Army chief is back, meets top brass

The service chiefs attended the national security council (NSC) meet to discuss the situation along the border this evening.

The army is scheduled to hold a briefing for the cabinet committee on security on the prevailing situation and probable course of action. ‘‘We have been discussing Pakistan’s deployment along the border, terrorist activities, our counter-insurgency strategy and the future course of action,’’ a top source said.

‘‘We will present different options to the government and tell them our perception. Then it’s up to the government to take a decision. Peak summer is not, however, a campaign season. Logistics replenishment is a major issue. For example the need for water, fuel, oil and lubricants is much greater in high summer. Equipment also doesn’t perform to its optimum. Emergencies are different but a deliberated response caters to these eventualities too. All this is being discussed with the decision makers,’’ army sources said.

It is believed that the army, navy and air force now have a synergised approach which aims at avoiding the hiccups that occurred at Kargil. The army’s focus is currently on the border situation, ‘‘but we don’t want the internal security grid to be weakened. So additional para-military and central reserve police forces will be sent in to Jammu and Kashmir along with re-alignment of existing forces,’’ sources said.

While those soldiers already on leave are not being recalled, certain curbs are being planned on future leave. ‘‘Most of the troops are already deployed. Only those in need of leave due to urgent reasons are not present. It will not take many days for them to be back on duty. Therefore there is no reason to panic. And we will not act in haste just because there is pressure to do so,’’ an official said.