Lieutenant General Ranbir Singh, Army Commander Northern Command, on Thursday said the army was ready for any contingency along the Line of Control and the Line of Actual Control.
“Any kind of movement, misadventure which our adversaries try to undertake will be given a befitting reply as always. So be very sure that army is fully trained, equipped, motivated and always prepared to take on any contingency,” Singh said.
He was addressing a gathering of gallantry award winners, next of kin of the martyrs, war widows, senior army officers and civil dignitaries at a function held at Dras War Memorial, situated at height of 11,000 feet in Kargil district, to celebrate ‘Vijay Diwas’, which is celebrated by army as its victory against Pakistan in Kargil war.
Singh said the majority of the people of Jammu and Kashmir are peace loving and support peace initiatives. However, he said, militant activities will be repulsed by the forces.
“Army has to ensure that militant are present inside our nation should be neutralized,” he said.
The Army Commander also assured that the Army conducts operations in a professional manner while ensuring minimum collateral damage.
“We have complete respect for Human Rights,” he said.
Commenting on internal situation in Pakistan, the commander said, “Who makes the government in Pakistan should be left to the people of that country. But in the past we have seen how political scenario there changed soon after Kargil war. So it hasn’t affected our preparations and we can guarantee to our countrymen that we are fully geared up for any challenge along the LoC.”
On reports of transgressions by Chinese soldiers along the LAC, the commander said such transgressions happen because both nations have a different perception of the border.
General Singh added the two countries have well-established mechanisms at the highest levels where boundary issues are discussed.
Talking about the infrastructure, the General Officer Commander-in-Chief elaborated that there has been a lot of development during the past few years.
“We are trying to connect all our forward posts with roads. We are also trying to make helipads in all the upcoming posts to bring back troops in case of any untoward situation. Soldiers can use satellite telephones and government lines wherever there is no mobile network,” he added.
Earlier, Gen Singh laid wreath to commemorate the 19th anniversary of the event. This was followed by a pledge taken by all service personnel at the function to re-dedicate themselves to the service of the nation.
The sombre mood at the ceremony brought home memories of the losses borne so proudly by the families of the soldiers who were killed in the war. Many in the audience were moved to tears when the buglers played the poignant tune of “The Last Post” after the wreath laying.
The GOC-in-C while talking to the media thanked them for participating in the event and said that the commemoration is the “army’s modest homage to the martyrs and a way of remembering the contribution of the units and formations in the conflict that gave India its finest victory in recent times.”