Army Chief: Will counter any bid to change status quo

New Delhi, January 14

Army Chief General MM Naravane on Friday again reminded China of the resolve of his force saying “we stand firm to counter any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo along our borders”.

In a televised message on the eve of Army Day, he said, “We remain at a high level of operational readiness to face any ongoing or future challenges.”

“A response to such an attempt (to change status quo) will be swift, calibrated and decisive,” the General said. “Our desire for peace and tranquillity is borne out of our inherent strength, it should not be mistaken as otherwise,” he warned.

“We have instituted safeguards to counter at any further attempts at military brinkmanship”. The Army Chief, without mentioning the need for talks, said, “we believe difference in perceptions and disputes are best resolved through established norms based on the principles of equal and mutual security.

Without mentioning Pakistan, he said, “we have a mechanism to counter state-sponsored terrorism. Our actions have demonstrated our capability to strike at the root of terrorism.” Force modernisation and re-organisation was taking place, said the Amry Chief, adding that secular character and discipline remained the bedrock of the Army.