Cross border infiltration likely to increase
Intelligence agencies have warned the security establishment that incidents of cross border infiltration and Pakistan sponsored terror strikes are likely to increase in the coming days as inputs generated by the intelligence agencies have stated that an unusual high number of high altitude gear, used by soldiers while on combat and patrolling missions, was purchased by the Pakistani army. These were later sent to non government organisations that act as a link between the terror groups and the Pak army. Indian intelligence agencies have also got information that close to 40 launchpads have come up on the Pakistan side of Line of Control in the last one and a half months, where close to 200-250 terrorists were waiting to infiltrate into India.
Sources said that traditionally, cross border infiltration sees a declining trend in the winters because of the inhospitable conditions as the terror groups wait for the snow to melt before resuming infiltration attempts. However, that pattern is likely to change in the coming days.
The building of launchpads that are temporary shelters, some of which are located as close as 3-5 km from the Indian side of LoC, has come as a surprise for the security agencies as it was thought that the cross border surgical strike carried out by the Indian Army on 29 September would dissuade the coming up of such launch pads.
“They do not seem to be worried as about 40 such launch pads are already functional and terrorists who are using these launch pads are waiting for their time. Frankly we are a bit surprised as we were expecting that the surgical strike would dissuade such adventurism,” a senior intelligence official said.
The agencies have also collected information that a huge number of high altitude gears were purchased by the Pakistan army which was then delivered to organisations which act as the front of terror groups. “The army ‘gave’ away these gears as donation, but in reality they were meant for the terror groups. This development, along with the coming up of the launch pads, confirms that incursion is all set to rise in the coming days despite the setting in of winter,” the official added.
Officials in the security agency see these developments as a precursor towards a small scale war between India and Pakistan that is likely to take place if the terrorists are able to repeat a terror strike similar to what took place in Uri and Pathankot.
“It seems that a certain section within Pakistan wants to force a war on us. Nothing else can justify the re-mushrooming of these launch pads, just two and a half months after the surgical strike. In case another high fatality terror strike happens, India will be forced to do something bigger than what we saw on 29 September and the fact that Pakistan seems to be ignoring this repercussion is a cause of worry for us,” the official said.