‘Working to uproot terror network’
LUCKNOW, Jan 15: Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Pande said today that the situation in Jammu and Kashmir is under control but there has been an uptick in terrorist activities in the southern region of Pir Panjal and Rajouri-Poonch over the last few months.
He, however, asserted that due to the efforts of the security forces, there has been a significant drop in violence in the interior areas of Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing the 76th Army Day parade in Lucknow, General Pande said, “The situation in Jammu and Kashmir is under control. But in the past few months, there has been an increase in terrorist activities in the southern region of Pir Panjal and Rajouri-Poonch.”
“There is a ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC), but from the attempts made to infiltrate, it is clear that the terror infrastructure across the border is intact. Attempts to infiltrate have been foiled by the Army,” he said.
The Army chief underlined that the number of terror-related incidents has seen a significant drop in the interior areas of Jammu and Kashmir due to the continuous efforts of the security forces.
“We are working with all the stakeholders in a committed manner to uproot the terror network from the country,” he said.
General Pande also said important peace accords have been signed and peace dialogues held with insurgent groups in the northeast in the recent past.
“As a result of this, there has been a positive development in the region. The proactive policies of the government have played a major role in restoring peace,” he said.
The Army chief said the situation in ethnic strife-torn Manipur has been brought under control as the government was proactive and due to the efforts of the Army.
He said the soldiers have shown maturity in a sensitive atmosphere, adding that “concrete efforts are on to establish peace and harmony in the state”.
The Army is “fully ready and competent to deal with any situation” on the northern borders, he added.
“To develop our capability on the northern borders, we have taken a number of concrete steps. Through the provisions of emergency procurement, we have got a number of modern equipment, including arms and weapons with niche technology. Special attention has been paid to develop critical infrastructure in border areas and good progress has been made,” General Pande said.
“Today, we pay tributes to those bravehearts who made the supreme sacrifice of laying down their lives for the country’s security. The tales of their sacrifice and bravery will always inspire us. I would like to assure their family members that they are an important part of the armed forces family and their welfare is our priority,” he said.
The Army chief pointed out that last year onwards, the Army Day parade is being held outside Delhi and expressed happiness that this year, Lucknow was chosen as its venue.
“The history of this city and region is full of tales of bravery of bravehearts, who had contributed in the freedom struggle. This programme is dedicated to the struggle and sacrifice of those soldiers,” he said.
General Pande also said the efforts to make the Indian Army a more powerful (“prabal”), competent (“saksham”) and alert (“tatpar”) force will continue.
He said the Army has focused on force restructuring and optimisation, technology infusion, and making systems, processes and functions more effective.
The Army chief also mentioned other initiatives of the armed forces, such as the Agnipath scheme and women empowerment through posting women officers in operational theatres like Siachen.
General Pande concluded his address by saying the Army has established a position of trust for itself in every citizen’s heart and called upon all personnel to rededicate themselves to “Naam, Namak, Nishaan” and the service of the nation.
Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan and other senior military personnel attended the parade.
The Army Day celebrations commenced with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Smritika War memorial here to honour the soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice for the country.
Twenty-three foreign service attaches from 19 countries attended the parade, which was also witnessed by veterans, NCC cadets, school children, soldiers and their families.
Around 500 soldiers of the Indian Army were part of the parade.
President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted the Army personnel on the occasion of Army Day.
“Greetings to the Army personnel, veterans and their families on Army Day! The Indian Army has a long tradition of exemplary bravery, guarding the nation’s borders with utmost dedication. Their patriotism remains a great source of inspiration for all citizens,” Murmu said on X.
“On Army Day, we honour the extraordinary courage, unwavering commitment and sacrifices of our Army personnel. Their relentless dedication in protecting our nation and upholding our sovereignty is a testament to their bravery. They are pillars of strength and resilience,” Modi said on the microblogging platform.
The Army Day is celebrated on January 15 every year to commemorate the achievements of the first Indian commander-in-chief of the Army, General (later Field Marshal) K M Cariappa.
On this day in 1949, General Cariappa, who led the Indian forces to victory in the 1947 war, took over the command of the Army from General Sir FRR Bucher, the last British commander-in-chief. (PTI)
Follow our WhatsApp channel
