80% of remaining terrorists in J&K are of Pak origin: Army Chief

New Delhi, Jan 13: Eighty percent of the remaining terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir are Pakistani, according to Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi’s statement on Monday.

There is a transition “from terrorism to tourism,” according to news agencies, as seen by a drop in violence and prosperous events like the Amarnath Yatra, which attracted over 5 lakh pilgrims last year, the Army commander said during a press conference in New Delhi.

He said that last year, 60% of terrorists eliminated were of Pakistan origin. “As of today, around 80% or more of the remaining terrorists in the Valley and Jammu area are believed to be of Pakistan origin,” he said, adding that despite the effective ceasefire agreement along the Line of Control (LoC) since February 2021, infiltration attempts and terror infrastructure persist.

The Doda-Kishtwar belt and north Kashmir have seen a spike in terrorist activity, he said, but he emphasized that overall violence levels are still under control.

 “The peaceful conduct of the Amarnath Yatra, which saw over five lakh pilgrims last year, and elections in the region indicate a positive shift from ‘terrorism to tourism,’” he said.

He also emphasised the role of the media in national security, stating, “Mass media and security forces have great potential to converge towards nation-building and national security.”

“My mission is to ensure full-spectrum preparedness while transforming the Indian Army into an Aatma nirbhar (self-reliant), future-ready force, a key pillar of national security that contributes meaningfully to nation-building,” he said.