‘Can’t verify if PoK camps closed’

Army Chief asks Kashmiri students to join armed forces and serve the nation

There is now way to verify whether the Pak Army has closed the terrorist camps in PoK or not. We will continue to maintain a strict vigil on borders. — Bipin Rawat, Army Chief

New Delhi, June 10: Amid claims that Pakistan has shut down terrorist camps in Pakistan-occupiedKashmir (PoK), Army Chief Gen. Bipin Rawat on Monday said there was no way to verify this, adding that the Army would continue to maintain a strict vigil along the borders.

“There is now way to verify whether the Pakistan Army has closed the terrorist camps there (in PoK) or not. We will not take chances and continue to maintain a strict vigil along our borders,” Gen. Rawat told ANI when asked if the Army had any information about Pakistan having shut down its terrorist camps in PoK.

Meanwhile, the Army Chief met with over 140 children and teachers from Jammu and Kashmir who are on a multi-city tour organised by the Army.

The group of 140 students from Ramban, Reasi, Rajouri and Baramulla, accompanied by four teachers on a national integration tour, interacted with Gen. Rawat, who shared his experiences of serving in these areas and motivated them to work hard and contribute actively in the nation building process. He also exhorted them to join the armed forces and serve the nation.

Reports today suggested that the Pakistan Army shut down its key terror infrastructure, including over a dozen training camps across the Line of Control.

The development, the reports suggested, have taken place ahead of antiterror watchdog Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF’s) plenary meeting next week where Pakistan faces the possibility of being blacklisted for noncompliance. On the issue of infiltration attempts by Pakistan, top Army sources said there has not been any serious attempt by the Pakistan Army to push any terrorists from its side to India this summer. However, the Indian Army is keeping a strict vigil on borders and prepared to foil any infiltration bid from across the borders.

Sources said Pakistan pulled back a part of its armoured columns from the Sialkot sector, opposite of the Jammu sector.