Lahore, Dec 25: In a move which could heighten tension between New Delhi and Islamabad, Pakistan has purportedly moved its tenth brigade to Lahore and ordered its third Armed Brigade to march towards Jhelum.
Islamabad has also reportedly put its 10th and 11th divisions on high alert. Unconfirmed reports have said militants have also been stationed alongwith the Army at the said locations.
Also Pakistan's Army has reportedly stationed its troops in the Rajouri and Poonch sectors of J&K.
Pakistan’s troop build up along the Indian border has also given credence to the current war hysteria between the two nuclear powered states.
The move comes a day after Pakistan deployed its Army in place of the regular Pak Rangers along its border with India.
Confirming the news, Additional Director general of BSF, Barmer, UK Bansal said, “There is a lot of activity along at the Pakistan side of India-Pakistan border near Barmer in Rajasthan and Pakistan Rangers have been replaced by the Pakistan Army.”
The ADG also added that BSF is on full alert and is capable of handling any eventuality.
The deployment is an indication of the level of apprehension on the Pakistani side on an Indian attack. It should be noted that the last time Pakistan Rangers were replaced by Army during the Kargil war.
The State government of Rajasthan has ordered the residents of border villages to be prepared for relocation. According to sources, the order came after a meeting of state Director General of Police and Home Secretary with official of the Central government.
This move came just a day after Pakistan Army Chief General Asfaq Kiyani warned India of a befitting reply in the wake of an Indo-Pak war.
The troops build up by Pakistan could also be seen as a tactic to send a message to the US administration that any tension along its eastern border could jeopardize Pentagon’s anti-Taliban operations in the western sector of the country.
Also, this is among various steps by Islamabad to tick India of its war preparedness in the wake of a war.
Diplomatic relations have gone into a tailspin between the two countries in the aftermath of a deadly terror attack on India’s financial capital Mumbai, believed to have been perpetrated by Pakistan based terrorists.
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari had on Wednesday vowed to defend the country ‘until the last breath’, and said no compromise would be made with the nation’s sovereignty.
Meanwhile, after reports of a possible Indian attack on Pakistan, the Pakistan Air Force continued its state of high alert and started aerial surveillance of the Chashma power plant and other sensitive sites.
There were reports of the fighter jets continuing aerial surveillance over the Chashma nuclear power plant and other sensitive sites.
Pakistan had put its airbases on high alert amidst fears of Indian ‘surgical strikes’ in the wake of Mumbai terror attacks.
source:http://www.zeenews.com/nation/2008-12-25/493778news.html