Modi reviews border safety with military Commanders

Delivering a keynote during the inauguration of “The Combined Commanders' Conference” in the capital, PM laid emphasis on the recent border issues which India encountered with Pakistan and China.

This was in fact the first time that PM met all top commanders including the three service Chiefs viz. Army, Navy and Air Force at the Defence Ministry headquarters.

While interacting, Modi outlined his strategic vision and got a briefing on the overall security situation.

He stressed on border safety and modernisation of armed forces as termed it as priorities of the new government.

While meeting the Chiefs of three Services, PM is learnt to have discussed ceasefire violations by Pakistan and incursions by Chinese troops along the border.

Defence sources said, Modi outlined his strategic vision to the military directly in Friday’s conference.

Among other issues that were discussed in the conference include the possible threat from ISIS and terrorism in the country and the recent al Qaeda announcement of a new wing here, sources said.

The conference came at a time when India is facing “transgression” from its neighbours, Pakistan and China on a regular basis.

As a result, the border situation has become tense.

On one side, Pakistan has been repeatedly violating the ceasefire along the International Border (IB) and Line of Control ( LoC) for nearly two weeks and India has been retaliating with major force. 

Eight civilians were killed and several injured in firing and heavy shelling from Pakistan few weeks along the IB and LoC. India warned of an "unaffordable cost" to Pakistan if it continued to violate the 2003 ceasefire between the two countries.

New Delhi also gave its troops at the border a free hand to retaliate with major force.

After that though the firing and shelling has receded over the past few days, but Pakistani forces are still resorting to ceasefire violations now and then.

Reports of fresh firing from Pakistan have emerged since Thursday night in the Hamirpur sector of Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir.

On the other hand, Chinese troops also indulged in incursions in various places of Ladakh, including during the visit of President Xi Jinping here last month.

The two nations were involved in border face-off last month when Chinese troops incurred into Indian Territory after crossing the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh.

The two armies had mobilised about 1,000 soldiers each.

India condemned the fact and asked the visiting Chinese premier Xi Jinping to immediately ask its troops to fall back.

The latest altercations took place after Beijing issued a statement saying not to "further complicate" the dispute over the border.

The comments by Chinese official came against the backdrop that India is constructing roads in Arunachal Pradesh close to border.

It has been learnt that, to counter Chinese incursion, India has decided to ease environmental and other curbs on building roads and military facilities within 100 km of the border in Arunachal Pradesh to hasten the construction of some 6,000 km of roads.

Following Chinese official’s comments, India shot back at China by saying nobody should "threaten or warn India".

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has said, "China has already spread their network of roads and rail network near the border. Whatever we make on our territory should not be a concern of China."

The conference is an annual event where the three chiefs present the key issues and challenges in the year that lies ahead as well as the major achievement of the year gone by.

Important operational, strategic, administrative and logistical aspects related to the forces are also considered.

Some 100 officers are attending the conference.

According to sources, the first presentation was made by Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha, who is the chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee (CSC).

He was followed by Navy chief Admiral RK Dhowan and Indian Army chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag.

The day-long conference was also addressed by Defence Minister Arun Jaitley, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajnath Singh.

Defence Secretary RK Mathur and National security Adviser Ajit Doval were also present in the conference.