COAS briefed by top Comdr
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 31: Amidst ongoing ceasefire violations by Pakistan army on the Line of Control (LoC), Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat today reviewed ‘Mission Readiness’ of Army units in twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch on second day of his visit to the State.
Accompanied by Northern Command chief Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, the Chief of Army Staff was briefed and updated on situation prevailing on the LoC by General Officer Commanding (GOC), Nagrota Corps, Lt Gen Paramjit Singh Sangha.
“Gen Bipin Rawat reviewed the ‘Mission Readiness’ of Army units, response mechanism to ceasefire violations, measures taken to deal with Pakistan proxies, counter infiltration posture and preparation to deal with violent actions on the Line of Control,” a Defence spokesman said here.
He added that the Army chief was also briefed on strategy to deal with inimical elements, who are attempting to revive terrorism in South of Pir Panjal and attempts to radicalize the innocent youth.
Pakistan army has quite often been indulging in ceasefire violations on the LoC in Rajouri and Poonch districts especially after scrapping of special Constitutional provisions of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcation of the State into two Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh.
Three Indian Army soldiers and a civilian have been martyred in Pakistan shelling while 14 Pakistan army troops were killed in retaliatory action by our Army.
Sources said the Army chief visited some of the forward posts and areas on the LoC in Rajouri and Poonch districts where he inter-acted with soldiers deployed in the frontier locations. He also met Field Commanders for assessment of the situation.
During his visit, Gen Rawat commended the soldiers deployed in forward areas for their unwavering dedication to duty, selfless devotion and high standard of professionalism.
He was appreciative of the measures and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) institutionalized to ensure a safe and secure environment, and mission readiness of the troops.
The Army chief also conveyed his satisfaction on the synergy with the civil administration and was appreciative of the people friendly measures taken by the White Knight Corps, which is also known as Nagrota Corps or 16 Corps, which have resulted in ushering normalcy in border districts in a smooth and quick time-frame.
Gen Rawat said morale of the troops was very high.
Yesterday, the Army chief had visited Srinagar and reviewed prevailing situation there and anti-militancy operations with top Army Commanders. He was briefed on the situation both in the hinterland as well as the Line of Control and operations against the militants.
The anti-militancy operations in the Kashmir valley have slowed down a bit in view of present situation after abrogation of special Constitutional provisions of the State but would be intensified soon.
This was first visit of the Army chief to Jammu and Kashmir after August 5 when the Central Government had split Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh.
There have been reports that Pakistan army has increased presence of its troops and hardcore trained militants of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Hizbul Mujahideen outfits on their side of the LoC and could make attempts to push them into the Indian territory under the cover of mortar shelling and firing.
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