Reiterating that the country's toughest challenges lie in India's immediate neighbourhood, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh said, the country must be ahead of the technology curve in defence capability. Addressing the inaugural session of the two-day Combined Commanders' Conference in New Delhi Yesterday, he also called for updating war fighting doctrines to meet new threats to security. He said, the other integral part of India's defence preparedness is border infrastructure, which involves not just land borders but also ensuring appropriate coastal security. Dr Singh said, several measures have been taken and are underway but it is important that all Ministries and Departments work in close coordination to ensure timely implementation of existing plans with a sense of urgency. Reminding of India's article of faith in preserving the strategic autonomy, the Prime Minister said, India is too large a country to be boxed into any alliance or regional or sub-regional arrangements, whether trade, economic or political. He, however added that with economic and political power shifting to Asia, the Asia-Pacific region, including South-East Asia, needs greater attention and this must seep into country's defence and foreign policy planning.