Pakistan deploys additional troops along LoC: Reports
New Delhi: Months after the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, the Pakistan Army has been increasing the number of troops deployed at the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir besides
enhancing its firepower. It has also placed artillery guns close to the LoC in a bid to carry out continuous shelling on the Indian side.
Sources said that India has apprised the international community about Pakistan’s move after the Indian Army shared a report with the government in this regard on the basis of a detailed analysis.
The incidents of skirmishes have increased after the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, the report states, adding Pakistan has been targetting civilian areas along the Line of Control and
indulging in heavy artillery firing.
“There have been increased attempts to push in militants from launch pads metres away from the LoC. The launch pads are full of infiltrators waiting to sneak in,” the report stated.
It further said around 2,000 personnel of Pakistan’s special operations wing – Special Service Group (SSG) have been deployed on the Line of Control, the report said. Nearly 90,000 Pakistani
troops are already deployed on the Line of Control against the 1,13,000 Indian Army personnel.
The Indian Army, in its report also brushed off Pakistan’s claim that Kashmir has been turned into a military garrison with nine lakh Indian troops and said that the Valley has not more than
2,31,000 personnel, who also have to carry out counter militant and counter infiltration attempts from Pakistan.
According to the analysis, around 2,31,000 personnel of the Indian Army and the Central armed police forces have been deployed in the Valley.
“This includes the over one lakh additional forces deployed in mainland Kashmir since August 5 for public order and counter terror operations,” said a source.
The report stated that so far the Pakistan Army personnel always assumed that deployment across the Line of Control was a peace posting compared to their country’s western borders, where they
fought battles in Afghanistan.
“But things have changed and now Pakistan Army personnel do not consider peace posting with their Commanders issuing directions of continuous shelling and firing across Line of Control,” source
added.
KV Online
