Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, May 16: Defence Minister Arun Jaitley and Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat will visit Line of Control (LoC) and review operational preparedness of the troops along LoC and hinterland tomorrow even as the Army chief today declared that Kashmir will have to be brought out of the vicious cycle of terrorism and sought help of the youth for the purpose.
Official sources told the Excelsior that Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who was holding additional charge of the Defence Ministry after the exit of Manohar Parrikar, has advanced his scheduled visit to Srinagar on May 18 and 19 for GST Council meeting, and now would be visiting the summer capital on May 17 along with the Army chief.
He would review defence preparedness of the troops both along frontiers with Pakistan as well as hinterland.
This is Jaitley’s first visit to Jammu and Kashmir after assuming charge of the Defence Ministry from Parrikar in March. He would meet top Army Commanders to discuss security situation with them.
Situation has been tense on the LoC after the beheading of two Army soldiers by Pakistani troops at Krishna Ghati sector in Poonch district and shelling in Nowshera sector of Rajouri for the past about one week in which three civilians have been killed so far.
Jaitley’s visit to LoC and review of defence preparedness comes amidst reports that Indian Army was bracing up to give befitting reply to Pakistan after the mutilation of two Army soldiers.
Meanwhile, Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat said today that the Kashmir valley will be brought out of the vicious cycle of terrorism to restore peace and normalcy there and, for the purpose, he sought the help of Kashmiri youth saying they should tread the path of Army officer Lt Ummer Fayaz, who was recently gunned down by the militants after being kidnapped while attending marriage of his relative.
Gen Rawat gave his message to the Kashmiri youth through an interview telecast by Doordarshan this evening.
Significantly, the Army chief’s message to the Kashmiri youth comes at a time when there was virtually no end to protests by the youth including students, both girls and boys, in some parts of the Valley, leading to exchanges of stone pelting and teargassing between them and para-military personnel.
“Kashmir will be brought out of the circle of terrorism and normalcy restored there. We have to do this. For the purpose, we need support of the Kashmiri youth,” the Army chief said and called upon them (the youth) to help in bringing back peace in the Valley.
Referring to martyrdom of young Army officer Lt Ummer Fayaz, who was kidnapped by the militants from a marriage function at Shopian and gunned down on the intervening night of May 9 and 10, Gen Bipin Rawat said the Kashmiri youths have to complete the unfinished task of Ummer by restoring peace and normalcy in Kashmir.
“The path Ummer Fayaz was treading was cut short. He couldn’t complete his task. You have to take forward his unfinished agenda of bringing back peace in the Valley. You have to come forward for the purpose,” the Army General said addressing the youth.
Calling upon the youth of Kashmir to help Army and other security agencies, Gen Bipin Rawat, who has regularly been visiting the Kashmir valley to monitor situation on Line of Control (LoC) as well as militancy in the hinterland, said: “security forces will succeed in restoration of peace and normalcy in the Valley only when the youth come forward and help security forces in the mission’.
The Army chief hoped that the Kashmiri youth would support and help Army, security forces and all other agencies for ending the cycle of protests to pave the way for normalcy in the Valley.
The Army chief’s statement assumed significance as it comes at a time when peace has been shattered in the Valley, almost since July 8, 2016 after Hizbul Mujahideen divisional commander Burhan Wani was gunned down by the militants.
While Army has not direct role in maintenance of law and order situation in the Kashmir valley as it was mainly concentrating on the Line of Control (LoC) to check infiltration attempts, it had been taking counter-militancy operation in the hinterland, which were sometimes, disrupted by the people, mostly the youth, who indulged in stone pelting, leading to disruption of operations and, sometimes, the escape of the militants, who take advantage of the situation.
A day after beheading of two Indian soldiers by Pakistan army along Line of Control (LoC) in Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch district, the Army chief had visited Kashmir for two days holding high-level review of security scenario along LoC and hinterland.
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