Pakistan Continues to Support Militants in Kashmir: Army Chief (Lead)

New Delhi, Jan 15 (IANS) The terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir showed that Pakistan has continued to support militants, army chief General Dalbir Singh said here Thursday, addressing the officers and troops he commands.

On the occasion of the 66th Army Day, Gen Dalbir Singh took salute at the ceremonial parade in Delhi Cantonment. The impressive parade for the first time included a women contingent.

Gen. Singh said security forces have to maintain the peaceful atmosphere in Jammu and Kashmir which has been attained with difficulty.

He said there could be new forms of conflict through cyberspace and the army has a new security cover to deal with it.

The women's contingent was the first of nine marching columns in the parade.

Marching with synchronised movement of hands and feet and an evident sense of pride, the women's contingent drew enthusiastic cheers from the gathering that included families of officers and soldiers.

Thick fog had covered the ground early in the morning but the weather cleared a bit by the time contingents started moving towards the saluting dais.

The army gave a demonstration of its growing firepower, mobility and battle-preparedness with a simulated confrontation that resulted in defeat of the "enemy".

The army's guns, tanks and infantry vehicles also took part in the exercise.

The mechanised columns in the parade included T-90 tanks, Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launch system, Brahmos weapon system, three-dimensional tactical control radar, infantry combat vehicles and satellite terminal that can be deployed rapidly.

The finale of the parade came in the form of an acrobatic display by an army motorcycle team which left the gathering spellbound with its formation of a Christmas tree, lotus, aircraft, flower pot, Sudarshan Chakra and a pyramid.

In his speech, Gen. Singh said there was change in the nature of war and the army has been responding to the developments.

He said the militant leadership in Jammu and Kashmir has been eliminated in large numbers due to the army and there was "a change for peace" in the state.

"Terror attacks in the country show that support (for militants) from across the border continues. We have to maintain the peaceful atmosphere in Jammu and Kashmir, attained with difficulty," Gen. Singh said.

He said the force takes any violation of human rights seriously.

The general said the army continued to lay emphasis on being prepared for a war - which is its main task.

He said the army has made "a commendable" contribution to the UN peace keeping operations.

Referring to the need for enhancing capability of the force, Gen. Singh said special plans have been made for its modernisation which will be completed in two years.

The army was laying emphasis on joint exercises with the navy and the air force so that the country attains success in any war, he said.

The Army Day commemorates the appointment of Gen. (later Field Marshal) K.M. Cariappa as the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Armed Forces in 1949.