Jammu, May 8
Despite Home secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan this month, there is no major shift in Pakistan’s strategy when it comes to ceasefire violations and infiltration bids in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly south of Pir Panjal ranges.

Army describes such misadventures as desperate attempts on the part of Pakistan to boost sagging morale of remaining ultras in the state.

Last year there were 56 ceasefire violations by Pakistan in entire Jammu and Kashmir.

“South of Pir Panjal ranges, which has 272-km of Line of Control (LoC), there were 39 ceasefire violations in 2011 and from January 1 to April 30, 2011 there were 11 such violations,” said Army sources.

“Similarly, from January 1 to April 30 this year there have been eight ceasefire violations and if we include one more violation that happened in Nangi Tekri area in Poonch on May 5, then the number goes up to nine.

“Though the marginal decline does not show any trend but Pakistan’s intentions are still the same-- to somehow keep the pot boiling in Jammu and Kashmir”, they added.

The sources maintained that there was no big shift in Pakistan’s strategy vis-à-vis Jammu and Kashmir.

Similarly, there were 12 infiltration bids on the LoC south of Pir Panjal ranges last year.

There have been six infiltration attempts south of Pir Panjal ranges this year so far. The number stood at seven during the corresponding period last year, the sources said.

“There is no change on the ground vis-à-vis ceasefire violations and infiltration bids. To put it more accurately, Pakistan is still up to its task,” they said.

In most of the cases of ceasefire violations, Pakistan tries to aid infiltration but on some occasions such violations were not related to attempted intrusions, said a senior Army officer.

There are areas along the LoC, which can be used for attempting intrusions but ceasefire violations in the areas where they (Pak) don’t have any scope to try and push militants to this side are done with a purpose of diverting attention of Indian troops. Besides, these are intended to express solidarity with the militants as well, he added.

Pakistani troops resort to such ceasefire violations to boost sagging morale of the remaining ultras on this side of the LoC, which, in real sense, is just a deceiving tactic, he said.