LT GEN SA HASNAIN ADDRESSES KEY ISSUES DURING MEDIA INTERACTION AT BADAMI BAGH CANTONMENT

SRINAGAR: Media is playing a very crucial and important role in the Valley and Army has always supported their positive and truthful reporting.  In order to further strengthen and remove any functional irritants a media interaction was conducted at Badami Bagh Cantonment on 12 Dec 11.  This interactive session was the first in the series of interaction planned over next one month.

Many prominent journalists representing almost all the local Valley based newspapers including senior Army officers attended the interaction.  In his opening address Lt Gen SA Hasnain welcomed all the participants and exhorted them to participate in the interaction with an open mind so as to understand each others view points in a positive manner.  

He urged everyone present to fully utilize the opportunity to develop synergy between the two components in a very pragmatic manner.  Mr Shujjat Bukhari while addressing the gathering brought out functional problems while covering CI/CT operation and pressures from the environment working on them. Speakers from the Army covered basic terminologies connected with Army, COAS Ten Commandments on CT operations, Jee Janab Concept and Salient aspects of AFSPA.   

After the addresses, journalists and senior Army officers interacted on many issues concerning day to day functioning and clarified many contentious points.  At the end of the interactive session, a presentation on Rehabilitation of Barub and Khutran Thal villages in Gurez which were destroyed by wild fire in Mar this year was given in which contribution of Army in ‘Aid to Civilians’ during natural calamities was highlighted.   

The initiative was commended by all present and media personnel were very happy at this initiative on part of Army to constructively engage them and working towards a harmonious relationship.