Srinagar: Corps Commander of Chinar Corps, Indian Army, Kanwal Jeet Singh Dhillon on Tuesday, while extending his condolences to Pulwama martyrs’ families, said that Pakistan's main spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency was involved in the terror attack. 

Tightening the noose around the terrorists in the Valley, the lieutenant general said that anyone who picks up a gun in Kashmir will be eliminated unless they surrender. He also warned that any terrorist who is entering Kashmir will not go back alive. “We are very clear about our anti-terrorism policies,” Dhillon added. 

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The army also had a special request for Kashmiri mothers. “In a Kashmiri society, the mother has a great role to play. I would request the mothers of Kashmir to please request their sons who have joined terrorism to surrender and get back to the mainstream. Anyone who has picked up the gun will be killed and eliminated unless he surrenders,” said Dhillon.

The top military commander also appealed youth in Kashmir to stay away from the encounter site. Dhillon explained that it is their mission to reduce civilian causalities. “We would request locals to stay away from encounter site till the time the area is sanitised by us,” he said.

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Dhillon was speaking at a press conference in Srinagar. He also assured the countrymen that payback is only the option to avenge the martyrs in the Pulwama attack. 

Speaking about the losses that the police and the Army endured during the Pinglan encounter in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, Dhillon said that it was because the security forces led the operation from the front.

Lauding brigadier Hardeep Singh, Dhillon said, “Singh, who was on leave due to injury, he cut short his leave voluntarily and came to the operation site and stayed there and lead his men from the front.”

On February 14, a JeM suicide bomber rammed an SUV car with 350 kg of explosives into a security convoy of 78 vehicles carrying over 2,500 personnel in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir, killing at least 40 jawans. Most of them were returning to duty after spending their holidays in their respective destinations.

IGP Kashmir SP Pani said that there has been a significant dip in the recruitment of militants in Valley. “We have not seen any recruitment in the last three months. The families are playing a huge role in this. We would like to urge the families and the community in curtailing recruitment,” he added.