Gangtok: Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi on Thursday chaired the Army Commanders' Conference (ACC) in Gangtok. For the first time, the event is being held at a strategically important location outside Delhi. The conference is being held in a hybrid format, with the first phase in Gangtok and the second phase in New Delhi on October 28-29.

According to the Army, the objective of this conference is to review the current operational preparedness, discuss important strategies and outline future directions. During this, the focus will be on national security and technological advancement in the Indian Army. Discussions about the future will continue in the coming phase.

Preparations to pay tribute to brave soldiers

While the entire country prepares to pay tribute to the brave soldiers who fought in the Battle of Walong during the 1962 Indo-China War in Arunachal Pradesh, the Indian Army is all set to launch a month-long series of commemoration events to mark the 62nd Walong Day.

The event will begin on October 17 and continue till November 14. It will commemorate the indomitable spirit, sacrifice and courage of the heroes who guarded the country's eastern border.

Key issues will be discussed

According to a release issued by the Ministry of Defence, the first phase of the conference will discuss important national security issues and strategic aspects aimed at sharpening the combat capabilities of the Indian Army. The key issues that will be deliberated during this two-day session will include the growing importance of a multi-faceted national security strategy, which includes amalgamation of civilian, military and diplomatic level information, integration of military and economic (DIME) sectors to counter contemporary threats, besides the need to develop low-cost technologies and alternative strategies to counter the rapid changes in the battlefield.

In line with the Indian Army's aim to imbibe technical knowledge, senior military officers will deliberate on various issues including infusion of technology in military education and explore possibilities of recruiting experts in such fields.

Geopolitical scenario will be discussed

The second phase of the conference will discuss the emerging geopolitical scenario followed by deliberations on operational matters and meetings of various Boards of Governors to deliberate on welfare measures and schemes for financial security of serving soldiers, ex-servicemen and their families. The Senior Army Commanders' Conference will also be addressed by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi and Chief of Air Force Air Chief Marshal AP Singh.