Security forces are bracing for action along the Line of Control (LoC) and fear rise in Pakistan-sponsored terror attacks in any part of the country in the aftermath of abrogation of Article 370. However, in view of the hardship faced by the common man the network connectivity is likely to be restored in next 48 hours or so within Jammu & Kashmir.
The strong security cover provided by more than 45,000 paramilitary personnel, local police, and stand-by Army have ensured that no incident of stone pelting or violence was reported from the State especially in Kashmir. But chances of protests erupting in some pockets in the coming days have not been ruled out. Sources also apprehended that terror strike could take place in any part of the country and attempts will made to radicalise Muslim youths in the coming days.
Sharing this assessment here on Tuesday, sources in the security establishment said on a scale of one to hundred they feared that protest could scale up to 90-mark in some areas.
As regards the situation on the 750-km long LoC in the backdrop of the Article 370 abrogation, sources said the corps commanders of the Pakistan Army discussed the issue on Tuesday. Faced with domestic pressure, the Pakistan Army is likely to go in for “visible action” on the border in terms of ceasefire violations on the one hand and stoking terrorist violence in Jammu & Kashmir on the other. The possibility of such incidents taking place in other parts of the country is not ruled out, they said.
Chairing the Corps Commanders meet, Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa said his troops are prepared to “go to any extent” to help Kashmiris. The meeting had single point agenda of Kashmir.
“Pakistan Army firmly stands by the Kashmiris in their just struggle to the very end. We are prepared and shall go to any extent to fulfill our obligations...,” Bajwa told the Army commanders.
The forum fully supported the Pakistan Government’s “rejection of Indian actions” regarding Kashmir.
On Monday, Pakistan had condemned and rejected the Indian Government revoking Article 370 of the Constitution and vowed to exercise “all possible options” to counter India’s “illegal” and “unilateral” step.
Reacting sharply to the Indian Government’s announcement, Prime Minister Imran Khan termed the move to revoke Article 370 as “illegal” and said it will “further deteriorate” relations between the nuclear-capable neighbours.
Explaining the rationale for the all powerful Pakistan Army to resort to such strategy of turning the heat on the LOC, officials said here domestic compulsions will force it not to ‘keep quiet’ and the LOC may see relentless cease fire violations within the next few days. Moreover, if the Pakistan Army does not do anything to stoke trouble in India, it may lose the support of the Pakistan based terrorist groups including the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Tayyaba (LeT). These two groups are active in Jammu & Kashmir. Also, the ISI and Pakistan Army were already using social media to spread misinformation and the Indian security agencies were taking counter measures, they said.
Meanwhile, in the backdrop of the prevailing situation in Jammu & Kashmir, Northern Army Commander Lt General Ranbir Singh chaired a meeting of the Core Group of intelligence and security agencies in Srinagar on Tuesday to review the operational readiness. “Necessary security arrangements have been put in place for ensuring peace and security,” Lt Gen Singh said.
Giving details of security arrangements in the hinterland, the Army said counter terrorism and law and order grids had been strengthened. “The security forces are suitably deployed to guard important vulnerable points/areas, prepared for crowd control, emerging law and order situations, as also to conduct effective counter terrorist operations. Overall, the security forces are firmly in control of the security situation,” the Army said in a statement.