Interlocutor's appointment won't hit ongoing counter-terrorism operations: Army chief

NEW DELHI: The appointment of an interlocutor to restart the dialogue process in Jammu and Kashmir will not impact the Army's ongoing counter-terrorism operations in the violence-hit state in any way, General Bipin Rawat said on Wednesday.

"The government's (tough) Kashmir strategy has worked and we are negotiating from a point of strength," the Army chief said in the backdrop of security forces having killed over 175 terrorists, including top commanders of different outfits, in the state this year.

The Union government on Monday appointed former Intelligence Bureau chief Dineshwar Sharma to hold talks with all stakeholders in J&K, which is likely to include the separatist Hurriyat leadership, in a bid to find a solution to the 30-year violent insurgency.

Asked whether the announcement of the new "sustained" dialogue process led by Sharma would adversely affect the Army's stepped-up operations, in conjunction with the J&K Police and central armed police forces, Gen Rawat said, "My one word answer is no, it will not."

Incidents of cross-border infiltration have come down with a robust counter-infiltration grid, and the overall situation in the state has improved significantly in the last few months. "In January, you had asked me whether the situation has deteriorated in Kashmir, whether we have lost Kashmir. Now, you analyse where is Kashmir... We have killed terrorists on the Line of Control because of which the situation has improved," Gen Rawat said.

The Army chief, speaking at a seminar, underlined the need for developing indigenous intelligence and surveillance systems to keep a hawk-eye vigil on the borders with China and Pakistan as well as ensure foolproof security at military installations in the hinterland.