Date:14/09/2002 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2002/09/14/stories/2002091407651002.htm

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Cost of war

Sir, — Reference Sandeep Dixit's "Cost of wars'' (June 9): The 1965 war cost India only Rs. 50 crores. The post-Kargil bill for Army purchases alone is Rs. 3,000 crores. Why? In 1965, the Pakistani tanks were shot down by Centurion's 20 pdr guns firing Indian-made APDS ammunition and indigenous Gnat fighters downed the missile-firing Sabers. Now, we import even ammunition for the Bofors guns. We are going to buy gun-locating radars from the U.S., Arrow missiles from Israel and Hawk trainers from Britain. Therefore, our outflow on debt repayment at 4.4 per cent of our GDP is going up. It is time this madness is stopped. If we cannot manufacture radars and trainers despite the excellence of our industries, we must think again.

Partap Narain,
New Delhi