January 27, 2003	Monday	Ziqa’ad 23,1423

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NEW DELHI, Jan 26: India put up a grand spectacle of its growing military might at its annual Republic Day parade on Sunday.

Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, whose country had fought the 20th century’s longest war during the eight years of engagement with arch-foe Iraq, watched the largely Pakistan-oriented hardware, during the three-hour long display.

Much to the amusement of the many foreigners among the crowd came the world’s only surviving horsed cavalry — the 61 Cavalry which was followed by the war machines of the Indian Army — led by its latest and lethal acquisition, the Russian-made T-90 tanks.

“Possessed with a high degree of mobility, protection and firepower, the tank is rated among the best in the world,” Press Trust of India said.

The display also included Indra-II low level radar and the BrahMos — the Indo-Russian cruise missile system with a velocity 2.8 times of the speed of sound and capable of carrying a warhead up to 300 kg with a maximum range of 290kms — all exhibited for the first time.

The 700km range ‘Agni-I’, the T-72 tanks, the indigenous Arjun Tanks, the 155 MM Howitzer

77b guns — regarded as the pride of Indian artillery during the Kargil showdown with Pakistan — were also on display.

The indigenously developed Prithvi Missile System, described by PTI as “capable of striking terror in the heart of the enemy by its long reach and destruction capability”, took an important place in the display.

Interestingly, the indigenously developed Mobile Decontamination System, used for decontamination of vehicles, equipment, personnel, their clothing, face mask and terrain against biological and chemical warfare agents, was also shown for the first time.

AFP adds: The police made tight security arrangements all over occupied Kashmir, director general of police Ashok Kumar Suri said.

The main focus of the security forces were the Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar and the Maulana Azad Stadium in Jammu, where the main functions were being held.

BSF and army personnel were stationed on roof tops around the Bakshi Stadium and in the upper stories of hotels in Lal Chowk — the main commercial bastion here.