Indian top brass meet to revamp war doctrine

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is scheduled to address the Combined Services Commanders' Conference today while Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee will wind up the annual session on Friday, the official said.

"The changing scenario in India's neighbourhood and international issues such as the conflict in Iraq and rising fuel prices will be part of the discussions," the senior defence ministry official told AFP.

He said issues such as the induction of a newly-purchased Russian aircraft carrier and the refurbishment of some of the ageing fleet of the 137-ship Indian navy would be on the agenda.

The fine-tuned war doctrine is also likely to deal with the formation of smaller strike groups, modern measures to battle insurgencies and the modernisation of the infantry, artillery and armoured forces.

"The speedy induction (into the military) of nuclear-capable short and medium range missiles is very much on the agenda," the official said as the five-day brainstorming session began in the Indian capital.