Pakistan's military industrial base is better than India's: Gen Sarath Chand

E-Paper | July 22, 2026

Pakistan's military industrial base is "better" than India's, said India's Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS) Lieutenant General Sarath Chand, as he "slammed" the performance of ordnance factories at home, Times of India reported.

According to the Indian daily, Chand said on Tuesday that "Pakistan probably has a better industrial base, as far as defence production is concerned, than our country," adding that Pakistan exported more defence equipment than India.

Speaking at the inaugural session of AMICON 2017, a two-day conference organised by the Indian army and the Confederation of Indian Industry, Chand criticised India's ordnance factories for not keeping up with changing technology and not undertaking enough research and development initiatives.

He wondered if the poor functioning of the factories was caused by a "lack of accountability", read the TOI report.

"It is very hard to see ordnance factories changing in the present state. Overall, it has become an unsuccessful method of supporting our defence requirements," observed Chand.

According to the Indian daily, Chand further highlighted the importance of a military industry in times of war, adding that India had been "let down" by "friends [...] whenever the chips have been down."

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MoRao

Jul 26, 2017 02:43pm

Yes, we are proud. And all segment of our economy should follow this example.

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Ahmed bin Babar

Jul 26, 2017 02:44pm

Pakistan is well ware of this, however the goal is qualitative perfection...

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Uzair

Jul 26, 2017 02:46pm

He must know the core issue is corruption. It is corruption that is responsible for poorer military industrial base there, and it is corruption that is responsible for why it was needed in the first place, whether in India or Pakistan. Corrupt politicians, corrupt social, national and religious leaders and corrupt bureaucracy and government departments having the largest impact.

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Asif A Shah

Jul 26, 2017 02:51pm

Pakistan should not be deluded by such comments. Pakistan must remain vigilant and ready for the defense of its territory.

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muhammad idrees khan

Jul 26, 2017 02:52pm

It is heartening to learn from the enemy that Pakistan has better industrial base. Keep it up Pakistan.

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RAJA CHILL

Jul 26, 2017 02:53pm

Pakistan economy was well ahead of india in last century but India has sped past pakistan now.wait for 2-3 years india will become best in world in arms manufavturing and its export.Modi has special focus on make in india.

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Mohmad

Jul 26, 2017 02:54pm

India is focus on modern its army, I love india bcoz its accept the truth and speak truth, weakness find out and soon india remove this weakness

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Imtiaz Ali Khan

Jul 26, 2017 03:00pm

@muhammad idrees khan India is not enemy corruption is and this goes to Indians as well stop hating on Pakistan. We are brothers to each other nothing less just two Bhai whose mother is Sindhu Dharti.

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Harry Nagar

Jul 26, 2017 03:04pm

@Mohmad WELL SAID BROTHER

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SHAHRYAR SHIRAZI

Jul 26, 2017 03:06pm

The only institution which works well in Pakistan is the Army. Rest are busy looting the country.

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vasan

Jul 26, 2017 03:06pm

I am totally against arms Industry. All we need is good education in the world, so that all love each other without any fear. Also all borders should be free to welcome any human being regardless of what is your faith. Once we have quality humans, we don't need anyone to secure us. Rather we spend our resources towards quality life.

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aNWAR

Jul 26, 2017 03:10pm

Achievement is a good thing. But to maintain the achievements is more difficult. We have focused on the difficult tasks.

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AV Houston

Jul 26, 2017 03:12pm

What's with the hat.

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Tribal Malik

Jul 26, 2017 03:12pm

It is the way to start new projects and get the funding from state. old tactics but effective

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Rahrah

Jul 26, 2017 03:14pm

Its important to identify weaknesses so one can then convert to strength. Amusingly such comments get high coverage here, perhaps should also mention another article in TOI today comparing the 2 militaries and economies.

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Vectra

Jul 26, 2017 03:15pm

Congregates guys.Pakistan and Pakistanis should be happy that its enemy has acknowledged that Pakistan has better Industrial base than India.But will Pakistan become happy.Don't know because the tag means the Pakistan being a security state that is much talked about is now more tightly fixed because Pakistan is not an economy state.Don't know if the tag should give happiness or a sad reminder of the state of this nation and its economy.This tag is like India the largest arms importer in this world,a tag which Indians don't like.

