No report of Taliban presence in J-K: Top army commander

Jammu, Nov 1 (PTI) There were no reports of presence of
the Taliban in India's northernmost state Jammu and Kashmir, a
top army commander has said, but maintained that the troops
remain well-prepared to tackle threats of any nature from any
terrorist group.
"As far as Taliban is concerned, they are too involved in
Pakistan and authorities there are sorting them out," Lt Gen
Jaiswal, who recently took over as GoC-in-C of Northern
Command, told reporters at Udhampur, 66 kms from here.
"Taliban is active in Pakistan and there are no reports
indicating there presence in Jammu and Kashmir," he said
yesterday, adding the army remains prepared on the Line of
Control to meet threats of any nature by any terrorist group.
On the situation along the Line of Actual Control, he
said peace and tranquillity prevails with both sides
patrolling upto their perceived lines as per the agreed border
management posture and there are no deviations from this.
Some "areas of difference" remain between India and China
on the perception of the LaC in Ladakh region and these are
being addressed on the diplomatic front, he said.
Building on defence capability and preparing for any
contingency is an ongoing process, he said and added that from
the defence point of view, "we are aware of the ground
realities and prepared to deal with any contingency."
In reply to a question on incursions and intrusions along
the LaC, he said incidents reported in the media are merely
"transgressions" and not incursions. "There have been far less
such transgressions this year compared to last year," he said.
To another query if the quantum of threat is more from
Pakistan or China, Gen Jaswal said, "If any contingency comes
from any side, we are ready to face it." PTI MKB
DDC