J&K army withdrawal political decision and untimely: Gen Kapoor

The army chief, General Deepak Kapoor has said the issue of withdrawal of the army from deployment in Jammu and Kashmir would be taken by political authorities after the assessment of militant infiltration levels in the summer and the completion of the Amarnath Yatra.

“All I can say is the army was called out into the state of J&K because the things were bad. Because the people were losing lives. Now As the situation improves gradually, as and when the political authority feels that the Army should be withdrawn, it may be withdrawn and it depends on the assessment by the political authority of situation,” said General Kapoor.

He also indicated the present situation to be less than optimum for the withdrawal of troops from the state. “We need to go through the Amarnath Yatra, which is supposed to be starting shortly and the summer season because the snow is melting and the passes are going to be open. The chances of infiltration going up are very much there, especially since a number of (terror) camps are existing on the other side of the Line of Control,” said the General.

The army chief said this issue would be taken up after the assessment of the infiltration level this summer and the Amarnath Yatra. “After we see the trends this summer season and post the Amarnath Yatra, your question would be tackled at that point of time,” he said.