Pak continuing with its anti-India activities along LoC: Lt Gen Ranbir Singh

Downfall in locals joining militancy, Pak feeling starved; First surgical strike was carried out in Sept 2016

21/05/2019

Udhampur, May 20: Asserting that the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir is "under control", the Army said Monday Pakistan is continuing with its anti-India activities along the Line of Control (LoC) by trying to infiltrate militants into the Valley and promoting drug trade.
General Officer Commanding in Chief (GoC-In-C), Northern Command, Lt Gen Ranbir Singh said 86 terrorists were killed this year in the state and vowed that operations against the ultras will continue.
"The security situation in Jammu and Kashmir in under control," Lt Gen Singh told PTI in reply to a question here.
He said the terror infrastructure across the border was intact and Pakistan is continuing with its anti-Indian activities.
"Pakistan has been continuing with its activities which are mainly anti-India, whether it is violating ceasefire, promoting cross-border infiltration, drug trafficking, narcotics, circulation of fake Indian currency," he said. He said the neighbouring country wants to continue with its proxy war against India.
"But I must assure you that our efforts to thwart each of these actions is in place and Pakistan will not able to succeed in its designs," Lt Gen Singh said.
He said the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) was peaceful and "we have been able to ensure peace and tranquility with China".
Lt Gen Singh said the established mechanisms for confidence building have ensured that there are no "fraction points" between the two sides.
"If at all there are any kind of transgressions and incursions, which do take place, the established mechanisms take care of that," he added.
He said the security forces helped the administration in Jammu and Kashmir to conduct the LokSabha polls in a peaceful manner.
"We recently finished with the elections in Jammu and Kashmir. The credit is due to the security forces and the administration," Lt Gen Singh said.
He said while security forces killed a number of militants in the past about four months in the state, some ultras shunned the path of violence and returned to the mainstream.
"During this year, we have been to neutralise 86 terrorists so far. Twenty terrorists were also apprehended. Our operations against terrorists will continue. A number of ultras have been brought back to the mainstream with the help of the parents, teachers and senior citizens," Lt Gen Sinbh said.
He said the Army was able to check and and arrest terror activities in south of PirPanjal in the Jammu region.
At present, there are no confirmed reports about the presence of terrorists in the region, Lt Gen Singh said.
"Our resolve, our commitment to operations (against militants) continues to be same in south of PirPanjal. We will not allow the area to slip into terrorism," he added.
Commanding-in-Chief of the Indian Army's Northern Command, Lieutenant General Ranbir Singh on Monday confirmed that the first surgical strike was carried out by India in September 2016.
Citing an RTI reply by Director General of Military Operations (DGMO), Indian Army, Singh said that the first surgical strike by armed forces took place in September 2016, to avenge the Uri garrison attack, in which 19 soldiers were killed. "A few days ago, DGMO said in a reply to an RTI that the first surgical strike happened in September 2016. I don't want to go into what political parties say, they will be given an answer by the government. What I have told you is a statement of fact," Lt General Singh said at a press conference here.
Singh was addressing a press conference here in which he was asked about Congress' claims of conducting six surgical strikes during the UPA regime.
Congress leader Rajiv Shukla had earlier told reporters at the AICC briefing that six surgical strikes were conducted during Manmohan Singh government.
Shukla had stated that two surgical strikes were carried out when AtalBihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister--one on January 21, 2000, in Nadala Enclave across the Neelam River and second on September 18, 2003, in Baroh Sector in Poonch.
Meanwhile at the press conference today, Lt General Singh said that airstrikes by the Indian Air Force on terrorist infrastructure in Balakot was a major achievement.
He said that Indian aircraft went deep into enemy territory and launched preemptive strikes across terror launchpads in Pakistan.
"Pakistanis carried out air operations the following day, however they were given a befitting reply," Singh said.
Forty Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed in the deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama on February 14 when a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist rammed his explosives-laden vehicle into the CPRF convoy.
Lieutenant General Ranbir Singh, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command of the Indian Army on Monday said that though locals in Kashmir joining militancy "remains a matter of concern," Pakistan today feels "absolutely starved" because of effective counter infiltration grid of the Indian Army.
"Local recruitment remains a matter of concern for all of us. Last year, we had 217 local youth who had picked up militancy. This year, the number has significantly reduced and as on date there are only 40 youth who have picked up arms," Lieutenant General Singh said while addressing the media here. He shared that one of the key reasons for this is the "radicalization and exploitation of social media by Pakistani agencies."
"Pakistan has been continuing with its efforts. Today, they feel absolutely starved because of the very effective counter infiltration grid of the Indian Army. Successful infiltration from the Line of Control is virtually becoming very difficult. Therefore, for them to continue with this militancy, they want that the local content should be increased," he said.
"However, that realization is coming in the youth and people of Kashmir that we do not want to become fodder by the Pakistani agencies and various inimical elements, who want to promote terrorism and violence in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. I am sure with the help of all the stakeholders we will be able to arrest this trend in the times to come as we are doing now," he added.

Photo Gallery

BSE Sensex

NSE Nifty