Pak. begins troop withdrawal

By Atul Aneja

NEW DELHI, DEC. 21. Within hours of the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee's announcement extending the ceasefire in Kashmir by a month, Pakistan has ordered some withdrawal of its troops along the Line of Control.

While orders were issued, the exact quantum of the pullout was yet to be discerned, highly-placed sources in the Government said. India, the sources said, was maintaining an active surveillance to monitor the expected pullout.

Observers here are specifically observing the movement of additional Pakistani forces deployed in the area after the Kargil conflict. Two brigades - 22 brigade belonging of the seventh division and 111 (I) Infantry brigade - had been sent to the high altitude areas under the Force Commander Northern Areas (FCNA). Critical to Pakistani defences, the FCNA looks after a region extending from an area north of Punch to the Siachen glacier. The pullout of the two brigades, highly trained and belonging to Pakistan's national reserves, is expected to further ease tensions along the LoC.

Sources, however, said Pakistan had decided to thin out FCNA forces in November on account of a reduction of the ``threat perception'' from India. It is possible this pre-decided pullout may now be timed with the Prime Minister's statement in Parliament so that suitable ``political mileage'' could be drawn.

The Indian security establishment is also keenly observing whether Pakistan will reduce forces from the sensitive Sunderbani-Punch alignment, north of Jammu. Pakistan had earlier beefed up its forces under the Rawalpindi-based 10 corps to promote larger induction of militants into the Kashmir Valley. Not surprisingly, two brigades of the Pakistan Army's 19 division had been sent to beef up forces in the area. A pullout of forces in this area, can therefore signal Pakistan's intent to reduce infiltration from this area.

Analysts say any Pakistani move to rein in infiltrations will be well received in India. Stressing the issue of infiltrations, the Prime Minister declared in Parliament on Wednesday that cross- border movement of militants must cease ``entirely.''

Meanwhile, responding to queries today, the Government neither confirmed nor denied reports that Pakistan had already removed some of its forces along the LoC. The Defence Minister, Mr. George Fernandes, expressed scepticism about the Pakistani claim saying the Government would have to ``verify'' Islamabad's assertion before making any comment. ``We have to understand the meaning of these claims. How can troops be withdrawn overnight from high in the mountainous terrain that marks the LoC?''

Asked about the reported Pakistani withdrawal, the Foreign Office spokesman said the Ministry of Defence was assessing the ground situation. ``We can comment on this only after a complete evaluation of Pakistan's claim.''

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