India (Commonwealth Union)_ During a National Security Conclave, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh announced that the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) had been lifted from several parts of the northeast region and that he eagerly expects the arrival of permanent peace in Jammu and Kashmir, which would facilitate the removal of AFSPA from the union territory as well. Additionally, the Union minister emphasized that India had successfully transformed the global mindset, including that of the United States, regarding the issue of terrorism.
According to Singh, “Today, AFSPA has been removed from large parts of the northeast. I am waiting for the day when permanent peace will come in Jammu and Kashmir and AFSPA will be removed from here too”. He acknowledged the prolonged suffering Jammu and Kashmir had endured due to terrorism, highlighting how this poisonous menace corrodes societies. Observing the existence of an extensive terrorism network in Jammu and Kashmir over several decades, Singh affirmed that stringent measures have significantly weakened this network. He also noted that they have curtailed the financing of terrorism, halted the supply of arms and drugs, and, in addition to eliminating terrorists, are actively dismantling the network of underground operatives working in the region.
Citing the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, Singh remarked that the residents of Jammu and Kashmir had long been isolated from the mainstream, inadvertently impeding action against anti-national forces. Though Singh did not explicitly mention the name of the country, he emphasized that the countries employing terrorism as a state policy should recognize the transitory nature of their actions. He stated that major countries worldwide are standing united against terrorism, highlighting the recent joint statement issued by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden as evidence of India’s success in reshaping global perspectives, including that of America, regarding terrorism.
Singh further elaborated on the joint statement, noting that it explicitly calls for concerted action against UN-listed terrorist organizations, including Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Hizbul Mujahideen. Singh also stressed the significance of the statement’s assertion that Pakistan must halt all terrorist activities within its territory and prevent the use of its land for such purposes. He added that Pakistan was also urged to take action against those responsible for the 26/11 Mumbai and Pathankot attacks.
