SRINAGAR: Amid tension between Indian and Pakistani troops along Line of Control, Army Chief General Rawat Friday visited the forward areas along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir and asked the troops to remain ever ready to deal with any situation.
Defence spokesman in Jammu, Lt Colonel Manish Mehta said Army chief General Bipin Rawat accompanied by Northern Army Commander Lt Gen D Anbu visited the headquarters of army’s 16 Corps at Jammu today to review the operational preparedness of the troops and the prevailing security situation in the State.
The Army Chief was briefed by GoC 16 Corps Lt Gen A K Sharma about the preparedness of troops in dealing with the emerging and dynamically changing security situation.
General Rawat was also briefed about the measures taken by the army to thwart any misadventure by the inimical forces, especially Pakistani troops at the LoC.
Sources said GoC briefed the army chief about the steps taken to ensure the safety of civilians and security personnel in Pakistani troops firing and shelling at the LoC.
General Rawat was told that the security men were keeping round the clock vigil at the LoC to deal with any emerging situation including attempts by Pakistani troops to push militants into the State.
After the review meeting, army chief visited Rajouri and Akhnoor sectors to take stock of the situation and review preparedness of troops.
He was briefed about the operational readiness by the army commanders at both the sectors, a defence spokesman said.
He said General Rawat also visited forward posts along the LoC during which was briefed in detail on the actions being undertaken to ensure a robust counter infiltration grid.
“Army chief also interacted with the soldiers deployed on the forward posts and exhorted on troops to continue to remain vigilant and be ever ready to deal with any situation,” the spokesman said.
General Rawat complimented the troops for their unflinching efforts and stressed for continued need to remain prepared in order to counter the nefarious designs of the enemy.
The army chief’s visit to the frontier comes at a time when eleven persons including nine soldiers were killed in Pakistani troops firing and shelling along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir this month.