‘Situation has improved in Kashmir’
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 1: Army chief Gen MM Naravane said today that the Army was aware of terrorist camps and terrorism training taking place on other side of the border and will keep an eye on them and will accordingly make counter plans.
In an interview to a news channel, he said he would ensure that ground forces are kept ‘operational ready’ to meet any threat posed by terror camps that continue to exist across the Pakistan border.
“The priority before me like all Army chiefs is to ensure that the ground forces are kept operationally ready,” Gen Naravane said, adding that they were aware of terrorist camps and training taking place on other side of the border.
Referring to Kashmir situation, the new Army chief said there has been a marked improvement in the Valley situation ever since the Central Government scrapped its special status five months ago.
“If you look at the incidents before August and after August 5, the numbers itself will show that the situation has improved. There is no doubt about this,” he added.
He also said that the armed forces were fully ready to deal with any security challenge facing the nation.
“I am assuring the people of the country that armed forces are fully prepared to keep the country secure. We will not allow any harm to come to the country. We are fully alert round-the-clock. Our forces are fully capable of dealing with any challenge,” he said after a ceremonial Guard of Honour.
Gen Naravane hoped that maintaining peace and tranquility along India’s border with China will lead to an “eventual solution” to the boundary dispute and asserted that military capabilities will be bolstered along the northern frontier.
He also said that his force will give special attention to issues relating to human rights.
On the prevailing situation along the border with China, Gen Naravane said the Indian Army will enhance its capabilities along the frontier as the focus in the past was on the boundary with Pakistan.
“We have the Line of Actual Control with China. The border question is yet to be settled. However, we have made a lot of progress in maintaining peace and tranquility along the borders,” he told reporters.
“I am sure that the situation will prevail. And by maintaining peace and tranquility along the borders, we will be able to set the stage for an eventual solution,” he added.
“While we have been giving attention in the past to our western front (border with Pakistan), the northern front also requires equal amount of attention. And it is in that context we are now going in for embranchment of our capacities along the northern border,” Gen. Naravane said.
“We will continue to build capabilities, particularly in north and northeastern regions. We will also lay emphasis on raising security awareness among our rank and file and also pay special attention to the issue of human rights,” he said.
In his 37 years of service, Gen Naravane served in numerous command and staff appointments in peace, field and highly active counter-insurgency environments in Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeast
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