Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU/NEWDELHI, Sept 19: Even as Army chief Gen Bikram Singh said today that Chinese soldiers are present in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) to provide security to its ongoing railways and road projects there, GOC-in-C Northern Command Lt Gen KT Parnaik admitted transgression by Chinese in Eastern Ladakh boundaries but said there was no security risk along the border.
The Army chief also made it clear that the Indian military would not like to move out of the “strategically important’’ icy heights of Siachen Glacier for which a “lot of blood has been shed’’.
While Gen Bikram Singh made significant remarks on Siachen Glacier in an inter-action with reporters in New Delhi, Lt Gen Parnaik spoke to reporters at Nowshera in Rajouri district on the sidelines of ‘Army Mela’.
Replying to a volley of questions about incursion, transgression and cross-border movements of people and China’s alleged interference along Sino-Indian border in Ladakh sector of Jammu and Kashmir, the Northern Command chief said: “let me first say that transgressions along Eastern Ladakh border—Dumchok area—there have been cross movements in areas of differing perception there (LAC in Ladakh)— especially towards south Dumchok side— Chumor and Chusar areas”.
He added that “last to last month, we had an incident there— three to four Chinese dressed in local attire were seen in our area. They were wandering there thinking that it was their area.
“We had to confront them— show them the manner and asked them to leave— which they did with a little protest”.
The Army commander said this issue was discussed in the border personnel contact meeting (with Chinese troops). “We had made it clear to Chinese that they should ensure that they do not violate the tranquility and peace”.
Lt Gen Parnaik said: “these incidents are taking place between civilians who are in areas located close to LAC and may be those who are across in Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) area”.
“Army is not deployed everywhere—sometimes these events get exaggerated. There is cross-border movement of civilians also and they indulge in smuggling”, he said, adding the Army knew the smugglers.
“Army is taking necessary action as per the situation. We have already cautioned our people on the borders not to cross the line of perception”, Lt Gen Parnaik said.
“Today, we have peaceful border with China, which is not the case with regard to Pakistan. Peace and tranquility prevail along the border line”, he said.
The Northern Command chief maintained that there was “no security risk’’ along the China border in Ladakh.
“We shouldn’t see much into one incident. I would say that there is no security risk along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) along Sino-Indian border in Ladakh sector as I see it today. There is not a situation in Ladakh sector for which we need to worry’’, he asserted.
He pointed out that the Army has also launched ‘Operation Sadhbhavna’ in a big way along the border areas in Ladakh to help the local people, facilitate their irrigation etc. The local population needed assistance. Army is doing its job. The civil administration has also been performing its task, he said.
Replying to a question on construction of tunnel by Pakistan authorities in Indian territory at Chechwal, Samba sector on the International Border, Lt Gen Parnaik said though the area falls under the Border Security Force (BSF) it was a serious matter that a long tunnel was dug and “we didn’t know about it’’.
“On the one hand, Pakistan has been extending hand of friendship to India while on the other, it has been digging tunnel inside the Indian territory, which is not good. Pakistan should stop such activities in future’’, he said.
He added that if required, Army was ready for help into investigations in the tunnel. However, he said, the BSF and Intelligence agencies were proving construction of tunnel…like how and when it was constructed.
To a question on security situation in Jammu and Kashmir, Lt Gen Parnaik observed: “I would say the State has been transforming from high intensity proxy war to lower level militancy. However, the situation remained very fragile.
“There were three major things for us—ability to prevent and check infiltration, strengthen deployment and negate infiltration. In maximum cases, the infiltration has been negated but in some cases they do succeed in sneaking’’.
Asserting that some new terrorists might have succeeded in entering the State, the Army officers said they have not been able to resort to violence since last year. In some cases, the militants have targeted police personnel, Sarpanchs and other people, which was a cause of worry, he added.
He said residual terrorist leaders have been neutralized during last two years.
On politically sensitive issue of withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), a demand made quite often by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah but opposed by the Army, Lt Gen Parnaik said the Army has given its views on the Act to the State Government.
Noting that there was no confrontation between Army and Government, he said the major issue was return of peace in the State and that is coming.
“There is no space left for the militants. The purpose is to prevent situation which existed between 1990 and 2000. Our aim is to lessen militancy and proxy war, which would lead to governance, development and engagement of youth’’, the GOC-in-C Northern Command said, adding the need was to dominate area and do not allow resurgence of militancy, “which is our focus’’.
He said in the year 2012, 44 militants have been killed and 24 arrested. The figure was almost similar to the last year. Number of the residual terrorists has been reduced by their killings but there has been no fresh infiltration, he added.
To a question on the arrest of longest surviving militant Mehraj-ud-Din Wani alias Javed alias Daand, Lt Gen Parnaik said his joint interrogation by various agencies was on and when it was completed a detailed report would come out on his links in Pakistan, Nepal and India and the cases he was involved.
He said Army and police had arrested Daand jointly on the basis of Intelligence inputs. He said it didn’t matter as to who would get the award or reward for arrest of the militant.
PTI adds from New Delhi:
Meanwhile, Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh today said the force was not in favour of moving out from the Siachen heights over which a “lot of blood has been shed”.
It has conveyed its views to the Government, which has to take a final decision in this regard.
“It is very important and we must continue to hold that area and we have held that view always…. We have lost our lives and lot of blood has been shed to get into these areas and occupy the heights and positions.
“These positions are of strategic importance and we have expressed our concerns to the Government and now it is for the Government to decide,” Gen Singh said in a media interaction.
He was responding to a query on India’s stand on the Siachen issue.
Pakistan has been pushing for demilitarisation of Siachen but India has maintained that this cannot take place without proper authentication by both sides of the present troop positions on the Glacier.
