Indopak border to soon have ‘smart fence’, trial from April
TIGHTENING VIGIL Two pilot projects are already on and the 198 km Jammu border will be eventually covered with comprehensive integrated border management system, says BSF DG
JAMMU: India is all set to have a technology-aided smart fence equipped with many sensors all along the 198 km long international border with a hostile Pakistan, which keeps pushing armed militants into Jammu and Kashmir with the aim of carrying out terror attacks.
The trials of the first two pilot projects are all set to start from April this year.
The director general (DG) of the Border Security Force (BSF) KK Sharma said that the phasewise work was in full swing to raise the smart fence along the international border in Jammu region.
Responding to HT queries here on Friday, he said that he had come to Jammu for the purpose of reviewing comprehensive integrated border management system (CIBMS). Smart fence falls within CIBMS.
“Two pilot projects are on in Jammu and they are an important reason for me to visit Jammu and see their progress”, he said.
He further said, “Two pilot projects of 5.3 km and 5.5 km stretch are nearing completion and I am very hopeful that by the end of April, both these patches will be completed. Thereafter, we will be inaugurating them officially.”
In the second phase, it would be covering the entire international border of the Jammu frontier.
He informed that the entire 198 km long border from Paharpur in Kathua district to the chickenneck area of Akhnoor will be eventually covered with CIBMS including the smart fence.
“Eventually, yes, but I can’t give a timeline for that. However, once this pilot project succeeds then a rollout plan is already in place and we will cover the entire border in Jammu sector,” he said.
It may be stated here that entire international border has always remained vulnerable to infiltration attempts and Pakistani terrorists from time to time have staged terror attacks on the Jammu-pathankot national highway.
ON SUNDERBANI OPERATION ALONG LOC
“If there had been infiltration by the four slain ultras north of Chenab (from where LOC starts), only the army can be asked about it,” the DG said.
He, however, added that it was the BSF which had the specific intel input about their presence, which led to a successful clinical operation resulting in the elimination of four terrorists.
To a poser he said that information with him revealed that the four were LET terrorists.
“But splinter groups could be there, I can’t rule out the possibility. So, the highest level of alert is still on,” he said.
Sharma said that it appeared that the Lashkar terrorists, who had sneaked in a week back in Sunderbani, had something wrong in their planning.
“Probably they could not meet their guide on this side and therefore probably could not hit their intended target,” he said.
ON INT’L BORDER SOUTH OF CHENAB
“We have been regularly getting information about training camps and launching pads across IB also and we have accordingly made preparations. We are ready to meet any challenge,” he said. He also said that the support of Pakistan Army and Rangers to terrorists was an open secret.
ON LULL ALONG THE BORDER
“Immediately after the crop is cut (harvested), we do anticipate a limited confrontation. Every year after crop harvest in April, a limited engagement with Pakistan is always there. Though we don’t want it, we have to prepare for it.