New Delhi, Jan 13: Indian Army on Tuesday dismissed
reports of Pakistan's military build-up along the borders,
saying presence of the neighbouring country's troops seemed
like routine exercises, but asserted it is always ready to
tackle any eventuality.
It also claimed that the infiltration from across the
border with Pakistan had gone down every year since 2005.
"It only seems like routine movements and exercise-
related relocation of troops by Pakistan and not a build-up.
But we are always ready for any situation," Army's Western
Commander Lt-Gen T K Sapru told reporters here after an
investiture parade.
Sapru said infiltration from across the border had gone
down since 2005-06 when he was a Corps Commander in Jammu
and Kashmir. Sapru had, before becoming an Army Commander,
headed the Nagrota-based 16 Corps posted near Jammu.
"Infiltration has in the last two or three years come
down considerably. Perhaps, after 2005-06, it has come down
from 400 to 20/30 in a year," he said.
Earlier, Sapru presented gallantry medals, decorations
and service medals to about 50 Army officers at the
investiture ceremony after reviewing the parade in which the
army exhibited its might with T-90 tanks, BrahMos cruise
missiles, OSA-AK air defence guns and a march past by
Special Forces and troops.
Meanwhile, in Jammu and Kashmir three people were arrested from Doda. They allegedly provided sim cards for militants usage.
Bureau Report
First Published: Tuesday, January 13, 2009, 00:00