New Delhi, October 7
Determined to dislodge a band of armed intruders in J&K’s Keran sector — prolonged operations against which entered the 14th day — India on Monday rejected Pakistan’s denial issued by its High Commissioner Salman Bashir yesterday that any such intrusion had taken place from across the border.

New Delhi has made it clear that its armed forces are determined to maintain the sanctity of the Line of Control in the face of one of the biggest intrusions in recent years.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Syed Akbaruddin said New Delhi had repeatedly emphasised that maintaining the LoC sanctity was of primary importance. “Our armed forces are currently undertaking appropriate and necessary measures...we have full confidence in their abilities to address challenges posed to them. We will await the outcome of their efforts,” he said. New Delhi is upset with Bashir’s statement made in Hyderabad, describing as “baseless” incursions into India from the Pakistani territory.

New Delhi’s sharp response came on a day when security forces busted a militant hideout on the outskirts of Baramulla district in J&K and recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition. Also on Monday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met the Chiefs of the three Services at his residence and is believed to have discussed, among others issues, the operation to flush out militants in the Keran sector. Sources though described the meeting as a routine.

Asked when the Director Generals Military Operations (DGMOs) from the two sides would meet to resolve the issue, the MEA spokesman pointed out that the two officials usually talk to each other on the phone on Tuesdays. “The issue of when they will meet depends on their talks,” he said.

The spokesman referred to talks between the Prime Ministers of the countries recently on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly over ways to reduce tension along the LoC.

New Delhi has repeatedly emphasised that maintaining the LoC sanctity was of primary importance. This was re-emphasised when the two PMs had met.

Srinagar, October 7
Nearly 100 militants are believed to be fighting the Indian Army in north Kashmir’s Keran sector where they have made fresh advances after two weeks of fierce gunfights. Top sources say this has added a dangerous dynamics to the fighting, which is one of the longest battle in the region since the 1999 Kargil war. “The only option now is to use Air and ground force together to gain the lost ground,” said a top source.

Earlier it was believed that there were 30-40 militants. The sources now maintain that nearly 100 militants backed by Pakistani special forces are believed to fighting the Army inside Indian territory at multiple points in the five-km stretch along the Line of Control in the sector. Sources said the fierce gunfight is taking place at four to five points where the militants are giving stiff resistance to the Army.

“The gunfight which was confined between the fence and the LoC is now taking place well within our territory. The way they are fighting shows that the supply line of militants is intact and they are backed by the Pakistani special forces,” he added.