The Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) was an 'absolute imperative' for the Army to operate in troubled areas, but some amendments to it were acceptable as long as these meet the requirements of the Armed Forces, GOC-in-C Eastern Command Lt Gen Arvind Sharma said.

"The Act is an absolute imperative because without legal support the forces will find it difficult to work in the troubled areas," Sharma told newsmen after the wreath-laying ceremony at the Vijay Smarak on the occasion of Vijay Diwas.
Referring to the demand for amendments to the AFSPA now implemented in Manipur, he said "certain amendments to the Act had been recommended and those are under consideration of the government. As long as those keep to our requirements, we do not have any problem."

To a question, he said that there was a need for a change of ceasefire ground rules in Nagaland. "Recommendations on these have been given to the government and are being considered."
On the recent explosions by the ULFA in Assam, Sharma said these have been carried out by the outfit which is under pressure by the Armed Forces to prove it was "alive and kicking." Too much should not be read into this, he added.
Asked whether the Army wanted more roads along the Chinese border in the wake of the neighbouring country's infrastructure build-up on its side of the border, Sharma said that on the Indian side, the infrastructure was adequate.
A group of Bangladeshi 'Mukti Yoddhas' led by major Rafiqul Islam was also present at the ceremony.

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