Gulmarg: General officer Commanding (GoC) of army’s Srinagar-based 15 Corps Lieutenant General D P Pandey on Saturday said that Kashmir was more peaceful compared to past few years with drastic decrease in militant recruitment and stone pelting incidents.
Interacting with to reporters on the side-lines of Gulmarg Sports Festival jointly organised by the Army and Gulmarg Development Authority (GDA), Lt Gen Pandey said that Kashmir, in comparison to past, is more peaceful opening opportunities for everyone.
He, however, said while youth between the age-group of 20 to 25 have understood that futility of the violence, “white collar militants are now trying hard to lure teenagers between the age group of 16 to 19”.
He said that stopping recruitment into militant ranks is the mission and in this regard “we are following a collective approach for which we need society’ support too.”
He said that the events and festivals being organised by army, administration and other sections of society send a message to people across world that the situation is peaceful in Kashmir.
“We expect record number of tourist arrivals this year as already one lakh tourists have visited Gulmarg so far,” the GoC said.
He complimented the youth for participating in large numbers in the Gulmarg Fest and exhorted them to imbibe discipline, hard work, a healthy lifestyle with strong focus in life, to achieve eminence in any field they choose to pursue.
He urged the youth to have an inquisitive mind and invest themselves in quality education. He further said that Kashmir is blessed with abundance of art, culture and music, which ensures joy and happiness in the hearts of every citizen.
GOC Chinar Corps stated that Indian Army is taking proactive steps to assist the local youth in becoming progressive global citizens and urged them to help the Govt establish India including Kashmir at the pinnacle that it deserves.
