Army Chief Bikram Singh briefs PM Narendra Modi on security situation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on Friday briefed by Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh on the prevailing security situation and operational readiness of troops in a meeting which lasted for close to three hours.

This was the Army Chief's first substantial meeting with the Prime Minister and it came on a day when there were ceasefire violations by Pakistan Army along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. Defence Minister Arun Jaitley, who was also present in the meeting, is to visit the state on Saturday to review the security situation.

"The briefing was broad-based. It was a detailed review of the security situation, including the internal security situation. The status of operational readiness was also discussed besides the future challenges that need to be attended," a defence spokesperson said.

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Minister of State for Defence Rao Inderjit Singh and Army Chief-designate Lt Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag, who is presently the Vice-Chief, were also present in the meeting.
The briefing, sources said, began at 10 AM and lasted till 12.40 PM.

Pakistan troops violated the ceasefire today by targeting Indian posts along the LoC in Poonch sector of Jammu & Kashmir with heavy firing and mortar shelling, drawing retaliation by Indian forces.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah questioned the timing of the ceasefire violation as Jaitley will visit the state on Saturday for the first time since assuming office. The violation was termed as "significant" by Omar as some of the shells had landed in civilian areas.