General denies troop movement

New Delhi: There was no troop movement on India's side and war is the "last resort", but the country has kept all options open following Pakistan's refusal to act against those who ordered the terror attack on Mumbai, Indian Army chief Deepak Kapoor said on Wednesday.

Kapoor stressed that any decision on the issue had to come from the political leadership. He said at a press conference that the perpetrators of the November 26-29 Mumbai savagery were from Pakistan.

Perpetrators

"We do feel that perpetrators of the 26/11 [date of Mumbai attack] were from Pakistani soil. In view of that we in India are keeping all our options open. It must be understood that it is not to create any war hysteria.

"The options include everything, whether diplomatic, economic and, as last resort, fighting," he told reporters ahead of the 61st Army Day.

Reacting to the widely reported movement of Pakistani troops from the Afghanistan border to its eastern front bordering India, Kapoor said the Indian Army was aware of the situation.

"Whenever there is a problem, military is the last option, but the decision depends on the political leadership," the army chief said. "When they think economic and diplomatic pressure has failed, the option will be used," he added.

Kapoor denied reports of troop movement from the Indian side.

"It is a known fact that it is the period in which our persons from strike corps go to the field ranges on routine basis. We do share this information with Pakistan as they do about the exercises on their side.

"Our troops have gone there for practice fire and if that has to be hyped into war hysteria, then it is wrong," Kapoor added.

"Cleaning up of our defences, that we are alert and certain amount of normal readiness has to be there - it is automatic of a good defender," Kapoor said.

Recession 'bonus'

The Indian Army hopes the job crunch due to the financial crisis will help restore the draw of a stable career in the armed forces now facing a shortage of middle-rung officers.

"With the recession in the civil side, the demand to have career in the army in the service of the nation may go up. Besides we are taking a series of step so that people do not leave army and more numbers join it," said General Deepak Kapoor speaking to the media ahead of the 61st Army Day. The army's sanctioned strength is 46,615 officers but it faces a shortage of 11,238 officers.

The problem is aggravated as about 3,000 army officers sought premature retirement in the last three years, most of them moving to the lucrative corporate sector.

In a bid to bring down the number leaving and attract people to the forces, the army plans to liberalise the study leave rule which will enable officers to study further improving his career chances after the army.