Subhechcha Ganguly 
Since 2021, the Army has been concerned about terrorist attacks in the Nagrota-based 16 Corps area, particularly in the Poonch-Rajouri sector in J&K.The Indian Army is considering giving top field commanders in terrorist-insurgency-prone areas longer terms in order to encourage them to take action against the enemy rather than wait for the next higher command position.According to reports, the Army Headquarters intends to increase the tenure of Divisional and Corps commanders from the customary one year to around two years. This will allow the field commander to concentrate on the counterterrorism tasks at hand rather than waiting for the next promotion. The North-East and Jammu and Kashmir Corps and Divisional Commanders in particular should take note of this.
The term of Corps (led by a Lt. Gen.), Divisions (led by a Major General), and Brigades (led by Brigadiers) deployed in counterterrorist and counterinsurgency missions will now be 15 to 18 months before moving on to the next assignment, according to South Block sources.A senior commander declared, “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 inside the UT of Jammu and Kashmir.”
The Nagrota-based 16 Corps area, in especially the Poonch-Rajouri sector in Jammu and Kashmir, has been the target of terror attacks by Pakistan-based, banned organisations since 2021. The “playing it safe” mentality of the field commanders has drawn the attention of the top leadership, who are currently reviewing the leadership’s actions and if regular operating protocols were followed.
