Islamabad, April 26, 2005 (UNI)

Even as Pakistan-India relations thaw and progress continues in the composite dialogue process, Pakistani military commanders today reviewed the Indian Army's recently-released 'War' Doctrine, its newly-raised command, the overall force goals and status of the Indian armed forces’ development plans.

''The Corp Commanders and other senior officers were briefed on the Indian Army's new doctrine, termed 'Cold Start', the newly raised South Western Command, its ''Rapid Reaction Force'', the Special Forces Command, the force goals and status of the development of the Indian Armed Forces,'' an official ISPR statement, issued at the end of 2-day Formation Commanders Conference, said.

Unveiled by former Indian army chief Gen N C Vij in last October, the 'Cold Start' doctrine sought to replace the old concept of mobilisation of forces and Strike Corps spearheading the attack with eight integrated battle groups comprising elements of the IAF and Navy as thrust formations for hard strikes to the point that they would not invite any nuclear retaliation.

Meanwhile, President Gen Pervez Musharraf who addressed the meeting which began yesterday in the cantonment town of Rawalpindi -- just day hours after the President returned home on conclusion of his visit to New Delhi, Manila and Jakarta.

The President, who visited New Delhi from April 16-18, briefed the commanders on his New Delhi visit and told them that the key to Pakistan-India relations is the resolution of Jammu and Kashmir issue for which the CBMs and efforts to settle the dispute will have to move in tandem.

Today, Gen Musharraf assured his military that the country's defence preparedness would be properly maintained.

''We will maintain the minimum defensive deterrence both in the conventional and non-conventional areas,'' he said at the second session today.

The commanders also witnessed display of indigenously-developed defence equipment and vehicles towards the end of the two-day session today.

''While some of the equipment is to add value to the combat equipment already in service in the army, the other is to act as the force multiplier,'' an ISPR spokesman said.