In the run-up to Balakot strikes, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat very categorically conveyed to the top brass of the government that his force was fully ready to deal with any ground offensive by Pakistan and take the battle into enemy territory. The Indian Army was prepared for conventional warfare with Pakistan which would have included going inside Pakistan.

General Rawat, at a closed-door interaction with a group of retiring Army officials on Monday, said the force was combat-ready for any hostilities from Pakistan Army after the Balakot strikes, the sources said.

Explaining General Rawat's comments, a military official said what the Army Chief meant was that the Indian Army was ready to take the battle to Pakistan.

The sources said Indian Army had finalised contracts toprocure ammunition worth Rs. 11,000 crore after the Uri terror attack inSeptember 2016, and it has received 95 per cent of the total order.

The Army has also finalised 33 contracts worth Rs. 7,000crore for procuring critical armaments while another set of purchases at a costof Rs. 9,000 crore is at an advanced stage.

Indian Air Force bombed terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed'sbiggest training camp near Balakot, deep inside Pakistan on February 26, inresponse to the Pulwama attack.

Pakistan retaliated by attempting to target Indian militaryinstallations on Wednesday. However, the IAF thwarted their plans.