North-East preps aren't against China: A K Antony

New Delhi: Defence Minister A K Antony on Monday said the Army was raising two newmountain divisions in the North-East, along the borders with China, butdismissed suggestions that the move was against the neighbour.

"We are raising two mountain divisions in the North-East. I must tellyou it is not against China. But these are being raised under theoverall policies to strengthen presence of the armed forces in theNorth-East," Antony told a press conference on the occasion of theSixth DefExpo here.

The Defence Minister asserted that India is not a "war-mongering"country and has "not invaded even an inch of soil of any other countryever" but added that "we will defend every inch of our territory."

"We have to be on guard. So we have to strengthen our armed forces toact as a deterrent. That is our policy. That is why we are modernisingall their equipment," Antony said.

He said India had embarked on a modernisation programme for its armedforces that included securing the 7,500-km long coastline where theNavy and the Coast Guard were being strengthened.

Advertisement

For air defence, the IAF was being equipped with modern systems and forsecurity of the land mass from Kutch in the West to North East, Jammuand Kashmir in the north to the southern most party of the country, theArmy was being strengthened, he said.