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Harry Nagar

Jul 26, 2017 03:15pm

@RAJA CHILL SO TRUE

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Raj

Jul 26, 2017 03:15pm

Forthright comments.Pakistan and India must learn from each other rather than at be at crossroads every time,

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Jul 26, 2017 03:16pm

Bravo ! Power of Democracy !

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Raheel

Jul 26, 2017 03:18pm

Its actually a comment similar to ..'even person with a wooden leg can run faster than me'

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Sanjay

Jul 26, 2017 03:19pm

Pakistan military industrial base is run by army but indian military base is run by government. And that makes the difference. The military expenditure has come down to overall expenditure and it is showing on lack of arms and ammunition. Mostly in the next budget indian govt will increase the military budget.

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Ashraf

Jul 26, 2017 03:24pm

Democracy. Can we criticize our infrastructure like this and escape unscathed ?

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Sushant

Jul 26, 2017 03:25pm

I hope English readers understand that it is an expression.

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MakeInIndia

Jul 26, 2017 03:25pm

@vasan Dear Vasan, India paid heavy price of that thinking and spent hundreds of years in slavery of Mughals and British. By the way, your idea is good but only useful when applied worldwide. One cannot do it alone especially when surrounded by religiously extremist as well as expansionist countries.

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Indian

Jul 26, 2017 03:28pm

@Uzair you are spot on. My cousin works in one of the ordinance factories. He shares horrible corruption stories there. The public sector in our country is mostly rotten with corruption. I don't know how corrupt your public sector is but ours is really pathetic.

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Silos

Jul 26, 2017 03:34pm

With about 65 percent reservation of jobs for backward and sc/st classes irrespective of merit this has to be and will be. Pakistan gives full weightage to its meritorious and doesn't reverse discriminate against their own bright.

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kkl

Jul 26, 2017 03:34pm

Next two decades we should work hard to make ourselves best in the world for producing Arms and technologies..set examples to follow is ISRO and IT sectors...lets show world what Indians are made of....

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Ajay

Jul 26, 2017 03:34pm

Wish all nations would have a healthy competition in other fields. Not in the making of weapons and arms. Peace is a win - win situation. War is a lose - lose situation.

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kkhann

Jul 26, 2017 03:36pm

@muhammad idrees khan right but do it not only for military prodiction or else you will sink as the rest of the industrial production is equal to zero!

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kkhann

Jul 26, 2017 03:43pm

@Imtiaz Ali Khan you are 110% right brother!

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Sameer

Jul 26, 2017 03:47pm

Lieutenant General Sarath Chand is one smart man when he says Indian friends' have backed off when needed most. Pakistan has had similar experiences(I understand both indicate US). I am glad there are people like Sarath in Indian Army who know the cost of war and do not just play along with Gov diatribes.

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SAAF GO

Jul 26, 2017 03:49pm

"Pakistan's military industrial base is better than India's: Gen Sarath Chand" Yes. It has to be as all Pakistan's focus is on defense and nothing else. Thank you, Sir, for your generous comments

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Vineeth

Jul 26, 2017 04:06pm

Have to agree with the General. DRDO needs to be abolished and the various defense labs and ordnance factories under it needs to be made autonomous and their performance needs to be under the close scrutiny of the defense ministry. Cut the red tape and bring in more domestic private companies to the defense sector which can collaborate with Western defense firms and manufacture their latest products here.

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Hassan

Jul 26, 2017 04:07pm

@vasan Hey brother. How correct you are! We don't need arms and amunitions, we need schools and hospitals, happiness and prosperity. We are wasting our resources on buying and manufacturing the arms instead of investing them to make our people educated, healthy, workable and happy. What an irony when people don't have food to eat and money to buy medicines and resources to send their children to school and we are involved in a rat race, never ending, perpetual and already lost race. Wake up Indo-Pak. For God's sake wake up.

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Ajaz

Jul 26, 2017 04:07pm

why writing "better" instead of better even when times of India is not quoting the word with double quotes?

