New Delhi: Taking serious note of the recent terror attack on the Nagrota Army camp, the Centre has directed security agencies to prepare a detailed blueprint of hitting back at Pakistani security forces specifically along the Line of Control where at most locations India enjoys a strategic advantage.
While the Nagrota terror attack was executed by suspected Jaish-e-Mohammed militants there is evidence to suggest that they had support from Pakistan security forces, particularly the ISI, as well as Over Ground Workers (OGWs) on the Indian side.
Intelligence agencies have already informed the Centre that the Nagrota Army camp was identified as the potential target by the ISI officer and they facilitated the attack with help of OGWs.
Following the Nagrota incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir along with home minister Rajnath Singh, defence minister Manohar Parrikar and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval.
Sources said the decision to retaliate hard along the LoC has been taken at the “highest level in the government” and some action could be expected over the next few days. Incidentally, following a similar attack on the Uri Army camp in September, Indian security forces had conducted surgical strikes hitting some terror camps across the LoC. Though top security sources ruled out the possibility of crossing the LoC again they confirmed strong retaliation by security forces in the days ahead.
Nagrota probe finds lapses
The Centre has directed security agencies to prepare a detailed blueprint of hitting back at Pakistani security forces specifically along the Line of Control.
Sources also confirmed that additional reinforcements had already been rushed to the LoC.
Meanwhile, an internal probe into the Nagrota incident has pointed to some lapses, particularly in security the outer parameter of the campus. The terrorists managed to enter the Army camp by scaling the rear boundary wall and they then cut the barbed wire.
On entering the campus they managed to move to a strategic location where normally a Light Machine Gun (LMG) is positioned firing indiscriminately from there. Following the surgical strike, there has been increased terror activity from Pakistan with some terrorists even infiltrating in the Samba sector by digging a tunnel with help of Pakistani Rangers.
This year, Pakistan has already violated the ceasefire 437 times killing 37 people while 179 have been injured. Due to increased heavy firing by Pakistan, which is also done to provide cover to infiltrating militants, 27,449 people living in borders areas in J&K. Of the total ceasefire violations, 216 incidents were reported along LoC while 221 incidents along the international border.
Similarly, there has been a three-fold increase this year in the number of terrorists killed in the Valley. As many as 140 terrorists have been killed this year against 46 last year, said sources.
