India was a "little worried" when things were "turbulent" in Pakistan, but the elections there have generated hope that the situation will improve, Army Chief Gen Deepak Kapoor has said.
Kapoor had words of praise for his Pakistani counterpart Gen Ashfaq Kiyani, saying he was a "professional" soldier and it was "reassuring" to have him as the head of the army of that country.
He played down the possibility of Pakistan carrying out any adventurous action against India to avert attention from troubles at home, citing the Pakistan army's commitment internally and on the country's western borders.
"When things were turbulent, we were a little worried... and therefore, we were very vigilant on the borders," the army chief told Karan Thapar's 'Devil's Advocate' programme for CNN-IBN.
"With the elections now having taken place, I think the security situation in Pakistan, if it now gets stabilised, should improve," Kapoor said.
He said Pakistan would hopefully "have a government" in the next few days and "we would be able to talk to a democratically-elected government to resolve some of our differences."
On Kiyani, Kapoor said: "I think he would be able to handle the Pakistani Army professionally. I think it's reassuring to have a person who is a professional soldier at the head of the army."
Asked about the status of infiltration from Pakistan, the army chief said the attempts had increased but actual intrusions had declined marginally last year.
In 2006, the number of infiltrations was approximately 343 while in 2007 it marginally dipped to 311, he said.
"So, there is a marginal decline as far as infiltration numbers are concerned. But as far as the attempts or bids are concerned, they were slightly higher in 2007," he said.
Disfavouring the use of the army in counter insurgency, he said it should be used only as the "last resort" and that too for "minimal" period.
"That (calling the army) should happen once the civilian authority has utilised all other resources at its disposal," the army chief said, adding, "the armed forces of a country must only be seen as a last resort if and when they are called upon."
If the army is called out, "it should be used for a minimal period so that its deterrence effect stays and thereafter the army should be withdrawn," he said.
Kapoor said when the troops are called out for counter-insurgency operations, "it does happen at the expense of training, which we do for war against our enemy."
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