Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 30

The year 2016 is proving to be the deadliest since 2008 as the number of fatalities suffered by the security forces in J&K has reached 85.More than 50 per cent of these casualties have taken place in the past over two months when the Army base in Uri was attacked by four fidayeen on September 18 and which was followed by the surgical strikes.In the state, 85 security forces personnel have been killed either in militant action or along the LoC this year so far. After the Army carried out surgical strikes on militant launching pads on September 29, 27 security forces men have been killed. A military officer posted in Kashmir said the high number of casualties was a cause of concern.

Casualty count

85- 2016

36 -2015

40- 2014

53- 2013

17 -2012

30- 2011

69- 2010

78 -2009

90- 2008

No coherent policy on Kashmir’

• Lt Gen HS Panag (retd), former GOC-in-C of the Northern Command, has said the number of forces’ fatalities has been higher this year in comparison to the past few years. “My worry is that we don’t have any consistent policy on both internal and external front while Pakistan always has a permanent strategy over Kashmir which does not change. We are suffering because there is no coherent policy on Pakistan,” the General said.