Army chief reviews security situation along LoC in Kashmir

Local commanders briefed the Chief of Army Staff on the existing security situation and the measures instituted to foil infiltration bids by terrorists

Stating that the permanence of ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan depends on the actions of the neighbouring country, Army Chief General MM Naravane Thursday asserted that the army was fully prepared to deal with any eventuality as terror infrastructure across the border was intact.

The Army chief’s two-day visit to Kashmir assumes significance as the ceasefire between India and Pakistan along the LoC completes 100 days.

“The ceasefire along the LoC is holding as of now. The onus of making sure that the ceasefire holds is squarely on Pakistan. We are willing to observe the ceasefire as long as they do so,” he told a selected group of journalists at the end of his visit.

Before India and Pakistan recommitted themselves to cease fire across the LoC and other contested sectors on February 25 this year, incidents of shelling from across the border in J&K had been on the rise. In the first 56 days of this year, 658 ceasefire violations were recorded while four Indian security personnel and several civilians were killed.

However, the Army chief, who arrived in the Valley on Wednesday to review the security situation ahead of summer and amid the Covid-19 pandemic said other activities like terror infrastructure, including terrorist camps and presence of terrorists on the other side of the LoC, continued in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK).

“Therefore, there can be no slackening of our level of preparedness,” he said and added if Islamabad observes ceasefire in letter and spirit, small steps can lead to incremental gains.

“There have been decades of mistrust between India and Pakistan. So, the situation on that score cannot change overnight. If Pakistan continues to desist from fomenting trouble in India, then small steps can lead to that level of trust that you are talking about,” Gen Naravane added.

During his two-day visit, the Army chief visited units and formations of the Army, where he was briefed by the senior commanders on the existing security situation and the measures being taken to identify and target the overground workers (OGWs) network involved in radicalisation and recruitment of youth into militant ranks.

Besides hinterland security issues, he was also given an account of the LoC situation in Kashmir including the tightening of the anti-infiltration grid by the 15-Corps Commander. He was informed that despite the pandemic, the army has kept close vigil at the LoC and defeated the nefarious designs of militants.

The Army chief also called on J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha at Raj Bhawan and discussed the emerging challenges and road map for longterm peace in J&K on Wednesday evening.