Er Shobhum Kotwal
Pathankot, Aug 12 (BuzzBytes): Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth reviewed the security situation and the Army’s operational preparedness in the Jammu region, the neighbouring Pathankot district and other parts of Punjab during a high level meeting with senior military commanders at Cantonment Pathankot, officials said.
General Seth is currently on a visit to the Western Command and was given a detailed briefing on the prevailing security situation, operational preparedness and the evolving security environment across areas falling under the Command’s jurisdiction.
The meeting was attended by Western Command’s Army Commander Lieutenant General Pushpender Singh, the General Officer Commanding of the Rising Star Corps, also known as 9 Corps and headquartered at Yol Cantonment, the GOC of the Tiger Division based in Jammu and the GOC of the Garj Division based in Pathankot, besides other senior military officers.
The commanders briefed the Army Chief in detail on the current security situation and operational preparedness in their respective areas of responsibility. The Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts of the Jammu region, along with the Pathankot district of Punjab, fall within the jurisdiction of the Western Command, and all these areas lie close to the International Border with Pakistan.
The Additional Directorate General of Public Information said the Army Chief reviewed the operational preparedness of the Rising Star Corps and was briefed on measures relating to the changing security environment, force preparedness, training initiatives and the integration of modern technology into the defence system.
Appreciating the operational preparedness of the formation and the efforts being made by it towards nation building, the Army Chief stressed the need for sustained vigilance, combat readiness and a high state of operational preparedness at all times. He said the Army must remain prepared as an agile, adaptive and technology enabled force to deal effectively with emerging security challenges.
General Seth also visited the Western Command Headquarters, where he reviewed the Command’s operational readiness and the measures under way to enhance its capabilities. He was briefed on the operational environment, force preparedness, training programmes and steps being taken to further sharpen combat capability.
During the visit, the Army Chief conferred the Yodha Seva Samman on Colonel (Retd) Mandeep Grewal, Honorary Captain (Retd) Balwinder Singh, Honorary Captain (Retd) Dharam Singh, Honorary Captain (Retd) Ashok Singh and Dafadar (Retd) Pratap Singh. The award was given in recognition of their notable contributions in the fields of veterans’ welfare, youth empowerment, education, environmental protection and social service.
Appreciating the continued social and national service rendered by veterans, the Army Chief said the Army values its long standing bond with its veteran community and is committed to recognising their continued service to the nation.
Officials said the overall situation along the International Border with Pakistan is peaceful, though reports of drone activity are received from time to time. In view of this, continued attention is being given to surveillance and operational readiness in the border areas.
Earlier, General Dhiraj Seth called on Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria in Chandigarh, where the two discussed civil military cooperation, regional security and matters relating to border areas. Lieutenant General Pushpender Singh and other officers of Army Headquarters were also present at the meeting, which was the Army Chief’s first formal engagement with the Governor after assuming charge. The Army Chief later called on Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini at his official residence, where discussions focused on strengthening civil military cooperation and regional security—(BuzzBytes)
