Owais Gul
SRINAGAR: Army was putting every effort to bring the local militants from the path violence, Army chief General Bipin Rawat said today while paying tributes to the slain troops during the celebration of 20 years of ‘Operation Vijay’.
Rawat also laid wreath at Kargil War Memorial in Drass as part of celebration of 20 years of ‘Operation Vijay’. Talking to media persons, Army Chief stated anyone taking arms cannot b innocent but their efforts are on to bring the local youth back.
“Army is trying hard to motivate families of these misguided youth to help in bringing back them back and return to the mainstream. We are trying to approach civil society, preachers, parents, and siblings of militants to make them understand. No parent wants his children to do PhD only to become a militant,” he said.
However, Rawat said that Kashmir was no longer an issue with the international community as Pakistan has been singled out by the global community. “Kashmir is no longer an issue with the International community and that Pakistan would try its best to send infiltrators into this side to keep Kashmir on a boil. Every time infiltration takes place, they will be sent back or eliminated on the LoC only,” he added.
Asked how the other part of Kashmir be retrieved, Rawat said that it has to be a political decision. “We have to wait for government’s decision as to how that part can be retrieved,” he said, adding that in 1947, when Pakistani intruders tried to invade Kashmir, they were pushed back and some part of Kashmir remained with them which is known as “Pakistan occupied Kashmir.”
Rawat further said that economic condition of Pakistan was really bad and they will be ready to go to any extent to get money. “You know through which situation Pakistan is going through and who is giving orders and directions to them. All of you know it. There economic condition is really bad, and they will be ready to go to any extent to get money. If they get money, what they will do, is what they had been doing all these years,” he said.
He said there is a difference between talk and action. “You should only in believe in talk when you see action happening on ground,” Army chief added. On the occasion, Rawat said, “Let me convey a message to me countrymen that you can be rest assured that any task given to the defence services will always be accomplished, no matter how challenging or how difficult a task is.”
“Our soldiers will continue to man and guard the borders under challenging circumstances so that you can rest in peace and sleep with comfort in your homes. All we need is your (people) support so that the soldiers can continue to remain motivated and be encouraged to carry on his tasks as ever before,” he said.