Pak trying to push over 100 militants on LoC, Army alerted on BAT attacks

LoC breached for third consecutive day, shelling in Poonch

"15 JeM ultras on launching pads in Leepa Valley in PoK"


JAMMU: Pakistani troops violated ceasefire for the third consecutive day on Thursday and resorted to firing mortars and small arms on forward posts and villages along the Line of Control in Rajouri district, even as defence sources believe that the enemy nation is planning to push into Indian territory around 15 Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militants waiting at the terror launch-pads along the Line of Control on the Pakistani side, besides 100 hardcore terrorists from Afghanistan to carry out attacks as part of its "larger design" to create unrest in the Valley.

The spurt in ceasefire violations along the LoC over the past few weeks is seen as Pakistan's efforts to sneak in militants into Jammu and Kashmir, even as an alert regarding a possible BAT attack on LoC has been issued to security forces.

“On Thursday, Pakistan initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing of small arms and shelling with mortars in the Sunderbani sector of Rajouri district at about 2045 hours," a defence spokesman said, adding that the Indian Army is retaliating befittingly and the exchange of fire between the two sides was continuing when last reports were received.

On Wednesday, Pakistan troops fired mortars and small arms on villages and forward posts along LoC in the Sunderbani sector while a civilian and an Army soldier were killed and four others injured on Tuesday in Pakistani shelling in Mendhar sector and Krishna Ghati sectors while another soldier was killed on August 17 in Nowshera sector.

Indian Army has also inflicted heavy casualties on the Pakistani army in the retaliatory action over the past four days of border skirmishes. On August 15, Pakistan said its four personnel were killed in Indian firing along the LoC.

The Indian Army is seeing these border skirmishes as Pakistan’s efforts to sneak in terrorists into India, which was also confirmed by intelligence reports on Thursday.

Pakistan-backed Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militants are planning terrorist strikes in India after entering the country through Kashmir, the Indian Army said today.

Intelligence reports have further alerted that Pakistan plans to carry out BAT action against India at the LoC. Besides, reports also suggest about a 10-day refresher course-cum-recruitment camp for militants in Manshera area of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in the recent past.

Army and paramilitary forces have been asked to remain on alert for the possible attacks.

Pakistan is planning to push 100 hardcore terrorists from Afghanistan into Kashmir to carry out attacks as part of its "larger design" to create unrest in the Valley.

“In addition, around 15 Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists are already waiting at the terror launch-pads in Lipa valley along the Line of Control on the Pakistani side to infiltrate in Kashmir,” officials said, citing reports by intelligence agencies.

According to intelligence inputs, Pakistan-based terror groups may target vital installations in Jammu and Kashmir as well as several key Indian cities in the next few weeks.

Pakistan's plan is to trigger series of terror attacks in Kashmir to project to the international community that situation in the Valley is fast deteriorating following India's decision to withdraw special status to Jammu and Kashmir, and bifurcate the state into two union territories, they said.

"We have credible intelligence that Pakistan is bringing over 100 hardcore terrorists from Afghanistan and they will be pushed into Kashmir in the next few weeks," said a military source.

Mufti Rauf Asghar, brother of JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar, held meetings with top commanders of the terror outfit at its Bahawalpur headquarters on August 19 and 20 with a primary agenda of pushing hardcore terrorists into Kashmir, sources claimed.

Officials, citing intelligence reports, said that around 15 Afghan militants belonging to the JeM are active in the Leepa Valley in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The Leepa Valley was earlier a part of Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir and is located opposite the Uri and Tangdhar sectors.

"These militants are supported by the Pakistan Army for terrorist attacks against India," said a senior Army officer, adding: "The attacks have been planned through Border Action Team."

The BAT comprises Pakistani Army commandos as well as terrorists and carries out cross-border operations and raids across the Line of Control (LoC) in order to ensure domination along the stretch. BAT personnel are trained by Pakistani Army and the Air Force.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has been making provocative statements targeting India following its decisions on Kashmir, and even suggested recently that a Pulwama-like terror attack may take place again.

According to Pakistan's assessment, the local terrorists in Kashmir are not properly trained, have low shelf-life and there was a leadership crisis among them in the Valley because of vigorous anti-terror operations, the sources said.

"That is why Pakistan is bringing battle-hardened terrorists from Afghanistan", they added.

Sources claimed Pakistan has set up Kashmir desks at all its foreign missions to carry out anti-India propaganda in the wake of India's decisions on J&K.