Army Chief's Gen Dalbir Singh annual press conference

[PARIKRAMA]

Army Chief's Gen Dalbir Singh annual press conference

Major points

1. Army Chief's annual press conference begins in the capital.
2. For India, threats to security are land centric in nature
3. Maximum army procurement schemes in the last five years have been for Indian companies. 73 percent by value
4. We are setting up an Army Design Bureau (ADD) to concentrate on design and providing tech inputs to DRDO and OFB - Army Chief
5. New Army Design Bureau to fast track development of weapon systems, assist DRDO - Army Chief Gen Dalbir Singh.
6. On Pathankot - Army Chief says it was clear that ops were under command of the Western Army Commander
7. Army Chief says his directions on Pathankot ops was to secure all facilities and personnel, ensure no one escapes and to avoid casualties.
8. On questions on whether NSA was micromanaging the Pathankot ops, Army Chief says Western Army Commander was in overall charge.
9. Army chiefs says reports that only 2 columns deployed in Pathankot incorrect. Says 8 column were on ground under command of a Brigadier.
10. Gen Dalbir Singh identifies cyber security as the major non traditional challenge for the Army.
11. Acquisition of artillery guns is a priority, Army Chief says.
12. Commanders on the ground in Pathankot were given full liberty and independence, no interference - Army Chief Gen Dalbir Singh
13. Army chief says critical postmortem of Pathankot operations not fair. Commanders on ground took best steps possible.
14. Army Chief says there was good coordination on the ground between Army and NSG with latter also giving cover fire to former at Pathankot.
15. Army Chief confirms unarmed soldiers were present in the building in which last two terrorists had been holed up, were evacuated safely.
16. Army chief declines to comment on how terrorists entered Pathankot air base. Says NIA investigation is on.
17. Army Chief says the Mazar e Sharif and Pathankot attacks are 'individual, isolated incidents'
18. NSG was deployed in Pathankot as there were fears of a hostage situation - Army Chief
19. Reason why terrorists are using the Punjab border to enter is because Line of Control in JK has been sealed and is difficult to breach.
20. Army chief says will not comment on international border breach as the section falls under the BSF.
21. Indian Army is ready and competent to execute any responsibility given to it: Army Chief Gen Dalbir Singh
22. Army Chief says crisis management committee met before Pathankot attack. Alerted troops in Northern and Western Command, deployed troops.
23. Army Chief says no one entered the Pathankot base after army columns were deployed.
24. On Pak state involvement in Pathankot attack , Army Chief says evidence shared but details will come out only after investigation.
25. Motive of the Pathankot attack was to inflict max damage and generate a media attention - Army Chief
26. If smuggling route was used to bring in terrorists, it is an act of treason - Army Chief.
27. We are conducting a security audit with the aim to make it clear to the terrorists that if they attack, they shall perish - Army Chief
28. On link between Mazar e Sharif and Pathankot, Army Chief clarifies his comments, says would be clear only after investigation.
29. No move to slow down raising of the new Mountain Strike Corps, we are on target to raise it by 2021 - Army Chief Gen Dalbir Singh
30. Army chief says no budget cuts for raising of a new mountain strike Corps.
31. On Myanmar- Army Chief says it was clear in post op briefing that action took place along Indo-Myanmar border. Never claimed cross border.
32. On direct question whether Army prepared for cross border strikes to take on Pak based terror camps, Army Chief says ready for any task.
33. Face offs on the China border have come down this year from the previous - Army Chief
    
34. No fresh reports of any Chinese (military) presence in Azad Kashmir - Army Chief
    
35. Number of terror camps in Pakistan have not reduced in the past 2-3 years. 17 remain active - Army Chief
36. Not commenting on Pathankot attack but in the past Pak Army has tried to derail India Pakistan peace talks number of times - Army Chief
37. Lt Col Niranjan was the most qualified officer to handle the situation in Pathankot
38. Artillery guns, air defence guns, light helicopters are critical requirements. Have given priority to them

Source Manu Pubby, Economic Times twitter account
Manu Pubby (@manupubby_ET) | Twitter

Edited to add more points as per ongoing question answer session..

