Army Commanders' Conference starts in Delhi

The Army Commanders' Conference started here on Monday, withissues like operational readiness and synergy being discussed.

Sources added that Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is likely to address the conference on Tuesday.

"Army Commanders' Conference #ACC commenced on 09 Oct 2017 at New Delhi. Synergy & operational readiness on top of agenda," Indian Army said in a tweet.

According to the sources, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat interacted with Army Commanders for over two hours.

For the first time, there are command based sessions, in which each Army Commander will put forth their view points and concerns on various issues which have a bearing on the field formations and Indian Army as a whole.

On Monday, sessions were for Southern Command and Eastern Command were on schedule, said sources.

This is the first commanders' conference after the two and a half month long stand-off between Indian and Chinese troops along the border in Sikkim, close to the tri-junction, an area under the Eastern Command of the Indian Army.

On Tuesday, more command specific sessions will be held, sources added.

The conference will end on October 15.

According to sources, the recent stand-off between Indian and Chinese troops at Doklam and preparedness along the border with China in general, as well as the situation at the western border alone with Pakistan will be on the agenda.

Speeding up procurement, pace of modernisation in the Army, pushing the Make in India programme and indigenous procurement, as well as issues related to the 7th Pay Commission are also likely to figure in the discussions.

--IANS

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