On Thursday, addressing a press conference, Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai General Officer Commanding (GoC), of the Army’s strategic Srinagar-based Chinar Corps, said when the ceasefire agreement with Pakistan came into effect at the beginning of the year 2021, the situation was tenuous on the northern borders with China.
He also said that the ceasefire with Pakistan along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir has been sustained and exceptions to any activity taken by the other side is brought to notice through various means.
The situation on the northern borders with China remained precarious when the ceasefire agreement with Pakistan went into force at the start of 2021.
He said, “At that point in time, India and Pakistan felt that it was the most apt thing to do so that tensions could be kept under the threshold as far as the LoC (Line of Control) and the western borders are concerned.
Lt Gen Ghai said, the ceasefire understanding has been sustained. He is relinquishing the command of Chinar Corps.
“There are certain tenets to that ceasefire understanding which both sides follow. Every now and then, if any of the sides has any exception to any activity that may have been prosecuted by the other side, those are brought to notice through various means.
He said, “there are hotlines on the LoC. The two DGMOs (director generals of military operations) have access to each other, and these are routinely brought to each other’s notice. But the ceasefire understanding has sustained and is still very much in force”.
To a question about infiltration attempts being made along the LoC, the GoC said the counter-infiltration grid of the security forces is strong.
He also said the fence or Anti-Infiltration Obstacle System (AIOS) is technically enabled and numerous attempts of infiltrations have been rendered unsuccessful.
“This year, we saw that there were people at the launchpads and we had intelligence inputs that they will make attempts, but there were not many attempts this summer. What is the reason for that?
“It is obvious that infiltration can occur at places other than the LoC and perhaps it has taken place this year. That is why the numbers have increased in the Jammu region because the areas were always peaceful,” he said.
While the Army anticipated infiltration bids in the valley, Lt Gen. acknowledged that the terrorists might have changed their tactics and stated that “successful bids took place at other places”.
He further said, “That is why the numbers increased a bit. But I am confident that the number will decrease soon as we have been getting intelligence of those”.
Additionally, as per Lt Gen, the force has the latest and greatest technology readily accessible, which it has fully embraced and is utilizing in its operations in the valley.
He asserted that a terrorist or insurgency could only have as good of training. It is apparent that he lacks the Indian Army soldier’s level of training. He claimed that, at the very least, he is certain of that.
“You can hand them technology… For instance, I am carrying a rifle or an automatic weapon and you can give me a night sight and I can train you how to use it. So, obviously it is going to enhance the capability a little,” he remarked.
The Officer added that the Indian Army has access to the most advanced technology currently in use and that the military will completely incorporate new technologies in 2024.
“So we have embraced the technology in a very big manner and we are leveraging it all across our operations,” he added.
The GoC of the Chinar Corps stated that the forces are unaffected by the infiltrators’ potential nationality, whether they are foreign or Pakistani, their level of training, or their advanced technological capabilities.
“That doesn’t bother us” he said.
He also said “We have to do counter terrorist operations and we will go after insurgents whatever shape or size or whatever manner of technology that they may be utilising”.
He asserted that the Pir Panjal region may be home to 25–40 foreign terrorists.
In the conference he said, “We have seen in the recent operations in the Pir Panjal range that in all probability, they are Pakistani terrorists. While it is very difficult to say how many there are, they could be anything from 25-40”.
Though, It wasn’t a big figure, he said.
He also stated that “If you add these suddenly to any area which is stable, then it takes some time for the counter terror grid to mature. I am sure that there will be successful operations in the time to come as we have started getting the intelligence.”
