New Delhi, Apr 20 (IANS): The annual meeting of three armed force services and the Ministry of Defence to plan India's long term security and also way ahead for the next year stands postponed amid threat over the spread of coronavirus, sources in the Defence Ministry said on Monday.

"The Unified Commanders Conference which was scheduled on April 22 and April 23 is postponed," said a ministry official. It is an annual event chaired by Defence Minister, Minister of State (Defence) and also attended by the ministry top officials, National Security Advisor, Chief of Defence Staff, service chiefs and senior officers of the three services.

It provides a platform for discussions at the apex level on all 'Joint Issues' amongst the three Services and Ministry of Defence and enables stock taking of the previous year and planning the way ahead for the next year.

The scope of this conference was enhanced this year to enable the forum to facilitate joint stock taking of the previous year's performance of all Services and Departments of Ministry of Defence and jointly chart the course for the next year.

During the conference, under the chairmanship of the Chief of Defence Staff, a large number of tri services issues were planned for deliberation to arrive at solutions to face the challenges and to evolve plans for the future.