Pakistan is making attempts to push foreign terrorists into Jammu and
Kashmir, said Northern Army commander Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi on
Friday. He highlighted that there is a presence of retired soldiers of that
country in militant ranks.
Lt Gen Dwivedi made the remarks after paying his last respects to the
five army personnel, including two captains, killed in gunfights with
terrorists during an encounter in the Bajimaal area of Rajouri district’s
Dharmsal belt on Wednesday and Thursday.
Two terrorists, including a Pakistan-based top LeT commander Quari
trained in Afghanistan, were killed by security forces during the encounter.
Talking to reporters, the Lt General said operations have been
intensified in the border districts of Rajouri and Poonch to clear the region
of more than two dozen foreign terrorists within a year. The killing of the two
dreaded foreign terrorists is a major setback for Pakistan’s plans to
destabilise the region, said the Army commander.
Asked about the presence of some special forces’ personnel of Pakistan
among terrorist ranks, the Lt General said that “when we tried to seek
identification of terrorists, we came to know that some of them are retired
army personnel (of Pakistan)”.
“Pakistan is making attempts to push foreign terrorists into this region
due to lack of support from the local population, especially the youth who are
reluctant to get recruited in terrorist ranks. Our efforts are on to neutralise
the foreign terrorists,” said Lt General Dwivedi.
Asked if Pakistan intends to push more terrorists in the coming months to
disrupt upcoming elections, including the Lok Sabha polls, he answered in the
affirmative without going into details.
On the number of active terrorists in the south of Pir Panjal, he said
the number of terrorists in the Rajouri-Poonch belt fluctuates as the area is
connected with the national highway.
“Roughly there is a possibility of 20 to 25 terrorists operating in the
area but the way Army, police and other intelligence agencies have intensified
their operations, we are sure to control the situation within one year,” said Lt
General Dwivedi.
Mentioning the killings of the terrorists in the Bajimaal encounter, he
said, “They have created an ecosystem and their killing has dealt a severe blow
to Pakistan to disturb the region.”
He said the sacrifice of the five soldiers led to the neutralisation of
the two dreaded terrorists and it is a big achievement.
“The two terrorists were active for the last one year and we were not
able to find them. Someone was providing weapons, ammunition and also
information,” said Lt General Dwivedi.
It was very important to neutralise them as they were responsible for 10
civilian killings in Dhangri and TCP in Rajouri town besides masterminding
attacks on security forces at Kandi in which five army personnel lost their
lives, he said.
The Army commander said it was possible that they were trained in several
countries, including Pakistan and Afghanistan.
“They were highly trained foreign terrorists and our brave soldiers
without paying attention to their safety got into the operation and eliminated
them. The troops have done a laudable job,” he said.
Lt General Dwivedi, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha,
General Officer Commanding of the Jammu-based White Knight Corps, Lt General
Sandeep Jain, Director General of Police RR Swain, Additional Director General
of Police, Law and Order, Vijay Kumar, and Inspector General of Police, Jammu
Zone, Anand Jain, were among those who laid wreaths on the coffins of the
fallen soldiers of the Bajimaal encounter.
“I bow to our army bravehearts, Captain MV Pranjal, Captain Shubham
Gupta, Havaldar Abdul Majid, Lance Naik Sanjay Bisht, Paratrooper Sachin Laur
martyred while protecting the motherland during an anti-terror operation in
Rajouri. Their valour and sacrifice will never be forgotten. Condolences to
their families,” the Lt Governor posted on X after the wreath laying ceremony.
Referring to his recent interaction with Captain Bhist, Lt Gen Dwivedi
said, “I handed him a commendation card myself and asked him what he wants to
do in the future. His reply was that he will do something big within seven
days. He sacrificed his life for the nation.”
He also referred to a statement of Captain Pranjal’s father lauding his
son’s bravery. He said it has boosted the morale of the troops and motivated
them to do more such operations for the country, said the Army official.
“The killing of Quari is not only a big achievement for the security
forces, but also a morale booster for the civilians who were living under fear.
This fear has now gone and more people will come forward to help in
neutralisation of the active terrorists,” he said.
He also lauded the local populace for their support and said the latest
success was because of their support to the Army.
PTI
