Priority to ensure high standard of operational preparedness: Army chief Manoj Pande

The Army Chief was speaking to the media after he was presented a ceremonial guard of honour at the South Block lawns, a day after he took charge of the

Newly appointed Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande on Sunday said his “utmost and foremost” priority would be to ensure very high standards of operational preparedness to face current, contemporary and future security challenges across the entire spectrum of conflict.

Gen Pande also said the global geopolitical situation is changing rapidly “as a result of which we have multiple challenges ahead”, asserting that the Army, in “coordination and cooperation” with the Indian Air Force and the Navy, will unitedly deal with any situation.

The Army Chief said he would focus on the ongoing reforms, restructuring and transformation of the Army to enhance its operational and functional efficiency besides giving importance to achieving self-reliance in defence.

The Army Chief was speaking to the media after he was presented a ceremonial guard of honour at the South Block lawns, a day after he took charge of the force.

Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari and Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar were also present at the guard of honour ceremony.

Meanwhile, talking about the Line of Control and the Line of Actual Control, General Manoj Pande broadly said that the situation on both sides is normal.

Underlining the challenges, the Army chief said while India has made it clear to China that it will not permit any change in the status quo on the LAC, there is no indication of terrorist activities going down in the hinterland of the LoC.

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