Akhnoor (Jammu), Jan 15: Hardening its stance over the state government’s proposal for partial revocation of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), army Sunday said the matter “concerns the national security” and a decision on the issue would be taken by union home and defense ministries.
 “The law is must for the national security. The army and state government have their own stands on the issue and it was discussed at appropriate levels”, Army's Northern Command chief Lieutenant General KT Parnaik told media persons on the sidelines of an investiture ceremony on the Army Day here, about 30 kilometers from Jammu..
 “A decision is now emerging that further discussion is to be held at the central level with the involvement of Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Defense and I hope that some useful solution emerges once the discussion stage is over”, he said.
 Replying to the query regarding the outcome of the panel constituted by union government for discussions on AFSPA - comprising him, Director General of J&K Police Kuldeep Khoda and Home Secretary BR Sharma - Parnaik said that the meeting of panel had taken place last year. “All the members had very cordial discussions and all the issues concerning Army and the state were discussed”, he said.
 “After that meeting it was agreed upon to take the discussions to the Center along with the representatives of Ministry of Home Affairs and Defense,” he further said.
 Clarifying that he had no confrontation with the state government over the issue, the Northern Command Chief said; “I have been saying earlier and saying it again that we work together. There is good synergy in the Unified Command and the army will contribute to ensure that the peaceful 2011 we had, can be repeated”.

ON SECURITY SITUATION
 The army commander expressed satisfaction over the peaceful 2011 but at the same time he also raised apprehensions of attempts to revive militancy in the state.
 “The security situation in J&K is good. The violence parameters have been down. The year 2011 has been a very fruitful and we have had fair amount of peace in the state. However, they (militants) have continued with their attempts to infiltrate from across the Line of Control and we had numerous occasions to stall the infiltrations”.
 He said that militants were trying to regroup and create disturbance in the state. Some militants have managed to infiltrate in the state, he said adding, “These figures are all available with Army and I would like to say there would be attempts to revive militancy in the state,” he said.
 About the possible number of militants operating in Jammu and Kashmir, the army commander said, “The number keeps on fluctuating and there would be between 200-300 militants who were still operating in the state”, he said.

ON PAKISTAN POLITICAL CRISIS
 Lieutenant General Parnaik said there was nothing alarming for India over the visible standoff between civilian government and army in Pakistan. “What is happening in Pakistan is not new. They have the problems before. No cause of concern for us that I can suggest at the movement”, he said.
 He said that the country (Pakistan) was passing through a difficult situation but India and Army was watching the situations very closely but it was not a matter of concern.
 “The happenings in Pakistan are not new. Historically they have had these problems before. Therefore the country (India) and Army watches the events very closely. There is no cause of concern. I suggest all we need to do is to try and understand their system. It has got lot of dynamism in it and as the events unfold, I am sure we will understand how things will be resolved in Pakistan. They have difficult situation as of now and I don’t see any alarm at least with us” he said.

ON ANANTNAG ENCOUNTER
 Replying to a query about the possible fall-out of alleged fake encounter in Janglat Mandi, Anantnag on Major General Bikram Singh for his race to the post of army chief, Lt Gen Parnaik said that the matter is subjudice and as such he was not in a position to comment.
 “This incident took place in Janglat Mandi in the year 2001. At that point of time the civil police had done all the requisite investigations in collaboration with the army. The case was registered with the police and a closure report was filed but as you all know an NGO has put in a writ petition in the High Court. The petition is sub–judicie and it will not be fair on my part to make any comment over the issue”.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 15 Jan 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 15 Jan 2012 18:30:00 GMT
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