‘Will take other actions if Pak doesn’t mend ways’
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 27: Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat today came down heavily on stone pelters in Kashmir describing them as Over Ground Workers (OGWs) of militants and calling for stern action against them and also warned Pakistan of “other actions” if they continued to support cross-border terrorism.
“How can these stone pelters target our jawan. Yesterday they targeted the jawan and he died in that attack. Please tell me why shouldn’t we compare these stone pelters with OGWs of terrorists and why shouldn’t we act accordingly? Every time a case gets registered against the Army. But this time we have registered a case against them and strict action must be taken by Army this time,” Gen Rawat told reporters on the sidelines of Infantry Day celebrations in the Union capital.
Gen Rawat’s strong message to stone pelters came a day after 22-year old Army soldier Rajendra Singh was killed in stone pelting in Anantnag district while providing escort cover to the convoy of the Border Roads Organization (BRO), which was targeted by the mob with stone pelting.
“The stone pelters are nothing but OGWs of the terror groups and should be dealt with sternly. If they (stone pelters) can kill people with such acts (stone pelting), are they not becoming like the terrorists?” he asked.
Asserting that none will benefit from the stone pelting, the Army chief warned that tough action would be taken against the stone pelters. He disclosed that Army has got a First Information Report (FIR) registered in the case.
Gen Rawat also issued a strong warning to Pakistan. He declared that Kashmir belongs to India and Pakistan attempts to make it a part of its country is futile.
“Kashmir is legally and rightfully India’s. Pakistan is making a futile attempt. Indian Army has the ability and the will to defend Kashmir at any cost. If Pakistan does not desist from supporting terror, Indian Army has lot of options. The Army can resort to ‘other actions’ too,’ he warned.
However, he didn’t elaborate on what could be the possible action he was talking about.
Gen Rawat asked Pakistan to desist from aiding and abetting terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, asserting that the Indian State was “strong enough” to ensure that the border state remains a part of India and no one can take it away by force or any other means.
“The neighbouring country (Pakistan) was resorting to proxy war to avenge its defeat at the hands of India in 1971 war when Bangladesh was liberated. The aim of Pakistan is to keep the Indian Army embroiled in the proxy war that they have lost,” Gen Rawat said.
Having suffered defeat, Pakistan was now aiding and abetting terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, he said.
Asked about the cross-border infiltration, he said Pakistan would be wise to know that by indulging in such activities, harm is coming to Pakistan only.
“We are capable of finishing any infiltrators who reach our side. But, if Pakistan continues to support infiltration, we can use other kind of action too,” Rawat said.
“Pakistan continued to fuel disturbances in Jammu and Kashmir, fully knowing that they will never succeed. Pakistan somehow has been trying to annex Jammu and Kashmir, more so after they lost East Pakistan with liberation of Bangladesh but let me assure you that Pakistan will never succeed in its designs,” he added.
Gen Rawat said despite the passage of so many years, Pakistan still has a desire to succeed in that.
“And, with liberation of Bangladesh they decided to create a similar situation in Kashmir… Has Pakistan succeeded? They have not. And, Pakistan is fully aware they cannot succeed in Jammu and Kashmir, but they still hope they can succeed. It is just another way to keep the turmoil going and not allow development in the State,” he said.
The Infantry Day is observed every year to commemorate supreme sacrifices made by Indian Army’s infantry against Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir.
Gen Rawat earlier laid a wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti to pay tribute to numerous infantry soldiers who died in the line of duty.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
