Gen Singh opposes any dilution of AFSPA
Disfavours demilitarisation of Siachen
New Delhi, Jan
14: Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh Monday opposed any dilution of controversial
Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Jammu and Kashmir, saying any
decision to revoke it from any part should be taken only after getting inputs
from security agencies and stakeholders. He also disfavoured demilitarisation
of Siachen Glacier area against the backdrop of the "trust deficit"
existing with Pakistan. "I am of
the view that we should not dilute provisions of the AFSPA. Militants are
afraid of this because this gives us powers to carry out operations against
inimical elements and enemies of the state who defy the rule of law. Any
decision to revoke this from any part where it is applicable must be taken
after consideration of all facts and inputs from all security agencies and
stakeholders that are deployed," Gen Singh said in his annual Army Day
press conference here.
J&K
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has been pushing for partial lifting of AFSPA from
the State and asking all stakeholders to shed rigidity to help take a decision
based on the improved security situation in the state. Terming AFSPA as "an enabling" act, Singh
said, “It gives us additional powers to
operate in an environment which is marked by very high degree of uncertainty
and complexity and an asymmetric environment where you cannot differentiate
between a friend and a foe as the militants merges with the backdrop and hides
amongst the locals. There are challenges for soldiers while carrying out
operations and we got to give these enablers to the soldiers”.
On
Army's stand on Siachen Glacier area, he said, "It is strategically
important for us. It is our area and we need to continue to hold it." He said if any thought is to be given to
consideration in terms of demilitarising and pulling out, "it is to be
done in the backdrop of the trust deficit which is to be addressed and we got
to wait and watch the conduct of the Pakistan Army and then take a call on it."
He said any decision in this regard by the authorities concerned has to be
"very conscious, deliberate and pragmatic and not lose out the strategic
gains that we have made. We have shed a lot of blood in trying to gain that
advantage and let us value that."
No comments:
Post a Comment