India-Pakistan conflict: Centre empowers Army chief to call out ‘every enrolled person’ of Territorial Army for support

The central government has empowered the Army Chief to call out "every officer and every enrolled person" of the Territorial Army (TA) to provide for essential guard or to be embodied to support or supplement the regular Army.

The move comes in the wake of the ongoing military conflict between India and Pakistan.

Stay updated on the India-Pakistan conflict with Livemint here

The Indian Army, on the intervening night of May 8 and May 9, successfully repelled and responded to multiple drone attacks by Pakistan along the western border and the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir.

A day prior to that, the Indian Armed Forces, under Operation Sindoor, had carried out missile strikes on nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), in retaliation for the terror attack in Pahalgam.

Order to stay in force for three years

The notification, dated May 6, said that the order will remain in force for three years with effect from February 10, 2025 to February 9, 2028.

"In exercise of the powers conferred by Rule 33 of the Territorial Army Rule 1948, the Central Government empowers Chief of the Army Staff to exercise the powers under that rule to call out every officer and every enrolled person of the Territorial Army to provide for essential guard or to be embodied for the purpose of supporting or supplementing the regular army," reads the notification issued by the Ministry of Defence's Department of Military Affairs.

The government notification also said, "out of the existing 32 Infantry Battalions (Territorial Army), embodiment of 14 Infantry Battalions (Territorial Army) for deployment in the areas of Southern Command, Eastern Command, Western Command, Central Command, Northern Command, South Western Command, Andaman and Nicobar Command and Army Training Command (ARTRAC)".

What is the Territorial Army?

The TA, raised on October 9, 1949, completed 75 years last year and has served the nation in times of war, and in humanitarian and environmental protection works through its eventful journey over the decades.

It is fully integrated with the regular Army. In recognition of nation-building efforts and contributions made during war or conflicts, numerous individuals have been honoured with gallantry as well as distinguished service awards in the TA, a PTI report said.

Defence Minister Rajanth Singh meets top military leadership

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday carried out a comprehensive review of the national security scenario with the top military leadership, a day after Pakistan's attempts to target Indian military installations were repelled.

Every aspect of the evolving security situation was discussed in the meeting, it is learnt, the PTI report said.

The meeting was attended by Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan, Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi and Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh.

(With inputs from agencies)