The Army has effected five Pakistani casualties in retaliatory firing in the past few days, Lt General Ranbir Singh, Army Commander, Northern Command said on Thursday, 17 January.
Briefing the media at an event, Lt Gen Singh gave the information adding that this shows that the “that the Indian Army always stays a step ahead of Pakistan.”
He also said that 2018 was a good year for the Army as most number of terrorists were neutralised last year compared to the past 10 years.
“2018 has been a great year for the security forces. According to the record we have of the past 10 years, most terrorists have been neutralised in 2018. Many of them surrendered as well. More than 250 terrorists were killed, 54 were caught alive, and four surrendered to the forces,” he said.
He was speaking on the occasion of inauguration of the Kalai Bridge in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir.
Responding to a question on use of Improvised Explosive Device (IED) by the Pakistani Army, he said, “The use of IEDs by Pakistan is not a new thing. From time-to-time they use IEDs to attempt intrusion into our area. But, we are well equipped to deal with them in a manner so as to reduce the number of casualties we face due to them.
On Friday, 11 January, two Indian army personnel, including a Major, were killed after an IED explosion took place near LoC in Nowshera Sector of Rajouri district.
Lt Gen Singh is a widely known face since he briefed the media for the first time after the surgical strike took place in September 2016.
“I Beg to Differ,” Says Omar Abdullah
National Convention Chief and former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah said that he differs with Singh’s idea of a “great year”. Taking to Twitter, he said that a great year would be the one in which no one joins militancy.
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