war of terrorism for nearly 40 years from Pakistan. Enough lessons, therefore, have by now been learnt to let no complacency to creep in so far as our defence requirements are concerned.
All these factors make it obligatory on the Government and policy planners to keep on consistent basis enhancing our military capabilities in which modern border infrastructure would play a crucial supporting role. Even if the need be to go in for restructuring the defence forces to respond to the defence needs of the day , no amount of any delay in that process too could in any way be afforded to take place. However, what we were a few years ago in the vital aspect of connectivity in border areas stands vastly improved and modernised right from coastal areas to Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh to Jaisalmer to Adaman and Nicobar islands . On these lines , Prime Minister Narendra Modi assessing the current scenario of borders and our defence capabilities while visiting Nowshera in Jammu and Kashmir in connection with ”celebrating” Depawali festival with the Army personnel , needs to be underlined. It may be recalled that Nowshera had shot into prominence in 1947 -48 due to unique blend of unprecedented bravery and taking several vows by Brig. Usman not to rest and not to sleep on bed in chilly winter till the lost areas like Janghar were recovered from the enemy . He did it and the battle of Nowshera won him not only a Mahavir Chakra , a befitting state funeral but the title of the ”Lion of Nowshera” as well. Prime Minister chose Nowshera sector in Rajouri district this Dewali to celebrate amidst Army Jawans and pay tributes to the great warrior Brig. Usman. In 2016 operation too , the surgical strikes, Brigade here had performed exemplarily .
Technologies are fast changing , concepts of modern warfare too are undergoing tremendous changes which in turn make it incumbent upon the country to mould its defence response accordingly and suitably . We can neither wait nor defer nor find a middle way in attuning to the latest forms of requirements especially looking to the threats from two sides separately and even jointly. That meant not only modernisation, acquiring latest weaponry and infrastructure but adopting more of latest IT usage and utility in the defence landscape of the country. Self reliance or “Atma Nirbharta” in the defence needs, therefore, is not only the requirements of the day but has become an unavoidable necessity.
Involving start-ups at a wider scale and thus the private sector along with the usual public sector in the process of manufacturing modern weapons and other requirements would result in riddance to a larger extent of reliability on suppliers from other countries besides generating vast employment opportunities in the country itself . Nearly 65 percent of the budget being used within the country, about which the PM made a mention, meant circulation of such a huge resources base to have defence corridors to come up in the near future and accelerate both the production of the required products as also give a boost to the indigenous expertise, research and matching of quality at international standards in such manufacturing . It is to be seen that more items of defence requirements are made indigenously and not only procured for India’s defence requirements but exported too. Defence enhancements and increased military capabilities on a permanent basis alone could secure our borders as also our territories.
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