This year, the achievements of Armed Forces were many. It includes speedy modernisation of the Armed Forces to meet present and emerging challenges, development of requisite capacities and infrastructure for making up for the critical deficiency of weapons and equipment and creating a robust defense set up in the country through the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
The year for the army, in particular, was the most achieved since the formation of Modi government. Here are the achievements of the Army, its exercises, relief operations and more:
- Current Situation in J&K: The security situation in J&K is at an important crossroads. Cease Fire Violations (CFVs) which saw a meteoric rise in the preceding months, wherein more than 70 incidents of caliber escalation to Artillery/ 120 mm Mortar were attempted by Pakistan. Army along with CAPF and JKP continues to put in relentless efforts to bring back normalcy to the Kashmir Valley.
- Situation Along LAC: There is no commonly delineated Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the border areas between India and China. From time to time, on account of differing perception of the LAC, situations have arisen on the ground that could have been avoided if we had a common perception of the LAC. Army regularly takes up any such situation along the LAC with the Chinese side through established mechanism including border personnel meeting, flag meetings, meeting of Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination on India-China Border Affairs and diplomatic channels.
- Surgical Strikes Along Line of Control: Based on specific and credible inputs about some terrorist teams having positioned themselves at launch pads along Line of Control to carry out infiltration and conduct terrorist strikes in Jammu and Kashmir and in various metros in other States, the Indian Army conducted surgical strikes on 29 September at several of these launch pads to pre-empt infiltration by terrorists.
The operations were focussed on ensuring that these terrorists did not succeed in their design to cause destruction and endanger the lives of our citizens. During these counter-terrorist operations, significant casualties were caused by terrorists and those providing support to them.
- Indian Army Medical Team Participated in the Joint Exercise of ASEAN PLUS countries in Thailand in September 2016. The exercise was based on the humanitarian action during a natural calamity.
- Army Everest Massif Expedition to Mt Everest and Mt Lhotse: The Indian Army Everest Massif Expedition to scale Mount Everest and Mount Lhotse, was flagged off by Vice-Chief of the Army Staff Lt Gen MMS Rai, on 29 March 2016 in New Delhi. The 30-member team of 5 Officers, 4 Junior Commissioned Officers, and 21 Other Ranks was led by Lt Col RS Jamwal, a reputed climber.
- Chinar Corps Centenary Expedition to Mt Harmukh: A 45-member team of Indian Army mountaineers led by Col SS Shekhawat, who had scaled Mt Everest thrice earlier, scaled the formidable peak of Harmukh on 21 May 2016 as part of the Chinar Corps’ centenary celebrations. Harmukh at 5148m lies in the North Western Himalayan range.
- Joint Indo-Kyrgyz Army Mountaineering Expedition to Mt Jogin III: A 23-member team conducted the expedition from 30 August to 25 September 2016 in Harsil sector of Garhwal Himalaya (Uttarakhand). The team included nine members from the Kyrgyz Army. It successfully completed the expedition.
- Vivekananda Flyover Collapse: Kolkata witnessed the collapse of the Vivekananda Flyover on 31 March 2016. The civil authorities immediately called the Army to carry out rescue operations. On arrival, rescue work was coordinated with civil administration and the NDRF.
Also read:
Indian Army Training Events And Military Exercises 2016: A Review
