Army chief against diluting AFSPA
Monday January 14, 2013 07:02:21 PM,
IANS
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New Delhi: Indian Army
chief Gen Bikram Singh Monday said he did not favour dilution of
Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Jammu and Kashmir as it
was "an enabler" for soldiers to fight militancy in an asymmetric
environment.
Answering a query on AFPSA at his press conference on eve of the
Army Day, Bikram Singh said that soliders in the state work in an
environment where it was difficult to differentiate between friend
and foe as militants mingle with civilian population.
He said the soldiers face a great deal of challenges and they need
to be given "enablers" to operate against militants.
"These are enablers. They give additional powers," he said.
"There should not be dilution of AFPSA."
The army chief stressed that any decision to on AFPSA must be
taken after taking views of all stakeholders.
To a question about Siachen, Bikram Singh said the area was of
strategic significance and should be held by the country.
He said that Army had shed blood to retain the area and gains made
should be retained.
Bikram Singh said any thought to demilitarization of the area had
to be given in the backdrop of trust deficit with Pakistan.
"It has to be conscious, pragmatic decision," he said.
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