*DGMO not to wait for weekly hotline contact
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Sept 21: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has empowered Army and Border Security Force (BSF), operating along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) to “work at their will” and take decision on targeting the militants and infiltrators trying to create disturbances in Jammu and Kashmir.
A decision to this effect was taken in the meeting of Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, this morning. The CCS was held prior to the Cabinet meeting that took decision on merger of Union and Railway budgets.
All CCS members attended the meeting. They included Home Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Dr Jitendra Singh, who represents Lok Sabha from Udhampur-Doda seat, was special invitee to the meeting as the CCS was scheduled to discuss September 18 attack in Uri, Baramulla in the Kashmir valley in which 18 Army soldiers were killed.
Official sources told the Excelsior that the CCS has empowered the Army and BSF, operating on the LoC and IB respectively to take their independent decisions on dealing with the situation without any “political interference” and strike at will on the targets including the infiltrators and militants or all other forces, who try to create disturbances in Jammu and Kashmir or any other part of the country.
“Army chief Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag and BSF Director General KK Sharma were immediately conveyed decision of the CCS,” sources said, adding this is for the first time in history of the country when security personnel operating on the LoC and IB will be free to strike at their will without waiting for any orders from top.
However, sources said, targeting training camps inside Pakistan or PoK would be a political decision, which can be taken only by political leadership of the country at an “appropriate time”. The Army and BSF have been empowered to freely hit at the militants, their supporters and facilitators to maintain peace in the country and ensure that Pathankot and Uri like attacks don’t take place in future.
“This”, according to sources, “will serve as stern and very tough message to Pakistan that any such attempt by their Army or militants supported by that country will be dealt with very affectively and all infiltration attempts wouldn’t only be resisted but the infiltrators and militants would have to face the death”.
The CCS directed the troops to maintain offensive and “go for kill” as far the militants and infiltrators are concerned.
“Without waiting for the militants to strike first, the troops have been told categorically to hunt down the militants or those breaching the LoC and IB,” sources said.
In another significant decision, the CCS has also empowered the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) to share all available evidences and inputs which established Pakistan’s involvement in fomenting trouble in Jammu and Kashmir including the terror attacks without waiting for regular hotline contact with his Pakistani counterpart every Tuesday.
DGMOs of India and Pakistan speak on hotline every Tuesday to take up various issues pertaining to them. However, they can talk anytime on the hotline depending on any emergent situation.
“The DGMO has been asked to call up his Pakistani counterpart without waiting for the weekly contact and immediately give all evidences available with him pertaining to Pakistan involvement in terrorism in the country especially Jammu and Kashmir,” sources said.
The CCS was also reported to have taken certain significant decision on Indian response to Pakistan on Uri attack but they have been kept secret in view of their “sensitivity”.
The CCS also reviewed general security situation in the country along Pakistan, China and Bangladesh borders and was satisfied with it. It called upon security forces for maintaining strict surveillance along the borders with Pakistan as the hostile neighbour, which has been globally cornered by India, could try more Uri like attacks in other parts of Jammu and Kashmir or elsewhere.
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