India Accuses Pakistan Army of Violating Cease-Fire, Provided Cover Fire to Push in Terrorists, Three Infiltrators Killed

Manas Dasgupta

NEW DELHI, Sept 16: While the Indian army’s encounter against the terrorists in Anantnag continued for the fourth day on Saturday, Indian security forces managed to kill three terrorists trying to infiltrate into India in Uri sector with the help of cover fire by the Pakistani army in violation of the cease-fire agreement.

The army said Pakistan forces fired at them and targeted a quadcopter when Indian troops foiled an infiltration attempt and shot dead three terrorists along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. The Pakistani cover fire also helped an injured terrorist to run back into the Pakistani territory.

The Army has accused the Pakistan Army of violating the ceasefire agreement, renewed in February 2020, and opening fire during an anti-infiltration operation in the Uri Sector of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district. In Anantnag sector, the Army deployed high-tech gadgets for precision attacks on the hideouts of militants holed up in the Gadool hill as the encounter dragged on for the fourth day.

A senior army officer said after three-four terrorists tried to infiltrate in Uri sector, a gunfight broke out and went on for two hours. He said the army used rocket launchers and other heavy weapons to neutralise infiltrating terrorists. “While two terrorists were killed, a third who was injured fled back with help of covering fire from the Pakistan Army,” said Brigadier PMS Dhillon.

“It’s noteworthy that Pakistan Army gave fire support to the injured terrorist and fired at us as well. The Pakistan Army also fired at our quadcopters,” said Brigadier Dhillon. The bodies of the two terrorists have been recovered, the Indian Army’s Chinar Corps said in a post on X. Firing by Pakistani forces “interfered” in the attempt to retrieve the third body, the Chinar Corps said. This is a clear violation of the LoC ceasefire agreed in 2021. The army said the operation in the Uri sector is going on.

“In a joint operation launched by Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and intelligence agencies, an infiltration bid was foiled today in the morning hours along LoC in Uri sector, Baramulla. Three terrorists who tried to infiltrate were engaged by alert troops,” the Chinar Corps said in the post on X. “Two terrorists have been eliminated and bodies recovered; third terrorist killed but retrieval of body being interfered by firing by Pakistan post in vicinity, on LoC. Operation in progress,” the army said.

The Army said the Pakistan Army’s actions have once again established their involvement in infiltration “by providing fire cover and moral support”. “It shows the Pakistan Army is involved to harm peace in Kashmir,” Brigadier Dhillon said.

He said the infiltration bid was made at a time when Hatlanga area was witnessing inclement weather and fog. “We used Under Barrel Grenade Launchers (UBGLs) and rocket launchers during the operation, which was called off around 2 p.m.,” Brigadier Dhillon said. The identity and affiliation of the slain militants were not divulged by the Army.

In Anantnag where India has lost four bravehearts in trying to eliminate the terrorists hiding in a cave, the encounter continued for the fourth day as well-trained terrorists, the challenging terrain, dense forests and now inclement weather have all played a role in the encounter dragged on.

Three officers, Colonel Manpreet Singh and Major Aashish Dhonchak of the 19 Rashtriya Rifles and Deputy Superintendent Humayun Bhat of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, have been killed in action, a soldier is missing and at least two more personnel have been injured.

The terrorists are hiding in a cave atop a hill in the Gadul forests of Kokernag, which affords them protection as well as complete visibility of the actions of the joint Army and police team that has surrounded them. The narrow path leading to the cave, which offers no cover and has a sheer drop on one side, is what had cost the three personnel their lives as the team began their first offensive in the early hours of Wednesday.

Drones, rocket launchers and mortar shells have all been used, but the forces have not been able to achieve domination of the area yet. Officials say they are confident of neutralising the terrorists at the earliest.

What has the establishment worried, however, is that this is one of three encounters in Jammu and Kashmir in five days and comes amid an uptick in terrorist activity in the Pir Panjal region, which covers the Poonch and Rajouri districts. Former Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police SP Vaidya said the Anantnag encounter points to yet another change in strategy by terrorists and their backers in Pakistan.

Highly placed sources said the forces first got intelligence about terrorists hiding in the Gadul forests on Tuesday night and, on learning that they were atop a hill, a decision to attack was taken in the early hours of Wednesday.

“The path the forces have to take to get to the top of the hill is quite challenging. It is very narrow and there are mountains and a dense forest on one side and a deep ditch on the other. The personnel began the ascent in the night, and the darkness made it worse,” said a source.

Seeing the forces ascend, the terrorists began firing at the personnel, who found themselves cornered. This is when the three officers were injured, but the limited options for extraction meant that they could not be taken to hospital until morning.

According to the sources, the terrorists have adequate stocks of arms, ammunition and even food, which is evidenced by the fact that they have managed to hold out for nearly 90 hours. They said the number of terrorists is also likely to be more than the two-three that is being mentioned in most reports.

A recent Lashkar-e-Taiba recruit, Uzair Khan, is among the terrorists holed up in the cave. He is believed to know the area very well and the terrorists are benefiting from this. “Ordinary terrorists cannot stretch an encounter for so long. They are very well-trained and have good weapons. It is also possible that an informer may have double-crossed the forces or someone may have leaked their movements,” said a source.

Bursts of heavy rain since Saturday morning have made the operation more difficult both by reducing visibility and by making it harder for drones to operate. A fire also broke out near the cave where the terrorists are hiding.

The former Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police SP Vaidya said, “The operation in Anantnag is taking place in a hilly area and there is a 75-80 degree steep climb. There is a dense forest on one side and a ditch on the other. It is very difficult for our forces when the terrorists hide in such a place. The terrorists are at a height and the personnel become vulnerable to attack when they try to ascend.”

“This seems to be a new strategy. A similar thing was also seen in Rajouri-Poonch recently, where the terrorists chose a hilly and forested area to hide in. For some time now, I have been noticing that the terrorists have been changing their strategy on the instructions of the Pakistani establishment,” he said.

Mr Vaidya pointed out that when the Indian security forces began Operation All Out in 2017, thousands of terrorists were killed and they also began facing a shortage of AK-47s. He said there was a change in policy then and the terrorists started using pistols and small arms to target migrants, labourers and panchayat members in Kashmir in a bid to derail development. A spate of such incidents was seen last year.

“When the forces managed to control that, a new trend is visible now, which was seen in Rajouri-Poonch and now in nearby Anantnag. Unlike in the past, terrorists are avoiding inhabited areas, where they can be easily surrounded, and are now hiding in thick jungles and hilly areas. This helps them draw out the forces and harm them, and the terrain gives them a chance to escape,” the former top cop said.

“They are trying to drag out encounters for three to four days so that they can get the international media’s attention as well. I think there has been a change in the strategy and we will have to be prepared for it,” he added.