Satisfied over readiness of troops along LoC: Jaitley

Mangalore Today News Network

Srinagar, DH News, May 19 2017: Amid spurt in violence in Kashmir, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday reviewed the security situation in the Valley with senior army commanders along the Line of Control (LoC).

“Had a meeting with senior commanders & troops at a forward post along the LoC, and reviewed security situation. The aggressive domination and readiness of troops for befitting response to any misadventure by enemy (Pakistan) is very satisfying (sic),” the Defence Minister tweeted.

Jaitley, who also holds the finance portfolio, is in Kashmir to attend a two-day meeting of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council which began on Thursday. Sources said the Defence Minister conducted an aerial survey of forward posts along the LoC and interacted with troops in Rampur sector in the morning.

The Defence Minister, who was accompanied by General Officer Commanding of 15-Corps, assured the troops that the entire nation was with them, they said. Earlier, Jaitley held a detailed meeting with the Chief of the Army Staff and others top Army officers. “The Army’s principle job is to look after the Line of Control and they are confident of dealing with the situation and we must have good faith in them,” he told reporters after the meeting.

On Thursday, Jaitley had said the government’s top priority was to normalize the situation in the state, which has witnessed a spurt in violence incidents and militant attacks since last July. On talks with separatists, he said, “Let the situation in the state become normal, the central government will make an announcement.”

However, he said, he was not going to speculate on holding parleys with the Hurriyat right now. BJP’s alliance partner in the State PDP has been consistently talking of engaging the Hurriyat leadership in talks but the Saffron party leadership overruled holding any parleys with them.