Army has to remain prepared to counter Doklam-like situation: Gen Rawat

TIL Desk/National/Jammu/ Army chief General Bipin Rawat has said that the army has to remain prepared to counter any Doklam-like situation along the Sino-India border.

Rawat, while speaking to reporters at a function in Jammu, also said that the mountain strike corps, designated as 17 Corps, was being raised as a “force of deterrence” and the process of its establishment was on schedule.

Asked if the 17 corps was being established to counter China, Rawat said, “Why should we say it is against whom? It is for deterrence and deterrence is against any threat that may confront the nation.”

The Cabinet Committee on Security headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi had cleared the setting up of the 17 Corps in the latter part of 2014.

So far, one division comprising nearly 25,000 soldiers has been raised for the Corps, which is at present headquartered at Ranchi. Once the raising of the 72 division is complete, the Corps will be based out of Panagarh in West Bengal.