Kashmir on the cusp of a new beginning: GOC 15 Corps

Srinagar, Oct 3: Stating that after October 8, Jammu and Kashmir will drive in a positive direction, General Officer Commanding (GOC) 15 Corps, Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai Thursday said Kashmir is at the cusp of the new beginning and now the challenge is to be able to maintain the prevailing peaceful situation.

“Today, as I am about to leave, I realise that Kashmir is at the cusp of a new beginning,” he told reporters here during an interaction. “Over the last year and a half, we have seen numerous significant events taking place here and we have also seen a lot of development come to the region.”

Lt Gen Ghai said this had been facilitated by a stable security situation, brought about by very significant efforts put in by Chinar Corps and its sister agencies like the J&K Police, CAPFs, and numerous other security agencies.

“As I leave, I wish the Kashmiri people the very best and I am quite certain and confident that they will embrace the numerous opportunities that lie ahead of them,” he said.

“I am confident that the situation in Kashmir is peaceful and stable, and that the Chinar Corps over the last 16 months, that I have been at the helm, has tried valiantly hard to guard our borders, negate numerous attempts at infiltration by inimical elements,” Lt Gen Ghai said adding that it was simultaneous prosecuting a very robust and successful counter-insurgency campaign within Kashmir. “We have also been conscious and sensitive of our responsibility as part of nation-building to maintain contact with the people. We have initiated numerous programmes and initiates to make sure that we are always with the people of Kashmir.”

He said that the security situation in J&K had been peaceful and stable.

“If you look at all the parameters against which you weigh such a situation, they have all been down. Terrorism today is largely fuelled from across the border,” Lt Gen Ghai said. “We have not had any active recruitment in the last year and a half. The numbers last year were down to a dozen. This year, they are almost next to nil.”

“Another parameter in terms of atrocities committed by terrorists, if you look at the 4-5 incidents that we have had in the valley this year, softer targets have been picked where it is easy for a person to wield a pistol or a smaller weapon to carry out such an atrocity,” he said. “But, the numbers are almost negligible.”

The GoC 15 Corps said that militancy-initiated incidents within Kashmir had again been far and few in between.

“Now, the challenge is to be able to maintain this situation. Kashmir has had a good year, just as it did last year, and we need a few more good years for the peace to be enduring and lasting, and that I feel is the biggest challenge of the security forces to be able to keep the situation the way it is today,” he said.

Lt Gen Ghai said that as far as specific intelligence inputs regarding any particular scenarios unfolding after October 8, they do not have any specific indications of a concerning situation. “As a responsible citizen of the country, I can only presume that whatever happens after October 8 will be positive and will take J&K in the right direction. We have had a democratic process here after 10 years, and I am confident it's for the better,” he said. “The turnout percentages have been very encouraging. We always consider the situation to be dynamic, and, as I mentioned earlier, we review it from time to time. If the situation remains peaceful and stable, that will be reflected in the constant parameters we monitor. These parameters evolve, and we keep a close watch on them. Should any situation arise, I assure you we will be prepared for it.”

Lt Gen Ghai said: “We have done so well that we deterred and scared people off, but I am more pragmatic, going into these elections we had numerous deliberations and meetings at the highest and functional level here in Srinagar, we have the best role model of inter agency's cooperation and synergy. So yes, we put architecture in place. We followed it diligently. We followed the regiment and process.

The results are there for you to see, but just like there are questions in your head about why this year is silent, those questions are there in our head also, and as they should be, as a good professional soldier I must always see the other side and therefore we are in the process of analysing is to what possibly could have happened, of course, the robust security architecture did deter not only during the elections that have just been concluded but even in the one before that or even let's say in others significant events such as traditional pilgrimage that take place.

So our aim is always to put a system in place which will deter and deny, but we will introspect and see what are the possibilities as we move ahead. I know various scenarios can unfold and I assure you that we will always put forth the best version of ourselves and make sure that what we achieved in the past can be replicated in the future.”

CHANCES OF TROOP PULLOUT FROM KASHMIR

“We need a few more good years like the ones we have had from 2022-24. For this peace to be enduring and lasting, we need to go through this process for a few more years and therefore, whether it is the counter-infiltration grid or the counter-terrorism grid, it has to be maintained and sustained because we are possibly in the consolidation phase and no dilution of the grid is recommended. I am not a proponent of that at this stage,” he said.

ACTIVE MILITANTS

Lt Gen Ghai said that the official number of active militants which the multi-agency committees put out was approximately 80 and that was the lowest number in many years.

“When I came here last year, we were looking at the numbers past the 100 mark. That figure has come down. That figure is sustained by the perpetrators at a certain number which is considered critical to sustain the terror ecosystem here,” he said. “The security forces have endeavoured to actively and aggressively bring these numbers down, and we have succeeded. I am quite confident that the way we are going ahead, we are pursuing our operations in a manner where we are utilising every means at our behest. These numbers will keep going down. We could be looking at a lesser number by the middle of next year.”

