Srinagar: Day after Home Ministry said that Ramadan ceasefire could be extended, Army General Bipin Rawat too hinted it but put a rider saying if militants activities continue then it could not be done.
Rawat on visit to Kashmir valley was talking to reporters in Pahalgam at an Army Goodwill school.
“We suspended operations to show people atmosphere of peace & I believe people are happy, if things continue in a similar way we can say that continuing of NICO (Non-Initiation of Combat Operations) can be thought of, but if terrorist activities continue we cannot do so,” Rawat told reporters.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday reviewed the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir after the suspension of operations announced by the Government of India (GoI) about a week ago and expressed satisfaction over the relatively calm atmosphere prevailing in the valley.
“Singh expressed satisfaction over the ground report of relative calm in the state. There was a possibility that the measure may be extended if the incidents of violence came down,” the official of the Home Ministry was quoted in the media reports.
Government of India announced unilateral ‘Ramadan Ceasefire’ on May 16, and directed its troops to not launch any operations in Jammu and Kashmir during the holy month of Ramadan.
