This was stated by Information and Broadcasting Minister Pramod Mahajan on Friday at the inauguration of the upgradation of DD metro at Doordarshan Kendra Srinagar to provide it a reach of 45 km.

``As our soldiers are fighting at the borders, a war is being fought on the information front also,'' he said. ``The Bofors shell can go 27 km into the enemy territory while our Doordarshan kendra can penetrate even 45 km inside. And as we need ammunition for our guns, we also need latest television software to meet any challenge''.

Mahajan announced that the `Kashmir' channel of DDK, Srinagar will now have 18 hours telecast instead of the present two hours. He also said that the Government is to send a 10 KW mobile AIR Kendra to Kargil. ``This step was taken after Pakistan targeted the Radio andDoordarshan stations there,'' he said. ``This station has the advantage of being mobile. We can change its position like Bofors gun on the battle front''. He said the Government is to install four LPT's in Rajasthan very soon.

``In the 19th century the wars were won on the quality of military equipment. In the 20th century, trade and commerce played a vital role while the wars of the 21st century will be information wars,'' he said. ``Thus we are planning to upgrade our Aakashwani and Doordarshan kendras along the borders and also install new stations,'' he said.

Referring to the ban imposed on the Pakistan television in the country, he said it was not for ever. ``The propoganda by them this time was not normal propoganda. There was every likelihood of communal riots in the country especially in view of the present situation in Kargil,'' he said. Defending his stand on banning Pakistan television, he said the decision was taken only after Pakistan attacked and damaged our Doordarshan kendra and radiostation in Kargil.

Mahajan said DDK Srinagar will have an Earth Station by the year end so that the station has a full fledged uplinking facility.

He said the Kargil crisis has made us look at things differently. ``The whole format of Doordarshan has changed,'' he said. He said Javed Akhtar was asked to write a song in context of the Kargil and the DD is to make its video.

``We are also going to repeat Param Vir Chakra - a popular serial - so that the patriotic fervour is rejuvenated,'' he said.