Defence establishment and the Government appeared to be sharply divided over the issue of reducing troop presence in Jammu and Kashmir. While Home Secretary GK Pillai said here on Friday the Government was considering thinning down troop numbers by 25 per cent, Army chief General VK Singh said the situation was not conducive for such a measure.
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Pillai’s comment came in the backdrop of various political parties besides Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah repeatedly asking the Centre in the last few months to reduce the “oppressive” presence of security forces in the State.
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Incidentally, two brigades (nearly 6,000 men) were relocated from the State early last year and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was in the process of moving out one battalion (1,000 men) from Srinagar besides removing more than 40 bunkers, morchas and checkpoints in and around the city.
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Addressing a seminar at Jamia Milia Islamia University, the Home Secretary said New Delhi was also planning to unilaterally issue six-month multiple entry permits for the people of Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) wanting to visit Jammu and Kashmir through the Line of Control (LoC).
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On bringing down troop levels in the State, he said “as a confidence-building measure in Jammu and Kashmir, the strength of the security forces would come down by 25 per cent. We would like to reduce it as soon as possible depending on ground situation.”
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Maintaining that he was not aware about Pillai’s announcement, the Army chief said in the annual press conference here “I do not know in what context the Home Ministry said this. I cannot comment.”
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Elaborating on the Army’s position, Singh said security forces generally meant the Army, para-military forces and the police. “The Army’s deployment pattern was based on threat perception and we have a certain number of troops guarding the Line of Control and a certain number of troops deployed in the hinterland to maintain peace. At present, the situation is not conducive for reducing troop numbers,” he added.
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He also said it will be ensured that “extra pressure” is not put on his “already-stretched” deployments. “We have not yet felt that we have to cut down our forces. If they want to cut down para-military and police forces, I won’t say anything. So when that is done, it will be ensured that extra pressure is not brought on our already-stretched deployments there.”
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Stating that the Army was not aware of any troop reduction plans, the Army chief said he was sure that any step in this direction would be taken in consultation with the Unified Command Headquarters operating in the State. The Unified Command is headed by the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister.
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Asked if the Army would agree with the demand for repealing the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from some parts of the State, General Singh said, “you know the views of the Army in this regard. The issue is already before the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) and I would not like to say anything further.”
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On security situation in the State, the Army chief said “we have been able to check infiltration in large measure due to anti-infiltration obstacles and fence.”
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Giving figures, he said as compared to 485 attempts to infiltrate in 2009 from across the LoC, 468 attempts were reported last year.
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Moreover, 114 attempts were successful wherein terrorists managed to get in but last year saw only 95 successful attempts and 40 terrorists were killed, he said, adding the fall in infiltration was due to dynamic pattern of deployment and patrolling by the Army.
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When asked about the possibility of anti-national elements and militants gaining upper hand in towns and areas which were sanitised after great effort by the security forces, Singh said the Unified Headquarters should take note of that issue.
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“The Unified Headquarters should take note of this as some areas were cleaned after great sacrifices by the security forces and these areas were infested with militants again,” the chief said. He also said the nearly three-month-long spell of stone-throwing in the Valley was partly instigated by militants.
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