Author: H Bula Devi, Statesman
News Service
Publication: The Statesman
Date: October 17, 2001
New Delhi, Oct. 16. - India's pro-active
action yesterday along the Line of Control and international border was
a "pre-emptive defensive move" on the basis of Intelligence reports on
infiltration and terrorist camps across the LoC.
After the 1 October suicide attack
on the J&K Assembly in which 38 people were killed, Intelligence agencies
had been asked to prepare a report on the ultras' hideouts, their movements
and the nature of their arms storage.
Mr LK Advani visited Srinagar on
3 October and held a corps commanders' meeting. Sources said a green signal
was given to the security forces to carry out simultaneous attacks on the
terrorist hideouts and infiltrations on the basis of the Intelligence reports
Apparently, yesterday's shelling
to stop infiltration was not a lone incident. Similar action took place
in the first week of this month after the security forces got a signal
to be pro-active.
The Army's "punitive action" is
considered a normal exercise. The fact remains that the "pre-emptive defensive
move" coincided with Mr Colin Powell's visit to Islamabad and New Delhi.
The military Intelligence has reported
that terrorism in the region hasn't changed after 11 September.
