M A I N   N E W S

Pak plans new infiltration routes
Deploys ISI detachments at LoC
M.L. Kak
Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 23
As the tenth biggest arms purchaser among the developing nations in the world, Pakistan has deployed ISI detachments on the LoC and on the International Border (IB) for carving out new and safe infiltration routes for militants and arms smugglers.

Reports from across the border say that the ISI detachments have been directed to ensure smuggling of heavy weapons and high grade explosives into Jammu and Kashmir so as to equip the rebels to launch operations on a massive scale against the Indian security forces in the state.

The reports say that Pakistan had purchased arms worth over $ 4.4 billion between 1992 and 1999. India does not figure in the first 10 arms purchasers among the developing nations despite New Delhi’s hike in the Defence Budget. Saudi Arabia tops the list, having spent over $ 66.1 billion for the purchase of weapons of different grades. Other developing nations that figure in the list are Taiwan ($ 20.6 billion), Egypt ($ 9.7 billion), South Korea ($ 8.7 billion), UAE ($ 7.8 billion), Kuwait ($ 7.6 billion), China ($ 5.9 billion), Iran ($ 4.7 billion) and Israel ($ 7.2 billion).

The F-16 deal Pakistan has had with the US Government was a separate item and a major portion of the arms, which Islamabad had purchased since 1992, has found its way to Jammu and Kashmir for launching the anti-India armed campaign.

Since Islamabad is keen to increase the man and machine power against India within Jammu and Kashmir, it has brought large groups of militants, trained in guerrilla warfare, close to the LoC and the IB. In recent weeks, around 300 militants, most of them foreign mercenaries, have infiltrated into Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan has been upset by India’s plan of fencing the 187-km IB in the Jammu sector and, therefore, the Pak Rangers and militants have started damaging pillars built for raising an 8-foot barbed wire fence to check infiltration and smuggling of weapons and narcotics.

During the past one week, more than 35 pillars on this side of the IB have been damaged in IED and RDX blasts. Besides this, Pak militants have resorted to heavy firing and shelling in the Akhnoor and Ramgarh sectors and in some villages close to Jammu city to force the BSF to suspend fencing as had been done in 1995. But the BSF has been directed to retaliate and ensure that the fencing project was not affected.

As militants find it difficult to cross into Jammu and Kashmir, agencies across the border have disallowed rebels who have been operating in the state for the past two years and are keen to return to Pakistan for a change, to cross back. These militants have been asked to stay put till new groups infiltrated.

These militants have also been sending messages to their mentors across the border that they have exhausted the money, ammunition and explosives. They have been assured that fresh supply of arms and ammunition would be smuggled into the state shortly and funds were to be delivered to them through unidentified agencies.