No reports of Taliban in J&K,prepared to meet any eventuality from Pak & China: Lt Gen Jaswal

by Vijay Kumar October 31, 2009

Uhadampur,Ocotober 31 (Vijay Kumar) - Lt Gen Jaswal,GOC-IN-C Northern Command on Saturday said that Taliban is active in Pakistan. But there are no reports indicating their presence in J&K. The Indian Army remains consolidated and prepared on the LC to meet any nature of threat by any terrorist group.

Addressing a press confrance at Northern Command headquarter, Uhadampur Lt Gen Jaswal said that situation in J&K is improving. Militancy in the state has shown a downward trend in respect of all parameters. However, the parameters of violence and terrorist presence have not been completely eliminated.

Replying to a question Lt Gen Jaswal said, Northern Command is well prepared to meet any eventuality from Pak and China and we maintain an adequate posture in our borders. My troops understand the need to maintain the peace along the LC and LAC. Infiltration attempts and ceasefire violations are countered with an iron fist.
Army has a defined mandate and is deployed to carry out the role and task assigned to it. The decision to withdraw the army to the barracks is a political decision,he said

He said that the fact that there are terrorists along the launch pads across the LC waiting to infiltrate, points to collusively between the Pak Army and the terrorist organizations. There have been a number of attempts to infiltrate and in many cases these have been eliminated because of our aggressive deployments and effective surveillance. Empirical figures regarding number of terrorists infiltrating are a matter of assessment. However the fact is there are a large number of camps and launch pads in POK from where terrorists are ready to infiltrate. There have been 37 infilt attempts made in this year, from Jan 09 till date. While most infiltration bids have been eliminated resulting in 74 terrorists killed, some infiltration has taken place.

Adequate measures are in place for an effective domination of LC including synergy of employment of all surveillance means. A three tiered deployment exists which is dynamic and based on movement pattern and concentration of terrorists. All sensitive areas are being adequately addressed. The LC fence is kept under constant surveillance and is being dominated by aggressive patrolling. Infiltration has reduced drastically due to these measures. IB is manned by the BSF and they too have the resolve to prevent any infilt across the IB. Pushing infiltrators from across the LC before the onset of winters has been a recurring phenomenon and for which the army is always geared up. The redeployments that take place factor this requirement and are resilient to take care of enhanced threat.

Lt Gen Jaswal said that reports of Pakistan changing tactics and moving militants from the launch pads to safe houses so as to push them into the Indian territory at a suitable time are not corroborated on ground. Since 2005, 561 soldiers have given the supreme sacrifice while fighting terrorists, while 2538 terrorists have been killed.

While talking to reports he said,Inputs of fresh recruitment in Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Bhaderwah or in other parts of Jammu and Kashmir are sporadic and localized to some areas. While recruitment may be occurring, surrenders are also happening. Such incidents are probably due to coercion and lure of money, and lesser due to voluntary enrolment. These areas are traditional transit routes. There are also isolated reports of militants attempting to recruit women and youngmen. The operations to apprehend OGW have had good successes due to a synergy between the Intelligence agencies and security forces including the police.
The deployment of troops would essentially be driven by the adjustments and changes based on security review that take into account the threat and overall situation in different areas. The requirement of security forces is based on numerous security parameters. The number of militants which is an approximation is one important factor. It is important to assess the situation based on attempts to infiltrate, atrocities committed by the terrorists, the presence of OGWs and whether people feel safe or not.

The assessment on the quantum of force required is an ongoing process and reviewed periodically. The terrorist strength and the support bases has to come down to manageable and sub critical levels. However, for the present, readjustments and relocations of army units have been carried out. Presence of Security forces will continue till the threat of re-emergence of terrorists is totally eliminated.

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