Let Pak stops intrusions, we will implement ceasefire
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Feb 24: Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat has virtually questioned decision of Jammu and Kashmir Government on amnesty given to first-time stone pelters in the Kashmir valley asking what goodwill are they (the stone pelters) showing as the stone pelting (on security forces) in the Valley continues.
He also declared that the Indian Army will give Pakistan a reply of Sunjuwan Military Station attack “very soon’’. The reply will not be “too late’’.
In an interview given to a national newspaper, Gen Rawat said: “the cases were withdrawn against stone pelters as a goodwill gesture’’ and asked: “what kind of goodwill they (the stone pelters) are showing? The stone pelting (on security forces) continues.
Defending the military action in January 27 firing at Shopian in South Kashmir in which three protesters were killed, the Army chief said the troops have to do their job.
“Army doesn’t want any kind of collateral damage but what do you expect us to do when we are surrounded by the stone pelting mob,’’ he said and clarified that even in Shopian, Army had first fired in the air (to avert civilian casualties).
In November, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti had announced amnesty for first-time stone pelters in the Kashmir valley, which have benefited more than 4500 youths as FIRs against them were dropped. Later, Mehbooba had also said the Government was considering amnesty to even second-time stone pelters.
However, there has been no Government word on granting amnesty to 2008 Shri Amarnath Ji land row agitation, a demand which was being repeatedly projected by PDP’s coalition partner, the BJP, as all these cases pertained to Jammu region. Recently, the BJP-RSS Coordination Committee had also voiced concern over the issue of withdrawal of 2008 land row FIRs against the youths.
The Army chief declared that Pakistan will be made to pay “sooner rather than later’’ for Sunjuwan Military Station attack in Jammu on February 10 in which six Army personnel, a civilian and three fidayeen were killed
“We will give Pakistan army a reply for the terror attack on Sunjuwan military camp. It (the reply) will be sooner, and not later,’’ Gen Rawat said.
His comments assumed significance as Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who had visited Jammu two days after Sunjuwan military station attack, had declared that Pakistan will have to pay for this misadventure, indicating an imminent retaliation against the militants as well as Pakistani troops, who had aided and abetted the fidayeen attack.
Asserting that the Indian Army has several options, the surgical strikes being one of them, Gen Rawat said: “Pakistan thinks it is fighting a war that was paying them dividends’’ but added that India will respond to the attack.
Linking implementation of ceasefire agreement 2003 between India and Pakistan with infiltration of terrorists, backed by Pakistan, Gen Rawat said the Army would order ceasefire on the Line of Control (LoC) when Pakistan stops sending terrorists to India.
“We will honour the ceasefire agreement and de-escalate tensions on the LoC the day Pakistan stops sending terrorists into Jammu and Kashmir from their territory,’’ the Army chief said.
There has been massive increase in ceasefire violations by Pakistan army especially on the LoC in twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch, which were being retaliated very effectively by the Indian side inflicting heavy casualties on Pakistan army and destroying their several posts and bunkers.
There was no let up in the ceasefire violations even now with Pakistan quite often resorting to mortar shelling and firing in several sectors of Rajouri and Poonch districts Pakistan has also extended ceasefire violations to Uri in Kashmir.
On Major Gogoi tying Farooq Ahmad Dar to the bonnet of a jeep last year, the Army chief made it clear that the troops always honour local sentiments and don’t conduct operations during funeral processions though terrorists come there and open firing in air to make their presence felt in desperation.
The Jammu & Kashmir Police had registered an FIR against the Army after the Shopian firing, which was subsequently stayed by the Supreme Court.
Asked if he had given permission to the father of Major Aditya (named in the Shopian FIR) to approach the Supreme Court to get the police complaint quashed, Gen Rawat defended the decision taken by Major Aditya’s father to approach the Apex Court.
“The father has a right to defend his son,’’ he said.
The Army chief advised the media not to show visuals of wailing members of martyrs saying this give Pakistan a point as to how they have managed to inflict “a blow on us’’.
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