 

[nair]

A simple straight forward Press conference, with nothing big for our press to post under "Breaking Now"

Army Chief's Gen Dalbir Singh annual press conference

Major points

1. Army Chief's annual press conference begins in the capital.
2. For India, threats to security are land centric in nature
3. Maximum army procurement schemes in the last five years have been for Indian companies. 73 percent by value
4. We are setting up an Army Design Bureau (ADD) to concentrate on design and providing tech inputs to DRDO and OFB - Army Chief
5. New Army Design Bureau to fast track development of weapon systems, assist DRDO - Army Chief Gen Dalbir Singh.
6. On Pathankot - Army Chief says it was clear that ops were under command of the Western Army Commander
7. Army Chief says his directions on Pathankot ops was to secure all facilities and personnel, ensure no one escapes and to avoid casualties.
8. On questions on whether NSA was micromanaging the Pathankot ops, Army Chief says Western Army Commander was in overall charge.
9. Army chiefs says reports that only 2 columns deployed in Pathankot incorrect. Says 8 column were on ground under command of a Brigadier.
10. Gen Dalbir Singh identifies cyber security as the major non traditional challenge for the Army.
11. Acquisition of artillery guns is a priority, Army Chief says.
12. Commanders on the ground in Pathankot were given full liberty and independence, no interference - Army Chief Gen Dalbir Singh
13. Army chief says critical postmortem of Pathankot operations not fair. Commanders on ground took best steps possible.
14. Army Chief says there was good coordination on the ground between Army and NSG with latter also giving cover fire to former at Pathankot.
15. Army Chief confirms unarmed soldiers were present in the building in which last two terrorists had been holed up, were evacuated safely.
16. Army chief declines to comment on how terrorists entered Pathankot air base. Says NIA investigation is on.
17. Army Chief says the Mazar e Sharif and Pathankot attacks are 'individual, isolated incidents'
18. NSG was deployed in Pathankot as there were fears of a hostage situation - Army Chief
19. Reason why terrorists are using the Punjab border to enter is because Line of Control in JK has been sealed and is difficult to breach.
20. Army chief says will not comment on international border breach as the section falls under the BSF.
21. Indian Army is ready and competent to execute any responsibility given to it: Army Chief Gen Dalbir Singh
22. Army Chief says crisis management committee met before Pathankot attack. Alerted troops in Northern and Western Command, deployed troops.
23. Army Chief says no one entered the Pathankot base after army columns were deployed.
24. On Pak state involvement in Pathankot attack , Army Chief says evidence shared but details will come out only after investigation.
25. Motive of the Pathankot attack was to inflict max damage and generate a media attention - Army Chief
26. If smuggling route was used to bring in terrorists, it is an act of treason - Army Chief.
27. We are conducting a security audit with the aim to make it clear to the terrorists that if they attack, they shall perish - Army Chief
28. On link between Mazar e Sharif and Pathankot, Army Chief clarifies his comments, says would be clear only after investigation.
29. No move to slow down raising of the new Mountain Strike Corps, we are on target to raise it by 2021 - Army Chief Gen Dalbir Singh
30. Army chief says no budget cuts for raising of a new mountain strike Corps.

Source Manu Pubby, Economic Times twitter account
Manu Pubby (@manupubby_ET) | Twitter

 

[Spectre]

A simple straight forward Press conference, with nothing big for our press to post under "Breaking Now"

Am i reading too much into it or did he seem frosty towards BSF.

 

[PARIKRAMA]

A simple straight forward Press conference, with nothing big for our press to post under "Breaking Now"

I like his professional approach.. kept i simple and devoid of any eye raising controversial remarks..

Am i reading too much into it or did he seem frosty towards BSF.

He is unhappy as Border Sealing comes under BSF and perhaps BSF initial report of not finding any gap in their patrolling in borders now and also in previous attack in Gurdaspur has annoyed the IA brass.

You are right about the frosty part surely

 

[SirHatesALot]

There is no need for institutions such as Army in India, he must resign and apply for a job in some MNC, thats where the future is.

 

[nair]

Am i reading too much into it or did he seem frosty towards BSF.

I also felt it while reading it...... But then most of us watch every such news with certain amount of suspension, that could be the reason.....

We do not have much info about the internal equation between BSF and IA.....

 

[Razia Sultana]

32. On direct question whether Army prepared for cross border strikes to take on Pak based terror camps, Army Chief says ready for any task.
35. Number of terror camps in Pakistan have not reduced in the past 2-3 years. 17 remain active - Army Chief

hmmm