SRINAGAR: Army Chief General Manoj Pande has expressed deep concern over the recent developments in the Rajouri-Poonch area of Jammu and Kashmir, stating, “The past six months have been an area of concern for us, where the adversary activated proxy outfits and abetted terrorism.”
He highlighted the army’s measures, saying, “We have already taken follow-up actions to ensure people don’t feel alienated. The army has adopted the affected village in Poonch.”
Speaking at the annual conference in Delhi, General Pande noted, “After 2003, terrorism was fully dismantled in the area until 2017-18. As the situation in the Valley is normalizing, our adversary has chosen Rajouri-Poonch to activate proxy outfits and promote terrorism.” He emphasized the army’s efforts, revealing, “45 terrorists were killed in the region in recent years, with five infiltration bids foiled and 14 terrorists eliminated in the hinterland last year.”
Addressing the issue of human intelligence in the Rajouri-Poonch area, General Pande stressed, “Strengthening human intelligence is crucial. We are focusing on synergizing our efforts with other agencies and engaging with the local community under Operation Sadbhavna.” He confirmed personal interaction with the local community and adoption of the affected village in Poonch.
General Pande asserted a zero-tolerance policy for human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir, stating, “Clear-cut directions have been issued to the army to act professionally. Our operations against terrorists will continue relentlessly.” He acknowledged the tactical lessons learned from the 2023 casualties in Jammu and expressed commitment to studying the adversary’s methods.
Regarding Indo-China talks, General Pande stated, “The ongoing talks are happening at diplomatic and military levels. Our goal is to return to the 2020 status quo, and troop reduction may be considered once achieved.”
Discussing the Agnipath Scheme, he mentioned positive feedback and the need to address challenges. “Anginveers are receiving quality training nationwide,” he added.
On countering drone challenges, General Pande ruled out a separate corps, affirming, “We have procured adequate counter-drone equipment and implemented a robust mechanism to address drone threats.”
Highlighting technological advancements, he announced the rollout of 5G-ready handsets for soldiers under the army mobile ecosystem. “By the middle of this year, 35,000 such sets will be available, with 2,500 already in use,” General Pande concluded, declaring 2024 as a year of technology for the army.