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Jul 26, 2017 04:09pm

One at times gets the feeling that the jourbalistic staff in the country continuously scans for any story, however obscure, and from any corner of the world that has the remote possibility of portraying Pakistan in a mildly positive light. And then publishes a article gloating over and furiously highlighting that fact.

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Abdul

Jul 26, 2017 04:11pm

Its a fact, Pakistani scientific and military industrial achievements are praised by the west as well.

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N.Sid

Jul 26, 2017 04:12pm

A military Industrial complex cannot work in Isolation, many civilian Industrial complexes in Pakistan supports and gives fillip to them. Like NESCOM Pakistan is an R&D based civilian inc. into developing drones, surveillance and armored. HMC Taxila is a civilian institution manufacturing cement and sugar plants to tanks and armored vehicles...a healthy cooperation between civil-mil is the ideal situation.

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essen

Jul 26, 2017 04:13pm

War is a RACKET where few profit off the misery of many. Overt patriotism props the RACKET.

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Khalid

Jul 26, 2017 04:13pm

Instead of making comparison in weaponry field they should make comparison in human development and take assistance from each other in the fields where they are lacking. Let's choose construction and not destruction.

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Usman

Jul 26, 2017 04:35pm

We might have corrupt politicians but our military is not corrupt at all and we don't like to brag as some of our neighbors do

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abbottonian 43

Jul 26, 2017 04:38pm

Well done General Sarath Chand....

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The end is near

Jul 26, 2017 04:38pm

Pakistan Army Zinda Baad.

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Usman

Jul 26, 2017 04:46pm

@Vectra When few of your eastern states will end up speaking mandarin after few years than i will ask you if you like to improve your industrial base or let it be like this

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Old_Future

Jul 26, 2017 04:46pm

To know that our military exports are more than India's is just a moment of pride and fresh breeze.

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shakil Tariq

Jul 26, 2017 05:00pm

Pakistan have lot more potential, if we can somehow work out the corruption out of our society and we should always use our vote wisely Never listen to these thugs who has been running our great country for the past few decades and bringing everyone down. I hope to see some positive changes in Pakistan during life times.

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Jul 26, 2017 05:01pm

Now imagine if both were allies. Can rule the world!

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Vectra

Jul 26, 2017 05:01pm

@Usman "When few of your eastern states will end up speaking mandarin after few years than i will ask you if you like to improve your industrial base or let it be like this" Yes you definitely can ask as asking s good and everyone right.The point is if both military industrial base improves along with economic base improves then only one should be proud of and have real achievements but if one have only military industrial base but no economic base then calling that state a security state is not wrong and that is not some proud moment.thats the difference between these two nations India and Pakistan.

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Moth

Jul 26, 2017 05:19pm

that is a good news. Want to see similar words for every manufacturing industry in Pakistan in private sector. Let's work hard.

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Anti-Corruption_Pakistani

Jul 26, 2017 05:41pm

@Vectra - don't be so pessimistic and have a baseless dream and, more importantly jealous from Pak - China friendship and joint projects that will benefit both countries.

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Gabbar

Jul 26, 2017 05:48pm

Both country(IND & PAK) suffering from Corruption. it does't mean India is not able to manufacture weapons. India is a big country, so it need to produce more than as compare to pak, by the way weapon is not the parameter of growth.

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annie

Jul 26, 2017 05:53pm

@Imtiaz Ali Khan ... well said ... appreciate it.

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Jul 26, 2017 05:54pm

It is an old saying that if you don't know and accept your short comings..you can never improve on it.. And one needs to be brave and courageous to accept the same.

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Jul 26, 2017 06:00pm

Wow it is good to listen but our neighbor make many hidden airbases and many secret weapons ...

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Muhammad najam

Jul 26, 2017 06:15pm

Atleast soneone speaks truth in indian army...

