Malik cautions against deploying Army for too long

Making a case for either raising additional forces such as the Assam Rifles and Rashtriya Rifles or improving the capabilities of para-military forces like CRPF and BSF to fight terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and other areas, Gen Malik said involving the Army in fight situations would not be in the best interest of the country8217;s security.

Saying that state-sponsored terrorism or proxy war were increasingly becoming new instruments being used to destabilise nations in thepost-Cold War era, he said developed countries it appeared were better equipped to contend with such phenomenon than the developing nations.

In an apparent reference to Pakistan8217;s support of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, he said, quot;When terrorism is sponsored by states as part of strategy, it amounts to almost little short of limited warquot;.

quot;Developed countries seem to be able to deal withterrorism with their police forces and only in the extreme cases where it is viewed as transcending breach of sovereignty, military force has been used,quot; gen malik said.

The army Chief said use of armed forces has beenjustified just prior to actual outbreak of hostilities, thus, keeping its options open.

He said since armed forces are the ultimate instrument ofpower at the high end of capabilities of nation8217;s state,quot;its early employment reduces options available to deal with conflict situations.quot;

quot;The army is drawn away from its primary focus. It is,therefore, not in the interest of either the nation or army, thatthis instrument is extensively used too early in the conflict situations,quot; he said.

In a veiled attack, gen malik said government8217;s wereemploying a new method to use the army to fight situations below its rightful place of employment by giving additional equipment and manpower.

quot;This lowers point of its employment rather than raisingthe point up to which matters should be dealt by the police force,quot; malik said adding quot;this may seen expedient in short term, its larger implications in the long term are not in the best interest of nation8217;s security.quot;

He said success of the armed forces in low intensityconflict such as insurgency and proxy war was leadership and ethos. quot;as we move up in the ladder of conflict, responsibilty must also shift upwards and it is vital that the command rest with the agency that has the highest capability,quot; he said.