Arun Joshi

Jammu, February 23

Lt Gen KJS Dhillon, Corps Commander of 15 Corps, who led the troops in Kashmir in 2019 when the Pulwama terror attack took place and Article 370 was given a constitutional farewell, declared on Sunday: “Peace has been achieved in the Valley owing to efforts of all agencies working for a common goal.”

• The Tribune Interview: ‘Whole of nation approach worked in J&K’

In an e-mail interview with The Tribune, he said utmost “synergy” between the forces and other agencies had brought about peace in the Valley with militancy now gasping and stone-throwing fallen to level zero, almost.

Enumerating the parameters of peace, he mentioned opened markets, arrival of tourists, high percentage of students appearing in exams and more than 95 per cent polling in Block Development Council elections.

Regarding the almost 30-year-old Armed Forces Special Powers Act that gives immunity to soldiers in counter-terrorism operations, Gen Dhillon offered a middle of the line response. “AFSPA is an act of Parliament and we in India, being a mature democracy, are governed by legislations passed by Parliament,” he said.