NEW DELHI: With China set to keep its troops forward-deployed for the second consecutive winter along the frontier, especially across eastern Ladakh, top Indian generals on Monday discussed measures to maintain high operational readiness as well as further crank up logistics and infrastructure development.
The Army commanders’ conference, chaired by General M M Naravane and attended by the vice-chief and commanders-in-chief of the six operational and one training command, kicked off with an “update” by the military operations directorate. The discussions will be taken forward over the next three days, with defence minister Rajnath Singh, chief of defence staff General Bipin Rawat, Navy chief Admiral Karambir Singh and IAF chief Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari also slated to address the Army brass.
Operational preparedness along both the 3,488-km Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, amidst the continuing 17-month military confrontation in eastern Ladakh, and the LoC with Pakistan, which has seen a recent spurt in infiltrations, was reviewed during the brainstorming on Monday. “We are prepared for the long haul, with advance winter stocking and logistics for the forward areas being put in place,” said a source.
“Yes, there is a big gap in border infrastructure development on our side as compared to China. But it’s being narrowed with construction of more roads, bridges, ammunition storage facilities,” he added.