Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar Oct 6: The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 15 Corps, Lt Gen DP Pandey, today said that there is a design of Pakistan to push militants into Kashmir by ceasefire violations but the army is there to foil such attempts.
Speaking to reporters at Keran in district Kupwara, during Keran Mela-2021 in northern district of Kupwara, the GOC said that the situation along the LoC is peaceful.
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He said that the Army will continue to organize the events even whether the LoC is peaceful or not. “When the LoC is peaceful it is beneficial for the people who live on the border to have a better life. So the LOC must remain peaceful for them”, the GOC said.
“When the situation on the LOC remains peaceful, it is beneficial for the people living here; they have a better life, therefore it is important that the LOC remains peaceful for them while there always is a design by the enemy who violates the ceasefire to enable the terrorists to come. But all such infiltration bids are being foiled”, he said.
The army commander said: “But for the fact of the matter, there is a thaw, it is peaceful and we hope that it continues to be peaceful”.
“Everybody wants to live life. They require an opportunity and a place to happen. It is the responsibility of civil society to ensure, and in that, we are only enablers”, he said.
He said that common people have nothing to do with the conflict and it is duty of military to deal with it. “People on both sides should live happily, particularly the civilian population. They have got nothing to do with the conflict; that is a matter of the military to deal with whenever such a situation arises”, he said.
“On the border or even the hinterland, the connection of people with the Indian Army is pretty established. There is a requirement to conduct such events and, we have the facilities and we reach out on the requirements of people”, he said.
The GOC said that Art, Cultural events and Music is something that the youth of the Valley want for enjoyment.
While appreciating the people of Keran for their cooperation with the Army, the Corps Commander said that the population of Keran is the first and frontline defence not the Army. “They are with us even during the shelling, ceasefire, and other operations and that’s how we have always been very successful due to their support”, he said.
“We come for a transit movement but the local population is with the nation and they want to continue contributing towards India and it’s our responsibility to ensure they get all that is required including roads, medical help and education for girls”, he said.
He assured that whatever “we can do will be done and anything done for them is less compared to their contribution and support.”
On border tourism, he said that the Army has been doing that. “There have been off road events. People are visiting places like Gurez, Tangdhar, and tourists are going there who are coming from the rest of the country since there was nothing as such before”, the GOC said.
He also said that the security situation has become so good that people are going to the remotest parts of the country. “People wouldn’t visit places like Keran, Tangdhar, Gurez, and Tulail but now the tourists have started to visit these remote places even the women are traveling alone and staying in the tents”, the GoC said while replying to a query related to the border tourism.
He further said that there is a change in the atmosphere and the security situation is better and the people want tourists to come and stay. “Everybody wants a good peace and a stable situation”, the GOC said.
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