J&K government formation: Despite political debate, Army sticks to its guns on AFSPA
New Delhi: Even BJP and PDP negotiate a power sharing deal to form next government in the Jammu & Kashmir, Army remains dead against any move to dilute the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act
New Delhi: Even BJP and PDP negotiate a power sharing deal to form next government in the Jammu & Kashmir, Army remains dead against any move to dilute the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from the state.
Despites civil rights activists as well as political parties have constantly demanded revocation of the 'draconian' AFSAP, the Army has reiterated to the Modi government that the Act is "an enabling legislation" that empowers its troops to conduct counter-terrorist operations effectively in the strife-torn state.
For Army there is absolutely no change as AFSPA gives its soldiers the requisite operational flexibility and legal safeguards to operate in a "hostile" environment, where Pakistan can turn on the terror tap with full flow as and when it wants.
Keep away any need for a "political gesture or initiative" on the matter, the Army says any dilution in AFSPA safeguards would be "premature" at this stage since Pakistan still has 44 terror-training camps directed against India on its soil, with at least 17-18 of them still operating round-the-clock.
The defence establishment had used this stance during the UPA regime to scuttle moves by then home minister P Chidambaram to bring in some amendments to AFSPA or withdraw it from largely violence-free districts like Srinagar, Budgam, Jammu and Sambha.
The Army's position remains the same. "Withdrawing AFSPA from a few areas in J&K could lead to a dip in the overall security situation like it happened around Imphal in Manipur. Army convoys move on NH-1A as well as lateral links all the time... there should be no militant safe havens along the routes," said official to TOI.
As per reports the PDP, which emerged as the single largest party after the Assembly elections last year, said the party will not compromise on removing the AFSPA from Kashmir or making Article 370 inviolable.
The Governor's Rule was imposed in the state on January 9, a day after National Conference leader Omar Abdullah asked Governor NN Vohra to relieve him of the duties of the caretaker chief minister with immediate effect.