‘Country remained secure from terrorist attacks except Jammu and Kashmir’: Ajit Doval

NEW DELHI: National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval on Friday asserted that terrorism has been effectively countered in India, with the last major incident occurring in 2013. He said that the entire country has remained secure from terrorist attacks, except for Jammu and Kashmir.

“The facts are facts, and they cannot be disputed. Terrorism in this country has been effectively countered. We had a major incident of terrorism on July 1, 2005, and the last one in 2013 in the hinterland. Except for Jammu and Kashmir, which had been a theatre of a proxy war or a covert warfare for Pakistan, which is a different ballgame, the whole country has remained secure from terrorist attacks. Efforts were made. People were arrested. Explosives are recovered,” Doval said while addressing the annually held Sardar Patel Memorial Lecture on Governance.

The NSA stated that no terrorist incidents have occurred in the hinterland despite enemies being active. He added that the “left-wing extremism” has reduced to less than 11 per cent of areas as compared to its scale in 2014.

“Enemies have remained very active, but fortunately, and it’s more of a good fortune in the country that we can say that we have had no terrorist incident in the hinterland. The left-wing extremism has reduced to less than 11 per cent areas than what existed in 2014. Most of the districts which had been declared as left-wing prone have been declared safe,” Doval said.

He added that India has been able to establish deterrence, meaning the country can respond to any threat to its national security.

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“It is not sufficient to say that we have taken sufficient security measures. What is equally important is that we are able to make every Indian feel secure, both from internal and external forces. While we can deal with them effectively in accordance with government laws and policies, we can create deterrence that credibly convinces them we have the will and the strength to respond to any threat in a manner best for our national security,” the NSA said.

Doval added that emphasis should be on empowering the marginalised and highlighted the importance of providing security for women.

“There is also a very special need to care for the deprived, the weak, and the marginalised, and to give them a sense of empowerment. The security of women is extremely important. The need for protection, safety, giving a sense of equality and empowerment to women is necessary for good governance in the modern-day world,” he said. (ANI)