Pakistan wants to project IB, Jammu & Kashmir as disturbed region: BSF

JAMMU: Claiming that there has been 100 per cent increase in cross-border firing, BSF today said the repeated attacks show that Pakistan wants to project the IB and state of J&K as a "disturbed" region.

"It (to target and activate International Border by firing, shelling and engineering terror acts in past) clearly indicates that they have a design. The design is that they want the J&K, including IB, to internationalise and project it as a disturbed area," IG BSF Jammu Frontier, Rakesh Sharma told reporters here today.

Sharma was replying to a question on whether Pakistan is activating IB in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts by targeting it with ceasefire violations and terror attacks in bid to internationalise the border region.

He said, "There are no dispute on IB. There is no land dispute on IB. There is no dispute of local farmers on the two sides of the border. There is no dispute on border resources or any other resources as it happens on the other areas of the border."

"Therefore, our area is being cultivated right upto the IB and there land has also been cultivated upto the IB and therefore there should be peace on the borders as we always want. India wants peace and tranquillity on the borderline and prosperity of the border population and Pakistan never wants it at whatever costs it may be," Sharma said.

On the question of increase in firing and shelling along the borderline during last five years, he said that there has been a huge cross-border firing in last year.

"In previous period, there was firing one or two times in a year. When you compare it with the current 12 months, there has been firing for almost 10 months, leaving just one or two months without cross-border firing," he said.

"Firing has been taken in different sectors, including RS Pura, Akhnoor, Samba and Kathua. If we take figures into cognisance, there has been a huge increase in cross-border firing. There has been always ceasefire violation from Pakistan and it was repeatedly been done. The figures are very high," Sharma said.

"There has been 100 per cent increase in ceasefire violations from mid of 2014 to 2015 as compared by previous years. If earlier there was firing in 1-2 months in a year, now it is happening in every month. During this period, there has been firing in every month," Sharma said.

On infiltration, IG said, "Attempts are being made to push in armed militants and during last year in January and August period, there has been firing in the border on suspected movements as attempts were being made to push in militants".

"There has been increase in attempts of infiltration during last one year. There has been more than 45 attempts of infiltration during the period along IB," Sharma said.

"As per various intelligence reports and minute to minute monitoring of activities in forward area of Pakistan by BSF, there is presence of approximately 60-70 terrorists of LeT/JeM /HM across the IB at various launching bases and Pak villages, but BSF is fully prepared to foil any kind of nefarious design and committed to ensure peace and tranquillity on border", he said.

To check infiltration, we take measures accordingly. They have attempted in Chicken Neck area along IB, they have attempted in Samba, Hiranagar areas and Kathua, but we are keeping a close watch on them, he said.

On the question about challenges being faced by BSF during past one year, he said that the biggest challenge we face from Pakistan is cross-border infiltration, which cannot be tolerated at any cost.

"We will take all measures to foil it and in flag meetings, we also have told Pakistan very clearly that we have no tolerance towards infiltration and if you attempt infiltration, we will react very sharply," he said.

"Snipping also spoils the relations on the IB. When any type of snipping is carried out by them, we give them a befitting reply there and then only without waiting for any further delay," he added.

"We have no tolerance to cross-border firing targeting civilian areas. We have repeatedly told them (Pak) in the meetings of sector level commanders," he added.

Sharma said, "It is very clear in our mind that we will not tolerate this from Pakistan, but we will have to give a very sharp reaction to it".

"We have briefed the troops and asked them to be prepared for any eventuality on the borders. We have experience in the past. When we wanted peace to prevail on the borders, Pakistan has broken the peace. Our troops are alert," IG said.

"The period from 2014 mid to this year has been the most tense period. There was heaviest cross-border firing during the period and it was repeatedly been done and was intensified from their side and we have given a befitting reply," he added.

IG said, "Jawans are the real heroes and I give them the full credit of guarding border in efficient way and their commanders who led them."