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Indian DM says Indian Army's importance has diminished "without war"

Xinhua, June 15, 2015 Adjust font size:

Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar has reportedly said the Indian Army's importance has diminished because of lack of wars in the past 40 to 50 years.

The minister said Indian soldiers have been facing immense difficulties because people's respect for the Army has reduced in peacetime.

"I have written to many chief ministers. Some have acted on it and at many places, it has ended. The primary reason for this is we have not been to war for 40 to 50 years," he said at a conference on border safety in the western Indian state of Rajasthan's capital Jaipur Sunday.

However, he said, "I don't mean to say that we should go to war. I mean to say that without war the Army's importance has diminished." Endi