HANDWARA – Stating that no problem in the world can be resolved militarily, General Officer Commanding of Army’s Srinagar-based 15 Corps, Lt Gen S A Hasnain said “the role of army is to provide environment for political solution of the longstanding issue.”
Hasnain also claimed that militancy would be completely over in the valley by the end of the year, the Rising Kashmir reported.
Asked as why the army is not involved in developmental works in Naxal-affected areas in India unlike in Kashmir, he said that army concentrates on “centre of gravity” (people) where enemies always set their eyes.
“In Kashmir there is existential threat and to weaken the strength of enemies such efforts are important to win the local support,” he said, adding that Naxalism is India’s internal problem.
In the modern security setup, he said “there is a need to look through comprehensive angles and not only through borders.”
“To maintain stability the local support is important. That is why we are trying to put extra efforts in reaching people at ground level here,” the GOC said while referring to Sadbhavana operations in the valley.
To reach out to people, the corps commander added, army is teaching local languages to some of its officials besides taking services of local army personnel “so that there would be no communication gap”.