We are in business of killing and getting killed: Defence Expert

Defence Expert Lieutenant General (Retd.) V.K. Chaturvedi on Sunday said the frustration of the terrorists and anti-national elements is growing as the armed forces are in total command of the situation at the border, adding the army as a profession is a business of killing and getting killed.

"The killings in Jammu and Kashmir have definitely been high this year, but it is a cycle and will continue. We have our upper hand. The frustration of the terrorists and anti-national elements is definitely growing, but our armed forces are in total command of the situation at the border and will not let the nation down ever," he told the media here.

Lieutenant General (Retd.) Chaturvedi said that most of the attacks take place because of the extra cautious approach of the armed forces as they will be accountable for killing a wrong person.

"Unlike in conventional war where you know the enemy and you know where to hit, in this case we are working against a lot of handicapped. The armed forces can also get surprised because the enemy cannot be easily identified in anti-terrorist operations. He can be one of the common men roaming on streets, keeping a gun inside or he may be having something which he can just blast," he said.

Lieutenant General (Retd.) Chaturvedi's statement comes in the wake of a report by the Defence Ministry suggesting that around 60 soldiers lost their lives in Jammu and Kashmir this year.

According to Defence Ministry sources, 60 soldiers were killed in Jammu and Kashmir till December 15 this year, which is almost twice in comparison to the last two years. The number of soldiers killed in 2014 and 2015 was 32 and 33 respectively.