M A I N   N E W S

India denies troop movement along LoC
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 17
India today refuted Pakistan’s claims that New Delhi was preparing for military action and mobilising troops near the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir.

Rejecting Pakistan’s claim that India was amassing troops in Dras-Kargil sector, a Defence Ministry spokesman said, “It is a normal pattern of changeover of units deployed on the border.”

Pakistan’s official news agency, Associated Press of Pakistan, quoting intelligence sources had reported last night that India was preparing for military action in the Dras-Kargil sector. There was an increased movement of troops and other related activity, especially in the Dras area and restrictions were being imposed on movement of civilians, it said.

Describing the report as “completely baseless,” he said the Leh-Srinagar highway was open to civilian traffic and was witnessing movement of large number of tourists, including foreign nationals.

He denied that any restrictions had been imposed on movement of civilians.

Last week, Defence Minister George Fernandes had denied in Parliament that Pakistani forces were in occupation of an Indian peak in northern Dras.