What happened in Galwan should not be repeated: Army Chief

During an interaction with the media after the 77th Army day parade, when asked about his assurance on the northern border accompanied by a word of caution, Gen Dwivedi said, “Northern borders are safe because the Indian Army is sitting there. The Indian Army is in the numbers which are required to hold the fort. When you say a word of caution, it is because we have to make sure whatever was done in Galwan should not be repeated. It means our eyes and ears, a ‘whole of the nation’ approach should be focused towards that. Whether it is a diplomatic effort, military effort or MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs) in terms of CAPF (Central Armed Police Force) effort. All should converge on this issue and make sure that we will not get any surprises in the future.”

The Army Chief said in his speech, “On the western borders, a ceasefire remains in effect along the Line of Control, but attempts at infiltration continue. In the internal areas of Jammu and Kashmir, due to the persistent and stringent efforts of the security forces, there has been a significant reduction in violence. Last year witnessed the peaceful conduct of Parliament and Assembly elections, as well as the completion of the Amarnath Yatra, indicating an improvement in the security situation,” he added.

Gen Dwivedi said the Indian Army has played a vital role in strengthening the country’s internal security. “Through its efforts, India has been successful in gaining control over sensitive and challenging situations in various regions. Our soldiers, with their discipline and maturity, have worked effectively under difficult circumstances, and efforts in this direction continue,” he said.

Pune hosted the Army Day Parade, the key event on the country’s military calendar. The main parade, held at the Bombay Engineer Group Centre, Khadki, showcased the evolving capabilities of the Army while highlighting inclusivity, technological innovation, and a deep connection with the nation’s citizens.

ALH will remain a workhorse 

Answering a question on whether the indigenously developed Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv had ‘hit a rough patch’, on the backdrop of a recent crash in Porbandar, the Army Chief said, “Let me assure the countrymen and my own Indian Army that the ALH has not hit a rough patch. These accidents keep taking place. All over the world, even the best of the helicopters meet with such accidents. In 2023-24 Indian Army flew ALH for 40 thousand hours. And in those 40,000 hours only one glitch took place. We are flying at altitudes beyond 15,000 feet. ALH is a workhorse and it will remain a workhorse. And we have 100 percent confidence.

Southern Command’s role

Answering a question on the role of Southern Command in bolstering jointmanship among three services, the Army Chief said, “Southern Command is the biggest command and 41 per cent of the landmass of the country is in its area of responsibility. Three Naval commands and four Air Force commands are part of the geographical area of Southern Command. It tells us that it is the swing command, if we can call it that. This is the only command which is ready for both the borders at any time. It is the only command available for pan India humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. All the multilateral exercises happen here. This is also the powerhouse for the industry facilitating development of new technology and production. In the days to come, for technology absorption,  technology infusion and decade of transformation initiative, Southern Command will play a pivotal role.”