Jodhpur, December 26
The additional director general of Border Security Force, UK Bansal, has said the motive behind the Pakistani forces’ heavy build-up along the border with India in Rajasthan apparently seemed to be that for defending themselves, and not for launching an attack (on India).
Speaking to The Tribune today at the end of his three-day visit to the border areas here, Bansal categorised the heightened activity as “defence operational alert” procedure adopted by Pakistan. “These are defence moves and part of strategy adopted by any nation that thinks it can be attacked. However, we are keeping a 24-hour vigil to tackle
any eventuality.”
Already, the Indian forces were maintaining round-the-clock air surveillance in the area.
The BSF officer said their survey coupled with intelligence reports revealed that Pakistan was strengthening its borders to deal with any attack by India. “The build-up only suggests defensive strategy.”
Meanwhile, an army spokesman said it was usual for Pakistan to conduct war exercises along the border in this season "but the unusual development was that the regiments that came for practice had not returned".
Also, reports appearing in several Hindi dailies in Jodhpur and Barmer had quoted various sources claiming Pakistan’s strong build-up along the border, with some of them even pointing out the regiment names and location. But, neither army nor BSF officials confirmed
those reports.
