The path of the country’s next Army Chief Manoj Pandey will not be easy, will have to achieve ‘victory’ on these challenges

Lt Gen Manoj Pandey (Lieutenant General Manoj Pandey) will be the 29th Chief of the Army Staff, succeeding General MM Naravane, whose term ends at the end of this month. Lt Gen Pandey is currently the Vice Chief of the Army Staff. He is the first Commander of the Corps of Engineers to be the Chief of the Army Staff (Chief of Army Staff) will be. Earlier, only officers of infantry, artillery and armored regiments have been at the head of the 13 lakh personnel army. He was heading the Eastern Command of the Army before becoming the Vice Chief of the Army Staff on February 1. On this command the Line of Actual Control in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh Sectors (LAC) has the responsibility of protecting.

Pandey is an alumnus of the National Defense Academy and was commissioned into the Corps of Engineers (Bombay Sappers) in December 1982. In his illustrious career, he worked in many important positions and participated in anti-terrorist operations in various areas. He commanded an engineer regiment along the Line of Control during Operation Parakram in Jammu and Kashmir. Apart from this, he also commanded a mountain division in the highlands of western Ladakh and a corps in the northeast. Let’s take a look at the challenges they face.

Resolution of Ladakh border dispute: For the past two years, the ongoing military complications along the border with China in eastern Ladakh still remain. After the skirmish in the Galvan Valley, 15 rounds of talks have taken place between the representatives of the two countries, but the retreat of the soldiers at the friction points between the two countries has not started yet. In such a situation, it is very important for Lieutenant General Manoj Pandey, who is going to become the Chief of Army Staff, to resolve this dispute.

Indigenization of Military Hardware: His appointment comes at a time when indigenization of military hardware is the top priority of the government. The government has systematically banned the import of 310 weapons and platforms in the last two years to promote self-reliance in the defense sector. These include many systems required for the military.

Be prepared for battle: Information about military plans is currently assessing the impact of the Russo-Ukraine war on India’s military preparedness. Let us tell you that two-thirds of India’s military equipment is of Russian origin. The complexities behind the war in Ukraine stemming from the widespread sanctions imposed on Russia by the US and its Western countries have posed new challenges for India-Russia defense ties. In such a situation, it will not be easy for Manoj Pandey to overcome this challenge.

Manoj Pandey will take over as the 29th Chief of the Army Staff at a time when India is working on a roadmap to dramatize the Army to make best use of the resources of the three Services for future wars and missions. The current theater model seeks to establish four unified commands to enhance synergy among the three services. It will have two land-centric theatres, an air defense command and a maritime theater command. The three services are expected to submit a comprehensive report on theater this month.