Modi attends combined commanders' conference

BHOPAL: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday called upon the three services to stay ready to deal with new and emerging threats, during a comprehensive review of national security challenges with the country's top military brass at the Combined Commanders Conference here on Friday.

The biennial meet, with the theme 'Ready, Resurgent, Relevant,’ being held in Bhopal for the first time, deliberated on strategic defence planning, indigenous weapons manufacturing among others, sources said.

The three-day meet, attended by defence minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Anil Chauhan, Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Pande, Navy chief Admiral R. Hari Kumar and Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, ended here on Saturday.

Sources said modernisation of defence forces, Agniveer scheme, arms manufacturing under Make in India and situation along China and Pakistan borders and other issues of strategic importance were deliberated upon at the conference.

Aspects of digitalisation, cyber security, challenges of social media and Aatmanirbharta were discussed. The key focus of the meet was on advancing theatre command format for national security and enhancing coordination among the three services in future, sources added.

Meanwhile, Navy chief Admiral R. Hari Kumar tested Covid positive and had to leave the conference midway. Bhopal district chief medical health officer Dr Prabhakar Tiwari said that Army Hospital had conducted the Covid tests.