General VK Singh says home ministry can decide on withdrawing paramilitary forces, but army reports to defence ministry.
The home ministry versus the army debate on the proposed reduction of security forces in Jammu and Kashmir is stuck in a fresh controversy with another senior officer opposing the withdrawal of troops while the army chief of staff, General VK Singh sought to clarify his statements made on Friday that were seen as opposing the Union home secretary.
On Friday, home secretary Pillai had said the government was planning 25% cut in troops in Kashmir. Hours later, the army chief said, “We have not yet felt that we have to cut down our forces. If they want to cut down paramilitary and police forces, I won’t say anything...” Singh’s statement was interpreted in political circles as countering the home secretary.
A day later, Singh was at pains to clear the air, saying he was only referring to the army. “I think there was some confusion. What Pillai said concerns the paramilitary forces; what I was talking of was the army,” he said.
But Singh’s candid viewpoint opposing troop reduction was backed by the army officer in-charge of Jammu and Kashmir, who categorically said the time was not yet ripe to withdraw troops from the state. “The present situation in Kashmir doest not allow cutting down of troops and it should be reconsidered,” said Lieutenant General KT Parnaik, general officer commanding-in-chief, Northern Command.
“It’s a very dynamic process. You have peace somewhere, you have instability somewhere else, and this situation keeps on changing. I don’t think it is right time for us to think of troop reduction as of now,” he said after attending an official function at Akhnoor, about 35 km from Jammu.
The army chief noted that any decisions regarding reduction of army strength in the valley would be taken by the Unified Headquarters (UHQ), which is headed by the Jammu and Kashmir chief minister.
“Where they (home ministry) want to take out people, it is up to them. Whatever input is required, it will be provided by the UHQ. I have got no conflict or argument with anybody on this issue,” he said, adding, “So far as the army is concerned, I am quite convinced as what the army is supposed to do.”
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