The Army Chief Gen S Padmanabhan visited Jammu and Kashmir, where a large chunk of Army is deployed. Professing his love for what he described as the most beautiful part of the country, he declared his earnest desire to do whatever possible for the Kashmiri people.

Reviewing the situation along the LoC and in-depth areas where counter-insurgency forces are operating, he noted with pleasure the spirited disposition of the junior officers he met. "I am heartened that the forces (dealing with the Kashmir insurgency) are of good heart", he said. During his three-day visit to the Valley, he met the respective IGs of the police and BSF. He also met the Chief Minister of J&K.

Addressing a crowded press conference at HQ 15 Corps, he complimented the Press for its free, unbiased and frank reportage. "I compliment you on that" he said to media-persons and added, "a wide awakened press corps is, perhaps, the greatest insurance against zulm of any nature". Any Army, whether belonging to a nuclear country or a non-nuclear country, must be prepared to withstand the ravages of a nuclear war, as such a war does not have too many frontiers; a (nuclear) explosion on the borders of one country may affect others around as well, he said while expounding on the necessity of an all-round preparedness in the Army.

Bantering the media with his easy going demeanour, humour and repartee he gently chided the Press on the reporting style and content of the articles published about some junior officers being disciplined in the aftermath of the operation Vijay. Describing the reports as unfortunate, he recalled a time when he used to believe everything reported by the media. He further assured that his long years in the Army inclined him to believe it to be a fair organisation and he would ensure a high sense of fair play and justice. He would look into every case that comes to him, he added.

Discussing counter-militancy techniques, Gen Padmanabhan stated that there are no magic solutions to insurgency in Kashmir and that insurgency has never been resolved till date by military means alone. "It is essentially a political problem that had been aggravated by an external power and all the organs of the state need to work together in synergy to be able to neutralise it", he further added. Certain tactical and technological chances to counter insurgency in the Valley, however, were in the offing, he informed the Press declining to go into further details. He dismissed reportage in the local media about wide-spread atrocities and violations of human rights by the Army personnel deployed in Kashmir as a baseless propaganda by interests inimical to the country.

When questioned about his visit to Kashmir as soon as he took over as the Army Chief, Gen Padmanabhan explained, "The bulk of the Army is engaged here in J&K state. A commander always goes where the bulk of his command is."