Kochi (Kerala), Feb 28 : Defence Minister A. K. Antony on Saturday expressed the hope that India will operate two to three aircraft carriers simultaneously in near future in order to ward off threats from terrorism and low intensity conflict perpetrated by state with help of non state actors.

Kochi, Feb 28 : In wake of last year''s terror attacks on Mumbai and the failure of on the part coastal security to nab the perpetrators, the Indian Navy will create a new specialized force called the " Sagar Prahari Bal" to protect naval bases, assets and the island territories of India.

Defence Minister A. K. Antony said the Government has taken a number of steps to strengthen maritime security agencies like the Navy and the Coast Guard by increasing their assets like manpower, ships, boats, helicopters, aircrafts, boats, etc.

Kochi (Kerala), Feb. 28 : Defence Minister A. K. Antony and Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Sureesh Mehta, on Saturday strongly rebutted Pakistan Navy Chief Admiral Noman Bashir's contention that the perpetrators of the November 26, 2008 terror attack on Mumbai did not use the sea route from Pakistan to reach India's financial capital.

Kochi, Feb 28: India will join the elite club today and will become fourth country in the world to indigenously build its own aircraft carrier of 40,000 tonne plus.

Defence Minister A. K. Antony will lay the keel for country''s first indigenous aircraft carrier or air defence ship (ADS) at the Cochin Shipyard''s construction dock in Kerala today, marking the launch of the first phase of building the 40,000 tonne aircraft carrier.

New Delhi, Feb 20 : Union Defence Minister A. K. Antony on Friday distributed the Republic Day 2009 awards and said that the country is proud of the Republic Day parade and the performance is always a moment of pride for the country.

He termed this year's parade as among the best, and said: "The feedback from various sections we got is that this year's parade was one of the best ever seen."

Antony commended the participants and the large number of personnel involved for the relentless and untiring hard work that goes into organizing the parade in the preceding months.

New Delhi - The pact between the Taliban and Pakistan in the Swat valley has added to India's worries on regional security, the country's Defence Minister AK Antony said Friday.

"From 26/11 (the Mumbai terrorist attacks) onwards, we are very much concerned about the security scenario. This new development, in a way, adds to our worries," Antony was quoted as saying by PTI news agency.

Other Indian officials have expressed similar concern over the peace pact in Swat, which is just about a five-hour drive from northern Indian towns like Amritsar and Srinagar located near the India-Pakistan border.