DAA revocation won’t affect AFSPA applicability: Army

Srinagar: Accepting the presence of militants in Srinagar city Army today said that there has been a little presence of militants in the state and a steep fall in in the militant related incidents.
General Officer Commanding of Army’s 15 Corps Lt General Syed Ata Hasnain said that Leefa and Uri sectors may get prone to infiltration bids instead of Keran and Gurez. He was addressing a press conference at Badami Bagh Cantonment, Batwara.
When asked about the last evening’s attack on Law and Parliamentary Affairs minister, Ali Mohammad Sagar, General Hasnain replied that these incidents will take place.
He also said that in winter season the infiltration attempts slow down because its very difficult for them to cross over this side. However, he said that during present year there is little snowfall and the forces are very alert on the borders to curb any infiltration bid. He said there was no let-up in the infiltration bids by militants from other side of the border this year and indications are that attempts will continue next year as well.“There are attempts from other side of the border to sneak militants into this part, but we are alert and are ready to stop any such attempt,” Hasnain added.
He said that in the past, we had seen attempts being made in December and February as well. It would also depend on the situation on the other side, but there would be no any leniency in future in such incidents.
“It will also depend on the situation on the other side, not only in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir but also in Afghanistan,” he said.
“We do not see any change in the intention on the other side. The launching pads are still intact”, he added.
He said that they had not seen the end of terrorism yet. Only last night, there was an attack (on state minister Ali Mohammad Sagar) in Srinagar city.
The Army commander said a very successful counter-infiltration grid had foiled most of the attempts by militants to sneak into the Valley.
Lt Gen Hasnain said the high level of synergy between Army, other security agencies and intelligence agencies had helped curb militancy in Kashmir during the current year.
“We may see some desperate attempts of infiltration as many terrorists and terrorist commanders have been killed during this year,” he added.
On the issue of AFSPA revocation the army said revocation of Disturbed Area Act (DAA) by the Jammu and Kashmir government will not affect the applicability of AFSPA in the state as the two laws are not interlinked. “DAA has no relation with AFSPA…it is a misconception that the two laws are linked to each other,” a senior army official, said during an interaction with media persons on the occasion.
He said Kashmir was classified as a “disturbed” area by a Parliament resolution, which made the applicability of AFSPA possible in J&K. “On the other hand, DAA is a state law which was meant to give more power to police,” he added.
“DAA was supposed to be extended every year but last time it was extended in 1997. So DAA does not even exist today in Kashmir,” Rao said.
Senior journalist Syed Shujaat Bukhari also made an address on the occasion and said that so far 13 persons belonged to journalistic fraternity sacrificed their lives during twenty-year turmoil. He also said that the media and press people are working in very difficult situations in Kashmir.