``Some contracts to acquire modern weapons have already been signed while others are in the process,'' Gen Malik said while addressing troops in this forward border post, located nearly 10,000 ft above the sea level.

Emphasising the need for modern weaponry, Malik said good arms were the key to the courage of army jawans. ``History has been witness to the fact that if we ever lost a war it was due to poor weaponry only,'' Gen Malik said.

He said the Army would not make any compromise in acquiring modern weaponry and called upon the jawans and officers to adapt themselves to the new technology soon. The army chief also announced setting up of a junior leader academy in Bareily to foster command training among the lower rank.

Justifying this move, Gen Malik said leadership quality among the ranks was a must as situationssometime demanded a quick decision. ``One cannot wait for a decision from the command base if weather plays tricks or the signal equipment troubles sometimes,'' Gen Malik said. He said a move was being planned to make it compulsory for a jawan to pass through the leadership test before being promoted to any further rank.

Gen Malik also stressed that Army officers must take care of the well being of their jawans, especially operating in field or operational areas. ``The Army jawans are the key in safeguarding the country's borders and the officers should look after these invaluable people thoroughly,'' Gen Malik said. Gen Malik also carried out an extensive survey of operational areas in upper Assam.

Later addressing jawans and officers of the second mountain division in Dinjan (Assam), the Army chief lauded their role in the performance of two duties - maintaining vigil on border and counter-insurgency operation in the State. ``This arduous task can be accomplished only by the jawans of Indian Army,'' GenMalik said while congratulating them on containing insurgency in the State.

Asking the jawans to be in the state of alert, Gen Malik said ``even though there is no tension in the region, we must not be lax anywhere in our state of preparedness.'' ``Once bitten twice shy,'' Gen Malik said, referring to the Sino-Indian conflict of 1962. He also visited Tuting, another forward post in Arunachal Pradesh and addressed the troops there.