*Major challenge ahead for Army in 2014 election-year
Gopal Sharma
—Excelsior/Rakesh
AKHNOOR, Jan 15: General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command Lt Gen Sanjiv Chachra today said that major challenge was ahead for the Army in the Jammu and Kashmir in 2014, in view of forth-coming elections and also in the wake of pull out of foreign troops from Afghanistan while the terrorists reaching in J&K via Nepal are also posing a major security threat.
“The situation in the neighbourhood is definitely going to have its impact on this part of the country as the terrorist groups operating in Afghanistan or North-West border of Pakistan can shift their focus to the Jammu and Kashmir to create violence, specially in view of the coming elections in 2014. But the Army is well prepared to frustrate their designs and keep check on any infiltration attempt along the Line of Control by them”, Lt Gen Chachra told media-persons at the sidelines of the Investiture ceremony at Sangha Auditorium here today.
The Northern Army Commander said that infiltration attempts were continued along the Line of Control and the terrorists’ infrastructure including training camps and launching pads were intact on that side of the LoC. There is no stoppage in their activities of this kind but our troops are well prepared to face any challenge and defeat their designs. Advanced gadgets and sensors have been installed all along the LoC with the fence but terrain is very tough. Even then taking undue advantage of weather some times ” Ikka-Dukka” terrorists manage to cross over but they are eliminated into this side by alert troops.
When asked about the threat perception from the terrorists arriving in J&K via Nepal and some seeking rehabilitation from State Government, the Northern Army Commander said threat was always there from the terrorists arriving via LoC, International Border or Nepal. Terrorist is terrorist. Their objective could only be to disturb peace and create violence. Though there is rehabilitation policy in place, yet Army would keep an eye on such elements and their activities. They would be captured or neutralized by troops.
“I must say that once the troops in Afghanistan leave, once the people (terrorists) are out of job, they will try to shift on this side. We are aware of that reality and we are a responsible professional Army. We also know that there is threat inside J&K and threats from these inimical elements to peace. Army is prepared for it. It is prudent to plan for it also– there are no such (Al-Qeada) indicators, but yes, we will be prepared for this eventuality”, he said.
Lt Gen Chachra said, “This year may pose serious challenges before the Army. If there are problems in the neighbouring country, the affect would be found here also. Militants want to pollute democratic process in J&K. Terrorists inspired incidents are taking place, but you see that they are targeting soft targets or those areas where they want to achieve success and run away, he added.”
“Militants will make efforts to vitiate atmosphere in Kashmir valley. We should not give them the cause to vitiate atmosphere so that they cannot start a cycle of violence in Valley or anything to trigger a communal tension,” he said.
“The fact is that terror infrastructure is still in place. A day before we killed three of the top terrorists including a big leader. We are going after the leaders,” he said.
Lt Gen Chachra was replying to a volley of questions about militants’ plans this year, when Assembly and Lok Sabha polls are going to be held, cross-border infiltration, spill over of militants of Taliban and al-Qaeda from Afghanistan after the troops withdrawal from there.
“The pattern of infiltration has not changed, the numbers have increased, the attempts have increased, they are still making attempts. It is only that we have put in place a comprehensive counter infiltration strategy which has ensured enhanced security guard on the borders,” the Army Commander added.
While declining to give the exact number of terrorists waiting at the launching pads on that side along the LoC and the terrorists training camps operating in PoK, the Northern Army Commander said, ” We have all these details about the number but I would not like to share it. I can only say, good number of trained terrorists are looking for the opportunity at their respective launching pads to sneak into this side and the number of tented-training camps being run for them in PoK and other parts are also in good number. But they will not be allowed to infiltrate by the vigilant troops.”
At the same time the Army Commander referred to a few incidents of intrusion and attack on this side in the recent past in which some Policemen and Army soldiers lost their lives. He said lesson has been learnt from the ugly incidents and all possible measures are being taken to prevent such incidents in future.
Replying to another question, Lt Gen Chachra said that in view of heavy snowfall at the higher reaches, the terrorists are trying to lay their focus in the southern and low lying area for making infiltration attempts but some time taking benefits of bad weather they even make such bids in the snow bound areas as well. The troops, however, foil their such designs and the successful infiltration rate is just negligible.
The Army Commander admitted that number of ceasefire violations by Pakistan were higher during the year 2013 as compared to last 10 years of truce but several flag meetings were held by the senior officers to resolve the issue at local level. But after DGMO level talks between the two countries, there is no such incident and peace has almost been restored in the area. The farmers are cultivating in their fields up to fencing and militant leadership in the depth areas has also been almost wiped out. But during ceasefire violations along the LoC, the field commanders had been issued directions to respond appropriately and they did.
When asked whether it was appropriate time to go for withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in J&K after Army’s perception of restoration of peace in the State, the Army Commander said, ” It is will be premature to go for this exercise at this juncture. As I have already mentioned that year 2014 is full of challenges for the Army in J&K. Though temporary peace has by and large been restored in State but till the final peace returns to the region, it would not be fair to go for its revocation, ” he maintained.
Replying to another question regarding migration of some Indian villagers from Damchok area of Ladakh and aggression by the Chinese Army at several vital points along the LAC, Lt Gen Chachra dismissed any such happening in the area. He said no migration took place there and the villagers were residing at their places peacefully. Referring to the issue of Chinese aggression, the Northern Army Commander elaborated that the Indo-China border is not properly defined. On the basis of assumption both sides are patrolling along their own defined areas. Some time they think that our troops have gone in their territory and some times ours think it as aggression. But the issues are settled amicably by holding flag meetings at local commander level.
Now, a mechanism has been devised to settle such issues and there is improvement. But such things are bound to happen in future too, till this issue of boundary is finally resolved with China, Lt Gen Chachra maintained.
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