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Ravi

Jul 26, 2017 06:16pm

There is always scope of improvement. Its good that Indian General accepting the truth and hopefully the responsible person will take note of it. Not only ordinance factories, most of the government departments work with snail pace as there is lack of accountability. Especially in India most of the people see goverment jobs just to fulfill there own private and family means, very few of them work for the institutions. As far as export is concerned , India has always lacked in high technological fields, but she compensate it through it's IT, Pharma, Textile, Auto and other products especially via human outsourcing. Hopefully via Modi's Make in India initiative India will become self-reliant in defence sector also. Plus for the first time India has opened it's defense equipment manufacturing for private players. On other hand export from pakistan is failing daily, current heavy fiscal deficit is live example of it. Unless pakistan give boost to its manufacturing area, it's very hard

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Deepak

Jul 26, 2017 06:29pm

The General may be right! But India has better hospitals, and I'm happy with that.

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Da Man

Jul 26, 2017 06:36pm

Is the head too big or the hat too small?

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Akhand Bharat

Jul 26, 2017 06:53pm

Then we should buy from Pakistan. The cash flow will remove mutual distrust. Job creation and interaction will bring people together. US and China wont like it though.

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Asim Akram

Jul 26, 2017 06:54pm

For survival we need Uptodat military hard wate is not available to Pakistan from intetnational market. Also, spares supply is not smooth. We need our own factories and this principle is applicable to all imdustries as well as agriculture.

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brr

Jul 26, 2017 06:55pm

I am glad that is the case - India is doing something right - people are not paranoid and spending too much for such a military-industrial complex and instead spending money on more useful things too, such as education, healthcare, etc. Thank God.

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Rameez Mohammad

Jul 26, 2017 07:32pm

This comment by Indian Army is enough proof of India's free and open society. I welcome these statements and hope the public and private sector make my country(India) proud by raising their standards.

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Nameless

Jul 26, 2017 07:54pm

Yes we do have some lacunas in our ordinance factories it is because we never focused much on indigenous production but with lot of new factory being set up and Make In India being given a push , I hope we can turn around and generate lots of employment .

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Nameless

Jul 26, 2017 07:57pm

@Ravi well things have taken a turn around in many institution and governance is more transparent and accountable post RTI act of 2005 . Things are up bro , not to our expectations of perfection but moving towards it

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Javed

Jul 26, 2017 08:17pm

Pakistan organises things according to it's own needs. India should be more worried about China.

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Patriot

Jul 26, 2017 08:20pm

Now finally you accept it.

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atom

Jul 26, 2017 08:22pm

Industry academia linkage is very important. From all the 3 services, PAF is pursuing it actively...

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Priyank

Jul 26, 2017 08:40pm

@Imtiaz Ali Khan well said brother

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Jul 26, 2017 08:59pm

All state owned defense industries in India have long long way to go. On the other hand, even the small arms shops in KP are having remarkable milestones. They make copy of foreign arms with tremendous accuracy. If given level playing field, they can provide great guns that even India can hire from them.

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Shazz

Jul 26, 2017 09:07pm

At least they had the guts to speak the truth.

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farhan

Jul 26, 2017 09:20pm

Our base could be better but that does not means we produce state of the art weapons.

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Changez Khan

Jul 26, 2017 09:25pm

He is a good man but he forgot to say Pakistan's Armed Forces are also much better than India. Oh well, may be next time he will say that.

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farhan

Jul 26, 2017 09:26pm

India have privatized their weapon procurement and delivery. We didnt.

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Khwarizmi

Jul 26, 2017 09:34pm

More lies from the Indian high command. They are already way ahead in nuclear submarines and longer range missiles as well as more equipment then Pakistan. Just playing victims while in fact they are the aggressors in Kashmir and against Pakistan.

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Wonderful

Jul 26, 2017 10:06pm

@Changez Khan sometime people say that an ant can be heavy on an elephant. But that only to wake the elephant from it's slumber. You take it literally

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Fareed N

Jul 26, 2017 10:24pm

First it was PAF was better prepared , better equipped than IAF, now Pakistan's military industrial base is being quoted by Indian top general. All excuses to squeeze more funds from BJP government. Knowing Modi's mindset they will get the funds.

