No report of Taliban presence in J&K: Army

There were no reports of presence of the Taliban in Jammu and Kashmir, a top army commander has said, but maintained that the troops remain well-prepared to tackle threats of any nature from any terrorist group.

"As far as Taliban is concerned, they are too involved in Pakistan and authorities there are sorting them out," Lt Gen Jaiswal, who recently took over as GoC-in-C of Northern Command, told mediapersons at Udhampur, 66 kms from Jammu.

"Taliban is active in Pakistan and there are no reports indicating there presence in Jammu and Kashmir," he said on Saturday, adding the army remains prepared on the Line of Control to meet threats of any nature by any terrorist group.

On the situation along the Line of Actual Control, he said peace and tranquility prevails with both sides patrolling upto their perceived lines as per the agreed border management posture and there are no deviations from this.

Some 'areas of difference' remain between India and China on the perception of the LAC in Ladakh region and these are being addressed on the diplomatic front, he said.

Building on defence capability and preparing for any contingency is an ongoing process, he said and added that from the defence point of view, "We are aware of the ground realities and prepared to deal with any contingency."

In reply to a question on incursions and intrusions along the LAC, he said incidents reported in the media are merely 'transgressions' and not incursions.

"There have been far less such transgressions this year compared to last year," he said. To another query if the quantum of threat is more from Pakistan or China, Jaswal said, "If any contingency comes from any side, we are ready to face it."