The Army and paramilitary forces are bracing for counter attacks by Pakistan following the cross-border raid across the line of Control (loC) by India earlier this week to avenge the killings of Indian jawans. Officials here apprehend that under public pressure, the Pakistan Army will try to take revenge measures by stepping up ceasefire violations and directing “fidayeen” attacks on the Indian Army and Border Security Force (BSF) posts.
While local commanders in Jammu & Kashmir have taken adequate precautions after a team of the Indian Army carried out raid at a Pakistan post in Rawlakot in Poonch on Monday evening killing three enemy soldiers, officials admitted here on Wednesday that the next one month will test their preparedness to meet this threat.
Important events like New Year, Army Day on January 15, and Republic Day take place in this period. It’s feared that the Pakistan Army might try to make a point by trying to carry out audacious attacks on high-value targets.
Explaining the reasons for heightened alert, officials said, “Pakistan Army is the most powerful institution in its country and will not take lying down this raid by India. In order to prove its mettle to the masses there, the Pakistan Army will make all efforts to increase levels of violence on the loC and Kashmir hinterland.”
While ceasefire violations are continuing in Poonch and Rajouri sectors for the last two days since the Indian action, officials said the that loC is expected to become “hot” again.
A team of five to six Ghatak commandos of the Indian Army sneaked into Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) in Rawlakot, Poonch and targeted a temporary post of Pakistan Army on Monday evening. This cross-border raid about 300 metres inside POK came days after four Indian Army personnel including one officer and three soldiers of Sikh Regiment were killed in an ambush by a Border Action Team (BAT) of Pakistan comprising commandos and militants. The BAT team came in at least 400 metres for the ambush in Keri sector of Rajouri.
The officials said that the jawans located beyond the anti-infiltration fence on the loC are directed to maintain a low profile and not to expose themselves to enemy fire.
In the hinterland, movement of troops and convoys are now restricted. In case of exigency such movements must be undertaken under cover. Elaborating upon this aspect, officials said the objective of minimal movement is to avoid presenting “bigger and frequent targets” to fidayeens to attack.
The perimeter security of Army and paramilitary camps has been enhanced and patrols instructed to carry out area domination drills around the camps to deter militants from free movement. Similarly, the Army installations along the Jammu-Pathankot highway are on full alert as in the past terrorists have sneaked into from across the border to attack the camps. Also, the roads along the border connecting the strategically important highway are now getting special attention as local police stations on these roads were also targeted by militants in the past.