By NNN-PTI,
New Delhi : India on Saturday dismissed as “baseless and speculative” reports of moving additional troops to its western borders in the wake of tension with Pakistan.
“The Army headquarters has termed all such reports as baseless and speculative in nature,” Defence Ministry spokesperson Sitanshu Kar told PTI here.
He said the movements that have been reported were “normal” and “routine,” Kar said the army units were currently training at a winter exercise in Rajasthan and Punjab, which they carry out every year.
Some other units were moving to Jammu and Kashmir as part of the regular turn over of troops in the state, he said.
“Taking into consideration the climatic conditions of Rajasthan throughout the year, winter months are the best months for troops to practice manoeuvres and hence these annual training exercises,” Kar said.
The government also pooh-poohed reports of the army units replacing the Border Security Force (BSF) troops along the international border with Pakistan.
It said the responsibility to guard the border remained with the BSF. “There is no change in the peacetime deployment orders issued to the army formations as of today,” Kar said.
However, he said the armed forces continue to keep a close watch on the situation and carefully analyse all intelligence inputs on any troop movement being reported from across the borders.