Heavy firing by Pak. troops

By Shujaat Bukhari

PALLANWALA (LoC), OCT. 18. As Pakistani troops resorted to heavy firing in the Chicken Neck area of the Akhnoor sector on Wednesday, tension along the Line of Control is mounting.

A Defence spokesman confirmed that the Pakistani troops resorted to heavy firing on Wednesday night. ``They used heavy calibre weapons and automatic grenade-launchers were indiscriminately fired in an open area where a large number of people are dwelling.'' The grenade-launchers, in fact, were being used for the first time by Pakistan. This had created panic and people in the vicinity were rushing towards safer areas. ``Necessary retaliation is being taken up,'' the spokesman added.

Unlike as in Kathua, the situation here is highly tense and there has been a visible movement of additional troops. The ``build- up'' had started soon after the U.S. bombing in Afghanistan. India's action on Monday (of shelling Pakistani army posts across the LoC in Mendhar and Akhnoor sectors) may indicate a major offensive against the militants. The `` ruthless action,'' could start from here, a senior official told The Hindu.

The movement in these areas, including the Rajouri-Poonch sector, has not been confined to infantry troops which have been moved in larger numbers. The artillery and tank units are on their way to the forward areas. The troops are conducting new exercises and the main thrust is on plugging the infiltration routes. Sources here said the Army headquarters had cleared the ``build-up.''

Pakistan, in the last few years, had set up special launching centres code-named Border Action Teams. Over 30 such camps are active along the LoC from Poonch to Kathua. The Army is now concentrating on new plans to prevent infiltration in these areas as the passes in the Kashmir Valley will be closed due to snow. The areas just close to the LoC are being cleared of the large bushes, known as Sarkanda, which can cover many at a time. A few belts are also being mined to foil militant attempts.

The nature of the Army offensive is not yet clear; but frustrating Pakistani attempts to facilitate infiltration will form the basis of any operation. Analysts believe that this may be the beginning of a hot pursuit to strike at training camps, something the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, has been demanding.

The Pallanwalla area of Akhnoor has been the worst-hit in the recent years as Pakistan continuously shelled civilian areas and many migrated to Jammu. ``Apprehensions of war loom large and there is no hope,'' Ram Lal, a resident, said. If the Army launches a major offensive, the situation in the border areas will be alarming with no chance for thousands of migrants to go back.

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