No slackening of efforts in J-K: Antony

SRINAGAR: In the backdrop of demands for reducing troops in Jammu and Kashmir, Defence Minister A K Antony on Saturday said any slackness in the security apparatus could prove detrimental to the improving situation in the militancy-hit state.

Wrapping up a two-day visit to the state, Antony said peace had by and large been established in Kashmir "but at the same time further improvement is required".

"If we slacken our effort, it will be very bad or in fact very, very bad," he told reporters here.

"Things are improving but we have to ensure that it continues. While saying so, I will like to make a statement of fact that violence is also continuing and infiltration is also continuing occasionally."

Antony avoided all questions related to the demands for reducing troops, saying he was involved in the process of examining this issue.

Flanked by army chief Gen J J Singh and the General Officer Commanding of Northern Command, Lt Gen H S Panag, Antony said: "I can tell you we will be able to find a permanent solution to the genuine grievances and aspirations of the people of Kashmir but without compromising national security and integrity of the country."
 
There is a "genuine desire for peace" and the state and Central governments were endeavouring to ensure total normalcy in Kashmir. At the same time, "eternal vigilance has to be maintained" to thwart attempts by militants to disturb peace, he said.
 
To a question about his earlier statements ruling out troop reduction, Antony said he had only been making a statement of fact that infiltration and violence were continuing.

The army and security forces were in the Kashmir Valley to protect the people and would be "happy" to return to the barracks, Antony remarked.

Earlier, during a meeting with Antony, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad strongly advocated a substantial enhancement of the rent paid for private properties, especially land and orchards that are occupied by the army.

Azad also sought the immediate release of 80 per cent of the rent payments before formal sanction is accorded by the Defence Estate department.
 
He told Antony that the rent cases for a large number of private properties, including lands and orchards, that are being used by army had been pending for a long time. A large number of educational institutions, hospitals, public utilities and tourism infrastructure were being used as accommodation by the army and paramilitary forces, Azad said.

At the press conference, Antony refused to give a direct reply to a question on whether infiltration bids were suggestive of the presence of terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan, and said: "I hope the situation in Pakistan will improve and peace will be permanent.

"Friendly relations are welcome but we have to keep our eyes and ears open," he said.

Asked to comment on recent developments in Pakistan, especially the standoff between security forces and militants holed up in Islamabad's Lal Masjid, Antony said India was closely watching the situation but refrained from elaborating.

He said he did not "wish to speak about the internal matters of Pakistan".

Asked about allegations of human rights violations against the armed forces, he said: "We take immediate care and necessary action including court-martial wherever needed."

Antony also said the defence ministry was aware of the difficulties faced by the armed forces. "The last pay commission was, in fact, very harsh on the defence forces but I expect that the new pay commission will give them better treatment."

Asked about the growing number of cases of suicide in the army, Antony said appropriate measures were being taken to ensure that such incidents did not occur.

"The Centre and the state governments have to make special arrangements for the families of soldiers so that they can guard the borders with peace."
 
The Centre has constituted a high-level committee to probe the rising trend of fratricides and suicides in the armed forces.

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, who also met Antony, repeated her party's demand for reducing troops in Jammu and Kashmir.
 
She said the situation had improved and the troop deployment was disproportionate to the level of violence. "Reduction of troops will be a great confidence-building measure from the Centre to the people of Kashmir," she said.

During his talks with Antony, Azad said the state government "fully realised" the accommodation problem faced by the security forces. However, buildings need to be vacated by the security forces to provide unhindered education, healthcare and other facilities to the people, he said.

Seeking the immediate relocation of security forces from these buildings, Azad said alternate accommodation could be built in such a manner that the buildings would be useful in future when the security forces vacate them after the return of normalcy.