It is for the first time in 15 years that essential elements of the headquarters were moved outside, Lt Gen Khanna acknowledged at a function here this evening organised by the local daily, Maharashtra Herald, to accord a farewell to the army commander who will be taking over charge of the Northern Army.

The exercise was undertaken to validate the concepts of the defence and strike forces by integrating the Indian Air Force into the exercise, the army commander said. Lt Gen Khanna said that the exercise had incorporated the essential elements of the third wave warfare, including electronic warfare, satellite imagery, digitised communication and deep penetration capability.

The army commander asserted that the army was wellestablished to counter any threat and its defence plans, equipment and concepts were under constant review - particularly so in the post-Pokhran scenario.

``Equipment and techniques are subjected to continual modernisation,'' he said.

Meanwhile, Lt Gen Khanna revealed some of the Southern Army's plans to foster congenial relationships between the civilian populace here and the men in olive green. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) is shortly to be signed with the University of Pune, which will enable scholars and postgraduate students to undertake field research in the numerous army institutes and research and development organisations here in the city, the army commander said.

The College of Military Engineering (CME), a premier army institute here, will commence an engineering scheme for students who have completed the twelfth standard from next year, he informed. The Army also proposes to change the face of the busy Mahatma Gandhi Road by developing a shopping complex and walking plaza.

Lt GenKhanna was all praise for the Pune citizens for having built a war memorial which, he stressed, was the fittest tribute paid by the Puneites to the men of the defence forces who had laid down their lives for the country. He urged the Puneites to render help to the Paraplegic Home and the Queen Mary Technical Institute - two institutions here in the city which work for the rehabilitation of disabled soldiers.