NEW DELHI: For the first time since he took over as Prime Minister, Narendra Modi will on Friday meet top brass of the three Services in the South Block to hold wide-ranging discussions on the security situation of the country.
On Friday, Modi will chair the Combined Commanders’ Conference, in which the Head of the Services will make a separate presentation to him giving a ‘bird’s eye view’ of the security environment in and around the country, and the preparedness of the forces to meet the challenges.
According to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) officials, the main agenda will be the present situation at the Line of Control (LoC) and the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
“The recent spate of ceasefire violations by Pakistan at the LoC and the International Border (IB) and last month’s incident at Chumar by the Chinese PLA is expected to figure prominently during the Prime Minister’s discussions with top military Commanders of all three Services,” they said.
While, IAF chief Arup Raha, in his capacity as the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee, would apprise the Prime Minister of the issues of common concern of the Army, the Air Force and the Navy, Army Chief Dalbir Singh and Navy Chief Robin Dhowan would outline the challenges from immediate neighbourhood, as well as regional and global security issues, a senior MoD official said.
Another MoD official said the Prime Minister was expected to outline his strategic vision to the military directly. The Prime Minister had already given his go-ahead to the Armed Forces, to give a fitting reply to constant firing by the Pakistan Army. He had even admired the Army for retaliating to the Pakistani outrage.
Defence Minister Arun Jaitley, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Defence Secretary R K Mathur will present the government’s point of view at the day-long conference, along with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.