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| Pak's Terror Infrastructure 'Existing and Active': Army Chief | | | Early Times Report
New Delhi,Feb 07
Terror infrastructure in Pakistan is "existing and active", according to Army Chief Gen Deepak Kapoor, who puts the number of terror camps there in between 30 and 50.
Pakistan seeks to convey an impression that it is taking action against terrorists and their infrastructure but the infrastructure was still active, Kapoor told a news agency.
The number of camps "on the other side" can "safely" be placed between 30 and 50, he said, adding that there had been a significant increase in such camps from 32 in 2005 to 53 last year.
Kapoor, who has served as chief of the Northern Command which include Jammu and Kashmir, said most of these camps are either located parallel along the Line of Control (LoC) or between 10 and 50 km away from the LoC. The numbers of these camps have been varying at times.
"I would rather put it that the infrastructure is active. Yes I would put it that way. I would not talk about the numbers specifically right now now because of the fact that some of these are closed. But infrastructure is existing and active."
Kapoor said there were some other camps which were not located along the LoC but possibly in certain other areas either in Punjab or even westwards of that.
"So that is from where you find that some of these people who may have either gone from this side, who have may have exfiltrated or those who are in the name of jihad asked to come as volunteers and join these gangs, trained there and thereafter an attempt is made to induct them," he said.
Pakistan's policy towards the terror camps has been varying during the past years, said Kapoor. "At times it is actively supported by the establishment, it happens with their total connivance. When they claim it is not not actively supported, it may happen with covert connivance."
He said sometimes they would look at crossing the LoC in the worst kind of weather and most difficult terrain where the chances of being able to infiltrate through may be better.
At other times, the forces which are on the Pakistani side can use the diversionary tactic of firing at the Indian forces, which results in retaliatory fire. Possibly, during that time, when the patrolling level goes down, the infiltrators manage to push through, he said.
The army chief expressed concern over the new routes being taken by the infiltrators to come to Jammu and Kashmir, may be through Nepal and Bangladesh.
Larger Infiltration Through J&K Routes
Asked whether the terror camps have been closed after the Mumbai attacks, Kapoor said "it is too difficult to say. It is too short a time-frame. This kind of information takes time to build up."
He said post the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai the camps that are in Pir Panjal areas in the valley were dormant because the passes were closed because of snow.
"Infiltration is just not not feasible. Therefore, those camps lie dormant. They may still be there. But we cannot still get any definitive information till we start catching people who come from those camps. South of Pir Panjal the camps have been active.
"You are aware of the case of Mendhar where the army could not catch hold of anyone. But they have been used. So invariably, by November-end and till February-March, the south of Pir Panjal is much more active."
Kapoor said infiltrators may use Rajouri and Poonch routes, and go into Doda side or the valley. "But of greater concern is the fact that, in an entire year, much larger numbers seem to be coming in from other routes in Jammu and Kashmir."
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