Srinagar, June 14
Defence Minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday said the Army was competent to respond to ceasefire violations along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir.

Jaitley, on his maiden visit to the state after taking over as the Defence Minister, was accompanied by Army Chief General Bikram Singh. He reviewed the security situation along borders and hinterland. "If Pakistan does not stop ceasefire violations, our forces are competent enough to stop them," Jaitely told reporters here a day after shelling by Pakistani troops in Poonch and Rajouri districts of the Jammu region.

Jaitley was briefed about the security situation along the LoC, international border, Line of Actual Control (LAC) and the hinterland at the Army's 15 Corps headquarters by General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Northern Command Lt General DS Hooda and GOC of the Srinagar-based 15 Corps Lt Gen Gurmit Singh. Army chief General Bikram Singh was also present during the briefing.

Later, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called on Jaitley and discussed defence and financial matters concerning the state.

The Chief Minister reiterated the demand for the need to revoke the Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) from parts of Jammu and Kashmir, which is expected to be taken in the unified headquarters meeting here tomorrow.

"I reiterated the need for partial revocation of AFSPA from the state and reduce the presence of security forces on the ground," Omar Abdullah told The Tribune after the meeting.