Invaders identified as Afghans

Dinesh Kumar
The Times of India
May 22, 1999

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Title: Invaders identified as Afghans
Author: Dinesh Kumar
Publication: The Times of India
Date: May 22, 1999

Most of the infiltrators occupying large portions of territory in the
Dras-Batalik region have been identified as Afghans, possibly of the
Taliban militia, highly placed sources here said.

"We have confirmed information that almost all of them are Afghans. 
They have been conversing over their radio sets mostly in Pushto and
to an extent even in Persian," said a source.  There has been some
conversation in English also indicating that they could he lead by
some Pakistani officers," the sources added.

The sources said that the Siachen base camp had been partially damaged
at Chalunka because of heavy Pakistani shelling.  "We are responding
adequately and are aware that there has been considerable loss of
lives and damage on the other side," the sources said.

The army has been trying to dislodge about 350 to 450
Pakistan-sponsored infiltrators from this barren high altitude
sector.  The infiltrators, who have made a four to five km incursion
in this area, continue to occupy several "unheld" parts of this
terrain.  The army has since been involved in the bloodiest
counter-infiltration operation along the meandering Line of Control
(LoC).

Meanwhile, chief of army staff General V.P. Malik, who returned after
a ten-day official tour to Poland and the Czech republic, was briefed
on the ongoing counter-infiltration operations in the Kargil-
Dras-Batalik sector by the military operations directorate here on
Friday.  In addition the army, the air force have been holding regular
discussions in the defence ministry.

The sources said that the strategy was to encircle the infiltrators
and tire them out.

"A physical assault would he expensive.  One, mountains sap up
troops.  Second, an uphill assault in the mountainous terrain can he
heavy on casualties," the sources said, conceding that till then it
will in the meantime amount to temporary surrender of territorial
sovereignty in this sector.

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