Army has done its job in Kashmir: Gen Vij

Chief of Army Staff, Gen NC Vij, today went out of his way to emphasise that the Army's concurrence had been sought before the decision to reduce troops deployed in Jammu and Kashmir was taken.

In fact, he said, the reduction was accompanied by a pat on the back for the army for its efforts. Therefore, the army had nothing to do with the reduction but was pulling back only because it had done its job more than adequately, he said in Bangalore today.

Army will begin troops reduction in Jammu and Kashmir from tomorrow to coincide with the maiden visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the state.The blueprint for the de-induction was discussed at a meeting of the Cabinet committee on security, chaired by the Prime Minister today

"As far as you are concerned, some troops will be pulled out. Exact details, we will not be able to disclose. Certain percentage of troops will be taken out of Jammu and Kashmir," Vij told reporters after laying the foundation stone for the Army Institute of Hotel Management and Catering Technology in Bangalore. The Army has in the region of 150,000 troops along the Line of Control (LoC).

Following a briefing by the Chief of Army Staff on how effective mechanisms like sensors and fencing had been in reducing infiltration along the LoC, the Prime Minister had last week announced reduction of troops deployed in the state this winter in view of the "improvement" in the situation there, but made it clear that the decision would be under "constant review".

While the Army had argued for the need to continue and sustain operations in the Valley to keep up the momentum in clearing out infiltrators, the government had gone ahead with the announcement.

Vij sought to clarify that troop reduction was not being occasioned by Pakistani moves to cut infiltration. "Any infiltration has been taken care of by our own effort, I am very emphatic," Vij said.

In the first six days of November, four infiltration attempts by terrorists were foiled by the Army.

"The statement of the political leadership is emphatic that the infiltration has been reduced because of our effort. So, it is our effort, which is now fructifying, that is what matters most to us," he said.

"We are confident of stopping infiltration of any level on our own stream. All this is well meshed up (in troop reduction) there is no problem," Vij said.

The army chief said attack on soft targets in the Valley was difficult to stop as also isolated incidents. Explaining that the military doctrine has been put in place in the event of short wars in the future, he said it covered the requirement to fighting proxy war and terrorism.

"We will fight wars, if at all in J&K, I hope that does not happen, it will be in the backdrop of terrorism, that goes without saying," Vij said.