The Armoured Corps is an integral part of any army. No army can fight unless infantry and artillery is backed by armoured corps. Earlier, Cavalry used to be the deciding factor in a war. But today a good commander of armoured corps can force the enemy to make a retreat.

In 1947, just after independence, when Kashmir war began, infantry etc were airdropped. They improved the conditions of the roads. The capturing of Zojila Pass owed much to the presence of 7 Cavalry of the Armoured Corps. At a height of 13,000 ft the presence of tanks surprised the enemy. Our troops captured Rajouri and many other areas with the help of Central India Horse and 7 Cavalry. In 1962, war against China was fought without tanks as they could not be sent to such heights. This war was fought by infantry and artillery alone. In this war, Armoured Corps did not participate. But in 1965 war, in the plain lands of Punjab, Armoured Corps played a significant role. In fact, during all conflicts which took place in the plains, the necessity of Armoured Corps was felt. In 1971 war, Armoured Corps played a vital role in J & K region, West Punjab and East Pakistan.

The training and life-style of our Armoured Corps is an ideal for the army. The training is very tough and, in the field, officers and jawans work together. This is the real strength. Compared to other countries, our soldiers are much more dedicated. They can go to any extent to protect their motherland. Kargil has been an apt testimony to this. Well, due to financial constraints we may be lagging behind in equipment as compared to France, UK, USA and Germany but our real strength is our soldiers. As regards to training, we adopted the British system and with time we have improved upon it. Perhaps, today we are better than British army so far as training is concerned.

Well, the future battles would have a nuclear backdrop. Armoured Corps can easily attack on cross-country battlefield and nuclear battlefields. Mobility coupled with striking capability keeps Armoured Corps in an advantageous position. I think, in future, tanks would become accessary for infantry and artillery also. During attacks, engineers, medical staff, signallers, supporting arms and supplies would go in every territory along with infantry. For their protection tanks are inevitable.

People are thinking that in future one will sit in an AC room, press a switch and destroy the enemy. But I don’t think so. If you want to win a war you have to send infantry and artillery to the front and only then can the enemy territory be captured. Pressing a switch from a distance won’t help.