Top Army Comdrs to discuss Eastern Ladakh situation, ceasefire agreement

Two days meet on June 17, 18

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, June 16: Top brass of the Army will be meeting for Annual Commanders Conference (ACC) in New Delhi on June 17 and 18 in which situation along Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan especially after fresh ceasefire agreement of February, internal security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir and impasse with China in Eastern Ladakh are likely to figure prominently among host of other issues.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat will also address the conference and discuss important issues with top Commanders of the Army including Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen MM Naravane.
Vice Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General CP Mohanty and Commander in Chiefs of all seven operational, regional and Training Commands of the Army including Northern Command chief Lt Gen YK Joshi will be part of the meeting. Principal Staff Officers will also be participating in the two-day conference.
Sources told the Excelsior that situation along the LoC with Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir after fresh ceasefire agreement in February this year is likely to figure prominently in the two-day conference.
“The ceasefire has been holding whether it’s the LoC or International Border in Jammu and Kashmir. There has been no ceasefire violation on the LoC while stray incidents have been reported on the International Border in Jammu. No major infiltration attempts by the militants were reported after ceasefire,” sources maintained.
While maintaining ceasefire on the LoC, Indian Army has been keeping strict surveillance to ensure that the militants as well as Pakistan army don’t manage to take advantage of truce to infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir, sources said. They admitted that civilians living close to LoC and IB have been major beneficiary of the ceasefire agreement as they were able to cultivate their crops freely along areas close to the borders.
Internal security situation in Jammu and Kashmir especially the Valley where Army has been in the forefront of anti-militancy operations will also be one of the other points on agenda of the Army Commanders Conference. The anti-militancy operation have taken a hit in the past couple of months due to second wave of COVID but are expected to be intensified as the pandemic has started easing.
The Conference, which starts exactly after two days when India marked one year of the bloody face-off at Galwan on June 15, 2020 would majorly focus on the India-China stand-off.
Sources said the biannual conference would primarily review the preparedness at the LAC amid the continued stand-off with China. India has completed 11 rounds of talks with China to resolve the issue. Around 50,000 Indian troops are deployed along the LAC.
To ensure due diligence, decisions taken in the Army Commanders Conference are taken through the Collegiate System comprising Army Commanders and senior officer. There were expectations from April 9 Senior Commander-level talks especially after completion of disengagement process at two face-off points on the North and South banks of Pangong Tso in Eastern Ladakh. In view of this, resolution evaded Hot Springs, Demchok and Gogra areas.
The Army Commanders will also be discussing the contribution of the armed forces in the country’s COVID battle. The ramping up of oxygen, beds, medical supplies, caution, and preparation for the impending third wave would be an important agenda on the table. The vaccination campaign for Army personnel, veterans, and all families will also be monitored during the Conference.
The Army Commanders are expected to take up the proposal of relief packages for civilians suffering due to COVID. Enhancement of additional health facilities in cantonment hospitals for civilians will also be discussed during the conference.
The extension of the retirement age of the Armed forces personnel to retain a valuable workforce will also be an important part of the agenda at the top commanders’ meet. The monetization of the unused defence lands across India will also be discussed during the conference.