Asked if the Army believed that the Glacier has to be held under control then why the talks were being held, he said, “The negotiations are at Government level and at the national level. Let us see, how these negotiations progress but we have given our point of view.”
Gen Singh said the Army has not changed its views on the importance of the strategic heights, which have been under Indian physical control since 1984 after the Army launched Operation Meghdoot to occupy them.
Asked how flexible India was willing to be on the issue, he said it was discussed during the 13th round of Defence Secretary-level talks held in Islamabad.
“This is one of the issues supposed to have been discussed and it was not concluded at that point of time and I think it will carry forward. I think modalities have to be worked out during the dialogue to be held next year.”
Pakistan Army Chief Gen Pervez Kiyani had recently made another pitch for the demilitarisation of the glacier after losing over 100 soldiers in Gyari there in an avalanche.
Chinese soldiers are present in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) to provide security to its ongoing railways and road projects there, Gen Singh said.
“We are told that Chinese soldiers are there to provide protection to their ongoing projects related to their railways, road and hydro-electric projects and it is basically for security purposes,” the Army Chief said.
“We have already conveyed this to the Government and whatever is there, we have our frontiers guarded well,” Singh said when asked if the presence of Chinese troops in PoK was a matter of concern for the force.
India has already expressed its concerns to China over the presence of its troops in a territory claimed by India. Reports in the recent past have suggested that around 4,000 Chinese troops are present in PoK.
Asked if it was possible for any country to repeat 1962, Gen Singh said, “Such an event will not be repeated as the country’s forces have got plans in place to protect the territorial integrity of the nation.
“No. It will not be repeated. I am assuring the nation as Chief of the Army Staff that 1962 will not be repeated. No way. Country’s borders are well protected and the Army will not allow the enemy to cross it,” he said.
In next few months, it will be 50 years of Sino-India war during which the Chinese force had crossed over and entered territories in the north and northeastern region.
“I am not talking about any country. I am only assuring as Chief of the Army Staff. We have plans in place to safeguard the territorial integrity of our country. That is the assurance I am giving you,” he said.
When asked if he was satisfied with infrastructure development in the Northeast especially Arunachal Pradesh, the Army Chief said several projects were going on there but “yeh dil maange more (the heart wants more)”.
On reports of transgressions by Chinese troops into Indian territory, Gen Singh said there are “no transgressions as such”.
“The patrols meet and both sides show banners to say that this is our area and both sides disengage and that is an ongoing process that is going on. If there are issues, they are dealt with existing mechanisms that are there like hot lines and meetings of commanders on border,” he said.
On infrastructure development in the Northeast and Arunachal Pradesh, the Army Chief said, “We have to relate to the capacity of how much can we chew and how much we can do in an area.
“There are ongoing projects and they are time-stipulated. We are trying to meet those timelines. There is a saying that ‘ye dil maange more’.”
Gen Singh feels the deficiency of over 10,000 officers in the force is one of the main reasons behind friction between officers and jawans, which flared up on a few occasions recently.
He said the findings of the Courts of Inquiry (CoIs) are awaited in two recent incidents and suitable steps will be taken on its basis.
Asked whether the shortage of officers is leading to incidents of friction between soldiers and officers, Gen Singh said, “Yes, that is one of the main reasons. The shortfall of officers as of now is 10,100. The deficiency is definitely impacting.”
This year in May and August two such incidents were reported in units located at Nyoma and Samba in Jammu and Kashmir where scuffle broke out between the jawans and the officers. One such incident had reportedly taken place in 2010 in Gurdaspur in Punjab.
Terming the incidents as “aberrations” and “isolated” ones, the Army Chief said his concerns were to ensure that the environment at the unit-level is suitable for growth and upholding the military values.
“As you know we had one or two instances, these are aberrations of course and these were isolated incidents. One was in 2010 and in recent past we had two incidents,” he said.
On steps taken by him to address the issue, he said, “As a Chief my concerns have been to ensure that we get back to basics and ensure that climate and environment in the units are correct and conducive to growth and group cohesion and the core values of the Army are upheld.”
Gen Singh said that integrity, duty, loyalty, respect, selfless service, courage and honour are some of the values taught by Army and he has been speaking about upholding them during his visits to various Commands and other military locations.
On specific measures taken by Army after these incidents were reported, Gen Singh said, “The CoIs are to be completed. Once they conclude, I will be getting the findings and based on that specific measures will be instituted.”
“Broadly, we are looking into whether the management in the unit is upto the mark and aspirations of the soldiers and of all the members- officers, JCOs and men- are fulfilled in a correct manner and correct perspective,” he elaborated.
Gen Singh also said that the force is trying to attract more youths into the profession and is trying to reach out to parents to motivate their children for it.
“We are trying to lure maximum youth into our organisation. We are trying to make the setup very lucrative. One is the information campaign to reach out to the people and tell them what Army is all about. The other thing is to deal
“I have seen that when you go to colleges and motivate the youths, they get motivated but when they get back home, parents ask them why you want to get into such a profession and why don’t you join something else.”
Gen Singh said the organisation is also making the parents aware that risks are very well managed here.
“Of course there are risks but risks are everywhere and these are managed well in the Army,” he said.
Gen Singh also emphasized he need for enhancing the number of Short Service Commissioned (SSC) officers.
“Our support cadres are also under-subscribed at this moment that is the SSC officers. We are going to enhance that capacity. So this aspect is also taken into account and it will take some time. It will not happen overnight but it will happen. Government is also onboard with us,” he said.
On whether any timeline has been set to achieve this, he said it is not possible to do so as there are lots of imponderables in it.
“It is not possible to fix timelines and say it will be completed by a certain time. There are lot of imponderables in it and timelines cannot be set. But there is a very conscious and dedicated endeavor for this beautiful profession,” he said.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel