India concerned over growing instability in neighbourhood: Antony

Defence Minister A K Antony today said that the most crucial challenge being faced by India is the growing instability in the neighbouring countries.

New Delhi, June 18 : Defence Minister A K Antony today said that the most crucial challenge being faced by India is the growing instability in the neighbouring countries.

"The most crucial challenge facing us in the near future is the growing instability in our neighbourhood," Antony said at two-day Unified Commanders' Conference here.

He further said that the rising tide of religious fundamentalism and cross-border terrorism continues unabated and this has affected the country's regional security.

Commenting on the reconstruction of Afghanistan, the Defence Minister said, "We are committed help Afghanistan to emerge as a stable, democratic state."

Antony has asked the top brass of the Armed Forces to draw up a roadmap for the transformation of the forces to meet varied security challenges.

Antony said that the Eleventh Army Plan document has been finalised and was expected to be approved soon.

"This should help in enhancing efficiency in planned expenditure of the budget allotted to the Armed Forces," he added.

Speaking about the suicide and fratricide in the armed forces, he urged the top commanders to address the issue urgently.

"The officers and commanders have to become more accessible to Jawans and promptly attend to their grievances," Antony said.

On defence procurement, the Defence Minister said the Centre is committed to achieve absolute transparency and fairness in defence deals.

The Defence Minster said that when it comes to dealing with terrorism and the emergence of non-state players, the mechanisms of globalisation 'are either absent or are still in the process of evolution'

The Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee and Chief of Army Staff Gen JJ Singh, Heads of Joint Services Headquarters, Commanders - in - Chief of Andaman and Nicobar Command and Strategic Forces Command and the Commandants of the Tri-Services Institutions are attending the two-day conference.

The Defence Minister also asked the Commanders to evolve a strategy to bring about better co-ordination between the Army, Navy and Air Force.

ANI