Says youth should shun violence to usher new era of development in J&K
Srinagar: Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General M.M. Naravane, said on Thursday that the ceasefire is holding along the Line of Control, and the onus to sustain it lies with Pakistan.
On the second day of his two-day visit to Kashmir to review the security situation along the LoC and in the hinterlands, General Naravane told media persons, “We entered this (ceasefire) agreement with Pakistan at the end of February. The ceasefire is holding as of now. The responsibility and the onus of making the ceasefire hold are squarely on Pakistan. We are willing to observe the ceasefire as long as they do.”
General Naravane also said the militancy infrastructure across the LoC is intact and forces cannot lower their guard. “While the ceasefire is on, the other activities they are indulging in are continuing, i.e., the militancy infrastructure which is there on the other side of the LoC, the militant camps etc. Therefore, there can be no slackening as far as we are concerned in our levels or preparedness,” the Army Chief said.
The ceasefire agreement along the LoC between India and Pakistan militaries was revived in February this year.
Earlier, the COAS, accompanied by Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Y.K. Joshi and Chinar Corps Commander Lt Gen D.P. Pandey, visited different formations and units, where the local commanders briefed General Naravane on the existing security situation and the measures taken to foil infiltration by militants from Pakistan administered Jammu and Kashmir (PaJK).
The COAS interacted with the troops and complimented them for their high morale and the state of operational preparedness.
While appreciating the current state of peace prevailing along the Line of Control, General Naravane cautioned all the commanders and troops to not let their guards down and to remain prepared to meet any emerging security challenges effectively, he said.
The Army Chief also complimented all the government agencies for their close coordination in maintaining peace in the region and for reaching out to the people wholeheartedly to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, stating that the situation has witnessed major improvement even as peace and tranquility is prevailing at the Line of Control (LoC) and hinterland in Kashmir valley, Army Chief appealed local youth to shun the path of violence to hasten process of ushering the new era of development and prosperity in the Union Territory.
“After such a long time, we have reached a situation where peace and tranquility prevails…. Where people are able and in a condition to pursue their dreams and aspirations. My message not only to youth but everyone whole be that it is only if we have peace can we have development and it is only if we have development can we prosper together. Therefore they should shun the path of violence, it doesn’t get you anywhere,” General Naravane, who is on a two-day visit to Kashmir, told reporters during a press briefing here on Thursday.
The Army chief said that the people need to see how the world has moved on and how India has moved on. “Therefore embrace the future… In the whole world, the future lies in shunning the violence and if you (youth in Kashmir) do that it will only hasten the process of ushering in the new era of development and prosperity in J&K,” he said.
Talking about the security situation in the valley, the General said that ‘he is glad to say that all the parameters that we judge normalcy by have seen great improvement’. (IANS/UNI)