Claiming that around 475 terrorists are ready to sneak into the Indian side from the line of Control, top commander of the Udham-
pur-based Northern Com-
mand headquarters lt-Gen Devraj Anbu on Thursday warned the neighbour that if required India would carry out another surgical strike to dismantle the mushrooming 'terror' factories.
Tough posturing by the top Army commander ahead of the peak winter season is expected to boost the morale of the foot soldiers deployed across forward locations to check any misadventures by the Pakistan Army.
Addressing mediapersons at Northern Command headquarters after attending Investiture ceremony, lt Gen Devraj Anbu said, “The surgical strike was a point we wanted to drive home across. The loC is not a line that cannot be breached. When we want to, we will be able to breach it (loC), go across and strike them when we need.”
The senior Army officer also asserted there is rise in number of terrorist-related activities and training camps operating across the loC post surgical strike. Sharing his assessment of the current security situation prevailing along the loC, the Army commander said, “As many as 475 terrorists are ready to cross and sneak into the Indian side from the loC.”
“As many as 250 terrorists are active on the other side of loC opposite North Kashmir while a total 225 are active opposite Pir Panchal area in Jammu region,” said the Army Commander.
He added that the security forces have upper hand on terrorists and added, “In the last one year period, 144 terrorists have been eliminated by the security forces, including the top commanders of many terrorist outfits.”
Acknowledging the hot chase launched by the NIA sleuths to track down the sources of terror funding across Kashmir, lt Gen Anbu said, “The raids have choked terror funds from Pakistan and also declined the incidents of stone-pelting in the Valley.” “large impact of NIA raids has been seen on streets in the Valley as stone-pelting incidents have come down,” he added.
He also said that there was a need to engage youth in the Valley, channelise their energies positively and provide them employment.
Referring to the propaganda machinery of separatists working against the Armed forces, the Army Commander said, “After separatists were arrested by the NIA, hardly any protest was seen. Nobody came out and took to streets and that itself speaks about the impact.”
On the prevailing India-China issue in ladakh, the General said, “There is no major issue with China in Eastern ladakh. Difference of perceptions regarding line of Actual Control happened following which 'face-off” took place but required mechanism is in place.”
Talking about the recent border disputes with China, the GOC said the border distress with China arises as there is a difference in perception of the demarcation.
“Issues have been raised and we are dealing with them in the manner that is available to us. At ground level, the issues get resolved immediately and amicably by taking up with the PlA,” he said.
He assured peace and tranquility in east ladakh and said there will be no Doklam-type situation arising there.
Talking about the infrastructural development in Eastern ladakh, he said, “I am sure that in a couple of years we will be very well-off. We are looking at the infrastructure from all points of view.