Security of a state is best ensured by combination of various elements. Winston Churchill once said that frontline runs through factories. It means that the defence of the country is the combined task of the armed forces and the civilian administrative structure. Obviously, the combination has to be ideal one if we are looking for credible results.
This is practically demonstrated by the two sides in our State where externally sponsored armed insurgents are tutored to take on the army and hold the civil population at ransom. Military and paramilitary forces deployed to quell insurgency have successfully contained it to a large extent; remnants will get liquidated in course of time.
Fairly outspreaded deployment of defence forces in the mountainous and landlocked State of Jammu and Kashmir, where we have a long and porous border with Pakistan, presupposes direct or indirect participation of the civilian administration in successfully managing logistics for field operations. This necessitates cooperation and teamwork between the army and the civilian administration. Fortunately, we have had ideal relationship between the two in the past, and hopefully, it will graduate to closer and more productive relationship in years to come.
Civil-Military Liaison Conference (CMLC) held at 16 Corps Headquarters on 12th instant is a powerful instrument to synergize combined efforts of resolving issues arising out of dynamics of military deployment. Though CMLC’s mandate does not encompass deliberations over security initiatives, which normally fall within the exclusive jurisdiction of Unified Headquarters (UHQ), yet in the totality of security scenario allied matters do receive contextual attention. In substance, the CMLC addresses such conspicuous issues as need bilateral consideration such as land acquisition for defence purposes, welfare of soldiers, ex-servicemen, Veer Naris’ (widows of martyred jawans ) and several other matters needing cooperation of the State Government.
It is gratifying that the Chief Minister and the Army Commander assisted by their respective teams demonstrated exceptional cordiality and understanding in the course of their deliberations in the CMLC meet which came off after a gap of four years. Their harmonious approach to issues reflects commitment to the cause of restoration of peace in the troubled State. In particular, one shall have to appreciate the munificence and perception of the Chief Minister in responding positively to most of the suggestions of the Army Commander. For example, he agreed to extend ex-gratia relief to soldiers martyred while fighting the terrorists in the State or on the LoC. J&K domicile soldiers who lay down their life in the Line of duty in operations in other states of the country will also come under this largesse. He also agreed to do away with discrimination in the in Ex-gratia amount for J&K soldiers and those belonging to other states. World War-II veterans and their widows will receive enhanced emoluments at the scale of Rs. 3000/- per month. Furthermore, the civil administration would be sanguine in reducing the VAT for Amy CSD items and re-introduction of Duty Free Rum for the welfare of the troops.
Responding to the positive gesture of the Chief Minister with equal warmth, the Army Commander disclosed that as a matter of policy in J&K, Army will be occupying only such stretches of land as are logistically essential to be retained and the remaining would be vacated. In the same spirit, 12 buildings hitherto under army’s occupation had been vacated and 8 more are in the pipeline. Among other positive moves, the army has already shifted firing points to ensure no inconvenience is caused to the civilian population. He agreed with Chief Minister’s suggestion that a joint committee would deal with this matter.
An optimistic and constructive measure purported to contribute to the economic health of the State announced by General Chachra was that as far as possible, the Army’s requirements for food & supplies, construction material and contractual requirement for infrastructure would be sourced from within the State to boost the economy, employment and generate growth of the State. He further mentioned that Army would be happy to assist the State administration in fields of education, health and sanitation. “Our future Social projects have been re-oriented to look at small scale projects to meet aspirations of the people residing around our bases”, the Army Commander said.
This ideal military-civilian camaraderie for sorting out matters springing from national security requirements speaks very eloquently of mature and pragmatic approach adopted by the two entities in winning the trust and goodwill of the people of the State.
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