Click to play videoNew Delhi: Amidst the spit and polish of the Army Day Parade in the Capital, the thought uppermost in the mind of the military leadership is the pressure of human rights on troops fighting insurgencies.
"The Army's biggest achievement the previous year has been its commendable human rights record. This is the result of the Iron Fist in Velvet Glove initiative,” said Chief of Army Staff General J J Singh.
The world's second-largest Army is equipping itself doctrinally to emerge winners in operations where public perception is the key.
Armed with a new Counter-Terrorist Doctrine, which stresses use of minimum force, the Army has served notice that it is committed to fighting smart and indeed, changing the way it does business.
There is an awareness that the battle against terrorism is going to be a long haul.
And the Army is re-orienting its troops to better face the stresses of conducting military operations among its own people.
The costs imposed by terrorism on the military are visible. General J J Singh made it clear that besides winning public approval, his other priority is to ensure that his troops do not get battle-weary.
"Training cycles are being expanded so that there is no rush," said General J J Singh.
Even five decades of scrapping with militants has not given the military a decisive victory. The Army now realizes that the bigger battle is for winning the mind.
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