Security situation in Pakistan and Afghanistan and its impact on India besides pace of progress of infrastructure along the line of Actual Control(lAC) facing China in the north-east will top the agenda of five-day Army Commanders’ Conference starting on Monday.
The high-level meeting to be inaugurated by Defence Minister AK Antony, will also take stock of operational preparedness of the Army and steps taken to procure ammunition and other equipment. The then Army Chief General V K Singh in his letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last year had pointed out these critical shortages hampering war fighting capabilities of the Army.
Army Chief General Bikram Singh had asked his commanders to set targets to overcome these shortages in a time bound manner and these will come up for review during the conference, officials said on Sunday.
As regards security situation, the commanders will take stock of scenario in Jammu and Kashmir as Pakistan has not dismantled terror infrastructure across the line of Control(lOC) and continues to push militants into Jammu and Kashmir to step up violence. The commanders will review the situation in the aftermath of Pakistan commandos infiltrating into India and beheading lance Naik Hemraj on January 8. It led to countrywide uproar and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said it cannot be business as usual with Pakistan.
In fact, this year saw more infiltration bids by the militants during the winter months as compared to last few years thereby indicating that Pakistan was determined to stoke terrorist violence.
The security situation in view of the pull-out of US troops in Afghanistan next year and its impact on Indian security is also likely to figure in the bi-annual conference, officials said.
Upgradation of infrastructure in the north-eastern states including Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Assam along the China border will come up for discussion at the meeting attended by the six operational commanders and the Army Training Command chief.
China has vastly superior infrastructure on its side of the lAC including all weather roads up to the border outposts, more than 10,000 km of railway network in Tibet and airfields to sustain logistical supplies throughout the year.
India is also building nearly 30 strategic roads along the lAC besides modernizing 30 airfields and advanced landing grounds to meet the challenge. Besides, the Army has raised several new formations including two Mountain Divisions in the region and is also planning to raise a new Mountain Strike Corps there along with the deployment of IAF assets. IAF and Navy will also review preparedness of their respective services during the commanders’ meet starting Tuesday.