The Indian army is ready and competent to carry out any task it is entrusted with, Army Chief Dalbir Singh Suhag asserted today, two days after Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar underlined the need to give back the pain inflicted on India by terror organisations and individuals.
“The Indian Army is ready and competent to carry out any task given to it,” Suhag said when asked if the Army is capable of carrying out a covert or surgical strike against terror camps in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir.
He added that the Army was fully prepared to meet any challenge facing the country.
The Army chief said that the security environment facing the nation is becoming more “complex and dynamic” and said that at least 17 terror training camps continue to be active in Pakistani Occupied Kashmir compared to 42 earlier.
He said some of the camps were shut down few years ago due to international pressure.
He refused to comment on the statement of Parrikar who had stressed on the need to give back the pain inflicted on India because of terror attacks.
The Army chief, who was addressing his annual press conference ahead of the Army Day here, also expressed his “concern” at the infiltration along the borders with Pakistan in Punjab but made it clear that the responsibility lies with the BSF which is manning the area.
Suhag also indicated that the six Pakistani terrorists could well have been hiding inside the Pathankot air base as he asserted that no one came in once the Army cordon was placed along the 24 km-long perimeter wall.
He said it is a matter of “treason” if the terrorists had used the drug route to get in with local help.
The Chief also rejected allegations about lack of coordination in response to the attack saying there was “complete synergy“.
On Pakistan’s role in the attack, Suhag asserted that markings on medicines carried by them along with some of the equipment showed that they were from Pakistan.
He said the evidence has been shared with the Pakistani authorities but details will come out only after the investigation by the NIA.
The General added that the motive of the Pathankot attack was to inflict maximum damage and generate media hype.
Asked if the Pathankot attack was an attempt by the Pakistani Army to derail the peace process, he said, “It has done it number of times. I am not saying in this (Pathankot) connection...”