Infiltration a Pak ploy to draw Obama’s attention

Pakistani army is desperately trying to “escalate tension” on borders in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) ahead of US president Barack Obama’s India visit early next month.

Sources said Indian army was expecting an increase in border ceasefire violations and infiltration bids from across the border in the run-up to Obama’s trip.

Citing Sunday’s ceasefire violation in Poonch, which left a jawan killed, an army officer said, “They [Pakistani army] are deliberately trying to create a situation to escalate border tension before the high-profile visit. They want to draw his [Obama’s] attention to Kashmir and project that the situation on the borders is grim.”

India and Pakistan declared ceasefire on all three borders in J&K in 2003. But there have been 110 violations by Pakistan on the line of control and the international border between 2006 and June 2009. There were three incidents in 2006, 21 in 2007, 77 in 2008 and nine in 2009.

Sources said Pakistani army was trying to step up militant activities both in the hinterland and on the borders as part of a two-pronged strategy.

“They have kept militants ready at launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to infiltrate. We have inputs that 80 ultras are ready to sneak in to foment trouble in J&K on the eve of Obama’s visit. Secondly, they want to fire up militants in the Valley to up the ante in a bid to prove that the situation in Kashmir is bad,” they said.

The many failed infiltration bids have not deterred Pakistani army. According to official data, 367 of the 473 bids made in 2009 were foiled by Indian security forces. While 93 terrorists were intercepted and neutralised, 227 retreated. Hundred and ten, however, managed to sneak in.

“The 110 terrorists, 70% of whom are foreigners, are a threat not only to J&K but also to the rest of the country,” an army officer said.