Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, May 30: The Parliamentary Standing Committee (PSC) on Defence today reviewed operational preparedness of the Army and prevailing security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir including the borders at a high level meeting with top Army Commanders at Northern Command Headquarters in Udhampur. The Army Commanders including General Officer Commanding (GOC)-in-C, Northern Command, Lt Gen DS Hooda gave an extensive briefing to the PSC members.
Official sources told the Excelsior that the PSC headed by Maj Gen BC Khanduri, the BJP Lok Sabha member and former Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, held three and half hours long extensive session from 10.30 am to 2 pm with the top Army officers at Northern Command Headquarters including the Northern Army Commander. The PSC members also listened to problems faced by the troops during their operations especially those pertaining to raising of infrastructure.
Though the PSC on Defence has 28 members including the Chairman, only 11 of them came on two days visit to Northern Command Headquarters and Jammu. They will return to New Delhi tomorrow morning.
“The Committee was briefed on the prevailing security situation in Jammu and Kashmir and defence preparedness by senior officers at Northern Command Headquarters,” sources said, adding the PSC Chairman (Maj Gen BS Khanduri) later interacted with the Northern Army Commander (Lt Gen DS Hooda), in which important issues related to security of the borders, infrastructure development and initiatives for welfare of troops were discussed.
After three and half hours long discussion, the Parliamentary Committee witnessed achievements of the Army including the huge quantity of sophisticated weapons and explosives seized by them from the militants and during encounters at various places in Jammu and Kashmir.
Sources said the PSC reportedly reviewed situation prevailing along Pakistan and China frontiers in Jammu and Kashmir with the Army as they wanted to know Army’s preparedness on all fronts. Jammu and Kashmir shares large boundary with Pakistan including Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) and Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh with China.
Though Army was fully geared to meet with any situation on the frontiers, it was facing infrastructure problems along LAC with China as previous Governments hadn’t taken any initiative to meet the Army requirements. India has already made it clear that it stands for peace with neighbours including Pakistan and China. However, simultaneously the Centre didn’t want to take any chances and want to match the strength of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China.
The PSC reviewed stock position of ammunition of the Army amidst reports by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India that Army ammunition won’t last more than 20 days in case of conflict. The Centre has already started taking initiatives in this regard.
Sources said the Government of India had formulated plan to strengthen infrastructure right up to LAC in Eastern Ladakh in China and LoC and IB with Pakistan to strengthen the troops operating there.
The Army reportedly briefed the PSC about Security Grid in place at the LoC and IB to tackle infiltration attempts by the militants. It listed in detail the successes achieved by the troops in thwarting infiltration attempts, number of the militants waiting at the LoC and IB to sneak into this side during summer, militants active within the State and internal security situation.
The Army is understood to have listed its problems in Jammu and Kashmir including shortage of Field Firing Ranges (FFRs), an issue the Army Commanders have already taken up with Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.
This was first visit of the PSC on Defence in Jammu and Kashmir after takeover of Narendra Modi Government. The visit assumed significance with hard stance taken by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar that Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) had to stay if the Army had to operate in Jammu and Kashmir. The issue is reported to have figured in the meeting of the PSC.
PSC Chairman Maj Gen Khanduri, a retired Army official, who had also served as Uttarakhand Chief Minister, which shares boundary with China and Nepal, had been strong votary of meeting all requirements of the Army including equipping them with ammunition and equipments not only to effectively meet challenges of enemy on the LoC but on the frontiers, if required.
“Though India has several times reiterated that it stands for peace with its all neighbours including Pakistan and China, it want to strengthen the troops to meet the might of China’s People’s Liberations Army (PLA), which has been trying to gain supremacy in the sub continent backed by infrastructure right up to the Line of Actual Control (LAC), bordering India,” sources said.
“The Panel was also briefed on revamping of training of Defence personnel, state of operational preparedness of the Army, state of border roads, including strategic Ladakh region, major research and development by the DRDO and research and development by PSUs,” sources said.
Follow our WhatsApp channel