Amid escalating tensions along the line of Control in the wake of killing of seven Pakistani soldiers, Indian Army chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag on Tuesday attended a two-hour-long crucial meeting with top Army commanders at Udhampur-based Northern Command headquarters and reviewed the prevailing security situation.
The meeting was attended by General Officers in Command (GoC’s) of all three Corps headquarters based in Jammu, Srinagar and leh division besides senior Formation Commanders deployed in the hinterland. During the meeting the Army chief is learnt to have communicated to the officers to adopt an ‘aggressive approach’ and ‘hit the enemy hard.”
GOC-in-C of Northern Command lt-Gen DS Hooda separately briefed the Army chief. His meeting was followed by meeting between the Corps Commanders and the Army chief.
While reviewing the level of preparedness of the troops amid fresh hostilities especially in Rajouri and Poonch sectors Suhag directed the troops to be alert against any inimical designs and be aggressive in their approach.
Defence PRO in Jammu said, “The Army chief interacted with the Formation Commanders and reviewed the situation along the line of Control (loC) as well as internal security situation in the Command theatre.”
“The Army chief commended the soldiers for boldly responding to ceasefire violations along the loC. He also lauded the synergy and co-operation between the Northern Command, Air Force, Paramilitary Forces, Civil Administration, Central Police Organisations operating in the region,” Defence PRO said.
Brief visit of the Army Chief is set to alter the response of the Indian forces to ‘unprovoked’ incidents of ceasefire violations and increasing number of infiltration bids in the garb of cover fire from the Pak istan troops.
Rattled by the punitive strikes by the Indian troops Pak army is already running for cover and resorting to targeting of civilian areas using heavy calibre of weapons.
On Tuesday the Pakistan Army resorted to fresh exchange of fire in the Palanwala and Sunderbani areas for about four hours between 7.00 to 11.00 am.
More than 5,000 civilians had earlier shifted to safer locations late Monday evening following intense shelling. The border residents faced many hardships in camps due to winter season.
Majority of border residents from over two dozen villages in the Palanwala sector took shelter at various camps. The schools also remained closed in the forward villages fearing fresh shelling. According to ground reports Pak army was targeting civilian areas using 120 mm mortars.
A senior officer in Palanwala said, “Pakistan Army is deliberately resorting to use of long range mortars to ensure safety of their own troops”.
“Following strong Indian retaliation, Pakistan Army has changed its strategy and shifted its gun positions to new locations deep inside civilian areas from where they are targeting Indian villages taking advantage of height,” he said.