COLOMBO: India’s Defence Minister Sardar Swaran Singh in a written answer in the Rajya Sabha admitted that several military stations would be established along the borders of the Indian states adjoining West and East Pakistan. It is learned that these stations will be fully equipped and have hourly contact with the military headquarters in New Delhi.

No reasons have been given for installing these stations in such a hurry. Areas where the stations will be set up have been kept a closely guarded secret.

Meanwhile, the Indian Aeronautics Commit­tee has stated that an improved version of the HF 24, India’s fighter plane, was now under development and would be available in three to five years.

The Committee further recommen­ded that MIG-21 be improved further to meet the modern requirements. Continuing, the Committee stated that the most important task lay in the development of an advance-technology military aircraft to eventually replace the HF 24 as the basic multi-purpose fighter-bomber of the Indian Air Force.

The Committee has attached great importance to the manufacture of helicopters and missiles with such foreign technical assistance as possible.

The Committee added that India could achieve self-sufficiency in designing and developing the important requirements of aircraft, helicopters and missiles in the next 10 years. — Correspondent

Published in Dawn, May 19th, 2019