Journalism of Courage
It is crucial that India have a strong amphibious capability in place to guard its national and strategic interests in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR),especially since the next decade would see increasing conflicts on energy resources in the region,Chief of Army Staff Gen Deepak Kapoor said here on Monday.
A growing conflict on energy resources,along with rising instances of drug trafficking,piracy and smuggling of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) through the IOR is an imminent threat to India and regional security, Kapoor said while delivering the keynote address at the two-day seminar on Joint Amphibious Warfare.
Pointing out that the creation and development of an India-tailored amphibious force equipped with an superior level of joint and individual training was essential,the Army Chief said amphibious capability would make up a credible deterrence to defend the 1,500 odd island territories located on the Western and Eastern coasts.
With some of these assets located around 1,500 km from mainland,the safety of these regions from hostile and environmental challenges is also a priority, he said. Elaborating,Gen Kapoor said that with the Global War on Terror (GWT) inbuilt within the region,the mounting security concern has involved regional powers also bringing global powers in the IOR.
