Srinagar, May 17: The General officer Commanding Kilo Force Ravi Thogde Tuesday said Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) legislation was an issue between State and Centre government.
 “It (AFSPA) is an issue between State and Centre government .They have to take a political decision. I don’t have to comment on it,” he told reporters on the sidelines of a peace conference at SKICC here.
 Replying to query about infiltration along the Line of Control, Thogde said there are no reports of infiltration.
 The GOC termed the killings of 118 youth last year as “unfortunate. “ This is all I can say,” he added.    
 Earlier addressing the conference, he said that real problem in Jammu and Kashmir and other regions of India is economy. “The real problem in many states, including Jammu and Kashmir, is basically economy. It is the conflict over resources,” he added.
 The GOC said the violence had damaged the Kashmiriyat. “We have seen its impact in 2008, 2009 and 2010. It just requires a trigger and spreads out on the streets. It spirals out and one event leads to other,” he said.
  The GOC said that Army was in Kashmir to “secure the local population and to remove the fear psychosis” created by the gun culture here.
 “Our constitution provides us right against exploitation. When we talk about the human rights violations, men in uniform are looked as perpetrators. Our youth are exploited .Aren’t their rights violated? These issues need to be addressed,” he added.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 17 May 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 17 May 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 18 May 2011 00:00:00 IST