Jammu, Feb 9: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen V K Singh Thursday reviewed the security and geo-strategic situation in Jammu and Kashmir on a day-long visit to the state.
Gen Singh, who was accompanied by Air-Officer-Commanding in Chief (CAOC-In-C) Western Air Command, Air Marshal D C Kumaria and Director General Military Operation (DGMO) Lt General A K Choudhary arrived here this morning, Public Relation Officer of Ministry of Defence S N Acharya said.
Later, Gen Singh chaired a high-level joint security meeting at the Udhampur-based Northern Command, 65 kms from Jammu, in which all General Officer Commandings (GOCs) and top IAF officers took part.
He reviewed the security situation and geo-strategic situation in Jammu and Kashmir and synergy of operational scenario of Army and Air Force in the state.
“The general (VK Singh) was briefed on all security issues by the army commander (Northern Command chief Lt Gen KT Parnaik),” army spokesperson said.
“This is the first visit of the army chief to Jammu and Kashmir this year,” the spokesman added.
The Army Chief is scheduled to return back to New Delhi this evening, the PRO said.
The army chief’s visit to the Northern Command headquarters in Udhampur district comes exactly a week after US Director of Intelligence James Clapper said that the Indian Army could be preparing for a limited conflict along the “disputed” India-China border.

CONCERNED OVER CHINESE PRESENCE IN PAK: INDIA
K J M Varma adds from Beijing: Concerned over the Chinese troop presence in Pakistan-administered Kashmir (PaK), India has taken up the issue with the top leadership here.
The matter was raised by visiting External Affairs Minister S M Krishna during his talks with the Chinese leaders yesterday.
Krishna, who met four Chinese leaders including Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, said India’s concerns in this regard were conveyed during the talks.
“On the issue of Chinese presence in PaK, Pakistan is in illegal occupation of certain areas of Jammu and Kashmir,” Krishna told a media briefing here after his talks with Chinese leaders.
“This has been brought to the attention of the Chinese leadership repeatedly and there it stands,” he said.
Recently, army chief Gen V K Singh had said in New Delhi that around 4,000 Chinese, including the troops of the People’s Liberation Army, were in PaK.
Krishna, who inaugurated a new USD 10 million Indian embassy building here yesterday, held talks with Zhou Yongkong, a senior member of the politburo standing committee of the ruling Communist Party of China.
Besides, Krishna had a luncheon meeting with Yang, followed by talks with Wang Jiarui, a senior official of the International Department of the CPC; and top Chinese diplomat and State Counsellor Dai Bingguo.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 9 Feb 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 9 Feb 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:00:00 IST