Top Army Commanders Meet Monday To Review Security Situation

Sources have told the news agency Press Trust of India that the top Army commanders will deliberate extensively on security challenges facing the country and ways to enhance its combat edge over potential adversaries at a week-long conference beginning Monday.

The commanders will particularly review India’s security preparedness along the border with Pakistan in the wake of changing security scenario following the Pulwama terror attack and Indian Air Force’s Balakot airstrikes. There have been incidents of Pakistan violating the ceasefire time and again as well.

“Important issues that are likely to be discussed are management of the extant security dynamics, mitigation of future security threats and enhancement of combat edge over potential adversaries,” the Army said in a statement.

Infrastructure development along India’s border with China, laying of strategic railway lines and ways to optimise “limited budget” to ensure making up of critical deficiency in ammunition, officials said, are few of the issues to be discussed. They said implementation of critical projects including construction of several key roads along the border with China will also be put forward.

The conference, to be chaired by Chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat, is expected to deliberate on specific issues relating to Army formations and the Army as a whole.

The commanders are also likely to deliberate on Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS).

The opening address at the conference, to be held from April 8 to 14, will be delivered by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The Army commanders’ conference is held biannually for formulating important policy decisions through collegiate deliberations.