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Aniket

Jul 26, 2017 10:26pm

Modi should increase the defence budget

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Zak

Jul 26, 2017 10:35pm

@RAJA CHILL pakistan was and always will be ahead of india in every sphere. Pakistan just needs a good , incorruptible leader and it will surpass each and every country in the region and nearby areas.

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Imran

Jul 26, 2017 10:50pm

India also feels let down by its friends. I guess we do have something in common after all.

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Jul 26, 2017 11:33pm

@Imtiaz Ali Khan 100℅ Agree

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alba

Jul 26, 2017 11:36pm

@Deepak ..... Much better hospitals.

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SalmanKhan

Jul 26, 2017 11:40pm

Congratulations brothers on having a superior defence industry. Hope you enjoy the bullets on your plate for breakfast. For those who do not get sarcasm, care about your, stomach first. Yours, your fellow man's, your future generations. Getting excited because your bullets are better is irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. Love from across the border.

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SHAH S

Jul 27, 2017 12:23am

@Sushant ... YEAH RIGHT ;

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Babar

Jul 27, 2017 12:40am

Yes Pakistan proud one you

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Babar

Jul 27, 2017 12:47am

Yes Pakistan is power

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Dervaish Khan

Jul 27, 2017 01:09am

@vasan you have nailed it.

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gabbar

Jul 27, 2017 03:25am

@Da Man The tailor is from the sub-standard ordnance factories the general is complaining about.

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Osman

Jul 27, 2017 04:35am

What's up with the tilted hat?

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Sachin

Jul 27, 2017 04:59am

@vasan good noble thought but it can work only if everyone else also agrees to do it at the same time in chorus. Need to strengthen SAARC and create shared internal law and order and anticrime actions . Need common border defence programs with joint patrolling by both states across any border.

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Kazmi

Jul 27, 2017 06:41am

Confession was the least he could do.

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Mohsin

Jul 27, 2017 07:44am

This is the reality!!!!!

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Imran

Jul 27, 2017 08:07am

@Ajay Its not human nature to be peaceful. Show me one creature who does not pray upon other, nature is not peaceful. Or shall I say, be Peaceful but War ready. Plus most of the modern innovations were based on War machinery.

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R S Chakravarti

Jul 27, 2017 08:57am

@Khwarizmi The general was talking about ordnance factories which don't make nuclear weapons or submarines.

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R S Chakravarti

Jul 27, 2017 08:59am

@Zak Yes, ahead of India in every sphere from scientific research to TV serials and films.

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DKhan

Jul 27, 2017 09:05am

No need to cheer, "Probably" focus on probably.

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Be honest

Jul 27, 2017 09:16am

@Sanjay Better to spend more on the welfare of poor people. India has already spent billions of dollars on arm deals to please arm suppliers. Spending too much on arms will end up in lose lose situation.

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Babu

Jul 27, 2017 02:41pm

Indian Army is really HONEST Army. Honesty wins in the end.

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TechScribe

Jul 28, 2017 12:13pm

It will take some time for `Make in India' program to take off and India having a better military industrial base. All these years mostly inefficient public sector companies used to cater to the military. Things will change with private sector stepping in.

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raj

Jul 28, 2017 01:11pm

@Silos It has nothing do to with reservation but corruption. These military industry don't need high skill individuals as all research or decision making are done somewhere else. these industries just need to produce equipment by following set of procedures. But due to procurement of inferior material due to curruption it suffers a lot.

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raj

Jul 28, 2017 01:15pm

@Be honest Both are important. Country must protect itself from external threat but also must put enough for welfare of its weaker section of society. One without other is of no use.

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Hari har

Jul 28, 2017 01:49pm

Both Indian And Pakistan army should have a treaty of mutual cooperation & no use of ammunition at borders to kill the civilians and military personnel on any issues including J&K. This confidence building measure will open every opportunity for both neighbours.

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Pakka Muslim

Jul 28, 2017 03:20pm

@Imtiaz Ali Khan Thanks brother

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Pakka Muslim

Jul 28, 2017 03:22pm

@Raheel well observed... you are one of the few people here who fully understands

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Shriram

Jul 28, 2017 03:44pm

He is talking about role of Privet Sector in this field..