More terror attacks, incursions expected in Kashmir: Army

UDHAMPUR - The Indian Army foresees more terror attacks and increased militant incursions in Jammu and Kashmir this year as Pakistan is “unhappy” with the way the situation had turned around in the state, a senior army officer said Friday.

“The prevailing peace in Jammu and Kashmir is not to the liking of Pakistan, hence there are terror attacks like ‘fidayeen’ (suicide) assaults and also increased infiltration bids from across the LoC (Line of Control) and the international border,” the army’s Northern Command chief, Lt. Gen. B S Jaswal, said.

Speaking to reporters in this garrison town housing the Northern Command headquarters, 66 km north of Jammu, after an investiture ceremony, Jaswal said that Pakistan would seek to push in more militants and also instigate terror attacks such as the attack in Srinagar’s Lal Chowk last week, in which the two militants and two others, including a policeman, were killed in 22-hour-long siege.

The army commander admitted that there were differeing perceptions about the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh sector, but denied that any land has been conceded to China. “Nothing of this sort has happened,” he said.

He said that the Indian Army was well poised to take up any challenge at any given time.