‘Security situation in Kashmir stable but fragile’
There has been an escalation in infiltration attempts from across the Line of Control (LOC) into Jammu & Kashmir and a surge in militant violence there. Lt Gen B S Raju, the General Officer Commanding of Srinagar-based 15th Corps, spoke to Ramesh Vinayak about the security challenges in the Valley. Edited excerpts:
The situation is stable but fragile. Precautionary and pre-emptive measures are being taken for the safety and security of people, and these have been instrumental in saving innocent lives. Postpulwama [attack in 2019], we have successfully neutralised top local commanders of terror outfits, resulting in leadership void. Many overground workers were apprehended.
Pakistan has consistently found ways and means to further its agenda of terror in the Valley. It persists in that.
Numerous intrusion attempts have been foiled and Pakistan army is constantly resorting to ceasefire violations to support terrorists’ infiltration.
Militancy has since been on a sharp decline due to our persistent efforts. We had anticipated Pak will increase its efforts to cause turmoil in Kashmir. In spite of best efforts of Pak-sponsored proxies, there has been no loss of civilian life in security operations. That, in fact, has been hallmark of efforts of all stakeholders for the maintenance of peace in Kashmir.
We work on concepts and not numbers. And the concept is the constant attempts by Pak to infiltrate terrorists and war-like stories to commit sensational terror activities. Over the past year, leadership of all terrorist organisations, including HM, LET, Ansar Ghazwat-ul Hind and JEM, has been targeted and eliminated. The number of terrorists operating in Valley has also greatly dwindled. In all operations, we extend opportunity to terrorists to return. Halfway through, encounters are halted and parents or elders are involved to urge them to return. We call it ‘Operation MAA’.