Ceasefire violations by Pak Army has increased: Army Chief

New Delhi, Sept 4 (PTI) Army Chief Deepak Kapoor Friday
said the number of ceasefire violations by Pakistan Army has
increased to enable militants to infiltrate into India before
the onset of winters to "disrupt" the peaceful environment in
Jammu and Kashmir.

"The attempts of ceasefire violation have increased
because this enables infiltration to be carried out when the
firing is on and can be used as a diversionary tactic. Their
attempt is to infiltrate more and more people during ceasefire
violation but we understand their tactics and take appropriate
steps," he told reporters.

He was asked why ceasefire violations by Pakistan have
increased besides rising incidents of infiltration by
militants.
"Attempts will be made by the other side to try and
disrupt the stable and peaceful environment in Jammu and
Kashmir and to push in as many infiltrators as possible before
the winter sets in. It is the trend that we are witnessing and
the attempts of infiltration are going on," he said.

Kapoor was speaking after signing an MoU between the
Indira Gandhi National Open University and the Indian Army on
providing graduation degrees to its personnel below officer
ranks (PBORs).

Stressing that Army was keen on continuation of the
ceasefire, Kapoor said, "We always raise the issue of
ceasefire violation with Pakistan during border meetings and
our effort is to continue the ceasefire so that there are not
many casualties and the two countries are able to maintain
right relations."

He said the Army exercises maximum possible restraint
but takes retaliatory action whenever incidents of ceasefire
violation take place.

Commenting on the MoU signed between the Army and IGNOU,
Kapoor said, "We have signed the MoU by which we will ensure
that all army men who retire from now onwards are armed with
graduation degrees, which will enable them to go for a second
career and also enhance the amount of workforce in the
country." PTI AJD
JVN