Naqvi backs Army Chief's assertion against anti- national elements in J-K

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Friday extended supports to Army Chief Bipin Rawat for his strict message to anti-national elements in Jammu and Kashmir.

"The people who are harbouring and sponsoring terrorism are equally responsible for spreading terror in the world. It is important to consider the one harbouring terrorism and treat it as equal," Naqvi told ANI.

General Rawat on Wednesday said those Kashmiris supporting terrorists would be considered anti-national.

"People who have picked up arms, the local boys, if they want to continue with such acts of terrorism and display flags of ISIS and Pakistan, then we will treat them as anti-national elements and go helter-skelter for them. Our relentless operations will continue," General Rawat said while paying tribute to the bravehearts of the Handwara and Bandipora encounters.

Urging the local people to extend their support to the security forces trying to maintain peace in the Valley, Rawat said they won't be spared if they continue resorting to negative acts.

Four army personnel, including a major lost their lives in two encounters in the Bandipora and Handwara areas of North Kashmir yesterday.