New Delhi: Around 250 Pakistan-based terrorists are stationed across the Line of Control and are making attempts to infiltrate every day, new Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane said on Friday.
He also said that there are around 20 to 25 active launch pads across the Line of Control and India is monitoring the situation.
“Pakistan has reactivated terrors camps again in Balakot,” said General Naravane, adding that India’s strike on Balakot terror camps will now act as a note of caution before Pakistan plans to carry out any “escalatory action”.
About the Balakot airstrike on February 26, 2019, Naravane said, “We definitely have achieved a lot. Destruction of terror camps happened.”
He said, “It has signalled that terrorist camps and launch pads can be taken down. You can’t operate with impunity.”
On terror camps coming up again over there, the Indian Army Chief explained that terror infrastructure and launch pad keep changing locations across the border.
“There is an impression that terror camps are run through a ‘madrasa’ or some huge infrastructure set up. Terror camps are also being operated from small huts. These camps are also run by a house in a village,” General Naravane said.
He said as per intelligence estimates there are around 200 to 250 terrorists waiting across the Line of Control and ready to infiltrate. “They are making attempts every day,” he said.
The Army Chief also said that because of heavy snowfall in the valley it has been difficult for Pakistani terrorists to infiltrate.
When asked about foreign (Afghan) terrorists making attempts to cross the Line of Control (LoC), he said many were killed while trying to cross over.
“And yes there were a few foreign terrorists,” he added.
Referring to situation in J&K, he said that since abrogation of Article 370, the law and order situation there has improved.
“After abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu & Kashmir there are less incidents of violence. The figures and facts reflect that law and order situation has improved over there,” said General Naravane.
He also said that incidents of stone pelting are negligible and overall situation has improved a lot.
“If you look at the incidents before August 5 and after August 5, the numbers itself will show that the situation has improved. The incidents of violence, be it stone-pelting, terrorist-related violence, all have seen a sharp decline. There is no doubt about this,” the Army Chief said.
From August till now, stone-pelting incidents have reduced by 40 to 45 per cent in Kashmir, the Central government had stated.
Around 190 stone pelting incidents were reported from the valley after abrogation of Article 370 and 260 people involved in them were put behind bars. In 2019, around 544 incidents of stone pelting took place and 190 of them have taken place since August 5.
General Naravane took charge as Chief of Army Staff on December 31, 2019 succeeding General Bipin Rawat, who has been appointed India’s first Chief of the Defence Staff. General Naravane was earlier serving as Vice Chief of Indian Army. He took charge as vice chief in September.
Before that, he was heading the Eastern Command of the force, which takes care of India’s nearly 4,000-km border with China.