Handwara, Apr 6: General Officer Commanding (GOC) 15 Corps, Lt General S A Hasnain, Friday said that Army was fighting a ‘sub-conventional war’ in Kashmir and was fully equipped to face any challenge.
Hasnain was addressing a press conference at the battalion headquarters of 21 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) here after felicitating the officers and soldiers for, what he called, one of successful encounters Thursday in which five Lashker-e-Toiba militants were killed.
Referring to the controversies in New Delhi involving Army, Gen Hasnain said those are matters related to conventional warfare. “In Kashmir Army is fighting sub-conventional war. Army is fully equipped to face any challenge,” he said. “We have infrastructure, equipments, surveillance devices and everything that is needed in fighting the sub-conventional war.”
It is pertinent to mention here that Inspector General of Police, S M Sahai, earlier this week said that there are less than 200 militants in the Valley at present.
Hasnain said that killing of 10 LeT militants in one week and a huge of number of militants in year 2011 has created a vacuum in militant ranks in the valley especially in north Kashmir. “To fill the vacuum militants would try to sneak into the valley from across the border,” he said and added that Army was fully prepared to meet any eventuality.
“Our troopers are alert on Line of Control and would foil the attempts of infiltration,” he said and added that the slain militants were part of an old militant group. Gen Hasnain said that the militants were readying themselves to receive fresh groups of militants who would try to infiltrate in near future and create disturbances.
He said that north Kashmir is still having “a good” presence of militants. “Despite killing of militants in good number, there are people who will try to create disturbances,” Gen Hasnain said.
Flanked by Commander 7 Sector RR, Brigadier KJS Dhillon, the Corps Commander asked the local militants to leave Pakistan and return to valley, adding violence would yield nothing. “The government has announced rehabilitation policy for such youth. They must return to their homes. They won’t get anything out of violence and India will not allow anybody to succeed in their nefarious designs against the nation,” Gen Hasnain said and added that the solution of every problem lies in sustained dialogue.
Referring to the situation on Line of Control, Gen Hasnain said that snowfall has damaged the fencing at vital points however the Army is alert.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 6 Apr 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 6 Apr 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 7 Apr 2012 00:00:00 IST