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There is considerable concern in New Delhi and amongst troops along the Line of Control over the Pakistan Army's aggressive posturing, especially its firing from Point 5353 in the Drass sector, and a recent Chinese incursion in the Ladakh sector.
According to authoritative sources in the army and government, for more than two months now Pakistani troops occupying the controversial Point 5353 have been targeting Indian positions in the vicinity, causing five casualties.
Ever since Point 5353 hit the headlines during the Kargil conflict in 1999, the post has been with the Pakistanis. Field commanders have been seeking permission from Army Headquarters to "clear" it, but it may not come since the government has officially said that the tactical post is bang on the LoC.
The army's top commanders have, however, been keenly debating the Pakistani presence at Point 5353. The army chief, General S Padmanabhan, visited Drass last weekend to understand the situation first-hand. He was briefed about the Pakistani firing and the military options available.
Point 5353 is the second major headache for the troops facing Pakistan. In the last week of July, they carried out operations to evict Pakistanis from a post in the Machchal-Gurez sector that was till then unoccupied. Indian Air Force fighters were also used in the operation. The army lost 11 men in the operation, the sources said.
It is not just along the LoC that the Indian Army has been faced with aggressive posturing, but also along the Line of Actual Control with China. The Leh-based 14 Corps reported a "minor" incursion by Chinese troops in Thakung area of eastern Ladakh a couple of weeks ago. This, of course, is not unusual. In 2000, over 100 such "minor" incursions by Chinese troops were reported in the sector and about 120 in 1999.
Gen Padmanabhan has asked his troops to step up patrolling. In a detailed communication to the field formations, he has advised aggressive patrolling, more long-range patrols, and increased aerial reconnaissance by helicopter and unmanned aerial vehicles.
Defence Minister George Fernandes and General Padmanabhan were briefed by 14 Corps about the recent developments and the successful operation to evict Pakistani troops in the Machchal-Gurez sector. The operation succeeded after at least one failed attempt. The standoff had caused a security alert and the Cabinet Committee on Security had even held an emergency meeting in the last week of July.
The Americans have already been briefed about 'Kargil II', as the Machchal-Gurez incident is now called, and Pakistan's aggressive military actions along the LoC, the sources told rediff.com
The defence ministry has so far not commented officially on the Machchal-Gurez incident. But on Tuesday, it issued a statement saying Point 5353 is "on the Line of Control as delineated after the Shimla Agreement".
The statement said the army's posturing "along the Line of Control in the Drass sector is militarily sound and well under control".
An officer pointed out that Point 5353 is some 14km from the tactical National Highway 1A, and Pakistan would not be able to disrupt movement on it. "As far as firing on our posts is concerned," he said, "it is nothing unusual. There is constant firing along the entire Line of Control."
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