NEW DELHI – Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat has dismissed thecontention that time has come to repeal the controversial Armed ForcesSpecial Powers Act (AFSPA), which gives the security forces special rightsand immunity in carrying out operations in “disturbed areas” like Jammu andKashmir and the northeast.
“I do not think time has come to even rethink on AFSPA at the moment,” GenRawat was quoted as saying by PTI. He, however, insisted that the Army hasbeen taking adequate precautions in protecting human rights while operatingin such areas.
The Army chief was answering queries on reports that government wasre-examining the demand for a milder version of AFSPA in these states.
His comments assume significance as they come amid reports that severalrounds of high-level discussions have taken place between the defence andhome ministries on the “need to remove or dilute at least some provisions”of the AFSPA.
There has been a long-standing demand from various sections to withdraw theact as AFSPA remains a thorny issue in J-K and the Northeast areas.
Acknowledging that the AFSPA has certain strong provisions, the Chief ofthe Army staff, however, pointed out that the Army is concerned aboutcollateral damages and ensuring that its operations under the stipulatedlaw do not cause inconvenience the local people.
“We have never been strong in applying the force the way it could beapplied (under AFSPA). We are very concerned about human rights. We areabsolutely concerned about collateral damage. So do not get too muchconcerned because we are taking adequate measures and precautions,” he said.
“The AFSPA is an enabling provision which allows the Army in particular tooperate in such difficult areas and let me assure you that the Army has gotquite a good human rights record.”
When asked whether there was room for more coordination between externaland internal intelligence gathering to effectively contain cross borderterrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, he said the armed forces and all otheragencies have been operating in unison.
“At this juncture, the kind of cooperation we are having among theintelligence agencies is of a very high order. Today all the intelligenceagencies and the security forces are operating in unison.
There is an excellent synergy among all of us and I do not think we cantake it to the next higher level from what is happening at the moment. Ithink this is the best way and right way,” the Army chief said.
The Army has been pursuing an aggressive anti-terror policy in strife-tornJammu and Kashmir.