NewsGate Press Network

Almost 80 per cent of the terrorists active in Jammu and Kashmir are from Pakistan stated Gen Upendra Dwivedi, the Chief of Army Staff.

The General was addressing the media in the annual Army Day press conference in the National Capital on Monday the 13th of January 2025.

Gen Dwivedi did not minced words or circumvented in his observation while speaking straight on naming Pakistan being still the epicentre of (global) terrorism while world sleeps over this.

“If the support is not forthcoming the way India is looking at it, this kind of terrorist infiltration will continue to be there,” he said.

“However, as of now, we have inducted 15,000 additional troops in 2024 and that is why you will find that the violence level has gone down where we have been able to neutralise 73 terrorists out of which 60 percent were Pakistani terrorists,” he said.

He said that the local population was in favour of peace and the Parliamentary elections and the state assembly polls held last year witnessed nearly 60 percent voting, thereby proving that the people of J&K are shunning violence. He added that the “violence is completely being orchestrated by our western adversary”

The Army Chief said that the parliamentary elections and assembly elections in the Union Territory both had nearly 60% voting.
“It means that the local population is going with the peace. People of J&K are shunning violence.”.

Regarding situation along the Chinese border line in particularly along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), Gen Dwivedi said it is “stable but sensitive”.

He said there have been a series of meetings among the ministers, even the Prime Minister has met the Chinese head. Similarly meetings have taken place at the corps commander level.

With regards to Depsang and Demchok, Gen Dwivedi said, “From April 2020 onwards, both sides (India & China) had moved forward and stopped the other side from going to the traditional areas where they were carrying out the patrolling”.

He further added that the Indian Navy was working along with the Army in the Pangong Tso Lake in a big way including unmanned boats are concerned. Adding that, their special forces are working out in J&K and other places along with us including the deep sea divers.

Replying to a question on Manipur, Gen Diwivedi said that the tribal affiliations in Manipur have taken a strong line.

“But we have to work as a whole of nation approach to make sure that the reconciliation takes place. I am very hopeful with the new Governor who has gone there, the step towards this would be taken,” he added.

On the Bangladesh situation, the Army chief said that Bangladesh was strategically important to India and any kind of animosity will not be in each other’s interest. As of today, there is no vulnerability from any side, he added.