Indian Army vice-chief Lt. Gen. P.C. Bhardwaj said on Thursday that the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) “is not the draconian act that it is made out to be”. Speaking on the sidelines of a function in the capital, Lt. Gen. Bhardwaj described the AFSPA as a “functional act”.
The comments come in the wake of the recent statement made by the chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee (CoSC) and Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik that the Armed Forces Special Powers Act gives legal protection to troops (during their counter-insurgency operations).
Lt. Gen. Bhardwaj also made it clear that both the Indian Army and the people in border areas (including those in J&K) have faith in each other.
He said there was no connection at all between the Army and the recent incidents of violence in J&K.
When asked about international media reports of alleged presence of Chinese troops in parts of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) and rapid improvement of Chinese border infrastructure, the vice-chief said India too is developing its (border) infrastructure and “everyone is developing capabilities”.
The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) is likely to soon take a final decision on whether there should be any dilution or withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act from parts of J&K.