The Indian armed forces are on full alert in the wake of the surgical strikes and likely retaliation by Pakistan. While the Army commanders are reviewing the operational readiness to deal with any situation, the Indian Air Force (IAF) heightened the vigil at all its airbases in the Western sector to repel any Pathankot-type attack. The IAF also deployed satellites to secure Indian airspace.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to review operational preparedness of the armed forces at the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on Friday.
The Border Security Force (BSF) manning the International Border in Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, Rajasthan and Gujarat, too intensified vigil in the western region. leaves granted to all paramilitary personnel deployed in these regions have been cancelled till further orders.
Officials said the BSF headquarters has issued orders to all its units along the International Border to bolster their numbers at the posts by bringing in all personnel who are in the reserve.
In order to ensure civilian safety, members of the public will not be allowed to witness the Attari-Wagah retreat ceremony from the stands right next to the designated border pillar in Punjab.
The BSF has also restricted all civilian movement along borders with Pakistan.
The Centre also asked the BSF to provide manpower to local administration for helping in evacuating people from border villages to safer locations. Officials said border units were ordered to undertake special patrols and conduct ambushes.
Not leaving anything to chance, the Army has strengthened its troop positions all along the 750-km long line of Control (loC) and Director General Military Operations (DGMO) lt General Ranbir Singh said here on Thursday “the Indian armed forces are fully prepared for any contingency that may arise.” He made this observation while giving a statement about the surgical strikes conducted by the Army across the loC.
While counter-insurgency and counter-infiltration grids in Jammu & Kashmir were being reviewed, sources did not rule out deploying more troops for anti-terrorist operations and guarding the loC. Patrolling along the loC was also intensified in a three-tier pattern to prevent terrorists from infiltrating and the possibility of an attack by the Pakistan Army, they said. Artillery positions were also relocated along the loC in case Pakistan opens up with artillery barrage and commanders were instructed to give befitting reply, they said. Ammunition supply line besides unhindered fuel support for fighting formations was also moved forward in sensitive border States.
All the airbases in the western sector facing Pakistan were also in a state of operational readiness to thwart any design to invade Indian airspace. The IAF’s Western Command was already engaged in a major air exercise across all its 18 bases stretching from Srinagar to Bikaner. The exercise named ‘Talon’ was aimed to improve operational preparedness and air defence in the entire region, they said.
This exercise came in the background of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) carrying out sorties in POK and neighbouring areas, including landing at highways after the Uri attack. The IAF also deployed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to maintain vigil on all its bases in the western sector, sources said, adding the Army was reviewing its drills along with the IAF to secure ground and air assets.
Meanwhile, alert was sounded by State Governments of Punjab and Gujarat in the wake of surgical strikes. Many villages in the border areas of Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir were also evacuated to avoid casualties in case of ceasefire violations by Pakistan in the coming days. Coastal policing was also increased in Gujarat which shares land and maritime boundary. The BSF was also on alert there, sources said.