Author: Excelsior Correspondent
Publication: The Daily Excelsior
Date: September 5, 2001
Pak trying to alter IB status :
Lt Gen Yadava
*Neither it's militancy nor insurgency
but only terrorism
JAMMU, Sept 4: General Officer Commanding
(GOC) 16 Corps Lt Gen J B S Yadava today said Pakistan was trying to alter
the status of International Border by resorting to firing and trying to
disrupting fencing work.
"They (Pakistan army) want to give
the status of 'disturbed border' to international boundary. We won't allow
that to happen", Lt Gen Yadava said addressing his maiden press conference
after he took command of 16 Corps about five months back.
"Our methods are quite effective
to meet enemy challenge on the borders but we can't elaborate", he said.
Asserting that defence works on
both sides of the border can be constructed as per a treaty between two
countries, he observed that fencing of IB in Jammu sector was a legitimate
construction and interference by Pakistan wouldn't be tolerated.
Replying to a question, Lt Gen Yadava
said :"fencing of IB was a BSF project. Army can intervene only is interference
from across the border is very severe. As of now, the interference was
not so severe that needs our (army's) intervention".
"Should the need arise, we will
definitely intervene", he said, adding 'the BSF was adequately equipped
to deal with incidents of sabotage that were being carried out to thwart
border fencing. He disclosed that talks were also held recently between
BSF and Rangers regarding border fencing. Rangers were categorically told
that any attempt to sabotage fencing will be replied with adequately and
effectively, he added.
"We stand committed to fencing but
there was presently no requirement of army to come to the assistance of
BSF in physical terms or security cover", the GOC Nagrota Corps told a
questioner, who reminded the General of his predecessor's observation that
army will assist BSF in fencing work.
Lt Gen Yadava said the increase
in level of firing and upgradation of weapons, used in firing by Pakistan,
was definitely a cause of concern for army. "Earlier, they used to fire
with small arms, later they used heavy caliber weapons and now they were
using mortars. Next it could be artillery fire", he asserted.
"Why Pakistan was doing so and what
are their intentions remains a question and a cause of concern for us",
he said.
"If they (Pakistan army) fires a
mortar, we will fire a mortar, if they fire heavy caliber, we will fire
heavy caliber more accurately and effectively", the Lt Gen said, adding
'we have a right to retaliate and we will exercise that right whenever
Pak army tries to push infiltrators'.
He said Pakistan was actively abetting
infiltration on LoC as well as IB. "There has been no let up as far as
infiltration of militants is concerned. We are responding to the situation
adequately in equal measures".
Lt Gen Yadava opined that there
was no insurgency or militancy in any part of Jammu and Kashmir, as was
being projected through some quarters. "There is militancy in isolated
areas of Poonch, Doda and Kishtwar. In rest of the State, it's only terrorism.
Majority of people were neither participating nor supporting terrorism.
However, the terrorists were trying to impose their will on the people",
he maintained.
Asserting that Pakistan has no love
for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, the GOC said they want to forcibly
capture the State with 'strategic interests' in mind. "Pakistan was eyeing
water of Chenab, Jehlum and Sindh rivers to sustain economy in its Punjab
province. Otherwise, it was difficult for them to survive as they were
not satisfied with Indus Water Treaty", he said.
Moreover, he pointed out, Pakistan
wants to enlarge its boundaries in east after doing the same in west with
the help of Talibans. He declared that evil designs of Pakistan will never
succeed.
"Pakistan tried to capture J&K
by force on four occasions by fighting direct wars. As it failed all the
times, it now started proxy war and was bound to fail in it as well", he
said. According to GOC, level of terrorism has increased after Agra summit.
Describing the incidents like militants'
attacks at Railway Station and killing of unarmed civilians as 'cowardly
acts', Lt Gen Yadava said :"we can't guarantee 100 per cent protection
to people but we are doing our best to ensure that minimum of such incidents
take place". He said even if soft targets decide to take cudgels against
militants, the terrorists won't venture out and stressed the role of press
to educate masses.
Admitting that some concrete bunkers
were detected by army in Surankot and other areas of Poonch and Rajouri
districts, Lt Gen Yadava said the bunker were constructed by the militants
by pressurizing local people. He categorically denied that bunkers were
constructed by Pakistan army.
"The bunkers were well furnished
with all necessary facilities", the GOC said, pointing out that one such
bunker was destroyed by army only yesterday in Pritpal forest area of Rajouri.
Maj Gen HS Kunwar, Chief of Staff,
who was also present in the press conference, referred to a news report
and said the bunker in question were Indian army bunkers and were not constructed
by Pakistan.
Maj Gen Kunwar also denied that
a Kargil like situation was prevailing in Poonch. "We tried to see Kargil
in Poonch as reported by a newspaper. Where was that. Where were the bunkers",
he asked the reporter. The reporter replied that he has a cassette to prove
his point.
Saying that Special Armed Forces
Act was a mandatory requirement for forces to function, he opined that
only some sympathisers of the militants were opposing it. He assured people
that the act will never be misused.
