Humanistic approach needed to bring stability in J&K: GoC

'It was independent Indian army's first decisive victory over the enemy.'

General Officer Commanding (GoC) of Army’s 15 Corps Lieutenant General S A Hasnain on Thursday said there was a need for humanistic approach in bringing stability in Jammu and Kashmir.

“My approach is entirely human and nothing more than that. I think my force should not be seen as a force with arms everywhere,” Lt Gen Hasnain,who became only second Muslim officer after M A Zaki to command the 15 Chinar Corps,told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.

Lt Gen M A Zaki was the first Muslim officer who became the GoC of 15 Chinar Corps in 1988-90.

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Lt Gen Hasnain said he was looking at a long term perspective where Army can assist the state administration in reaching out to the people.

“Our main weapon is our heart and that is the main weapon we carry around in all our efforts to ensure that we bring stability to the state all over again,” the GoC said.

Lt Gen Hasnain said his main emphasis at the moment was to study the situation here.

“My emphasis at the moment is to study the situation here… I think the internal situation here is seeking my attention,” he said.

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Lt Gen Hasnain said the recent summer unrest,in which more than 100 civilians were killed,was “extremely well handled”.

“I may say that the situation was extremely well-handled while it was a situation. The army was in the background advising and assisting wherever it could,” he added.

He said the Army was well integrated with the state government and was advising Chief Minister Omar Abdullah

“wherever it could”.

“We are very much integrated with every effort of the state government and I am also a security adviser to the Chief Minister. I always look forward to putting forward our advice.

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This is a kind of system that has existed in a very successful way in the state and I hope it will carry on,” the Corps Commander said.

Later,the GoC paid floral tributes to soldiers who lost their lives in 1971 war with Pakistani Army in the erstwhile East Pakistan as Army observed “Vijay Divas” (Victory Day) to commemorate its victory in the 1971 war with Pakistan which led to the creation of Bangladesh.

Lt Gen Hasnain,who was flanked by top Army officers of Srinagar-based 15 Corps,termed the 1971 victory of the Army as its “first decisive victory over the enemy”.

“It was independent Indian Army’s first decisive victory over the enemy,” he said addressing the troops at Badamibagh Cantonment in Srinagar and asked soldiers of the 15 Corps to be ready,if needed,to repeat the victory against the “same enemy”.

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