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The Chief of the Army Staff has been given powers by the Ministry of Defence to call out all Enrolled Personnel as well as Territorial Army officers for significant guard duties or embodiment in the aid of regular troops. The move follows escalating military tensions at the western front, especially against Pakistan.
The Ministry of Defence has sanctioned the deployment of 14 Infantry Battalions (Territorial Army) in different commands, namely Southern Command, Eastern Command, Western Command, Central Command, Northern Command, South Western Command, Andaman and Nicobar Command, and Army Training Command (ARTRAC). This will help to increase the regular strength and increase the military preparedness of the country.
The deployment will be dependent on the presence of finances in the budget or internal re-appropriations. Where the deployment is undertaken at the behest of a ministry other than the Ministry of Defence, the costs will be met by the concerned ministry. This ensures the distribution of the financial burden accordingly.
The order will remain in force for three years, from February 10, 2025, to February 9, 2028. This time frame will enable the military to strategize and implement its plans effectively, and also enable the Territorial Army to be used to the best of its capabilities.
The move to mobilize the Territorial Army is being made in the wake of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan. In recent days, there have been incidents like an Indian army operation that had struck terror camps inside Pakistan and destroyed more than 50 Pakistani drones in a counter-operation. There have been retaliatory strikes by India against air defence facilities in Lahore and elsewhere as well.
The Indian Army continues in a state of high alert, and the Territorial Army deployment is viewed as a tactical measure to extend operational depth and readiness. The Ministry of Defence said that India continues to stand ready to protect its sovereignty and keep its people safe.
The mobilization of the Territorial Army is a major development in enhancing India's military presence as tensions between India and Pakistan rise. The action is evidence of India's resolve to safeguard its sovereignty and secure its citizens. As developments continue, it remains to be seen how the mobilization of the Territorial Army will affect the military situation between India and Pakistan.