Bid to push arms into Kashmir foiled: Army
Srinagar: The Army has foiled an attempt to push in arms and ammunition by Pakistan from across the Line of Control (LoC) in Keran sector of north Kashmir and recovered a cache, including four AK74 rifles, officials said on Saturday.
Alert troops foiled Pakistan’s attempt to push in arms across the LoC in Keran Sector of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, an Army official said. He said the Army noticed two-three men transporting some items in a tube tied to a rope across Kishenganga river.
The troops immediately reached the location and recovered four x AK 74 rifles, eight magazines and 240 rounds concealed in two bags. The area has been cordoned off and a search is under progress, the official said.
He said it was another attempt by militants from Pakistan administered Kashmir to smuggle war-like stores, but it was successfully foiled by the quick action of alert troops.
Corps Commander of the Srinagar-based Chinar Corps Lt Gen B S Raju said there has been no change in Pakistan’s intentions.
“This morning, in the Keran sector, Pakistan tried to send across the Kishenganga river four AK74 rifles and a huge cache of ammunition in a tube, but our alert troops with the help of surveillance devices, recovered the cache. It signifies that there has been no change in Pakistan’s intentions. We will continue to foil their attempts in the future as well,” Lt Gen Raju told reporters on the sidelines of a function in Rangreth area in the outskirts of the city here.
“There have been attempts in Keran, Tangdhar, in Jammu sector and Punjab as well. The main aim is to keep the people of Kashmir involved always in terrorism. But, our resolve is to stop weapons from coming in so that there is minimal loss to the people here. We need the cooperation of the people in this so that we can stop terrorism,” the Corps Commander said.
On being asked that China is helping Pakistan set up sites for surface-to-air missiles in PaK, the top Army commander said there is no indication of any tactical help being extended by Beijing to Islamabad.
He however, said there is military cooperation between Pakistan and China in terms of equipment.
Amid the continuing standoff between Indian and Chinese troops in Ladakh, media reports quoting intelligence inputs have claimed that China is helping Pakistan set up sites for surface-to-air missiles in PaK as soldiers of their armies have been carrying out joint patrols in the region.
Gen Raju said there has not been any such indication.
“I have seen the reports in the media. Whether Pakistan is helping China or China is helping Pakistan, we have no such indication,” he told reporters on the sidelines of a passing out-cum-attestation parade at the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry Regimental Centre on the outskirts of the city here.
“But because of the CPEC (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor), there is the presence of China in Pakistan. The military cooperation in terms of equipment is there, but we are not seeing any tactical help,” he said.
According to the reports, the construction work for the installation of surface-to-air missile defence system is being carried out by the Pakistan army and China’s People’s Liberation Army at Pauli Pir near Lasadanna Dhok of PaK.
Pakistan army personnel and dozens of civilians are working at the construction site, the reports stated. (PTI)
Press Trust of India
