200 terrorists ready to infiltrate into J&K: Army commander

UDHAMPUR: Northern army commander Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi said that infiltration is drastically down, but, there are 200 terrorists staged across the border ready to be launched into Jammu and Kashmir.

The ceasefire along the IndoPak border is working ‘well’ since February 2021 agreement, he asserted.

“Terrorists are waiting across (LoC) to be launched to this side. We have made sure that all reserve troops were put in the second tier of defence so that no infiltration takes place”, he said.

He maintained that terror infrastructure, however, seems to be intact across the border.

He blamed the Pakistan army for sustaining the terror infrastructure and said that the complicity of the Pakistan army and its agencies cannot be denied.

He said that infiltration not only takes place via mountainous areas and forests but also through International Border via Jammu and also Punjab and Nepal.

“We aim to identify these people and neutralize them at the earliest possible time”, he said.

He added that there are 40 to 50 local terrorists currently operating in the hinterland besides foreign terrorists, whose number cannot be determined.

“But we have neutralized 21 foreign terrorists till now. It shows that support for sheltering terrorists is dwindling with each passing day, he said.

Expressing concern over radicalisation, he said that teenagers are being recruited increasingly and it is a matter of great concern for all.

Dwivedi said that over 15,000 students in 48 goodwill schools are being taught how to build up a better future for themselves.

He further said that AFSPA will automatically go the day there is no need for armed guards and paramilitary on roads.

On Amarnath Yatra, he said the number of pilgrims is expected to double this year as compared to 2019. We have to ensure that there is no terrorist action during the yatra. Extra forces are being deployed, he said.