New Delhi, October 21
Even as top Army commanders began their five-day conference to discuss developments along the Line of Control (LoC), Army Chief General Bikram Singh briefed Defence Minister AK Antony separately on the situation on the LoC and the International Border (IB).

In a meeting which lasted 15 minutes, the Army Chief briefed the Defence Minister on the preparedness along the LoC and the recent truce violations. The meeting took place after General Bikram Singh had spent a day with top commanders, discussing the issues along the LoC.

Antony was also informed about the possible change in the tactics of the Pakistan army, which in the past few days has opened a new front for firing on the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir.

Sources said not a single shot had been fired across the 749-km-long LoC since October 18. The ceasefire violations from Pakistan had started tapering off from October 13 and stopped on October 18. The focus of Pakistan seems to have shifted to the IB, where firing has been reported 32 times in the past 72 hours, injuring BSF personnel and causing a scare among villagers on the Indian side.

The firing along the IB was discussed in the conference and also with the Defence Minister. India and Pakistan had signed a ceasefire agreement in 2003. This year alone, there have been more than 200 ceasefire violations. Since August 1, there have been 125 violations. In 2012, there were 117 truce violations, while in 2011 there were 61 violations.

While the IB is manned by the BSF that is equipped with latest gadgetry, the LoC is with the Army. The LoC is the outcome of the 1972 Simla Agreement, which was earlier known as the United Nations brokered 1949 ceasefire line.

Meanwhile, in the five-day Army commanders’ conference, the Army Chief, Vice-Chief Lt Gen SK Singh and Army Commanders of all operational commands and Army training command are participating. Besides, eight senior heads of various wings of the Army are attending it.

The Army Chief during his opening address today emphasised on internal and external issues. The conference is focusing on various macro-level issues pertaining to operational preparedness, equipment sustainment for mission readiness and maximising combat power generation capability of the Army, enhancing professional military education, logistics and other administrative aspects.