Army Commanders’ Conference: ‘Radicalised Youth’ to be Brought Back; Ceasefire Violations Along LoC Likely to Increase in 2018

Lt-General A K Sharma said on Friday that priority should be accorded to maintaining peace. He added that “Radicalized youth must be brought into the mainstream by carrying out de-radicalization and a collective approach that focuses on convincing the youth to shun violence and the gun culture.”

New Delhi, Apr 21: The Indian Army, at the ongoing Army Commanders’ Conference, has decided to proactively continue domination over the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan while trying best to reduce collateral damage during counter-terror operations in Kashmir.

The commanders also want to bring “radicalized youth” back into the mainstream while reviewing developments like the increase in incidents of stone-pelting protestors trying to disrupt counter-terror operations in the Valley.

According to a report, this year around 40 youths have joined militant ranks in Jammu and Kashmir whereas 128 had joined in 2017. 51 terrorists have been killed so far and 27 soldiers have lost their lives.

Lt-General AK Sharma said on Friday that priority should be accorded to maintaining peace. He added that “Radicalized youth must be brought into the mainstream by carrying out de-radicalization and a collective approach that focuses on convincing the youth to shun violence and the gun culture.”

However, ceasefire violations are likely to increase in 2018. After the “surgical strikes” operation in September 2016, cross-cultural hostilities have increased. This year, the Indian Army witnessed 747 violations. “We will not relent till Pakistan takes concrete steps to stop exporting terror into India,” a senior officer told The Times of India.

In the conference on Friday, the operational situation along the 4,057-km long Line of Actual Control with China, stretching from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh, was also discussed at length along with infrastructure development and possible measures to give it a boost.

Out of 73 ‘strategic’ all-weather roads, India has completed 28 of them. All-weather roads have given access to strategic peaks and valleys. In 2010, defense ministry gave a mandate to the construction of 14 “strategic” railway lines on the fronts with China and Pakistan. The project is yet to take off.

The Army Commanders’ Conference began on Monday to issues like radicalisation of youth in the Valley. The official said “considerable” time was devoted to “reprioritising” existing requirements to ensure that resources allocated for force modernization and capacity building were optimally utilized within the budgetary allocation. The conference will conclude on Saturday.