Thaindian News

Srinagar, Dec 19 (IANS) At least 100 guerrillas were waiting to infiltrate into the Kashmir Valley from across the Line of Control (LoC), the army Monday said quoting information gleaned by intelligence agencies.

A statement issued by the public relations office of the army here said: “Elimination of a large number of guerrillas in the hinterland this year has created a vacuum in the terrorist leadership and their effectiveness. Therefore, there is pressure on the terrorists in the training camps/launch pads in PoK to infiltrate.

“This has been corroborated by intelligence inputs of various intelligence agencies which have indicated presence of an additional 100 militants across the LoC poised for infiltration.

“Traditionally, infiltration decreases with the onset of snow, but due to late winter, terrorists, as in the past, will make desperate attempts to infiltrate in the coming few months.”

The statement also said that attempts were being made by vested interests to upset the synergy between various security forces conducting counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir.

“There appears to be an attempt by inimical elements, probably from across the LoC, to drive a wedge between the army, other security forces and the state government with a view to breaking the excellent synergy which has been generated throughout 2011.”

The statement also asserted that the army was capable of working within the parameters of difference of opinion as per democratic norms.

Clearing the air about the stand of the army over the revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), the statement said: “It is, therefore, incorrect to surmise that infiltration has taken place or is related to issue of revocation of AFSPA.”

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has been pushing for revocation of AFSPA from the four districts of Srinagar, Badgam, Samba and Jammu while the army continues to believe such a step would hamper their operational efficacy against the guerrillas.