Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat stated ceasefire up to now alongside LoC is holding. (File)
New Delhi:
Ceasefire is holding alongside the Line of Control (LoC) up to now however the inside peace course of is being disrupted by “infiltration of weapons and drugs using drones”, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat stated at this time.
General Rawat advised information company ANI that ceasefire does not imply that there’s “ceasefire along borders, but you at the same time create trouble in the hinterland”.
“Ceasefire so far along LoC is holding, which is a positive sign. At the same time, we’re also witnessing infiltration of weapons and ammunition, using drones. It doesn’t augur well for peace as these drugs and weapons are meant to disrupt the internal peace process,” he stated.
“If the internal peace process is disrupted, then we can’t really say that the ceasefire is holding. The ceasefire doesn’t mean that you ceasefire along borders, but you at the same time create trouble in the hinterland. We would like a semblance of peace in the entire Jammu and Kashmir,” he added.
India and Pakistan had in February this yr agreed to a strict observance of all agreements, understandings and stop firing alongside the Line of Control (LoC) and all different sectors.
Speaking on theaterisation of forces, General Rawat stated that the method is occurring properly, and it’s making passable progress.
“Amongst the three services, we have been able to resolve most of the issues. There is a better understanding that if the three services integrate, they can bring about jointness and carry out transformation. Then I think, we will ensure better efficiency and utilisation of our existing services. I think we’ll be better prepared for combat in the future,” he stated.
On how the ultimate construction will evolve, General Rawat stated it would solely be determined after the preliminary organisation is created.
“Of course, we have to look at the land-based theatres which will be Eastern and Western Theatres…How the final structure will evolve will only happen after we have created the initial organisation and it will take some time…There is a requirement for one agency to control and ensure that air management doesn’t lead to fratricide. Then we have a large border along the coastline and high sea in the Indian Ocean Region. We need to ensure that we have one organisation looking after that,” he stated.
On the interior state of affairs in Jammu and Kashmir, he stated the individuals of the Union Territory need peace.
“They have seen a lot of terrorism and insurgency over the years. People are now looking at peace returning, especially after the abrogation of Article 370. If this continues, the time will come when people themselves will shun violence and will not allow insurgency in the Valley because insurgency and terrorism can’t survive without the support of locals,” General Rawat stated.
He stated there’s have to establish the youth within the Valley who’ve been misled and information them away from terrorism.
“Some of the youth who have been misled, I think we need to identify them and see how best we can converse with them and explain to them that terrorism is not the way forward, but peace and tranquillity is the way forward,” General Rawat added.
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