NEW DELHI, Jan 14: Indian Army Chief General N. C. Vij was quoted on Tuesday as saying his forces would adopt stronger counter infiltration measures on the Line of Control and carry out intensive operations to keep the pressure on anti-Indian militants.

According to the Press Trust of India he said the army in recent months had covered a ‘reasonable ground’ to equip formations of the Northern Command with ground sensors and other major surveillance system.

“Army would fully support any initiative of the government to bring about normalcy and improvement in the state,” Vij told “Sainik Samachar”, the armed forces journal, to mark Army Day on Wednesday.

Outlining the new role for the army in Kashmir after recent elections, Gen Vij said: “We shall work in close conjunction with the government to win hearts and minds of the people of the state by assisting in civic actions”.

After a prolonged deployment of troops on the Pakistan border last year, the army would now refocus on its modernization drive.

He pointed out that assimilation and absorption of the Russian frontline T-9 tanks were in full swing. Also he said the upgradation of T-72 tanks and T1 sights for tanks and armoured carriers were on full steam.—Jay En