Stone pelters in Jammu and Kashmir are overground workers of militant groups and should be dealt with sternly, the army chief, general BipinRawat said Saturday, a day after a 22-year-old soldier was allegedly killed in stone-pelting in Kashmir. “If Islamabad continues to support cross-border terrorism, then the Indian army can resort to other actions” too,” he said, speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event to mark the Infantry Day.
The army chief, however, did not elaborate on what could be the possible action he was talking about.
Gen Rawat also asked Pakistan to “desist from aiding and abetting militancy” in Jammu and Kashmir, asserting that the Indian State was “strong enough” to ensure that the border state “remains a part of India and no one can take it away by force or any other means.”
On the death of soldier Rajendra Singh in alleged stone-pelting in Anantnag district, Gen Rawat reiterated his earlier stand that the “stone-pelters are nothing but over ground workers of militant outfits. I still say the same… If they (stone-pelters) can kill people with such acts, are they not becoming like militants?”
22-year-old Singh died at a hospital in Srinagar Friday after he sustained head injuries during stone-pelting by a group of youths on Thursday, the army had said in a statement.
“I want to tell them (stone-pelters) that no one will benefit from stone-pelting,” said the army chief, adding that “tough action should be taken against the stone-pelters. The army has got an FIR lodged in the case.”
Gen Rawat alleged that the neighbouring country was “resorting to a proxy war to avenge its defeat at the hands of India in the 1971 war when Bangladesh was liberated.”
The aim of Pakistan, he said, is to keep the Indian army “embroiled in this proxy war that they have lost.”
“But, let me assure you, Indian Army and the Indian State are strong enough to ensure that Jammu and Kashmir remain part of India… No one else can take it away by force or by any other means, because legally, legitimately J&K is integral part of India,” he said.
Asked about infiltration, he said Pakistan would be “wise to know that by indulging in such activities, harm is coming to Pakistan only.”
“We are capable of finishing any infiltrators who reach our side. But, if Pakistan continues to support infiltration, we can use other kind of action too,” Rawat said.
He said Pakistan was “continuing to fuel disturbances” in Jammu and Kashmir, “fully knowing that they will never succeed.”
“Legitimately, legally and by all rights, J and K is part of India. Pakistan somehow has been trying to annex this part of the country, more so after they lost East Pakistan with liberation of Bangladesh,” he said.
The Army chief said despite the passage of so many years, Pakistan “still has a desire to succeed in that.”
“And, with liberation of Bangladesh they decided to create a similar situation in Kashmir… Has Pakistan succeeded? They have not. And, Pakistan is fully aware they cannot succeed in Jammu and Kashmir, but they still hope they can succeed. It is just another way to keep the turmoil going and not allow development in the state,” he said.