Govt will weigh all options, says former Army chief

Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 18

Minister of State for External Affairs Gen VK Singh (retd) said that the escalation of terrorist activities in South Kashmir in the post-2012 period needed immediate analysis. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already given a clear-cut intent of the government while dealing with terror saying that right action at the right place and at the right time would be taken by the security forces to tackle terror in the Jammu and Kashmir.

Gen VK Singh said this while responding to queries of media persons on the Central government’s plan of action following Pulwama terror attack that killed 40 CRFF soldiers on February 14 and four more, including two army officers, in an encounter with terrorists today.

Gen Singh was here to launch BJP’s “Bharat ke Man ki baat, Modi ke Saath” programme in Himachal. He said under this programme efforts would be made for “mass connect of the people across the country with various schemes launched by the BJP government” and seeking their suggestions for improvement ahead of the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.

VK Singh was, however, emphatic while answering a query on any direct action against the Jaish-e-Mohammad, believed to be mastermind behind the terror attacks on CRPF and the Army, saying: “Direct revengeful action has its pros and cons and the government will weigh all options at military and diplomatic levels. It took America years to eliminate Osama Bin Laden”.