Demonetisation has hit terrorist activities: Dy chief of Army staff

Lieutenant General N P S Hira, deputy chief of Army staff said on the sidelines of the IMA Passing Out Parade (POP) on Saturday that demonetisation had made an impact on terrorist activities. “The supply of fake currency in circulation has been affected and this will no doubt have an impact on terror activities on the ground,” said the officer who has had extensive experience of counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir as well as the North East.

 He added that “cash reserves of terrorists have been hit, which is definitely a positive impact of demonetisation.” To a query about the surgical strikes and their aftermath, he said that terror attacks have increased following the strikes but “the Army is fully prepared to give a befitting reply to such misadventures.”

 “Terrorists have started targeting Army establishments but whenever they have indulged in such misadventures, we have given them a befitting reply. I must reiterate that the Indian Army is fully prepared to deal with the enemy,” said the officer who has commanded an infantry division near the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. 

On how the Army was gearing to meet new challenges, Hira, who has been involved in automation and digitisation initiatives of the 1.2 million strong Army, said that training procedures were constantly being evaluated and reoriented to meet new challenges. “Modern warfare is continuously evolving and it is imperative that we should also upgrade accordingly. For instance, cyber wars and warfare from space are going to be the next thrust areas for which one must be prepared.”