Thaindian News

Jammu, Jan 10 (IANS) Counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir have entered a “more difficult phase” with the rank and leadership of insurgents decimated but not entirely wiped out, the Indian Army’s northern army commander said Tuesday.

Visiting the Line of Control (LoC) where Pakistani troops, violating the ceasefire, have been firing on the Indian posts to facilitate infiltration of terrorists, Lt. Gen. K.T. Parnaik said that though the terrorists’ numbers have dwindled, the challenges remained undiminished.

“The relentless hard work of the security forces has kept terrorists on the run. As their numbers have dwindled and leadership has been eliminated to a great extent, the operations are now entering a more difficult phase,” Parnaik, who also visited two major headquarters supervising anti-insurgency operations in the Jammu region, told the troops.

He expressed the hope that the soldiers, with the help of the people, “would soon be able to deal a final blow to terrorism in the state”.

The Army has also renewed its efforts to prevent infiltration from across the LoC that divides Jammu and Kashmir between India and Pakistan, said a Northern Command spokesman.

“The army commander visited Nangi Tekri in Poonch sector, which has been in news for some time due to ceasefire violations from across the LoC,” he said.

“Lt. Gen. Parnaik reviewed defence preparedness and the ongoing counter-infiltration operations along the LoC. He also interacted with troops and complimented them for their steadfastness in maintaining the sanctity of the LoC,” the spokesman said.

According to the spokesman, Parnaik paid rich tributes to the resoluteness of the soldiers who foiled all attempts of infiltration in 2011, saying that troops deployed on the LoC “have an onerous task which demands highest degree of alertness and determination. Soldiers have time and again lived up to the expectations of the nation in spite of daunting challenges”.

“However, the fact that numerous infiltration attempts have been foiled successfully should not lull us into complacency,” the spokesman quoted Parnaik as saying.