Will take action if given orders to integrate PoK, says Army Chief

Army Chief Gen Naravane said his force can take control of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir if it gets orders from political authority, in what is seen as a strong message to Islamabad. At a press conference ahead of Army Day, Gen Naravane said that the Army will remain very vigilant at the Siachen glacier as there was a possibility of collusion between China and Pakistan against India in the strategically sensitive area.

"As far as Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is concerned, many years ago there was a parliamentary resolution on it that entire J and K is part of India.

If Parliament wants that area should also belong to us and if we get orders to that effect, then definitely we will take action on it," the Army Chief said.

He was replying to a question on whether the Army was ready to reclaim Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK). A resolution by Parliament in February 1994 stated that Pakistan must vacate the areas of Jammu and Kashmir, which it has occupied through aggression, and resolved that all attempts made by Islamabad to interfere in India's internal affairs will be dealt with resolutely.

After India withdrew special status of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated the state into two union territories, several important functionaries said that the focus now should be on reclaiming PoK. On Siachen, Gen Naravane said Indian forces should not lose sight as there could be collusion between China and Pakistan.

To a separate question, the Army Chief said the six Apache attack helicopters being procured by the Army would be deployed in formations guarding the border with Pakistan.

On the killing of two civilians by Pakistan Army in Poonch sector in Jammu and Kashmir, Gen Naravane said Indian Army does not resort to such barbaric activities.