Published: August 05, 2007
Kashmir: Indian Army Expects Rise in Militant Infiltration
By Fayaz Wani
Srinagar, Aug 5:
Indian army deployed in restive Kashmir expects a rise in infiltration attempts by militants from the Pakistani side of the frontier in the coming months.
Indian army spokesman in Srinagar, Col A K Mathur told Newsblaze that the other side (Pakistan) may soon try to push in many militants into this side of Kashmir. "The infiltration of militants is not possible in winter months, so infiltration attempts by militants to cross to this side of the frontier from Pakistani Kashmir may increase in the coming one and a half months", he said.
"After mid-September the infiltration routes get closed owing to the snowfall and setting in of winter in Kashmir", Col Mathur said, adding, "The Army is ready for the challenge and the strength of soldiers has been increased on the frontiers. The surveillance has been intensified to thwart any move of militants to infiltrate into Kashmir".
An Indian army officer, Major General Ramesh Halgali, General Officer Commanding of 19 Infantry Division stationed along the frontier with Pakistan in Uri sector, also remarked that the army is expecting a rise in infiltration attempts.
"The militants owing allegiance to Pakistan based militant group Lashker-e-Toiba and other groups, are waiting to cross over to Kashmir to increase militant violence in the Valley", he said.
A senior army officer recently told Newsblaze the Indian army received intelligence that 2500-3000 militants have been brought to launching pads across the border close to the frontier, from where they would be pushed into Kashmir. "We have increased the strength of soldiers along the frontier with Pakistan and also increased surveillance of sensitive areas to prevent the other side from pushing armed militants into Kashmir", he said.
Last week, the Indian army foiled a major infiltration attempt by militants in Uri sector, by killing eight Afghani militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba.
Fayaz Wani reports on life in Srinagar, Kashmir.
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