Army’s northern command gets new chief

JAMMU - Lt Gen K.T Parnaik Saturday took over as General Officer Commanding-in-chief of the Indian Army’s key northern command which guards the frontiers with Pakistan, Pakistan-administered Kashmir and China and is also engaged in counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir.

He succeeds Lt. Gen. B.S. Jaswal who retired Friday.

Bringing with him a wealth of experience in both command and staff appointments and known for his expertise in counter-insurgency and high altitude warfare, Parnaik takes over the command at a time of tense relations between the army and the state government over the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.

While the Omar Abdullah government favours the repeal of the special powers, which grant legal immunity to soldiers in this militancy-battered state, the army is opposed to the withdrawal.