Operational issues reviewed
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 25: Amidst Taliban control over Afghanistan and it’s reported impact on Jammu and Kashmir and drone strikes, the Army and Border Security Force (BSF) today organised a synergy conference at the Headquarters of the Western Command.
A Defence spokesman said that senior Indian Army officers of the Western Command, senior officers of Border Security Force from BSF Headquarters West Command, Punjab and Jammu Frontier Force attended the conference.
The conference was presided over by Maj Gen Devendra Sharma, MGGS (Operations), Headquarters Western Command while NS Jamwal, IG BSF Jammu Frontier and Sonali Mishra, IG BSF Punjab Frontier were the senior officers representing the BSF.
The agenda included discussions on operational issues of convergence to further enhance operational efficiency between the Indian Army and the BSF. Common issues of training and equipment profile of BSF and challenges of border management were also deliberated upon.
The chairman highlighted the importance of developing a joint security force culture to thwart nefarious designs of inimical elements.
During the wars of 1965, 1971 and ‘Operation PARAKRAM’, Indian Army and BSF operated together towards a common purpose of defending the national borders.
“The same spirit of jointmanship and cooperation continues till this day,” the chairman said.
It may be mentioned here that both Jammu and Punjab were facing increase in dropping of arms, ammunition and explosives through drones from Pakistan either by their Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) or militants based in Pakistan especially those belonging to Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) outfits.
Ahead of Independence Day, large quantity of explosive material was seized in Punjab which had been dropped using drones from Pakistan. In Jammu also, several cases of dropping of IEDs through drones have been noticed even as many such attempts have been foiled by the Army and BSF on Line of Control and International Border.
Sources said Army and BSF were also concerned over takeover of Afghanistan by Taliban. Though they are prepared for any kind of challenge on the borders, they are watching the situation keenly at the moment.
Sources said security forces were fully prepared to deal with any kind of challenges on the borders including Taliban.