Ahead of the declaration of Lok Sabha poll results on May 23, one of the senior most army commander based in Northern Command headquarters in Udhampur, Monday warned Pakistan to dare not try and come anywhere near the Line of Control (LoC) to carry out any actions.
“Should there be any misadventure by the Pakistan, they will be given a befitting reply,” stated GoC-in-C Northern Command headquarters Lt-Gen Ranbir Singh on the sidelines of a program in Udhampur.
“Indian Armed Forces have the capability, resolve and operational plan to take any challenge from the Pakistan whenever it arises” he added.
Addressing a press conference, Lt-Gen Singh also clarified that the first surgical strike happened in September 2016. He said, I don't want to go into what political parties say, they'll be given an answer by the government.What I told you is a statement of fact.
In April 2018, DGMO had clarified in response to a RTI query, “data pertaining to surgical strikes, if carried out before 29 September 2016, was not available in the headquarters”
Referring to February 26 air strikes in Balakote by the Indian Air Force, Lt-Gen Singh said, “The action by IAF for carrying out air strikes in Balakote terrorist infrastructure was indeed laudable. Our aircrafts penetrated deep into their territory and carried out attacks on launch pads and camps”.
Referring to Pakistan's posturing along the LoC, Lt Gen Singh said, “they carry out their operations close to the LOC and were given befitting reply”. He said, “our deterrence, our articulation and our military strategy have always been clear”.
“In case they mean business, they got to dismantle, the terror infrastructure, launch pads and camps which are very close to the LOC,” he added and said, “we are keeping continuous watch on the LOC and whenever any wrong activity is carried out by the Pakistan Army or Armed Forces, suitable response will be given to them,” the Army Commander asserted.
Commenting on the overall security situation in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, Lt Gen Ranbir Singh said, “The security situation in Jammu and Kashmir is well under control”.
“During this year, we have been able to neutralize 86 terrorists so far & our operations continue in the same manner. Nearly 20 of them have been apprehended, we've also been able to bring back many of them to the mainstream”.
Lt-Gen Ranbir Singh said, “Pakistan has continued with activities, which are mainly anti India like promoting cross border infiltration, ceasefire violations, drug trafficking, narcotics and circulation of fake Indian currency”.
He added that all their actions are ensuring the proxy war raged against India is in continuation, adding, “But I assure you that our actions to counter them are in place and the Pakistan will not be allowed to succeed in their designs”.
He said,”As far as the hinterland is concerned, we have recently finished with the elections in the state. It is to the credit of the security forces, administration in the state that we have very peaceful, free and fair elections”. Referring to local youth joining ranks of different terror outfits, Lt Gen Singh said locals in Kashmir joining militancy “remains a matter of concern for all of us.”
“Local recruitment remains a matter of concern for all of us. Last year, we had 217 local youth who had picked up militancy. This year, the number has significantly reduced and as on date there are only 40 youth who have picked up arms”.