Infiltration not related to AFSPA revocation: Army

Srinagar, KMW News: Army on Monday said it was capable of working within the parameters of “difference of opinion as per democratic norms” while termed as incorrect to “surmise infiltration was related to revocation of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).”
Reacting to a news report, a defense ministry spokesman based in Srinagar rejected that there was any relationship between increased attempts in infiltration in winters and the issue of revocation of AFSPA, “actively under consideration.”
“This appears to be an attempt by inimical elements, probably, from across the LC (Line of control), to drive a wedge between the Army and the State Government with a view to breaking the excellent synergy which has been generated throughout this year,” the spokesman said.
The Army, the spokesman said, throughout the year has maintained that there has been very little successful infiltration, barring a few incidents, although the threat posed by militants positioned in launch pads across the LoC, in Pak administered Kashmir, to infiltrate has always existed and still exists.
‘Killing of large number of militants in the hinterland this year has created a vacuum in the leadership and their effectiveness”. Therefore, the spokesman said, there was pressure on the militants in the training camps or launch pads in PaK to infiltrate.
“This has been corroborated by intelligence inputs of various intelligence agencies which have indicated presence of an additional 100 militants across the LC and poised for infiltration. Traditionally, the infiltration decreases with onset of snow, but due to late winter militants, as in the past, will make desperate attempts to infiltrate in the coming few months,” the spokesman said.
The spokesman said the Army was capable of working within the parameters of difference of opinion as per democratic norms. “The inimical or anti-national forces behind the nefarious designs will not succeed in their endeavours. It is therefore, incorrect to surmise that infiltration has taken place or is related to issue of revocation of AFSPA.”
Infiltration attempts, however, are likely to continue to take place due to late onset of winters, the army said.
“The Army Counter Infiltration grid will continue to remain strong and adequately backed up by a technically sound and tested footprint to deny any infiltration attempts.