Dinesh Kumar
The Times of India
May 22, 1999
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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