INFILTRATION

He said that the counter-infiltration grid is strong.

“The fence or AIOS is technically enabled and numerous attempts of infiltrations have been unsuccessful. This year, we saw that there were people at the launch pads, and we had intelligence inputs that they would make attempts, but, there were not many attempts this summer. What is the reason for that? Infiltration can occur at places other than the LoC and perhaps it has taken place this year. That is why the numbers have increased in the Jammu region because the area was always peaceful,” he said.

The senior Army officer said that there had perhaps been a change in the strategy that while they were thinking they would make attempts in Kashmir, successful bids took place at other places. “That is why the numbers increased a bit. But, I am confident that the number will decrease soon as we have been getting intelligence from those.”

KOKERNAG OPERATION

“Kokernag was not an attack… That was our operation, we had achieved surprise and Col Manpreet and DSP Humayun had almost reached the hideout, but you cannot pinpoint the actual location of a hideout in forest or hilly areas,” the GOC 15 Corps said. “The columns had moved the whole night, they had surrounded the hideout, but at the last moment when they were discussing the exact location, there was heavy firing and all four received bullet injuries. We faced difficulties in evacuating in that terrain,” he said. “Two – a local and an unidentified -- terrorists were killed, but perhaps few might have fled. It is difficult to say whether they were foreign terrorists. We have seen in the recent operations, in the Pir Panjal range, that in all probability, they are Pakistani terrorists. While it is very difficult to say how many there are, they could be anything from 25-40. This is not a huge number, but if you add these suddenly to any stable area, then it takes some time for the counter-terror grid to mature. I am sure that there will be successful operations in the time to come as we have started getting the intelligence.”

ON MOVEMENT OF MILITANTS

“It is obvious that terrorists move from one location to another if there's pressure. If they carry out some attack in a particular place, they know someone would give information about their presence,” he said. “So they change their location. For the next two, three weeks or a month, they don't carry out any activity and it happens. But then we get to know about their movement. Intelligence is late sometimes or it's not that specific that we start our operations.”

ON 2021 CEASEFIRE

Lt Gen Ghai said that the training of an insurgent can only be as good and he can not be as well-trained as let's say the Indian Army soldier.

“At least I do not doubt that in my mind. You can hand them technology. For instance, I am carrying a rifle or an automatic weapon and you can give me a night sight and I can train you how to use it. So obviously it's going to enhance the capability a little,” he said. “But let's not forget that the Indian Army today has at its behest the best possible technology. You are also aware that 2024 is the year of technology absorption in the Indian Army. So we've embraced the technology in a very big manner and we are leveraging it all across our operations.”

Lt Gen Ghai said not even for a moment are “we awed” by the fact that the infiltrators could be Pakistani or foreign or be well trained or that they have great technology.

“That doesn't bother us. We have to do counter-terrorist operations and we will go after insurgents whatever shape or size or whatever manner of technology that they may be utilising,” he said.

“The ceasefire came into effect at the beginning of the year 2021. The DGMOs of both India and Pakistan picked up the phone and they spoke about it. The situation at that time as you're aware was tenuous on the northern borders with China and then the two countries felt that it was the most apt thing to do so that tensions could be kept under the threshold as far as the LoC and the western borders are concerned. Is it sustainable? Yes, very much,” he said adding that there are certain tenets to that ceasefire understanding that both sides follow. “If any of the sides have any exception to any activity that may have been prosecuted by the other side, those are brought to notice through various means. There are hotlines on the LoC,” he said, adding that the two DGMOs have access to each other and these are routinely brought to each other's notice. “But the ceasefire understanding has sustained and is still very much in force.”

MILITANTS USING MODERN COMMUNICATION

“Ultra communication has various layers of encryption and presently, it is affording them the secrecy that they want. But I assure you that work is happening in that regard and soon we will be able to crack that encryption and I am hoping that will further dent the terrorist ecosystem network,” he said. “Every time a new method is employed by any military force across the world, we always take note of it to draw our lessons, so we can incorporate what is relevant to us and prepare our army and armed forces accordingly. What we are seeing unfold in the Middle East is a new trend, and how it is unfolding is unique.”

Lt Gen Ghai said: “We will certainly analyse it, put it into perspective, and come to conclusions about what is relevant and how it could affect us. Make no mistake, we will prepare for it because we are an evolving army, very conscious of the threats and challenges ahead. In today’s day and age, we are aware that technology can be used in many ways, including the creative methods that have been employed. So yes, we will certainly analyse these developments, come to conclusions, and prepare accordingly. Make no mistake about that.”

Regarding the ongoing global conflicts, such as those in West Asia, and their potential impact he said that they have observed some minor effects.

“There have been some protests even within the valley. Right now, there is no indication that these could escalate into a more concerning situation,” he said. “However, please remember that these conflicts are becoming increasingly intense as time goes on. We will continue to closely monitor the situation to ensure that none of them hurt the security situation in our region.”