Says Pak Army still supporting infiltration; this time our response will be stronger
Pathankot, Feb 26: Noting a sustained decline in terrorism indicators in Jammu and Kashmir, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Command, Lt Gen Manoj Kumar Katiyar, on Thursday said the security situation in the Union Territory has “become very normal,” even as the Army remains vigilant against cross-border attempts to disturb peace.
Addressing a press conference on the sidelines of the Investiture Ceremony at Mamun Military Station here, Lt Gen Katiyar, said, “All terrorism parameters in Jammu and Kashmir have consistently declined. The situation in Jammu and Kashmir has become very normal.”
“However, Pakistan keeps on hatching conspiracies to send a few terrorists to disturb the atmosphere. Our Army and all departments of the civil administration are fully prepared to deal with it,” he said.
Responding to queries about encounters in the Kathua-Kishtwar belt, he said the Army acts promptly on intelligence inputs. “Wherever we receive information, we take immediate and prompt action. This year, in several successful operations, we neutralized terrorists who had come to create disturbances in our country.”
Terrorist launch pads across Border under watch
On the reported revival of terror launch pads and camps across the border following Operation Sindoor, the Army Commander said the developments are under constant surveillance.
“We have kept them under watch. We are fully aware of what actions are taking place there. If they are trying to regenerate or reassemble their terrorist bases, we have that information. We will formulate our plans accordingly,” he said, adding that operational details could not be shared due to security considerations.
Lt Gen Katiyar alleged that infiltration attempts continue to receive backing from across the border. “We believe the Pakistan Army is supporting infiltration. The terrorists are coming after training, and there is a possibility that the Pakistan Army may be helping in their training,” he said.
He further accused Pakistan’s military leadership of perpetuating confrontation to retain domestic relevance. “Their relevance comes through a state of confrontation with India. Despite repeated peace efforts from our side, they keep doing something to keep this confrontation alive,” he said.
Dismissing nuclear threats as a pressure tactic, Lt Gen Katiyar asserted that the Indian Army would not be deterred in safeguarding national security. “We see it as a bogey meant to prevent us from taking strong action. We will not get deterred by nuclear threats,” he said.
Lt General Katiyar said the Indian Army is set to induct dedicated drone platoons across infantry, artillery and armoured regiments while expanding specialised ‘Bhairav’ units to strengthen deep-strike and special operations capabilities. He said the Army has restructured its formations in recognition of the growing importance of drones and autonomous systems in modern warfare.
Alongside drone expansion, the Army is strengthening its specialised ‘Bhairav’ battalions, which are being structured as agile, light commando forces capable of operating independently in hostile territory.
Lt Gen Katiyar said these battalions are intended to enhance strike and special operations capability, particularly in scenarios requiring deep penetration and rapid execution. Future battlefields, he indicated, would rely increasingly on small, mobile teams capable of precision tasks beyond conventional frontlines.
People of Pathankot wakeup with unusual sounds of blasts and hovering of fighter aircrafts in the skies on Thursday morning as Western Command turned its annual investiture ceremony into a full-scale battlefield simulation at Dhyan Chand Stadium, Mamun Military Station, sending a strong message on combat readiness and future warfighting capabilities.
The ceremony was presided over by Western Command, Army Commander Manoj Kumar Katiyar, it combined military honours with an elaborate Operational and Combat Capability Demonstration, transforming the stadium into a live war zone for over an hour. The event was attended by senior military officials, civil administration representatives, police and paramilitary officers, veterans, families and local civilians.
Breaking away from the traditional hall-based format, Lt Gen Katiyar said the decision to hold the ceremony in a field environment reflected the Army’s combat-focused mindset.
