By IANS,
New Delhi : India Tuesday expressed concern over the increased levels of infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir from Pakistan and the domestic situation in that country.
“India is very concerned about the increased level of infiltration from Pakistan and the domestic situation in the country, which could possibly lead to a serious problem,” a source in the external affairs ministry said.
The Indian Army Saturday accused its Pakistani counterpart of pushing guerrillas into the Kashmir Valley. To back the claim, the Indian Army produced a Pakistani national who had infiltrated into the border state a fortnight ago.
Saqib Moinullah, 25, a resident of Pakistan’s North West Frontier Province (NWFP), said at a press conference in Srinagar Saturday he had crossed into India through the Gurez sector of the Line of Control (LOC) along with 120 other people, including 31 guerrillas of the Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) outfit. The rest of the group comprised 40 porters and snow beaters and guides.
“I was motivated for joining the jihad (Holy War) as the people told me there was oppression in Kashmir,” Moinullah said.
Brigadier Gurmeet Singh, Brigadier General Staff (BGS) of the army’s 15 Corps who addressed the media, said the Pakistani Army had been facilitating the infiltration of the guerrillas into the Valley.
“Based on intelligence reports, intercepts of conversations and mappings etc, it is clear that the Pakistan Army has been aiding and assisting infiltration of terrorists into the Valley,” he said.
He said that of the 120-strong group that crossed into the Valley, there were 31 guerrillas of whom 30 had been killed in different gun battles with the security forces while Moinullah was arrested alive.
“The rest of the group comprising porters, snow beaters and guides were forced back into the Pakistani side of the LOC,” the brigadier added.
Pakistani security forces Tuesday went into action against the Taliban who had occupied the Buner district in the NWFP in violation of an accord on restoring peace in the area.
Also on Monday, the Pakistani Army said it had concluded an operation against the Taliban in the neighbouring Lower Dhir district.
The two districts, as also Swat Valley, form part of the NWFP’s Malakand division, over much of which the Taliban’s writ runs.
A controversial peace deal in Malakand had envisaged the imposition of Sharia laws in the area in return for the Taliban laying down their arms.