Srinagar: Militant launch pads in Pakistan-administered Kashmir “are full”, but the Pakistan army’s attempts to infiltrate militants under the cover of ceasefire violations are being responded to in a “hard and punishing” manner, Lieutenant General Kanwal Jeet Singh Dhillon said here on Tuesday.
Lt Gen Dhllon has been heading the strategic command of the Kashmir-based XV corps. He said peace in Kashmir Valley has been “cemented by security forces in coordination with various stakeholders including opinion-makers and mentors of the civil society”.?Lt Gen Dhillon, who will soon leave for a posting in the army headquarters in Delhi, joined the strategic command in February last year.?In a written reply to a question by PTI, Lt Gen Dhillon talked about the history of Pakistan’s proxy war and said the neighbouring country has been consistently aiding and abetting infiltration in India for more than 30 years now.?“All the terrorist camps and launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir are full. These terrorist cadres are desperate to infiltrate with the help of Pakistan army, who indulge in firing at our posts.?“Our befitting response to ceasefire violations has been swift, hard and punishing,” Lt Gen Dhillon told PTI.?He said the Army’s main task is to keep militancy at bay, both at the LoC and in the hinterland in “conjunction with Jammu and Kashmir police, paramilitary forces and intelligence agencies.”?While maintaining an effective domination along the LoC, he said, conducting effective anti-militancy operations “in a people-friendly manner” in the inner areas has improved the situation in the Valley.?He said local business, tourism and education sectors are likely to benefit immensely from the “operational successes, the improving security situation and various government initiatives”.?
—PTI

Press Trust of India