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200 Indian soldiers die of Aids in past two years Shillong, India, Sept 24, SPA -- India's president said all new recruits to the country's armed forces would be tested for the HIV virus after the deaths of some 200 soldiers due to AIDS in the
natal examination of wives of personnel in the services," President Abdul Kalam said at an army seminar in Shillong in India's restive northeast late on Friday where thousands of troops are posted to fight separatist rebels. Kalam is the supreme commander of India's armed forces of 1.3 million personnel, one of the largest militaries in the world. Officials said the HIV testing would start in October. "HIV/AIDS has become a security threat to India," Lieutenant-General Bhupinder Singh told the seminar. "AIDS is no less destructive than war itself. We want to keep our force fighting fit." Government records show more than 300 soldiers are currently infected with the HIV virus.