New Delhi, October 10
In a move that will be interpreted in many ways across strategic circles globally, the Indian Army is looking to ramp up its numbers along the western and northern borders, facing Pakistan and China, respectively.

The matter was discussed at the five-day Army Commanders’ conference that began here today. Army Chief General VK Singh said, “Significant steps have been initiated for force structuring. Various proposals for accretion of forces were in the pipeline.” An approval of the government was awaited for accretions in the northern and western areas, he said.

At present, three fully-equipped strike crops based at Ambala, Mathura and Bhopal are tasked to act as the first-strike formation in case of any skirmish. Three full-fledged commands with an assortment of equipment are also headquartered at Udhampur (J&K), Chandimandir (near Chandigarh) and Jaipur. The Pune-based Southern Command looks after the parts of the border in Gujarat. Sources said at least two divisions or a corps (around 50,000 men) could be added to the existing security architecture.

Meanwhile, as part of its ongoing exercise in transformation, the Army will test out a new concept this winter along the Indo-Pak border.The concept is aimed at marshalling all forces, equipment, fire-power and support services under a common command — a system that is in place in the United States of America and Russia.

India has a lone tri-services joint-command at Andaman and Nicobar base.