India’s tank fleet lacks ammunition, its air defences are “97 percent obsolete” and its elite forces lack essential arms, the country’s army chief wrote in an explosive letter leaked Wednesday.
The letter to the prime minister dated March 12 — widely reported by the Indian media — lists the shortcomings of the armed forces in embarrassing detail in a blow to the government and the Asian giant’s military prestige.
Its publication also ups the stakes in a public battle between army chief General V.K. Singh and the government which began with a dispute over Singh’s retirement earlier this year.
“The state of the major (fighting) arms i.e. mechanised forces, artillery, air defence, infantry and special forces, as well as the engineers and signals, is indeed alarming,” Singh wrote in the letter, DNA newspaper reported.
The army’s entire tank fleet is “devoid of critical ammunition to defeat enemy tanks”, while the air defence system is “97% obsolete and it doesn’t give the deemed confidence to protect… from the air,” he wrote, according to DNA.
The infantry is crippled with “deficiencies” and lacks night fighting equipment, while the elite special forces are “woefully short” of “essential weapons”.
Singh also told The Hindu newspaper this week that he had informed Defence Minister A.K Antony of a $2.8 million bribe offered to him in 2010, leading to embarrassing questions as to why the government did not order an enquiry.
Antony told parliament on Wednesday that he was aware of the letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and he would reply appropriately.
This is the time to capture J&K. Is Kayani listening?
This is probably just a ploy to get additional funding. India as we already know is the largest importer of arms in the world!
There is a world of difference between the Pakistani Army and Indian. Besides Indian Army has no need to do such things.
Indian readers of PAKISTAN TODAY should refrain from making off the cuff remarks about our institutions and their heads.
I doubt he is.
Send me Rs. 50,000. I will buy and mail a pair of hearing-aid to him as a gift…
I am amused by the comments from wonderer – time to capture J&K. Yes Gen kayani was listening to the Indian army Chief about his comments to the Indian PM about the ill-preparedness of the Indian forces. The tanks were without ammunition, the aircrafts were obsolete, etc that was prominently displayed when leaked to the Press. It is better for the writer to beware of the Ides of March and not prompt the renown Pakistan army to think of making India the Hiroshima and Nagasaki of yester years. Better still reconcile with Pakistan and about Kashmir's future. Try to bridge the wedge that people like you are creating in their relationship. Accept the historical reality that we are two nations yearning for improved relationship and attempting to bury the hatchet. You are a true wonderer or a wanderer? Then don't be bewildered by …….. don't trouble trouble lest trouble troubles you! Sweet dreams and look after yourself!
An eye-opener for Wonderer who advocated time to capture Jammu & Kashmir? Is Gen Kayani listening? I can say,"Yes he is, was and will be listening to the leaked letter by the Indian Army Chief to his PM. Mr Wanderer…… are you listening to Gen Kayani's eyes and ears on your comments?
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