Situation under control, won’t allow Pir Panjal region to slip into terrorism: NAC
86 militants killed in 2019, local recruitment down; Pak radicalising Valley youth through social media
TNN Bureau. Updated: 5/21/2019 11:19:23 AM

JAMMU: Asserting that the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir is "under control", the Army on Monday said that it will not allow the south of Pir Panjal in the Jammu region to slip into terrorism.

General Officer Commanding in Chief (GoC-In-C), Northern Command, Lt Gen Ranbir Singh said that 86 terrorists were killed this year in the state, and vowed that operations against the ultras will continue.

He also said that Pakistan is continuing with its anti-India activities along the Line of Control (LoC) by trying to infiltrate militants into the Valley and promoting drug trade.

However, he said that the militant recruitment in Valley has declined, even as many ultras are being brought back to mainstream.

"The security situation in Jammu and Kashmir in under control," Lt Gen Singh told reporters at the sidelines of a function in Udhampur.

The commander assured that the Army will not allow the revival of militancy in Jammu region, which has seen multiple terror attacks and political killings in past one year or so.

“Our resolve, our commitment to operations against militants continues to be same in south of Pir Panjal. We will not allow the area to slip into terrorism," he added.

“We have been receiving intelligence reports of militant presence in the region. But the Army was able to check and arrest terror activities the districts of Doda and Kishtwar and other areas in south of Pir Panjal.

“At present, there are no confirmed reports about the presence of terrorists in the region,” Lt Gen Singh said.

He said the terror infrastructure across the border was intact and Pakistan is continuing with its anti-Indian activities.

"Pakistan has been continuing with its activities which are mainly anti-India, whether it is violating ceasefire, promoting cross-border infiltration, drug trafficking, narcotics, circulation of fake Indian currency," he said.

He said the neighbouring country wants to continue with its proxy war against India and after failing to engineer infiltration of militants from across the LoC, Pakistani agencies have resorted to social media to radicalise Kashmiri youths.

"Successful infiltration from across the Line of Control (LoC) is virtually becoming very difficult," Singh said while replying to a question on recruitment by militant outfits in Kashmir.

"Therefore, for them (Pakistan) to continue with this militancy, they want that the local content should be increased," he said.

"Local recruitment remains a matter of concern for all of us. Last year, 217 local youths had taken to militancy. This year, number has significantly reduced. As on date, there are only 40 youth who have picked up arms," the Army commander said.

The Army said a large number of misguided youths returned to mainstream society because of its outreach programmes to connect with families and teachers.

Since 2016, there has been a constant rise in the number of youths joining militancy, as per official data. In 2015, 66 youths joined militancy in Kashmir and 53 in 2014.

In 2017, 126 locals had joined militant ranks, it said.

South Kashmir districts Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam and Anantnag have become a breeding ground for militants with many youths joining their rank and file, it said.

Outfits like the Hizbul Mujahideen and the Lashker-e- Taiba find more recruits.

The data said out of the 217 recruits in 2018, 154 hailed from south Kashmir. The highest, 69, was from Pulwama. In 2016, 88 Kashmiri youths had joined militancy, according to the data.

The army commander said one of the key reasons for this is "radicalisation" of youths through "exploitation of social media by Pakistani agencies."

"One of the key reasons of recruitment is radicalisation and exploitation through social media by Pakistani agencies (to lure youth to pick up guns and engineer violence in Kashmir)," Singh said.

"However, the realisation is coming to the youth and people of Kashmir that we do not want to become fodder for Pakistani agencies and various inimical elements, who want to promote terrorism and violence in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

"I am sure with the help of all the stakeholders we will be able to arrest this trend in the times to come as we are doing now," he added.

This year has seen a marked change, wherein security forces reached out to parents, elders teachers in various villages to explain to them that youth picking up guns is futile.

In 2010, 54 youths had joined militancy, while in 2011 the number came down to 23. It further dipped to 21 in 2012 and 16 in 2013, as per the official data.

The data is based on technical and human intelligence, besides interrogation reports of militants arrested during various counter-insurgency operations in the valley.

He said the security forces helped the administration in Jammu and Kashmir to conduct the Lok Sabha polls in a peaceful manner.

"We recently finished with the elections in Jammu and Kashmir. The credit is due to the security forces and the administration," Lt Gen Singh said.

He said while security forces killed a number of militants in the past about four months in the state, some ultras shunned the path of violence and returned to the mainstream.

"During this year, we have been to neutralise 86 terrorists so far. Twenty terrorists were also apprehended. Our operations against terrorists will continue. A number of ultras have been brought back to the mainstream with the help of the parents, teachers and senior citizens," Lt Gen Singh said.

He said the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) was peaceful and "we have been able to ensure peace and tranquility with China".

Lt Gen Singh said the established mechanisms for confidence building have ensured that there are no "fraction points" between the two sides.

"If at all there are any kind of transgressions and incursions, which do take place, the established mechanisms take care of that," he added.

Answering questions he said the Balakot air strike was laudable although Pakistani fighter jets later crossed the LoC but they were given a reply on the LoC itself and could not come into the Indian hinterland.

"We are ready to give a reply if a misadventure is planned," the top army officer said.


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