AFSPA only an enabling provision: Army chief

The chief of army staff, General Vijay Kumar Singh, reiterated the Supreme Court stand that the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) was not arbitrary, adding that it was only an enabling provision and not unconstitutional.

“We have told the ministry of defence what the army has to say and the matter is under the consideration of the government. The government will take a correct decision on what needs to be done about it,” Singh said.

Gen Singh also alleged that Pakistan was taking advantage of the unrest in Jammu and Kashmir to step up infiltration attempts in the last two months. “Overall there has been a decrease in violence, but in the last two months, infiltration has increased and so the number of terrorists killed has also increased,” he said.

Referring to Pakistan’s call to India to “exercise restraint” in Kashmir, he said, “India has asked Pakistan to take effective action against infiltration from across the LoC (Line of Control) and to dismantle the terror infrastructure as the people of Jammu and Kashmir suffered its consequences.”