Thaindian News

Srinagar, Sep 4 (IANS) Worried over the spurt in militant incursions from across the border with Pakistan, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah discussed the matter with his military advisor Friday.
Official sources said that Abdullah met General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 15th Corps Lt. Gen. Bikram Singh, who is the chief minister’s top advisor on security matters in the terror-infested state.

The chief minister and Singh discussed the security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir in the aftermath of recent violations by Pakistan of the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) to enable terrorists to sneak into India, an official said.

During their half-an-hour meeting, Singh briefed Abdullah about the situation in the state and the rise in infiltration attempts from across the border.

The Indian Army has alleged that the ceasefire violations by Pakistani troopers were “diversionary tactics” to push terrorists into India.

The first casualty during a ceasefire breach this year at the LoC took place Sep 1 when an Indian soldier was killed in Poonch district in Pakistani firing.

India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire on LoC in November 2003. Defence Minister A.K. Antony recently disclosed in parliament that 110 incidents of ceasefire violations had taken place along the LoC since 2006.

“Ceasefire violations have increased because this enables infiltration to be carried out when the firing is on and (it) can also be used as a diversionary tactic,” Indian Army Chief Gen. Deepak Kapoor had told reporters in Delhi.

“Their (Pakistani army’s) attempt is to infiltrate more and more people during the ceasefire violation. But we understand their tactics and take appropriate steps,” he said.

On Wednesday, five guerrillas attempting to cross over from Pakistan were killed by Indian soldiers in the Gurez sector along the LoC.