Some 30 to 40 heavily-armed fighters have crossed the LoC in the Keran sector, says Lieutenant General Gurmit Singh. PHOTO: AFP
The Indian army claimed earlier on Wednesday that it is fighting the biggest group of infiltrators in Kashmir to cross from Pakistan in years, a top Indian general claimed on Wednesday.
They claimed that 30 to 40 heavily-armed fighters have crossed the Line of Control dividing Kashmir between the rival nations in the Keran sector. They are holed up for the past nine days in thick forests in the area, Lieutenant General Gurmit Singh told a news conference.
However, a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relation read that "no such thing happened at all."
"This is a blatant lie. We totally deny this baseless allegation."
India claimed that rebel incursions have been rising in Kashmir over the past year, feeding an armed revolt there, but these groups were usually made up of five or six people.
"The army is fighting the largest group of infiltrators including some special troops on the Line of Control with Pakistan in Indian territory. It's one of the longest operations in Kashmir," said Singh, who leads the Indian army's 15 corps that is responsible for operations in the Kashmir Valley.
The army has killed 10 to 12 of them, he claimed. On Tuesday night, it claimed that another group of 10 men had tried to cross over to join the militants holed up some 200 to 300 metres on India's side of Kashmir.
Islamabad denies it is helping militants cross the largely fenced border with India and has urged India to hold talks to tackle the decades old dispute over the region.
The latest fighting was taking place as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif pledged in New York last weekend to work towards strengthening a 10-year-old ceasefire that has frayed in recent months.
But they failed to announce any concrete measures to advance peace talks that have been slow to recover since 2008 when Pakistan-based militants attacked India's financial centre Mumbai for three days and killed 166 people.
Singh denied Indian media reports that the insurgents had taken over a village in the Keran sector and said the military was fully in control of the situation.
"The operation is being carried out in a calibrated manner ... We are not rushing through as rushing through will mean the risk of (our) own casualties."
In 1999 Pakistan-backed irregular troops crossed into the Kargil sector in northern Kashmir and occupied bunkers along a vast swath of the Line of Control, prompting a massive Indian air and ground offensive to repel them.
COMMENTS (63)
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Pls ET, do not delete my reply to a comment poised directly to me.
@Pradhan: Yes, you correctly observed that we Kashmiris are Pakistanis, through and through. I was not aware that Kashmir's status as a 95% Muslim majority state was under any doubt. You can't provide any sources to back your erroneous view. When you speak of UN resolutions, you can't selectively choose which to follow and which to reject. India interfered (with Soviet support) and dispossessed Pakistan of its legitimate territory in 1971, was that fair for Pakistan and Bengali Muslims who voted to join Pakistan? India invaded and killed the army of the Nizam of Hyderabad, dispossessing him completely after he signed to Pakistan. The Bhutto family of Junagadh was similarly dispossessed of their state after they acceded to Pakistan. Kashmir faced a domestic revolution in 1947 for acceding to Pakistan, being a 95% Muslim state, which you erroneously doubt. India's belligerent attitude has insured not only perpetual resistance in Kashmir, but continued friction with Pakistan and the larger Muslim world for 66 years now.
Continue to refer to us Kashmiris as Pakistanis, correctly and truthfully. Love to Pakistan, from lovely Kashmir.
@Syed Jalal Kashmiri:
Waiting patiently for undivided and free Kashmir to take its rightful place as a province of Pakistan. Love from Kashmir.
If you are going back to 1846 then lets go there. Try find out pupulation demographics during that period. 95% muslim majority ?? stop reading pakistani text book find out what the world has to say about population demographics in 2011. I am not going to provide you an answer coz I want you to use your brains for a change as opposed to puting your arguments based on things you have heard from zaid hamid. India doesn't have any problem with Plebiscite but that doesn't mean we accept the UN resolution coz it was not fair. Now that shimla agreeement exist UN resolution is meaningless. If you have accession letter from Hyderabaad or Junagard kings then please show it and you are free to take those cities. By the way do you know where these places are ?? Do you see why for India Pakistan has a nuisance value only. Most Important for princely states agreement have a different provision and as per which Jammu & Kashmir including Gilgit Balitistan is Indian territory. Pakistan never had any love for Jammu & Kashmir or the people. If they had any then they would have fought it leagaly not by sending terrorists and creating human crisis. If they had any love then they would have atleast treated G&B like humans. If they had any respect for the land then they wouldn't have sold the part of Jammu & Kashmir to China. Before you dream of freeing anyone for that matter shouldn't you be focusing on to keep the things that you have like FATA, Balochistan??. I know there is no point in explaining to a pakistani but I for those who don't know about Jammu and Kashmir I am giving some food for thought and exposing Pakistani propaganda and lies. By the way keep waiting...
