Army will not allow al-Qaeda foothold in Kashmir: GOC

Lt Gen Om Prakash, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Army's Srinagar based 15 Corps, said this while reacting to media reports which had quoted al-Qaeda's Pakistan commander Farman Ali Shinwari as saying that in the case of war in Kashmir, the militant group will fight the Indian forces.

"No al-Qaeda will come here, we assure you that. Until our security forces are here, we will not allow them to be here," the GOC told reporters at a function here.

Lt Gen Prakash maintained that the situation in Kashmir was stable and peaceful. "I am sure we will maintain this kind of peace and stable environment," he said.

The army commander, who was the chief guest at the final match of the second Kashmir Premier League cricket tournament, said, "the fact that this tournament has been held in such a cordial environment...Is a proof of peace and stability."