New Delhi, 10 July (H.S.): Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth made his first visit to the Northern Command after assuming office, touring Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh from July 7 to 9 to review the operational preparedness of forces responsible for safeguarding India's northern frontiers. During the three-day visit, he assessed the prevailing security situation, operational readiness, and combat preparedness by interacting with troops deployed along the Line of Control (LoC) and in hinterland areas. He also visited the Chinar Corps Headquarters, formations in the Kashmir Valley, the White Knight Corps Headquarters, and forward locations in the Jammu region.

At Srinagar, General Seth was briefed on the Northern Command's operational outlook and the operational preparedness of the Chinar Corps. He also met the Lieutenant Governor and the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. During the visit, he interacted with various stakeholders and discussed issues related to security, stability and coordination in the Union Territory.

At the Chinar Corps Headquarters, the Army Chief reviewed operational deployments, counter-terrorism operations, inter-agency coordination, the evolving security environment, and security arrangements for the ongoing Amarnath Yatra. He also assessed initiatives related to technology integration, capability enhancement and integrated combat preparedness across the operational spectrum.

General Seth visited military formations at Kupwara, Uri and Manasbal, where he was briefed on the prevailing security situation, the counter-terrorism grid, surveillance architecture, operational innovations and overall combat readiness. He interacted with soldiers and commended them for their professionalism, dedication and unwavering commitment to maintaining peace and stability under challenging conditions.

During the visit, the Army Chief also witnessed an innovation display showcasing indigenous technologies. He appreciated the emphasis on technological integration, innovation and capability enhancement, and stressed the importance of adopting emerging technologies to further strengthen operational effectiveness.

Subsequently, General Seth visited the Headquarters of the White Knight Corps and forward areas along the Line of Control in Poonch, Rajouri and Sunderbani. He reviewed the prevailing security dynamics along the LoC, the counter-terrorism grid, infrastructure development and the integrated combat readiness of formations deployed in the sector.

He also assessed the Army's continued efforts to strengthen border communities through people-centric initiatives in India's first villages. He praised the contributions of the deployed units in nation-building, fostering stronger engagement with local communities, and maintaining peace and stability in the region.

General Seth commended all ranks of the Indian Army and personnel of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) for their operational excellence, professionalism and unwavering commitment. He urged them to remain operationally prepared at all times, uphold the spirit of Nation First, and continue striving for excellence in line with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

During the visit, the Army Chief also interacted with troops of the Northern Command's XIV Corps (Leh), XV Corps (Srinagar) and XVI Corps (Nagrota), who are deployed along the Line of Control (LoC) and the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar