Removal of AFSPA not an effort to undermine the Army: Omar

Srinagar, Oct 26: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) from certain areas of the state was in no way an effort to undermine the role of the Army. "The army is essentially playing a major role in anti-militancy operations in Jammu and Kashmir", Omar said in a statement here.

"Even the process of removal of AFSPA from certain areas of Jammu and Kashmir state is being done in close consultation with the Army and other central paramilitary forces and their inputs and security concerns will be evaluated and considered while removing the footprint of AFSPA from certain parts of the state," he said. The Chief Minister said an attempt is being made to create an impression that the state government and the Army are working on divergent paths, which is not correct.

Omar said the state had a peaceful summer for which the credit first goes to the people of the state and then the state administration, police, central para-military forces and the Army who worked jointly to ensure that all steps are taken in coordination with each other to ensure peace in the state.

Omar said it is nobody’s case to demonize the Army as the Army has proved time and again that it is a disciplined force which is governed by certain standard operating procedures and particularly in the last one year the Army has gone close to the people of the state because of the goodwill created by them among the people of the state.

PTI