Vice-Chief given farewell

8220;Never has the Army taken so much flak in the past and probably except the 1962 debacle, seldom has its morale been lower,8221; a senior officer at the Army Headquarters said today.

Though the Army won the conflict against Pakistan in Kargil last year, its worries have only just begun. 8220;Post-Kargil terrorist activities have intensified in the state of Jammu and Kashmir and the Army, despite killing terrorists both inside the state and on the Line of Control LoC, has been unable to contain the suicide squads,8221; he added.

Lt Gen Padmanabhan who will wear the rank of a four-star general at 12.15 pmtomorrow is expected to first focus on the problem of terrorism in the state. The new Vice Chief Lt Gen Oberoi has been talking of joint efforts by the Army and the Air Force in containing terrorism and also in formulating strategies for the defence of the country.