Observing that normalcy has not yet returned to Jammu and Kashmir and the North-East, newly appointed Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor on Monday ruled out any curtailment of the Army’s role in fighting terrorism. In his first public appearance after taking over as the 23rd Army Chief on Sunday, Kapoor made it clear that troops cut in insurgency-hit areas was not feasible till things got better. “Though there is an improvement in the situation in Jammu and Kashmir and Northeast, there cannot be any curtailment of army’s role in combating terrorism. As and when things improve, we can take a fresh look on troop positions,” Kapoor told media persons after attending a guard of honour ceremony at South Block. The Army Chief said modernising the Army to prepare it for future battles would take top priority during his tenure. Kapoor said efforts would be made to speedily induct new equipment like 155 mm howitzers, night vision devices, light attack helicopters and network centric systems. “Artillery modernisation did get stuck and efforts have to be made to make up for it. My efforts would be to float new international tenders for acquisition of towed 155MM .52 calibre guns as well as faster induction of wheeled and mounted similar guns,” the Army Chief said. Conceding that corruption in the Army was a big challenge, Kapoor said steps would be taken to improve the image of the Army. “The Army will ensure that such cases of misconduct don’t go unpunished,” Kapoor said.Answering a question on the political turmoil in Myanmar, the General said it was an internal matter that needed to be tackled by the country’s Government. “We have good relations with Myanmar and we will try to maintain them,” the Army Chief said.
