New Delhi: Chief of the Army Staff Major General Manoj Pande on Sunday said the forces are maintaining a strong defence posture in the northern border and are ready to tackle any contingency. Gen. Manoj Pande was speaking on the occasion of the 75th Army Day celebrations in Bengaluru.
“In the northern border areas, the situation has been normal and through established protocols and existing mechanisms, necessary steps have been taken to maintain peace. Maintaining a strong defence posture at LAC, we are ready to tackle any contingency,” said the Army chief, as quoted by news agency ANI. “Last year, Army firmly faced security-related challenges & ensured security of borders actively and strongly. Army took steps to improve capability development, force restructuring & training. It also further strengthened its preparations for future wars,” he asserted.
The chief also emphasised that with efforts of local admin, other agencies and military there have been improvements in infrastructure development. “Despite difficult area and rough weather, our brave jawans are deployed there. All kinds of arms, equipment and facilities are being given to them in adequate quantity. With combined efforts of local admin, other agencies and military there've been improvements in infra development,” he added.
On celebrations being held out of the national capital for the first time, he said, "This has given a golden opportunity to Army to connect to the people. I'm confident this will make our relations even stronger.
“Improvements have been seen in the areas inside J&K. The local population has rejected violence, and they are welcoming positive changes, enthusiastically participated in all govt initiatives,” the chief asserted. He noted a decline in violence in J&K but added that several proxy terrorist outfits have resorted to the technique of targeted killings to gain visibility. Gen. Pande said the Army, along with other security forces, is determined to foil all such attempts.
While talking about a ceasefire at the line of control in western border areas, the chief mentioned that violations have been brought down. “But across the border, terror infrastructure still remains. Our counter-infiltration grid is continuously foiling the infiltration from there,” he said, as per ANI.
Talking about the insurgency in northeast regions, the Army Chief informed, “There have been definite improvements in security situation in northeastern regions. Indian Army has played an important role in bringing down level of violence and making insurgents leave the path of violence. Most insurgent groups have signed peace agreements with Govt.”
(With Agency Inputs)