Terrorist attacks will continue even after J-K ceasefire, feels Army

NEW DELHI, DEC 4: Sources in the Army Headquarters echo the views of Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee on Pakistan's response on restraint alon...

NEW DELHI, DEC 4: Sources in the Army Headquarters echo the views of Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee on Pakistan’s response on restraint along the Line of Control (LoC), saying that though Pakistan’s actions across the LoC had decreased, neither firing nor shelling has stopped.

“The issue is not related to the LoC alone. Firstly, Pakistan continues to support terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir, and secondly, there is been little to show for improvement along the Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL) in the Siachen glacier,” army sources said.

Figures released by the Army on the firing in different sectors along the LoC certainly indicate a drop since Pakistan’s statement on restraint along the LoC. “Take, for example, the Uri sector. Yesterday, according to the Situation Report (SITREP), Pakistan fired 105 rounds of small arms as against December 1, when they fired 225 rounds and one mortar on our position. Yesterday they fired 15 mortars on our position apart from 370 rounds, in the Noushera sector. In both cases we did not retaliate, following government orders,” said an official.

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But the drop in some sectors has been remarkable, according to the SITREP sent by the Srinagar-based 15 Corps. “In the Akhnoor sector , Pakistani troops fired 5,300 rounds and 2 mortars on December 1. Yesterday the firing had dropped to 260 rounds and one mortar. It was only in the Noushera sector that Pakistan fired 15 mortars on the Indian position too. So their showing restraint does not mean that they have stopped the firing altogether. There is no shelling from our side. The firing if any, is limited to checking infiltration,” he added.

The Army says after Kargil, it is only now that it has gained an upper hand on the situation. “The forces are back in the valley and back to their task. Getting back into the groove of counter-insurgency operations was a tough task after the conflict. Ceasefire for the army in CI operations means not taking a pro-active approach. But it does not mean that we spot a terrorist and wave him on. Any terrorist with a gun will be gunned down this month too,” sources said.

The Army, however, feels that terrorist attacks will continue even after the ceasefire, and the civil administration should move in to restart the development of the state. “The Army cannot stop terrorism. We can contain it, but then the people of the state have to take over. If they are gainfully employed, they will not join terrorist ranks or support them either willfully or under pressure,” added an official. Easier said than done, but the Army feels that with the Ramzan ceasefire, if Pakistan responds positively, peace could get a fair chance in the state.