Ishtiyaq Ahmed
Srinagar, Jul 13 : Government claimed that there has been 40 percent decline in recruitment of militants in the current year than the previous year.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has told the Parliament that due to concerted and synergized efforts of security forces, the security situation in the state has witnessed an improvement in the first half of this year over the corresponding period of 2018.
“Militant initiated incidents saw a decline of 28%, net infiltration reduced by 43% and local recruitment declined by 40% and neutralization of militants has increased by 22%,” the MHA said.
It says that a Multi Disciplinary Terror Monitoring Group (TMG) has been constituted to ensure synergized and concerted action against terror financing and other terror related activities in the state.
“The Government has adopted a policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism. Effective response is given by the security forces to counter terrorist activities in the State of Jammu and Kashmir,” it says.
The Union Home Ministry in March constituted a multi-disciplinary terror monitoring group (TMG) to probe and “ensure synergised and concentrated against terror financing” in Jammu and Kashmir.
It has been assigned to take action against hardcore sympathisers among government employees, including teachers, who are providing covert or overt support to “terror activities”.
The MHA says that government follows zero tolerance policy to cross-border terrorism. “Necessary measures are taken to prevent and deter cross-border terrorist infiltration. Close and effective coordination between intelligence and security agencies at the Centre and the State level is maintained in order to avert terror incidents in the country,” the MHA said.
The MHA said that Multi Agency Centre (MAC) has been strengthened and re-organized to enable it function on 24×7 basis for real time collection and sharing of intelligence with other Agencies and State Governments.
“With a view to enhance the capacity of State forces, the Central Agencies have been organizing training programmes for the State forces on intelligence sharing and investigation of terrorism cases. Many States have raised special forces to deal with terrorism. Central Armed Police Forces and National Security Guards have also been stationed at different locations to assist the States in dealing with such incidents,” the MHA said.
The Centre said that Government has conveyed to Pakistan that it desires normal neighborly relations with Pakistan in an atmosphere free from terror, hostility and violence. The onus is on Pakistan for creating such an environment, it said.
“The Government has consistently raised the issue of cross border terrorism and placed high emphasis on international cooperation in combating the menace of terrorism including in bilateral, regional and international for a,” the MHA said. (KNS)
