Pak’s Kashmir stance ‘stuck’, India means business: Army Chief

Kashmir’s identity confusion ended after Art 370 abrogation
Terrorism declines, local recruitment drops in Kashmir
Srinagar, Feb 19: Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi stated on Wednesday that the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir has led to a significant reduction in terrorism and local recruitment. He emphasized that people in the region no longer face “confusion” over their identity.
In an interview with ANI, General Dwivedi highlighted how the removal of J&K’s special status in August 2019 reinforced India’s “no compromise” stance on the issue. He cited an example from a political leader’s wife, who noted that after 2019, her children clearly knew which flag to draw at school.
The Army Chief credited the efforts of security forces and the region’s shift from “terrorism to tourism” for fostering greater stability. He pointed to the record participation in the Amarnath Yatra this year, with over five lakh pilgrims—a remarkable achievement compared to previous years.
He said since 2014, India has been “assertive” in its communication with Pakistan on the Line of Control (LOC), and they have understood that “we mean business.”
The Army Chief highlighted the strong coordination between security forces, law enforcement, and other agencies in assisting the people. He said that with development taking root, a significant transformation is underway.
“This is why our theme of ‘terrorism to tourism’ is showing real success. Over five lakh pilgrims participated in the Amarnath Yatra this year, something unprecedented in the past,” he said.
Addressing last year’s three attacks within a week, the Army Chief said such incidents occur from time to time. Flag meetings are held to discuss and resolve such issues, and if needed, they are escalated to the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) level.
On Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir, General Dwivedi said they are stuck in their own narrative.
Taking a jibe, he said the Pakistani army has made statements they cannot back down from, so they continue to drag the issue.