EZHIMALA (KANNUR): Chief of the Army Staff General Bipin Rawat said the future of combat would be more challenging, considering the technological advancements in the field of warfare. Addressing the media on the sidelines of the passing-out ceremony of the new batch of Indian Naval Academy here on Saturday, he said: “New systems and advanced weapons are being developed across the globe. There will be many things like cyber war among others and we should upgrade our technology accordingly.” 

But that does not mean our systems were inferior, added the Army chief, rubbishing the criticism during the Balakot attacks that our technology was not up to the mark when compared to Pakistan. “The Balakot attack was based on the information about the terror training camp there and we wanted to destroy it. They would have crossed the border to Kashmir Valley. The action taken by the government was to ensure that these terrorists do not survive or act against our people,” he explained. 

The government has taken all measures at the security front, added General Rawat while talking about how terrorism affected common lives. “In Jammu and Kashmir, there are no jobs. Nobody wants to invest there either. Financial supports available to the terrorists are cut off, and we would be able to bring the situation under control there,” he added. 

In response to a question on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement – that he had suggested that clouds and rain can prevent Pakistani radars from detecting Indian fighter jets during the Balakot air strike – that stirred a huge debate, General Rawat said sometimes certain radars could not see through the clouds, though not all radars were like that.

Our country has been facing insurgency since the time of Independence in different areas and the neighbouring country has provided support to them, he added. Pointing at the instances of women being used as carriers, he called for inducting more women in the Army. “Though women are there in Indian Army, they are not allowed in combat roles yet,” he said. 

Further, there has been a proposal to change the uniform of the superior officers in the Army, he said. “ Since better clothing materials are available now, the plan is choose the ones suitable for the environment in which we operate,” said General Rawat.