Rajnath Singh announces setting up of joint theatre commands of tri-services

JAMMU: Rajnath Singh, the Defense Minister on Sunday announced the creation of joint theatre commands of the three services to improve coordination between the armed forces.

The Defense Minister said that India is fast moving from being the world's largest importer of defence equipment to being an exporter.

He was speaking at a program organized by the Jammu and Kashmir People's Forum to pay tribute to the martyrs of the Indian Armed Forces.

"Keeping in view (joint operations as seen in Operation Vijay in Kargil), we have decided to set up joint theatre commands (in the country)," Singh said.

The defence minister paying tributes to the Kargil martyrs said that the country cannot forget their supreme sacrifice to protect the country's territorial integrity and sovereignty.

"It is the duty of the society and the people to give their utmost respect to the martyrs and their families," he said. "Whatever support you can offer, do it for their families. It is the responsibility of each citizen," he added.

Referring to defence production, Singh said, "India was the world's largest importer (of defence products). Today, India is not the world's largest importer but is among the top 25 nations engaged in defence exports," he pointed out.

Defence exports of Rs 13,000 crore have been started by the country, and Singh added that the aim is to raise it to Rs 35,000 to 40,000 crore by 2025-26.

RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale also spoke at the conference held at Gulshan Ground near Jammu University.

Singh is holding a special meeting with select BJP leaders at the party office in Trikuta Nagar to assess the party's preparations for the assembly polls. He will be briefed on the security situation and political developments.

This is Singh's second visit to Jammu in a month. He visited the area on June 17 as part of the 200th coronation of Maharaja Gulab Singh.

With PTI inputs