Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Oct 28: General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Nagrota based 16 Corps, Lt Gen D S Hooda today said that nearly 300 terrorists were waiting at over 40 to 45 training camps on that side along the Line of Control from Akhnoor to Poonch sector while terror infra-structure was intact in the Pak occupied Kashmir areas.
Talking to Excelsior at the NCC camping ground near Sainik School Nagrota, about 15 kms from here today, Lt Gen Hooda said the number of infiltration attempts have increased considerably along the Line of Control but there was no successful intrusion from that side under his area of operation in last several months from Akhnoor to Poonch sector. He said there was a successful attempt recently from Hiranagar area of Kathua where some terrorists struck and resulted into casualties but that area is being looked after by Border Security Force (BSF).
“I will not be able to give details about the situation along the International Border including parts of Kathua, Samba and R S Pura as BSF is deployed there. As far as LoC is concerned, there is no successful infiltration of terrorists in Poonch, Rajouri and parts of Akhnoor sectors since January this year. Though there have been many such attempts by the terrorists to intrude into Indian side, yet the same have been successfully thwarted by the alert Army troops. So one can say that infiltration has been brought to zero level along the LoC on this side of the Pir Panjal,” Lt Gen Hooda maintained.
When his comments were sought on the reports regarding infiltration of nearly 80 militants under the cover of Pakistani firing into this side in last 7-8 months, Lt Gen Hooda said, “As per my area of operation (16 Corps) is concerned, there is no successful intrusion. There may be some incidents of intrusion in 15 Corps area of Kashmir including Machhil, Tanghar or Uri but I will not be able to comment on that because that area is not under me. But the number can not be so higher. Apart from an incident in Hiranagar (Kathua) along the IB recently, there was no such major incident. Firing incidents have gone higher recently but the troops are alert enough to give appropriate reply and push the militants back if they try to intrude into this side of the LoC.”
Commenting on the situation along the Line of Control, continuous firing from Pakistani side and terrorist activities and support by Pakistani Army, the Corps Commander said that terrorists continue to get support from Pakistani Army and the terror infrastructure was intact along the LoC in PoK areas. While referring to the intelligence inputs, he said nearly 250- 300 militants were waiting at various launching pads on that side along the Line of Control to cross into this side. There are nearly 40-45 odd training camps in PoK and most of them were located closer to the Line of Control. The troops were alert and fully prepared to thwart any attempts of the terrorists trying to cross into this side of the LoC, he said.
When asked about the possible reason behind the continuous firing and ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops for the last several months, the GOC said, “It may be part of their strategy, but we are fully prepared to frustrate their designs of pushing militants and disturbing peace along the borders. We are responding appropriately to the Pakistani firing. When they target any area on this side, we also give appropriate reply and we have instructions too, from the top. But there is no firing along the LoC in last nearly one week now. There had been DGMO level talks between two countries and we hope better results would come out.”
On being asked about the migration of people from various areas close to LoC or IB, Lt Gen Hooda said there is no migration even from the areas like Mendhar, Balakote or Krishna Ghati where ceasefire violations were higher in number in last several weeks. He said during firing, some border villagers people were asked by troops to stay away in the safer area for some time but people were still residing at their original places. Even there is no migration from the areas along the International Border, he added.
Dismissing the apprehensions of the people about the possibility of conversion of skirmishes between the India and Pakistani troops along the IB and LoC into a full-fledged war, the Corps Commander said, “It will not happen. There had been such firing incidents along the borders before 2003. And unfortunately, this is again happening here. The civilians along the borders on both sides are facing hardships. Efforts are on to restore peace along the borders and Army is trying to hold flag meetings at different level to normalize the situation, Lt Gen Hooda maintained.
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