Army chief General Bipin Rawat says Indian forces are fully prepared to tackle any misadventure by Pakistan
Indian forces are alert and well-prepared to counter any misadventure by Pakistan along the Line of Control, said Army chief General Bipin Rawat on Tuesday.
The assertion by the top general came on questions about reports on the movement of military equipment by Pakistan near LoC. He said there is no need to be worried about the purported actions by the neighbour.
"Everybody takes precautions and one should not be too concerned," said Rawat on the sidelines of a seminar. India's decision to remove the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and split the state into two union territories has sent Pakistan into a tizzy.
The Army chief said Indian forces are prepared to deal with any security challenges along the LoC. "As far as the Army is concerned, services are concerned, we are always prepared should anything go wrong," he said.
On whether the hostilities along the LoC will increase in the days to come, Gen Rawat said the choice is with Pakistan. "If the adversary wants to activate the LoC, the choice is his," the Army chief said. According to few reports, Islamabad, who has been snubbed by several nations, is trying to ratchet up theatrics.
The Army has been put on high alert along the LoC to repulse any possible Pakistani misadventure effectively. Rawat hoped the good old days would return to Jammu and Kashmir soon.
"The Army was deployed in Kashmir valley even in the 1970s and 1980s when we had extremely cordial relations with the people of the region. We used to meet and greet each other without arms and it will be great if such a cordial situation is back again," he said.
Intelligence agencies, sources said, have alerted that Pakistan is making attempts to trigger unrest in the Valley and that there might be a spurt in violence, including IED blasts, and fidayeen attacks.
Tricolour's debut in J&K
Ahead of the Independence Day celebrations, full dress rehearsals were held in every district of J&K on Tuesday.
The upcoming Independence Day is significant in nature given the fact that it will the first time that any national festival will be celebrated under one flag, the Tricolour.
Before the abolition of Article 370 on August 5, Jammu and Kashmir used to have two flags -- one of the state and second of the nation.
With inputs from agencies
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 "Army Chief Bipin Rawat with Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa")
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