Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, June 22: General Officer Commanding of Army’s 15 Corps, Lt General Gurmit Singh, today said that Army’s preparedness is excellent enough to take on any security challenge in Kashmir including the possible Al-Qaeda threat.
When asked about the Al-Qaeda video calling on Muslims in Kashmir to join jihad against India, the GOC expressed his confidence on taking any security challenge in Kashmir including the Al-Qaeda threat.
Singh, who is handing over command of the 15 Corps to Lt General Subrata Saha tomorrow, said that Army is aware of the intent, capacity and capability and the threat perception of Al-Qaeda in Kashmir.
“We have effective intelligence network in place. We are aware about their intention, their capability and capacity and the threats which are there. I am proud of the soldiers and commanders on the ground that we will be able to take on any challenge of that sort. I am very confident that our preparedness is excellent”, said the GOC.
Lt Gen Singh said that Army is committed to the requirements of national security in Kashmir. “Security situation in the hinterland is under control, we have very effective counter insurgency grid along the LoC in place. We are prepared to take on any challenge. Our troops are committed to the requirements of national security”, he added.
The GOC said an effective counter-infiltration grid is in place along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Valley to prevent infiltration of militants from the other side.
“We have an excellent intelligence network and good synergy with Jammu and Kashmir police and other security forces agencies to deal with any kind of challenge,” he said.
Singh said that the situation along the LoC and the hinterland is under control. “For last two years the way we have done area domination in hinterland and along the LoC, the results are in front of you”, he added.
Giving details of the anti-militancy operations, the Corps Commander said the security forces have managed to neutralise 63 militants in the first half of this year.
“We have killed 40 terrorists including 17 from Lashkar-e-Toiba, 11 from Hizbul Mujahideen and 8 from Jaish-e-Mohammad. 23 terrorists have been apprehended during this period,” Singh said. He said that among 40 killed, 18 each are foreign and local militants while nationality of 4 was not confirmed.
The GOC said 140 weapons including 60 pistols have been recovered during the operations against militants in the Valley. “When pistols are recovered they have potential of close range firing”, he added.
The Corps Commander said that last year 10 top militant commanders were killed in Kashmir valley while this year so far equal numbers of commanders were eliminated.
Singh said that these successful operations were possible with the help of excellent intelligence provided by the Jammu and Kashmir Police and people. He said that these operations were surgical and there was no collateral damage due to excellent synergy among various security agencies in Kashmir.
GOC praised his troops for carrying out professional operations during which he said there had been no human rights violations.
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