Open Batalik, Siachen for tourism: CM
Sanjeev Pargal/Fayaz Bukhari
JAMMU/SRINAGAR, Sept 29: Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today held high-level review of security situation in Kashmir and borders with Pakistan with top Army Commanders in Srinagar, where she reached this morning on her first two-day visit of Kashmir and Ladakh regions. She also visited forward posts of the Army along Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan.
The first full-time woman Defence Minister of the country met Governor NN Vohra and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti separately to review situation in the State as well as steps required to be taken by the Defence Ministry for peace and normalcy including the borders with Pakistan.
Sources told the Excelsior that Sitharaman will tomorrow fly to Thoise in Siachen Glacier, the highest battlefield in the world and then visit Leh to review security along Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.
Accompanied by Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat, the Defence Minister was briefed on security situation in the Kashmir valley including the frontiers by Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Devraj Anbu and Chinar Corps Commander Lt Gen JS Sandhu at Badami Bagh Cantonment.
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The Defence Minister was given overview of the Counter Infiltration and Counter Terrorist Operations undertaken in the recent past by the Army on the LoC with Pakistan and hinterland of Kashmir especially the ‘Operation All Out’, which has been launched to eliminate militants in the Valley,” sources said and added that the Army Commanders briefed Sitharaman on major successes achieved by the troops under ‘Operation All Out’ by eliminating several top commanders of the militant outfits and their cadre.
The Defence Minister appreciated effectiveness of Intelligence and Operational Grid and commended troops for excellent operational successes, which had contributed significantly towards a secure environment in the State.
She lauded the Army Commanders for high level of synergy achieved with Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP) during operations against the militants.
The Field Commanders told visiting Defence Minister that the Army along with other security forces have achieved major successes this year and eliminated 151 militants so far including 10 top commanders of Hizbul Mujahideen, Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Toiba. She was told that majority of these militants were killed in last three months after ‘Operation All Out’ was launched in Kashmir against the militants.
Nirmala was also given detailed briefing about the situation along the LoC and International Border and measures taken to counter the infiltration of militants from Pakistan occupied Kashmir. She was given details about the strengthening of counter-infiltration grid that has led to dip in the infiltration of militants into Kashmir.
The Defence Minister was briefed about the intelligence inputs that suggest desperation of militants to infiltrate into Kashmir ahead of winter. She was, however, told that the effective mechanism is in place to counter the enemy designs.
The Minister visited Sharat Battalion of Army in Tanghdar area of Kupwara district and interacted with the troops there. The Commanding Officer of the Battalion briefed her about the area and the alertness of troops. She was also briefed about the counter-infiltration grid that has been strengthened over the years. She inter-acted with the troops there.
Srinagar based Defence spokesman, Col Rajesh Kalia said here that Defence Minister visited the forward areas and was briefed about the robust Counter Infiltration posture along the Line of Control.
In her meeting with Governor NN Vohra, Sitharaman discussed several important inter-related issues concerning effective management of internal and external security, particularly in the context of increasing attempts of infiltration, ongoing anti-terrorist operations and terrorist attacks on security force personnel in the Valley.
Gen Rawat accompanied Sitharaman during meeting with Vohra.
Sources said the Governor stressed crucial need for urgent enlargement of BRO and very significant strengthening of its resources for ensuring maintenance of vital road networks and strategic connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in Ladakh region.
Vohra sought personal intervention of Sitharaman for return of certain pockets of land to the State Government, which were no longer required for military purposes, about which he had earlier held meetings with former Defence Minister and Army chief.
A Raj Bhawan handout said the Governor informed the Defence Minister that despite increased activities along the International Border and Line of Control, the officers and men of the Northern Command, particularly of the Chinar Corps, had been discharging their duties with exceptional devotion under very difficult circumstances. He lauded working of the Northern Command in total coordination with civil administration, Jammu and Kashmir Police and Central Armed Police Forces.
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, in her meeting with Sitharaman called for opening areas like Batalik, Siachen base and other such places for tourist activities including trekking, mountain biking etc to give boost to tourist in the State.
Mehbooba pressed for speeding up the cases of land vacation by Army in various parts of the State and release of rent dues in favour of people, whose land is in possession of the Army.
She sought intervention of the Defence Minister for return of certain pockets of land in the State, which were no longer required for operational purposes by the Army and on which consensus has already been arrived at between State Government and Defence Ministry.
The Chief Minister raised the issue of pacing up of work on certain important roads in the State being constructed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) like four lanning of Srinagar-Baramulla-Uri, Rajouri-Thana Mandi-Surankote, Akhnoor-Poonch, Reasi-Arnas-Mahore and Turtuk-Hanuthang.
She pitched for construction of tunnels at Razdan Pass on Bandipore-Gurez road and Sadna Pass on Kupwara-Tanghdar road.
Sitharaman assured Mehbooba that she would look into the issues raised by her in time bound manners.
Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat, J&K Home Secretary RK Goyal, Principal Secretary to CM, Rohit Kandal and other senior officers of State and Central Governments were present on the occasion.
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