Major reshuffle in Army top brass

The Indian Army on Thursday reshuffled its field commanders, some of whom had been posted for months along the volatile India-Pakistan border, official sources said.

According to the sources, the juggling was a "routine" matter.

Some of the officers replaced were those commanding key formations on the border, the sources said.

Among the changes made were the appointment of a new deputy chief of staff (policy and staff) of the Army.

In addition, the commander of the restive Poonch to Chamb sectors on the border in Kashmir has been appointed to the post of deputy chief of staff (training and personnel).

A new officer was put in charge of the troops posted at Poonch and Chamb, the sources said.

And a new officer will be in charge of 12 Desert Corps deployed on the India-Pakistan border in Rajasthan.

Several other high-ranking officials posted at the border had also been reshuffled, the sources said.

India and Pakistan have deployed over a million troops along their borders since a militant attack on the Indian Parliament last December which New Delhi blamed on Pakistan-based militants.

New Delhi, June 27, 2002 (AFP)