Armed forces asked to maintain 'eternal vigil' all the time

New Delhi, Aug 14 (PTI) Citing the 26/11 terror attacks,
India Defence Minister A K Antony Friday asked the armed
forces to maintain "eternal vigil" all the time and pressed
for close coordination among the security agencies to make the
nation more secure.

In an address to the armed forces on the eve of 63rd
Independence Day, Antony said "last year's terror attack on
Mumbai showed us the extent of damage that can be inflicted on
any nation's economy and the social fabric. It is therefore
extremely important that our armed forces maintain eternal
vigil at all times".

He noted that post-Mumbai attacks, the government has
taken several steps to strengthen the security apparatus.

Particularly referring to coastal security which was
breached by the 10 Pakistani terrorists who attacked Mumbai,
Antony said it has been beefed up with acquisitions of new
systems and platforms.

He said the government wanted to equip and strengthen
coastal police stations along the coastline.

Observing that Coast Guard too has an important role in
strengthening coastal security along with three wings of armed
forces, he said "all the concerned security agencies will have
to work in close coordination."

"Coast Guard must complement Navy's efforts in providing
aid to merchant vessels and also check smuggling," Antony
said.

The Defence Minister pointed out that in the wake of
Mumbai attacks, Coast Guard has set up a GPS Fisheries Alert
System which would be of great utility to Indian fishermen.

Hailing the role played by the defence forces in
securing the nation, he said the armed forces maintain vigil
on borders at great personal risk and giving sacrifices.

"You guard our land, sea and air frontiers in the most
adverse climatic conditions and in inhospitable terrain. You
live away from your families, making your task all the more
difficult," he said in the message to the troops broadcast on
All India Radio.

Antony said the government would modernise the armed
forces and provide them the latest equipment, preferably the
indigenous ones by reducing dependence on foreign products.

"Armed Forces all over the world are modernising and
becoming technology-intensive. Our government remains
committed to the modernisation of our armed forces. However,
the modernisation process must go hand-in-hand with
indigenisation," the Defence Minister said.

Pointing to India's first indigenous nuclear-powered
submarine INS Arihant, which was launched for sea trials last
month, he said: "Our short-term and long-term aim should be to
make such examples the norm".

Indian armed forces currently import about 80 per cent of
its weapons, platforms and systems. PTI NCB
DDC
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