Why should JK schools teach the state map: Army chief
- by Virginia Carter
- in World Media
- — Jan 13, 2018
Since November 2003, India and Pakistan have been maintaining a ceasefire along the 740-km Line of Control between the two nations. "If there is a drop in infiltration from Pakistani side, we are willing to call a ceasefire". Terrorists are a disposable commodity in Pakistan and the Indian Army approach has been to ensure that it feels the pain, he said. We will continue to destroy the Pak posts housing the terrorists.
Although swift retributions are lauded by the public, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat termed "rushing to Ops" a "worrisome phenomenon" connecting them to higher casualty rates.
Gen Rawat said South Kashmir was focus of the Army's counter-terror operations after killing of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani in 2016.
In Jammu and Kashmir, the focus of the military action would shift to areas in north Kashmir such as Baramulla, Pattan, Sopore, Kupwara, Handwara, Lolab and areas north of Bandipora.
Speaking about cyber security, he said that the Army was concerned about cyber and information warfare and stressed on the need for the security establishment to have good firewalls and systems in place. "We are continuously manning the border", he said regarding the Doklam standoff. "We have to be prepared for that", Army Chief General Rawat said.
He asked for a "wait-and-watch" approach on the impact of United States pressure on Pakistan, arguing that the U.S. also has its own compulsions vis-à-vis Pakistan.
"It would be premature to talk about what is going to be ultimate impact of this pressure on Pakistan".
Replying to a question on whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos later this month, Kumar said details of the PM's engagement will be known only two-three days before the visit.
"It is not because we saw a threat".
General Rawat, who had previously also highlighted on the need for technologically advanced weapons and equipment, said that threat from CBRN weapons is fast becoming a concern.
"It is a step by step process". On the increasing border transgressions and contact between Indian and Chinese soldiers, he said the numbers have gone up as India had deployed more troops in more forward positions along the border.
