Jammu: A day after the Union Government
announced it is considering reducing the strength of security
forces deployed in Jammu and Kashmir, the Army on Saturday said that
the present situation in the state does not allow cut down of
troops and the decision should be reconsidered.
"Present situation in Kashmir does not allow cut down of
troops and it should be reconsidered," General Officer
Commanding in Chief Northern Command (GOC-in-C), Lt Gen K T
Parnaik told reporters at Akhnoor, 35 kms from here.
"The situation at present is not conducive for withdrawal
of troops... It`s a very dynamic process you have peace
somewhere, you have instability somewhere else and this
situation keeps on changing. I don`t think it is right time
for us to think of troop reduction as of now," he said after
attending an official function at Akhnoor.
Yesterday in Delhi, Home Secretary Gopal K Pillai had
said that the Central Government is considering reducing the
strength of security forces deployed in Jammu and Kashmir by
25 per cent as a confidence building measure.
In reply to the question of Armed Forces Special Powers
Act, Gen Parnaik said, "I think Armed Forces Special Powers
Act is important for us. Army is here (J&K) and doing a very
tough task. And it is important that they (Army) must have
some protection when working in hostile conditions."
Keeping in view the present situation in Kashmir, AFSPA
must stay as it is must for the Army, he said, adding that the
Army is firm on its stand over AFSPA.
Gen Parnaik said revocation of AFSPA must be done
following situation on the ground as it keeps changing.
"AFSPA gives protection to the forces. Already a
committee was framed to discuss AFSPA but in my opinion it is
necessary," he said.
PTI
