After Poonch-Rajouri Terror Attacks, 'Playing-It-Safe' Attitude Of Field Commanders In Focus; Army Plans To Increase Tenure In Counter Insurgency: Report

The Indian Army is planning to increase the tenures of the field commanders from one year to two years, particularly of the formations deployed in Counter-Insurgency (COIN) operations.

According to a report by the Hindustan Times, the tenure of Lt Generals, Major Generals, and Brigadiers deployed in counterterrorist and COIN operations will be increased to 15 to 18 months.

According to a senior Army officer, some commanders are displaying the 'playing-it-safe' attitude, where they bide their time for the next promotion. And this particularly applies to the officers deployed in the terror-prone zone of the Kashmir and Northeast.

“The attitude of playing it safe for the next promotion will be discouraged and the officer will be judged by the action taken against cross-border infiltration and jihadists from across and within the UT of Jammu and Kashmir,” an Army top commander said.

In the Nagrota-based 16 corps controlled area of Poonch-Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir, there has been a recent increase in terrorist attacks resulting in the deaths of ten army soldiers, including four from the special forces.

It is believed that the Indian Army is currently engaged in a conflict with two groups of Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorists who are believed to be operating in the Kandi Forests of Rajouri, since 2021. These terrorists are reportedly part of the Kotli-based Sajjid Jutt, also known as the Habibullah Malik module, which is based in Pakistan.

The fact that the two terrorist groups have been operating in the Kandi Forests of Rajouri since 2021 without being flushed out is a cause for concern. It suggests a lack of effective action by the field commanders deployed in the area.

As a result, the actions of field commanders in the 16 corps area and their adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are currently under review by Headquarters, according to a report by the Hindustan Times. The report also highlights the "playing-it-safe" attitude of some commanders in these regions, which has caught the attention of top leadership.

The report says that these terrorists are armed with under-barrel grenade launchers and are using the Pakistan based mobile network which covers territories inside the LoC. Pakistan has installed high-powered mobile towers all along the LoC and the international borders in Jammu area whose coverage area well extends into Indian territory.

This is significant because Pakistan intends to disrupt the G-20 meeting in Srinagar scheduled for May 22 to 24. As a result, the top leadership has directed the army, including the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Jammu and Kashmir police, to eliminate the terrorists in the Poonch-Rajouri sector.