AFSPA political issue between GoI and JK Govt: Army

Srinagar: Three days after Lieutenant General KT Parnaik, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C), Lt Gen Parnaik sounded against any amendments in Armed Forces Special Power Act, a senior army officer Tuesday said that the controversial legislation was a political issue to be decided by Government of India and state government. “It (AFSPA) is a very political issue between government of India and state government. It is not my reach to comment on anything that government of India decides,” Major General Ravi Thodge, general-officer-commanding of the counter-insurgency Kilo Force told reporters in response to a question on sidelines of a function here. On Saturday last, army had reiterated that it wants continuation of the controversial legislation in the state.   “As far as the Army’s stand on revocation of Armed Forces Special Powers Act, we have recommended its continuation in view of the situation in the State and the special requirements it entails,” Lieutenant General KT Parnaik, had said. He was responding to a query about recommendations by army to the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.“After giving recommendations (to the Chief Minister), we have not heard anything about this issue as yet.” In the backdrop of last year’s summer unrest, the government had formed two committees to review the applicability of AFSPA in the state. The committees were headed by General Officer Commanding of the Srinagar based 15 Corps and General Officer Commanding of Nagorta-based 16 Corps.Meanwhile, to a query about infiltration along the line of control, Thodge said, “so far there are no reports about infiltration and if they (infiltrators) came, they will be dismantled at the LoC.” Regarding last year’s summer unrest in which over a hundred youth were killed, the army officer said that it was “handled by police and paramilitary CRPF while army was involved.” “The killings were never the less were unfortunate and this is all I can say,” Maj Gen added, city correspondent said.      He said that army has many programs for youth including generation of employment, develop their interest in sports.     Earlier, speaking at the two-day Peace conference organized by the Jammu and Kashmir Peace Foundation at SKICC here, Maj Gen said that main problem in Kashmir was economical.  The officer also claimed that the army understands the “pain and anguish” of the people in Kashmir valley. “We are looking at this year that no human rights violations occur; we support the dignity of people. We will work with the people for betterment of the society,” he added.