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| 2009 best since 1989: Army | | GoC XVI says, no trace of Taliban in J&K | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec 16: Even as it was confirmed in the Parliament today that around 700 militants are still operating in the state, the Army today termed 2009 as golden year of security situation in Jammu and Kashmir since eruption of militancy in 1989.
Whether it is violence level or any other type of disturbance, the security situation had never been like year 2009, said General Officer Commanding (GOC) prestigious XVI ‘White Knight’ Corps Lt Gen Rameshwar Roy on the sidelines of a function here.
‘’Everything has remained good during 2009, which has been the Golden Year as far as the security situation in the state in concerned’’ Lt Gen Roy said after laying a wreath at the ‘Balidan Sthambh’ -- the tallest war memorial constructed by army -- to commemorate the ‘Vijay Diwas’ -- 1971 victory over Pakistan army.
The General also ruled put presence of Taliban in the state. "There is absolutely no confirmed report of any Taliban footprints in Jammu and Kashmir or elsewhere (in the country)”, he said.
"As regard to future, if at all any such thing happens, we are capable of tackling any kind of fighters of any category," he said. He, however, said there had been no increase in the number of foreign militants in J&K as of now. He said the militants were losing support from all sides.
"The kind of support militants got in past is not there today, from the population or anywhere else. Security forces have become more capable to deal with the situation," Roy said, adding the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir has been better this year to previous year. The officer also ruled out that top militant commanders were in Jammu and Kashmir for recruiting new cadres.
"They are scared to come here as they know that they will be eliminated," he said.
The GOC said that there had been no visible change in the outlook of neighbouring country towards India.
‘’Pakistan has not changed its attitude, and will never change it, but we are certain that its attitude would change as we are maintaining security situation at the lowest level,’’ Lt Gen Roy said.
Despite continued increase in the terrorist infrastructure across the Line of Control (LoC), the officer said, ‘’The army has been successful in curtailing the number of infiltrators from Pakistan side.’’ He said the militants within the state were afraid of security forces and they prefer avoiding direct contact. ‘’They (militants) are running here and there for shelter and we are chasing them to hunt down’’ he said, citing counter-insurgency operations in the militancy-infested areas.
On sensitivity of militants preferring other routes (not LoC) to sneak into J&K, Lt Gen Roy said it would not be as greater threat as compared to those infiltrating through borders.
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