New Delhi, Feb 19: General Upendra Dwivedi, the Chief of Army Staff of India, stated that since 2014, India has adopted a more “assertive” stance in its communications with Pakistan regarding the Line of Control (LOC), indicating that Pakistan has come to understand that “we mean business.”
In an exclusive interview with a news agency, he indicated that India is now prepared to respond vigorously if provoked by Pakistan.
“Since 2014, both sides have generally grasped that we are serious. India has made it abundantly clear that we will be assertive in our communication, and if necessary, we can also be aggressive. The situation you’ve referred to was essentially a message that if driven to it, we will respond with enough aggression to convey our intentions,” he remarked.
General Dwivedi highlighted the consequences of the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019 in Jammu and Kashmir, pointing out a significant decline in both the number of terrorists and local recruitment, with no lingering “confusion” over identity among the people.
He asserted that revoking the special status showcased India’s commitment to a “no compromise” policy.
“The number of local terrorists has significantly diminished. Recruitment has also decreased substantially. The reason? Since August 2019, India has communicated its intent regarding the complete integration of Jammu and Kashmir. It is an integral part of India, and there can be no compromise on this,” General Dwivedi stated.
The Army Chief illustrated the identity challenges faced by the people of J-K prior to the abrogation of Article 370, noting that resolving this issue has also helped mitigate the problem of Over Ground Workers (OGWs)—individuals who assist terrorists.
He mentioned the testimony of a senior political leader’s spouse, who remarked that after August 2019, her children no longer experienced confusion when it came to identifying which flag to draw in school.
“Post August 5, 2019, children clearly understand which flag they need to draw in their notebooks. This conveys our intent, which will also result in a reduction in the number of OGWs,” General Dwivedi explained.
He remarked on the collaborative efforts of security forces to assist the people of Kashmir, citing the theme of “terrorism to tourism” as a successful initiative.
“…The most encouraging aspect is the cooperation among various agencies, security forces, and law enforcement, all joining forces to aid the community. With development initiatives in place, a significant transformation is definitely underway. Our theme of transforming terrorism into tourism is already yielding positive results, as evidenced by the participation of over five lakh pilgrims in the Amarnath Yatra, a turnout previously unheard of,” stated the Chief of Army Staff.
Addressing the three incidents of violence that occurred within a week last year, the Army Chief mentioned, “Such events are occasional. They happen, which is why we have a flag meeting system. During these meetings, we candidly address the issues at hand. Should unresolved matters persist, they escalate to the DGMO (Director General of Military Operations) level.”
On the subject of Pakistan’s perception regarding Kashmir, General Dwivedi stated they remain entrenched in their misconceptions, taking a jab at Pakistan by suggesting that their military is wedded to a narrative from which they cannot extricate themselves, leading them to continue “lingering” on the topic.
“They are entangled in their own rhetoric. There’s a film by Devanand Ji, possibly based on a narrative by RK Narayan. Do you recall how Devanand became a sadhu in the end? He went on a fast proclaiming he wouldn’t eat until it rained. Similarly, the Pakistan Army has long taken a stance that they cannot seem to abandon, which leads them to persistently cling to the Kashmir issue,” General Dwivedi commented. (Agencies)
