Pak firing on LoC to sneak in ultras: Army

A top Army officer on Saturday revealed that Pakistani Army was firing on Indian posts along the Line of Control (LoC) to push in terrorists into Kashmir.

“Forty-two terror camps are operating in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and 500-600 militants are ready to infiltrate from launching pads across the LoC. The recent incidents of ceasefire violations along the LoC by Pakistan is aimed to give cover to terrorists who are desperate to infiltrate,” the Srinagar-based 15 Corps General Officer Commanding, Lt Gen Om Prakash, told reporters on the sidelines of a seminar on “Employment Opportunities in Kashmir” here.

The Pakistan Army and its Rangers have been firing on Indian posts in Akhnoor sector, Poonch sector and other forward areas in Jammu division in the last two months. Official sources said Pakistan has violated the ceasefire at least 40 times this year.

The GOC maintained that it was impossible to completely check the infiltration due to geographical reasons even as the Army had thwarted several such attempts this year.

“It isn’t possible for the Army to bring down infiltration to zero level. You can’t give guarantee of zero per cent infiltration due to geographical reasons. As long as the terror infrastructure across the border exists, peace cannot return to the state,” he added.

Lt Gen Prakash said that there were less employment opportunities for youth in the state.

“Every year thousands of youth pass out after obtaining high degrees. But the employment opportunities are very less. Most youth in Kashmir are unaware of employment schemes provided by the government,” he said.