Powered by
Sponsored by

Pakistan's mischief now limited to border: Rajnath Singh

India will have 17 Rafale jets by March this year and the entire fleet by April 2022

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh speaks in the Rajya Sabha during ongoing Budget Session of Parliament | PTI Defence Minister Rajnath Singh speaks in the Rajya Sabha during ongoing Budget Session of Parliament | PTI

The Indian Army has limited Pakistan's mischief to just the border, giving a befitting reply to their misadventures, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said in the Rajya Sabha on Monday. 

"Now Indian Army has restricted Pakistani mischief to the border. No praise is enough for the actions taken by the Army, BSF and other security forces in containing (Pakistan sponsored terrorist activities)," he said while replying during the Question Hour. 

The minister stressed that there was no question of any lethargy while dealing with ceasefire violations by the neighbouring country.

Asked why the government was "lethargic" and not taking stern action to stop the ceasefire violations, Singh said, "There is no question of lethargy. I want to make it clear that our Army has taken effective steps. They have done earlier also and I am not saying the Army is taking action after our government came to power."

The minister also said it would not be appropriate to go into details about the steps being taken and weapons used to deal with ceasefire violations. 

"But I would like to say this much that Pakistan violates ceasfire to infiltrate terrorists into Indian borders and also to bring them back. They keep trying this," Singh said.

"You should have faith that our Army is taking effective steps at borders and responding to ceasefire violations," he said, and addded only Pakistan knows about the actions being taken against them by Indian security forces.

The minister said ceasefire violations rise when just when a terrorist strike is planned on Indian soil.

In a written reply, Singh informed informed that there were 5,133 instances of ceasefire violation (CFVs) including cross border firing (CBF) during 2020 and 299 in 2021 (till January 28, 2021). 

There were a total of 46 fatal casualties in the year 2020. 

"This year 01 fatal casualty of Army personnel has been reported till 01 February, 2021," he said.

He also informed that there were 5,133 instances of ceasefire violation (CFVs) including cross border firing (CBF) during 2020 and 299 in 2021 (till January 28, 2021). 

The Defence Minister said appropriate retaliation to the ceasefire violations, as required, has been carried out by the security forces. 

In addition, all violations of ceasefire are taken up with Pakistan authorities at the appropriate level through the established mechanism of hotlines, flag meeting as well as weekly talks between the Director Generals of Military Operations of the two countries, he said. 

BSF, too, holds talks at various levels with its counterpart viz. Pakistan Rangers. 

"Diplomatically, India has repeatedly emphasised at the highest level, the need for Pakistan to uphold the sanctity of the Line of Control (LC) and the International Border as its obligations emanating from the understanding in vogue," the minister said in the written reply. 

India to have 17 Rafale jets by March; entire fleet by 2022: Singh

India will have 17 Rafale jets by March this year and the entire fleet of the fighter aircraft bought by the country will reach by April 2022.

In 2016, India had signed an inter-governmental agreement with France to procure 36-Rafale Jet aircrafts at a cost Rs 59,000 crore.

"I want to inform that till 11 Rafale have arrived and by this March 17 Rafale will be on our land. I also inform that all Rafale will be reach India by April, 2022," Rajnath Singh said in the Rajya Sabha.

He said all new aircraft types in IAF are traditionally inducted through a befitting ceremony. 

The first five Rafale aircraft of IAF were formally inducted into IAF on September 10, 2020. The arrangements for this event were made mostly through local resources of IAF. 

The total expenditure on the event was Rs 41.32 lakhs including Rs 9.18 lakh of GST. 

To another supplementary query whether the government will privatise few aspects of defence in the coming days, the minister said, "We are giving special focus on indigenisation". 

 He said 101 items have identified which will manufactured locally and not imported." 

TAGS

📣 The Week is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@TheWeekmagazine) and stay updated with the latest headlines