Army chief: Pakistan aiding infiltration bids

New Delhi/Srinagar: Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh today said accused Pakistan of actively trying to help infiltrators cross the line of control by providing them when cover fire and backup support. Speaking to TV channels, he said without the support of the Pakistan army, such a largescale infiltration could not have been planned or put into operation.

He said what happened in the Keran sector of Jammu and Kashmir was a "desparate infiltration bid" by terrorists and this has been foiled. He sought to clarify that the infiltration attempt was not an "intrusion" as the enemy was not occupying higher ground but sitting in a "nallah" (rivulet).

"It was a desperate infiltration bid, which has been foiled," Gen Singh told reporters at Hindon (Ghaziabad) on the sidelines of the Air Force Day parade. The Army Chief said that seven of the terrorists involved in the Keran sector had apparently pulled out from there and tried to infiltrate from other areas but were gunned down by the security forces.

Meanwhile, a huge cache of arms and war-like stores were recovered by troops battling holed up terrorists in the Keran sector along the LoC in Kashmir for the 14th day on Monday even as the Union Government said Army was taking 'appropriate' necessary measures.

An External Affairs Ministry spokesperson said further necessary action, as appropriate, will be taken if required based on the assessment of the current operations against the terrorists who infiltrated from across the Line of Control.

"We conducted search operations in the sector and recovered war-like stores of arms and ammunitions," Officiating Brigadier General Staff (BGS) Col Sanjay Mitra told reporters in Srinagar. He said the recoveries include seven AK-47 rifles, four pistols, one sniper rifle, 20 UBGL grenades, two radio-sets and other war-like stores. Some medicines and food items were also recovered, he said. Army had yesterday recovered three AK rifles, 10 pistols, five radio-sets and other items after the search operations in the sector, Col Mitra said. He did not take any questions.

In New Delhi, Government said maintenance of sanctity of LoC was of 'primary importance' and asserted that after assessment, if required, it will take the matter further in the operations against the terrorists.

"We have repeatedly emphasised that the maintenance of sanctity of Line of Control is of primary importance. Even at the last meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, this issue was re- emphasised. "As regard to the current situation, our armed forces who are responsible of sanctity undertaking currently appropriate necessary measures....Based on the outcome of those efforts, we will take the further necessary action, as appropriate," the Spokesperson in the External Affairs Ministry said He also said if at the outcome of the efforts by the Army, there was a requirement for India "to take this further ahead, we will do so" after making an assessment.

Asked when will the Directors General of Military Operations of India and Pakistan will meet to ease border tensions in the Kashmir region, as was agreed in the meeting between Singh and Sharif, he said the DGMOs talk every Tuesday and the meeting will depend on their telephonic conversation.

The Army launched a massive anti-infiltration operation in Shalbhatti village in Keran Sector on September 24 after noticing a group of 30 to 40 militants trying to sneak into the Valley.

Seven militants killed in Kashmir operation: Army chief