Tunnel from Pak was dug to push in terrorists: BSF

Describing the detection of a 30-metre long tunnel from Pakistan to the Indian side as a major success, the Border Security Force said on Friday that it was dug with an aim of pushing in armed terrorists into the Jammu region.

"We were carrying out our regular monthly clearing operations when we found a well-constructed tunnel," Rakesh Sharma, inspector general of the BSF, Jammu Frontier, said, noting that it was being dug with a JCB machine.

"It was aimed at pushing in terrorists into the Jammu region," he told reporters.

Terming the detection a major success, the IG said if not detected in time, Pakistan would have succeeded in pushing in 'fidayeen' and other terrorists inside the Indian territory.

"Pakistan was objecting to our efforts to clear grass as it was anticipating that the BSF would be able to detect the tunnel. We resisted Pakistan's attempts and went ahead with the clearance operation during which the tunnel was found," Sharma said.

The tunnel is approximately 10 feet below the ground and has a length of 30 metres from their end to this side, he said.

"But it was blocked on our side. It was a dead end. It had no exit as they could not complete it further. It came close to the border fencing," the IG said.

"One person can sit and easily move inside the tunnel which has come up in the vicinity of Allah Mai Di Kothi border outpost of ours from the Pakistani post of Afzal," he said, adding that a probe was on.

This is the fourth tunnel unearthed by the BSF in the region since 2012.