Army Day 2010 was marked by an impressive parade at the Army Parade Ground at Delhi Cantonment, followed by the ‘At Home’ at the Army Chief’s residence, which was well attended by The President of India, Mrs Pratibha Patil – ‘piped in’ by bagpipers of The Grenadiers,  the Prime Minister, senior Cabinet ministers, bureaucrats, diplomats, foreign attaches, gallantry awardees and widows of posthumous gallantry awardees, serving and retired officers and the media. A unique feature was the subtly presented theme of Jammu and Kashmir (J & K) as a part of India with its various communities and cultural flavours depicted by National Cadet Corps youngsters posing in traditional attires as well as performing songs and  dances. Also present were J & K Chief Minister Omar Abullah and his father, Farooq Abdullah.
 
But looking back at 2009, as the Indian Army celebrated Army Day, there is not much to cheer about.On the operational front, the no war, no peace situation prevailed with China as an added factor.
 
While two Divisions of the Army comprising close to 30,000 troops were withdrawn from J & K, in view of the “improved situation”, attempts by Pakistan Army supported terrorists to cross over the Line of Control (LoC) did not abate. In fact, they increased substantially towards the latter half of the year and eventually owing to Army’s effective vigil on the LoC and the snow setting in, they began trying to infiltrate cross the International Boundary South of Akhnur onward. Troop reduction also resulted in increased terrorist presence in Sopore, considered an old bastion, as also in Pulwama and Kupwara and terrorist attacks got resumed in the Valley. More are expected.
 
China opened up yet another hegemonic account by entering South East J & K. After at least twenty six violations of Indian air space in South East Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) by Chinese helicopters till end of August 2009, including two air-dropping canned food, Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers came up with quite an innovative way of sending aggressive messages by painting their country’s name on rocks in Indian territory. Both the air and land intrusions have been in the general area of the barren land at Chumar, East of the picturesque Morari Tso (lake), Zulung La (pass) and the 22, 420 feet high  Mount Gya – meaning "fair princess of snow" - located at the tri-junction of Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir, Spiti in Himachal Pradesh, and Tibet.
                                                                                               
In the North East, Manipur and Assam kept the Army busy. In Manipur some major hideouts of Kangla Yawol Kanna Lup were busted when Army and Assam Rifles launched massive combing operation code-named Summer Storm in the thick jungles around Loktak, the largest fresh water lake in North-East, located about 42 kms from Imphal. The Army also launched operations against Peoples Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak terrorists, who have been targeting even schools for extortion and trying to forcibly recruit young boys and girls into the outfit. The removal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act from seven Assembly constituencies in and ahound Imphal and replacing Army there with Manipur police ‘commandos’ lead to a quantum jump in human rights violations. In Assam, while the Army dealt a body blow to the United Liberation Front of Asom, there were other groups like the Black Widow which it launched operations against.
 
Getting due increments of pay and allowances  in the 6th Central Pay Commission meant a prolonged and painful process, with the bureaucracy trying its utmost to short change the Services. While all three Service Chiefs had to keep requesting for amending anomalies, over ten thousand retired personnel returned their medals to the President of India as a sign of protest against non- implementation of ‘one rank one pension’.
 
On the necessary acquisitions for preparedness in conventional war with an edge, particularly in view of Pakistan and China ’s acquisitions and modernization, the picture is quite bleak.After “35 years of research in self-reliance by dedicated Indian scientists against all odds”, as stated in the Defence Ministry’s report, the first Armoured Regiment of the indigenously built Main Battle Tank (MBT), Arjun, finally got equipped with its strength total of 45, with 16 more tanks handed over to Lt.Gen.D.Bhardwaj, DG, Mechanised Forces. Also, the first batch of the indigenous, Russian-designed T-90 tanks renamed Bhishma , India ’s MBT over the next three decades, were rolled out at Heavy Vehicles Factory, Avadi, Tamil Nadu, which will manufacture 100 of them annually over the next 10 years.
 
Artillery and anti-aircraft guns as well as many other crucial deficiencies have not been made good even 10 years after the Kargil conflict. In many cases, acquisition is scuttled despite the Army’s approval given after successful trials. There seems to be no doubt that from somewhere powerful pressure is being exerted to ensure that India ’s Armed Forces do not get  effectively re-equipped. While Defence Ministry has announced improvements in its procurement procedure, there is no impact of it so far.
 
It will be relevant here to take a long look at the so called “Sukhna land-scam” case, which has grabbed disproportionately wide and sustained media attention. Having spoken to a large number of serving and retired officers, other ranks and civilians both in the capital and in Siliguri, the questions that emerge are that where and what is the ‘scam’ ? The land in question is not the Army’s, but that which is adjoining a military station. What was issued was not a no objection certificate but a memorandum of understanding that if a school is to be built on it there should be provision for 10% of students and 20% of teachers from the Army. The court of inquiry, with recommendations by the GOC-in –C, Eastern Command for dismissal of a three star general received by Army HQ, New Delhi, on 23 December 2009, has been deliberated upon in depth by the Army Chief, who is expected to announce his decision very soon. Many who I discussed this affair with felt that dismissal of any of the officers is certainly not warranted. If the Army Chief orders dismissal, the concerned officers will certainly go to a civil court, which will most likely turn it down.
 
The one silver lining has been Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League taking over in Bangladesh and a positive response to deny anti-India terrorists any shelter on its soil. However, relentless joint effort, including closer cooperation between Indian and Bangladesh Armies will be required to neutralize these groups supported by Pakistan’s ISI.
 
With Maoists in Nepal opposing India and getting involved with Naxals, closer cooperation between Indian and Nepal Armies may be expected. The Nepalese Army Chief’s recent visit to India will soon be followed up by General Deepak Kapoor’s visit to Nepal.
 
New Delhi needs watch and engage assertively with our aggressive neighbours, as well as ensure speedy acquisitions for the Army, which, as usual, will need to keep its guard up on two fronts.