Kashmir highway ban a dumb idea: Former Army chief

SRINAGAR, (PTK): Former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) of the Indian Army General Ved Prakash Malik on Wednesday termed the closure of the Kashmir highway for the civilian movement as the dumb idea.

The retired general said that the banning of the highway is against the army’s core objective of “winning hearts and minds” of the local populace.

“Kashmir. Ban on move of civ vehs on NH twice a week is a dumb idea 1. Goes against core object of winning hearts & minds. 2. Civil Adm must weigh pros & cons 3. Instead of strengthening local police & int, & improving move security, shows forces becoming over defensive (sic),”the former Indian COAS tweeted on the second day of the highway closure. (PTK)