Fb Img 1672586330407

No infiltration of Taliban fighters into Kashmir after fall of Kabul, says GOC Chinar Corps

JK Latest News

No infiltration of Taliban fighters into Kashmir after fall of Kabul, says GOC Chinar Corps

Srinagar, Jun 1: The apprehensions about the influx of Taliban fighters into Kashmir after the fall of Kabul in 2021 did not materialise and no Afghani Taliban has infiltrated into the valley, a senior Army officer has said here.

General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Chinar Corps Lieutenant General A D S Aujla also said that due to the ongoing internal crisis in Pakistan, there are no major worries regarding Kashmir but the armed forces have to remain alert to thwart any attempts to push in infiltrators, narcotics or weapons.

“As far as the apprehensions which were there post Taliban 2.0 are concerned, we could see the manifestations (of concern) on this side as well in Kashmir but it never happened,” Lt Gen Aujla told PTI in an interview on Wednesday.

A certain amount of chatter and a certain amount of signature was being reported on the other side in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), but it never translated into reality onto this side, he said.

“So, there was no infiltration of any Afghani Taliban… To that effect, we have been able to control (things),” he added.

The GOC said India has grown in stature in a number of domains, including military, foreign affairs and economy, and is counted amongst “the very best and the most powerful” countries today.

“With that stature today, I think we are in a better position to convey and convince people across borders in many terms, which augurs well for the country. So, while the western adversary (Pakistan) which is closest to us may not agree and actually feels bad about this… the rest of the countries are now… in alignment with us on many matters,” he said.

See also  *Pak using social media local influencers, narcotics to radicalise Kashmiri youth: Army* Srinagar, Jun 4: Pakistan is using a mix of social media, local influencers and narcotics to radicalise the Kashmir youth to pick up the gun but Army has launched various people-friendly initiatives to counter the propaganda of the inimical elements, a senior army officer has said. General Officer Commanding of Army's 15 Corps Lieutenant General ADS Aujla said the attempts from across the Line of Control (LoC) to push narcotics was a cause of concern as it was destroying the future generation of Kashmir. "Social media plays a very important role in this (radicalisation) and that is where the western adversary invests very heavily and that is where the narratives are built, the themes are built...which then are let loose in the environment and caught out by the youngsters here," Lt Gen Aujla told PTI in an interview last week. The officer, who has spent considerable part of his career in Jammu and Kashmir, said besides social media, the local cadres of Jamaat-e-Islami also play a major role in the indoctrination of the youth. "The local Jamaatis, they also play the major role in radicalising the youngsters. So, a combination of both of these gives them (youths) this high of falling on a wrongful path or joining a tanzeem or picking the weapon and doing something wrong," he added. Lt Gen Aujla said the youth of Kashmir are otherwise very focussed and brilliant minds. "It is just that within a large society, there are certain inimical elements who do prey upon certain individuals who are very very vulnerable because of either education or the condition at home or because of the peer pressure. It is primarily the social media, it is the Jamaatis who are there, and to a certain extent the peer group and a little bit about the narcotics which gets them on doing certain wrongs," he said. Asked if the neighbouring country was using drones to deliver weapons and narcotics into Kashmir, the officer said terrain of the LoC in the valley makes it a difficult task. "The geography actually does not permit them to use this technology or equipment in this place. So, from that point, I think, we are decently immune. But, I cannot say for sure that they cannot be used. There are certain places where (they can), but we are pretty robust on ground to take care of any such misadventure by the enemy in this area," he said. Lt Gen Aujla said with the type of pressure that is being mounted by the investigating agencies like the NIA and the SIA on terror financing networks, the narcotics smuggling has become the source to finance the nefarious deeds on inimical elements. "From where it was and where it is now, we have put a little bit of check on that, the lid has been put. The agencies and the administration are pretty sensitive to it and many a methods, many a measures have been put in place to ensure that this particular trend is controlled and captured at the earliest," he added. The GoC said the narcotics were "ruining the system and the society". "As far as Kashmir is concerned, a lot of youngsters are getting into this kind of a business, both as carriers and in the consumption part as well. That is where some money comes back which is used by the tanzeems to fund their designs," he said. Lt Gen Aujla said 'Operation Sadbhavna' has been a going on with the focus of the army on three major facets. "The first is education where we put a lot of impetus, a lot of focus is there to enhance the educational reforms to give them top-notch education in whatever way is possible. That is where 28 Army goodwill schools are presently running in the Kashmir valley which is a huge number. It constitutes 11,000 students and if you add the staff, it comes to about 15,000. so, that is the type of families that we are associated with for a long period of time," he said. The officer said the other aspect where the Army has invested very heavily is for deradicalisation part is the 'Sahi Rasta' (Right Path) programme where the people on the brink of joining terror ranks are brought back to the mainstream. Lt Gen Aujla said the third aspect is narcotics-related where addicts are given medical help and counselling.–(PTI)

So, there is hardly a chance of something emanating from the other side and disturbing the peace and tranquillity of Kashmir, he added.

Asked about the current situation in Pakistan and its effect on Kashmir, Lt Gen Aujla said the crisis in the neighbouring country was bound to happen.

“We are all aware of what is happening and the crisis is immense whether it is on the political, economic, social or military front, you name a space and there is a crisis on the other side.

“It was bound to happen the way the country was going, it was just a matter of time,” he said.

However, Lt Gen Aujla said infiltration and smuggling of narcotics and ammunition through the border remain areas of concern.

“What worries us or concerns us at this point in time, majorly nothing. But other than that, when we look at what the dynamics of Kashmir are. The physical manifestation of infiltration is what worries us, the narcotics being pushed across (the border) is what worries us and the ammunition which is sent across is what worries us,” said the GOC, who has served several tenures in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Army is prepared to deal with any eventuality along the Line of Control (LoC), he said.

Asked if there has been any activity on the other side of the LoC after the political crisis in Pakistan, Lt Gen Aujla said, “Negative. We have not seen any major change.”

Asked about the infiltration of militants from PoK, he said the intent of Pakistanis has not changed.

See also  Highway Remains Closed As Shooting Stones Continue In Banihal

“The intent still remains very much the same. Given the opportunity, he (Pakistan) does not hesitate to infiltrate militants. While the intent has not changed, we have put certain measures in place. We are pretty robust and strong along the LoC and can take care of such events,” he said.

Lt Gen Aujla said last year saw the lowest infiltration into the valley.

“I can assure you that till date, it is zero. We will try and keep it to the lowest levels in the months to come,” he said.–(PTI)

Previous Story

Batamaloo murder case solved within hours, accused arrested: Police

Next Story

Time not ripe for army’s withdrawal from Kashmir hinterland: GOC Chinar Corps

Latest from Kashmir