PANCHKULA: The civil military liaison conference on welfare of veterans was held between Western Command headquarters and Himachal Pradesh government, on Wednesday.

HT PHOTOHimachal Pradesh CM Virbhadra Singh and Lt Gen Surinder Singh during the civil military liasion conference at Chandimandir on Wednesday.

The meeting was co-chaired by Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh and general officer commandingin-chief, Western Command, Lieutenant General Surinder Singh.

Sainik welfare minister, Colonel Dhani Ram Shandil, along with civilian officers of the state government and senior military officers from Western Command graced the conference.

The army commander in his opening remarks highlighted the initiatives taken by the armed forces towards the welfare of veterans and towards civil military joint functioning in the field of security and disaster relief.

The CM addressed the gathering and assured support for welfare of ex-servicemen and serving personnel.

CENTRAL ARMY COMMANDER VISIT ENDS General officer commandingin-chief, Central Command, Lt Gen Balwant Singh Negi, was on a three-day visit to Chandimandir military station.

He interacted with his counterpart from Western Command, and discussed strategic cooperation, effective utilisation of strategic forces and higher military planning.

Lt Gen Negi also visited the specialist engineer bridge regiment of the Surya Sappers and witnessed operational training to include specialist bridging and rafting operations for rapid induction of mechanised formations. He also stressed on maintaining the highest levels of operational readiness and commended the Sappers for their specialist skills and high levels of training.