Amid renewed demands for the repeal of the controversial AFSPA, Army Chief Gen V K Singh today said the AFSPA was a functional requirement for the armed forces in certain areas even as CM Omar Abdullah pressed for partial revocation of the controversial law in J&K.

"Everyone knows what our view is on this subject. It is based on functional requirement and how the Army is supposed to be in a particular area," he told reporters here when asked to comment on the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). "It would be better if you ask the Home Ministry on this issue," Singh said when asked whether laws like AFSPA were required in the backdrop of Taliban attacks in Afghanistan and their likely impact in India.

CM Omar Abdullah said there is a good case for reviewing the continuation of AFSPA since there is a distinct change in the secutiry environment in the state. The Army however says that removal of AFSPA would make it difficult for them to counter terrorist insurgencies from across the border.

He said the Defence Minister had asked the armed forces to monitor the happenings in the neighbourhood as it's fallout could be felt in the country someday or other.