The Army plans to withdraw all its regular forces deployed in the North-East for counter-insurgency, counter-terrorism and internal security purposes in the next 18-24 months, to focus more on conventional warfare, said Army Chief General M M Naravane.
After the Bodoland elections get over in June-July this year, a drawdown of forces will be a seeming possibility. Two battalions have already taken off from such duties
General Naravane told the media “The North-East is going through a very transitional phase, for the good. The security situation is improving as shown by the recent surrender of 600 members of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and other groups. We are working on a plan for the next 18-24 months on how to draw down regular forces from CI/CT/ internal security duties there,”
“We will be committed fully on our long-term objective to focus on conventional warfare.” Asked if a similar drawdown was the plan for the Kashmir Valley as well, the Army Chief said: “As I have said even earlier, the primary task is conventional warfare and that is our long-term goal. CI/CT is a short-term and immediate goal. We have not lost sight of long-term goals while focusing on short-term goals.”
The Army General also said that after Article 370 abrogation done by the Centre, the number of ceasefire violations on the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan spiked post-August 5.
