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Part of Southern Command moved to Jodhpur

The Indian army's southern range General Officer Commanding-in-Chief H M Khanna has acknowledged that a part of the command headquarters was moved to Jodhpur to supervise 'Exercise Shiv Shakti', the largest war game of the decade, near Barmer in Rajasthan during the first week of December.

It was for the first time in 15 years that essential elements of the headquarters were moved outside, Lieutenant General Khanna admitted at a function in Pune. The function was organised by the local daily Maharashtra Herald to accord Khanna a farewell as he will be taking over the charge of the northern command.

The army commander said the exercise was undertaken to validate the concepts of the defence and strike forces by integrating the Indian Air Force. It had incorporated the essential elements of the Third Wave warfare including electronic warfare, satellite imagery, digitised communication and deep penetration capability.

He asserted that the army was well established to counter any threat and its defence plans, equipment and concepts were under constant review -- particularly so in the post-Pokhran scenario. Equipment and techniques are subjected to continual modernisation, he said.

Lt Gen Khanna also revealed some of the southern army's plans to foster congenial relationships between the civilian populace and the men in olive.

A memorandum of understanding is shortly to be signed with the University of Pune which will enable scholars and postgraduate students to undertake field research in the numerous army institutes and research and development organisations in Pune, the army commander said.

The College of Military Engineering, Pune, a premier army institute, will commence an engineering scheme for students who have completed the 12th standard from next year, he informed.

UNI

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