ISLAMABAD: Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa on Thursday said that the struggle of Kashmiris against Indian occupation was destined to succeed despite the oppression and high-handed tactics being endured by them.

“Repression of Indian occupying forces can never deny Kashmiris their right to self-determination as promised by UN resolutions. Regar­d­less of the ordeal, their just struggle is destined to succeed,” the army chief said while chairing the 229th Corps Commanders’ Confer­ence at the General Headquarters.

In a statement on the meeting, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that the participants paid tribute to the people of India-occupied Kashmir, who were “braving Indian atrocities and continued siege”.

The meeting was held a day after Kashmir Day was observed in the country to express solidarity with the Kashmiris in the occupied valley. This year’s observance was significant because it was the first since Delhi annexed the occupied territory after revoking Article 370 of the Indian constitution last August.

Corps commanders conference notes irresponsible rhetoric of Indian leadership has implications for the region

Lockdown in the valley imposed by the occupation troops has continued since then, aggravating the hu­m­a­nitarian condition there. Mea­n­while, Indian political and military leaders have engaged in dangerous rhetoric against Pakistan.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing the National Cadet Corps had last week claimed that Indian troops, in case of war, would not need more than “a week to 10 days” to defeat Pakistan. Earlier in January, Indian army chief Gen Manoj Mukund Narvane, in his first press conference in Delhi after assuming command of the army, claimed that his troops could occupy Azad Kashmir if the Indian parliament mandated them to do so.

“Provocative statements of Indian leadership are irresponsible rhetoric with implications for the region. Pakistan Armed Forces are forces of order and peace and fully prepared to thwart any misadventure, whatever the cost,” the ISPR said.

The participants of the meeting also reviewed geo-strategic environment with special focus on internal security and situation on borders, the ISPR further said.

A briefing on the progress of the Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad (RuF) was also given on this occasion. The ISPR statement noted that RuF had “put security situation of the country on a positive trajectory for enduring peace and stability”.

RuF was launched in Feb 2017 with the goal of “indiscriminate elimination of residual terrorist threats”, consolidation of gains made during preceding counter-terrorism operations and improving security on the borders.

Published in Dawn, February 7th, 2020