Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Jan 19: Pakistan Army has re-activated the Border Action Teams (BATs) along the Line of Control (LoC) opposite twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri with a view to commit some action in the forward areas. Alert troops have foiled attempts by the BATs to cause two actions on the LoC in less than a week.
Official sources told the Excelsior that Pakistan Army was frustrated over heavy losses suffered by it in retaliatory action by the Indian troops in last week of December and was desperate to cause an action on the Indian side. However, alert troops on this side of the LoC have not allowed the BATs to succeed.
The BATs comprised Pakistan Army’s special commandos and battle hardened militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Hizbul Mujahideen outfits.
Sources said the BAT tried to carry out first attack on forward Indian posts in the wee hours of January 13 at Nangi Tekri in Krishna Ghati sector. The troops had spotted movement of the BAT members from their forward posts and opened firing on them forcing them to flee.
On January 17, a group of militants tried to infiltrate inside the Indian territory from Balnoi in Krishna Ghati sector but had to retreat in view of firing by the Indian troops. This group of militants had entered about 150 meters inside the Indian territory was forced to retreat after observing alert troops on this side.
Sources said Pakistan Army has re-activated the BATs across the LoC and deployed them in batches mainly opposite twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri, where they want to commit an action. Troops hadn’t observed movements of BATs in last three months of 2013 i.e. from October to December.
However, with the onset of New Year, the BATs have again become active on Pakistan side of the LoC, sources said, adding the troops were well aware of the re-activation of BATs and their plans to target troops in the forward posts.
The BATs had been responsible for some major actions on this side of the LoC last year in connivance with Pakistan Army and commandos of various militant outfits.
“We are well aware of the activities of BATs across the LoC opposite Poonch and Rajouri districts. We have taken all measures on the LoC to thwart the BAT attacks. The Army soldiers deployed in the forward pickets have been briefed on the BAT attacks,’’ sources said, adding that the troops wouldn’t allow the Pakistan Army and the militants to succeed in their designs.
The Indian and Pakistan Army officers of Brigade Commander level had held a flag meeting at Chakan-Da-Bagh cross-LoC point in Poonch district on January 17 in which the Indian Army had lodged strong protest with Pakistan over the BAT attempt to infiltrate inside the Indian territory on January 13 taking advantage of dense fog.
Pakistan Army, as usual, had remained in denial mode.
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