New Delhi. With Pakistan resorting to more than 2,050 uprovoked ceasefire violations killing 21 Indians, the Army is focusing on reducing dependence on imported equipment such as weapon systems and surveillance devices to counter Pakistan’s proxy war in Jammu and Kashmir.

India has highlighted its concerns at these violations by Pakistan forces, including “support of cross border terrorist infiltration and targeting Indian civilians and border posts by them.” It has also repeatedly called upon Pakistan to ask its forces to adhere to the 2003 ceasefire understanding and maintain peace along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border.

While the Indian forces are exercising ‘maximum restraint’ to such actions by Pakistan, officials say that the army is much better prepared against its adversaries now. “It is a positive step from the government of giving powers to the vice chiefs of the services to carry out procurements through the revenue and capital routes. We are able to get critical ammunition and spares, because the priority and power to procure is with us. This has made a huge difference in our preparedness, as far as weapons such as sniper rifles, surveillance devices, specialised ammunition and spares are concerned,” an official explained.

“It is a positive step from the government of giving powers to the vice chiefs of the services to carry out procurements through the revenue and capital routes. We are able to get critical ammunition and spares, because the priority and power to procure is with us. This has made a huge difference in our preparedness, as far as weapons such as sniper rifles, surveillance devices, specialised ammunition and spares are concerned,” an official said.

The army is also examining whether engines of its tanks and tracked vehicles such as infantry combat vehicles can be made in India. Other key areas for indigenisation being looked at are having eight to nine types of ammunition manufactured by the private sector.

The Army is of the view that the capabilities of the private sector will need to be improved. “We are looking at how much technology there is in our country. For artillery it is there and it will do well in Transfer-of-Technology. But, the capacity of the private sector to absorb technology is not there.

Yes, indigenisation can happen, but it will depend on foreign collaboration. For high end equipment, there needs to be the capacity to absorb technology and for this we need to have R&D. The private sector do need some kind of government support,” explained an official.