Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Pak Heightens Troop Movement along Border


Pakistan has heightened troop deployment across the international border with India, say BSF officials. Coming in the midst of an ongoing war of words and escalating tensions the movement is significant as India continues to use it offices to push Islamabad to initiate action against terror havens operating from its territories.

"A lot of military movement is being noticed in districts just across the international border for the last few days, which is not normal," RC Dhyani, DIG of Rajasthan frontier BSF, was quoted as saying by PTI.

"Patrolling across the border has intensified while defence personnel are constantly on vigil from watch towers," he said.

"It was not a normal practice some days ago and after escalation of tension between two countries Pakistan has deployed more troops across border," he added.

Dhyani added that the situation was under control and that his troops were prepared to meet any eventuality.

BSF ADG UK Bansal visited the border posts in Barmer, Jaisalmer and Jodhpur districts on Wednesday and is understood to have taken stock of the troop movement across the border.

Later, on Wednesday night, BSF Chief ML Kumawat rubbished media reports suggesting the Centre had ordered the evacuation of several Rajasthan villages bordering Pakistan.

He added that a strict vigil was being maintained by the BSF, while adding "Such reports are only designed to create panic where there is none."

He said he had spoken to Rajasthan chief secretary on the need to maintain calm.

About reports that Pakistan had allegedly massed troops along the Indo-Pak border in Rajasthan, Kumawat said, "BSF is fully alert and is maintaining tight vigil along the border. There is no need to panic at all."

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