Infiltration from Pak border has drastically declined: Manohar Parrikar

New Delhi: Infiltration from across the Pakistan border into the country has drastically declined in the last one year, Defence Minister, Manohar Parikkar said on Friday.

"Though infiltration from across the Pakistan border has not totally stopped, it has come down drastically, particularly during the last one year," he told reporters at the Defence Staff Services College here in the hilly Nilgiris District.

To a question on giving training to Sri Lankan defence personnel in the country, Parrikar said they were trained at various parts of the country, but not in Tamil Nadu.

This was due to the opposition to such training from various political parties over the issue of Tamils in Sri Lanka, he pointed out.

Stating that the government was focusing on modernisation of defence sector, he said there were good benefits in 'Make in India' policy, by which 70 per cent of the requirement of the Defence was purchased locally.

On enrolling women in army, Parikkar said though the women were showing keen interest in joining army, particularly combat army, there were some problems, including basic amenities like toilets. Women were already serving Navy, especially submarines, he said.

To a question about procuring teas, being grown in this region, for the defence sector, Parrikar said there was a policy in army to give importance to the local produces and it would consider buying Nilgiris teas after confirming quality.

Earlier, Parrikar addressed the staff and officers of the prestigious Defence Service Staff College.

Though Parrikar was to take a helicopter from Sulur airport near Coimbatore, he came by road in view of inclement weather, officials said.

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