* Pak deploys army at launch pads to protect ultras
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Oct 5: In a significant development on the borders, Pakistan has brought in 100 more trained terrorists at launching pads along the Line of Control opposite Jammu and Kashmir with each launch pad of 10 militants being protected by at least 50 Pakistan army personnel of Infantry division to save them from any fresh surgical strikes by the Indian Army inside Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).
National Security Advisor (NSA), who was one of the major brain behind September 29 successful surgical strikes inside PoK, is understood to have briefed Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) this morning about new strategy adopted by Pakistan Government and army in the aftermath (of surgical strikes) in which over 50 Pakistani militants and nine Pakistan army personnel were killed and many others left injured.
Highly placed sources said that communication centre of Jaish-e-Mohammad and arms and ammunition depot of Hizbul Mujahideen were destroyed at Kail in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) in the surgical strikes conducted by Special Forces where large number of militants including Lashkar-e-Toiba “operational commander”, Shahid alias Arif Rahmani, were killed.
Sources said that Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) had launched a crackdown in PoK and arrested 56 persons including those who are involved in cross LoC trade, those who have relatives in Kashmir and some Kashmir militants. However, out of these 30 have been released.
Sources said that Jaish-e-Mohammed and Hizb launching pads at Kail and Chilana were made of tin sheds besides two small concrete buildings and they were destroyed in the strike. The Hizbul Mujahideen commander of the Kail camp across Baramulla, Gazi Sarfraz and his associates have been seriously injured in the attack.
Sources said that at Kail 20-30 militants of Hizbul Mujahideen and JeM, who were waiting for launching through Tanghdar sector were eliminated.
Sources said that at Chilana launch pad across Leepa Valley of Kupwara, eight militants were killed in the strike. Jaish commander Shahbaz Adil is missing since then.
At Dudniyal, Lashkar launch pad was destroyed and nine militants were killed. The camp commander Shahid alias Arif Rahman was seriously injured while Athumkam camp commander of LeT Dilawar Khan’s radio set is not sending any message which means he is either dead or seriously injured.
According to official sources, 10 militants each have been stationed at 10 launching pads, located at some distance from the LoC in PoK opposite Kupwara, Baramulla, Poonch and Rajouri districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
“However, this time, Pakistan army has given its own cover to the militants at every launching pad. At least 50 Pakistan Army personnel from the Infantry were guarding each launching pad to protect the militants from any fresh surgical strike by the Indian troops in PoK,” sources said, adding in the event of fresh raids inside PoK, Indian troops, apart from the militants, would have to face the Pakistani troops as well.
According to sources, this was for the first time when Pakistan has come out openly in support of the militants stationed at the launch pads for infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir. Earlier, Pakistan army used to train and guide the militants and then leave them at the launch pads for infiltration.
But after the surgical strikes, Pakistan army has openly stationed its around 50 jawans at every launch pad to save the militants from Indian surgical strikes, sources pointed out and said that Army and BSF have been maintaining very high alert along LoC in Kupwara and Baramulla in Kashmir and twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region to thwart infiltration attempts.
The CCS, meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was attended among others by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and NSA Ajit Doval. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who is also a CCS member, is abroad.
Rajnath Singh also gave detailed briefing to the CCS on situation prevailing along Jammu and Kashmir borders and internal areas post surgical strikes and steps taken by the troops to check militant activities and infiltration attempts. Rajnath was in Leh and Kargil on October 3 and 4 along with Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi.
The CCS is also reported to have deliberated upon release of about 90-minute long video footage of September 29 surgical strikes by the Indian Army inside PoK, sources said.
The Pakistan army is believed to be planning attacks by terrorists on Indian defence personnel and security establishments besides select civilian targets in the wake of September 29 surgical strikes.
Meanwhile, an Indian TV channel today telecast a purported conversation in which one of its journalists posed as a senior Pakistani police official to the SP of Mirpur in PoK in which the surgical strikes were discussed and deaths of 12 Pakistanis were mentioned.
The SP was purportedly admitting that nearly five soldiers and Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorists were killed in Bhimber and Lipa. Overall, he admitted to 12 deaths.
Meanwhile, India has also shored up its defences and regular sorties of Sukhoi is taking place at Srinagar airport, which is generally a MIG base, sources said.
PTI adds: amid a raging debate over the surgical strikes, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is understood to have cautioned his Cabinet colleagues today against creating a hysteria over the military action against terror launch pads across the LoC.
During the Cabinet meeting, he is understood to have told his Ministerial colleagues that only authorized people should speak on the issue of surgical strikes and one should avoid speaking out-of-turn, sources said.
His word of caution came against the backdrop of demands that the Government should present proof about the cross-LoC raids to counter the smear campaign by Pakistan.
The demand has triggered a raging debate on whether the proof should be provided or not.
The BJP and experts are against disclosing details of the operation by the Special Forces.
Meanwhile, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence which was to meet tomorrow for a briefing by the representatives of the Ministry of Defence on ‘Surgical Strikes across the Line of Control (LoC)’ has decided to postpone the meeting. The panel will now meet on October 14.
Follow our WhatsApp channel