Lieutenant General Deependra Singh Hooda who was the Northern Army Commander during the famed 2016 Surgical Strikes, has denied recommending the abolition of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in the security doctrine he created for the Congress party.

In an interview given to NDTV’s Vishnu Som, General Hooda who oversaw the surgical strike said that the doctrine encompasses a wide range of issues like India’s internal, external security and its standing in the world affairs.

He added that there is no mention of AFSPA in his doctrine hence no question arises about recommending its abolition. As per General Hooda, first India needs to clearly lay out its political objectives in Kashmir based on which a military strategy can be drawn.

He has also denied claims that he would be joining the Congress.

The Congress party has received flack for promising to review AFSPA in areas like Kashmir. Rahul Gandhi’s party has also promised to review the deployment of forces in the Kashmir Valley.