Army commanders to discuss Ladakh stand-off

Top army commanders will carry out an extensive review of India's national security challenges along the borders with China and Pakistan as well as assess any possible geopolitical implication of the Russia-Ukraine war for the region at a five-day conclave beginning Monday.

The conclave in New Delhi from April 18-22 will be chaired by General Manoj Mukund Naravane, chief of the army staff.

The commanders will also focus on specific plans for capability development and boosting operational preparedness of the 1.3 million-strong force, officials said on Sunday.

The Army Commanders Conference is an apex level bi-annual event held in April and October every year.

The conference is an institutional platform for conceptual level deliberations, culminating in making important policy decisions for the Indian Army.

Detailed deliberations have been planned to assess the possible implications of the war in Ukraine for regional security as well as various military aspects of the conflict.

The commanders will also carry out a comprehensive review of India's military preparedness along the 3,400-km-long Line of Actual Control in view of the lingering military stand-off with China in certain friction points in eastern Ladakh.

The anti-terror operation in Jammu and Kashmir as well as the overall situation in the Union Territory will also be deliberated upon extensively at the conference, the officials said.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is expected to interact with the senior army commanders and address the conference on April 21.

'During the conference, the senior leadership of the Indian Army will review the operational situation along the active borders, assess threats in the entire spectrum of conflict and undertake analysis of capability voids to further focus on capability development and operational preparedness plans,' the army said in a statement.

'Discussions on aspects pertaining to infrastructure development in border areas, modernisation through indigenisation, induction of niche tech and assessment on any impact of the Russia-Ukraine war are also scheduled,' the army added.

It said various agenda points recommended by regional commands will be deliberated upon by the senior commanders apart from proposals concerning improving works, financial management, introducing e-vehicles, and digitisation in the Indian Army.

The conference is also a formal forum for senior leadership of the Indian Army to interact with senior functionaries of the Department of Military Affairs and the Department of Defence.

It is set to be the last army commanders's conference to be chaired by General Naravane as his tenure as COAS is set to end by end of this month.