@Jatin: As if India is not involved now in Balochistan? Regarding so called infiltration in IOK, the Indian Govt is putting dust in there public's eye. With all that high security and money vested to buy latest technology to prevent cross border terrorism, and you guys blame Pakistan for infiltration.
The Govt of India should do a referendum in there occupied Kashmir and let the people decide what they want to do, that simple.
Let there be peace and with that money saved your Govt feed 51% hungry people who are cursing the world biggest Democracy.............India.
A rhetoric to start a war, but just a confusion is the indian army and/or intelligence so inept and incompetent that they can see the infiltration but they would not do anything about it? am I the only one who finds fault with this picture?
ET allow me to respond.
@Pradham: You never asked the 95% Muslim majority of Kashmir whether it would like to join Pakistan or India. Gulab Singh & Co purchased Kashmir in 1846 from the British. Kashmiris were never consulted then, nor are their views and aspirations accepted now. On the ground, Kashmiri people have never viewed themselves as Indians, rather we associate ourselves with Pakistan and other Muslim majority nations. According to the UN, Kashmir is a disputed territory pending resolution by plebiscite vote by several UN resolutions.
Furthermore, Hyderbad and Junagadh joined Pakistan, but were invaded by Indian troops. You can't selectively observe the law only when it suits your interests.
Waiting patiently for undivided and free Kashmir to take its rightful place as a province of Pakistan. Love from Kashmir.
@Siddiqui:
Fact of the matter is that quite a few terrorist acts earlier blamed on Pakistan, later proved to be an inside job, rules your own apex courts
Are you so Dumb???
about all the incidents you have mentioned it happened in India and Indian laws did prosecute them what does that tell you ... never mind there is no point in explaining to someone who wrote the above statement.
@hmm:
They have been interfering in Balochistan & FATA, so, why are they screaming over Kashmir =)
Nobody is interfering in Balochistan & FATA. Keep blaming others for your in-competencies and keep lying and you will never get out of the mess you are it.
@muslim:
Jammu and Kashmir is part of India since letter of accession was signed by then King Hari Singh. What Pakistan has is called Pakistan Occupied so, you get a life.
@Hedgefunder:
Wikipedia is not the gospel truth. Putting too much trust on it would be childish and doesn't makes much sense, albeit in non conflicting subjects. 'Wikipedia is written collaboratively by largely anonymous Internet volunteers who write without pay. Anyone with Internet access can write and make changes to Wikipedia articles, except in limited cases where editing is restricted to prevent disruption or vandalism. Users can contribute anonymously, under a pseudonym, or, if they choose to, with their real identity'.
@gp65: Fact of the matter is that quite a few terrorist acts earlier blamed on Pakistan, later proved to be an inside job, rules your own apex courts. The Samjhota express incident was blamed on Pakistan and after years of investigation your own court convicted Colonel Shrikant Purohit, a serving Colonel in abetting and planning the Samjhota express blast/fire. The main accused Swami Aseemanand was a former Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) activist. Similarly Malegaon blasts in 2006 was earlier blamed on Pakistan, but a charge sheet by the police put the blame on Hindu radicals, with RSS being involved. The point I want to make is that radicals and extremists are present in both nations. And we are too much indoctrinated by the media and it is being used by both nations(politicians and the establishment) to control hearts and mind of the people, so as to inflame to nationalism/patriotism and use it as a soft belly to keep the public away from real issues facing both countries i.e: the government ineptness, coupled with corruption in all its forms and manifestations.
@Califonian Desi: Dude! It tells us that those 7 guys were well trained by professionals and provided with intel support across the border. Trained guys dont hide in forest or pick 5 soldiers to kill. It tells us these 40 guys are locals (Kashmiri of any side may be) and they are resisting your oppression in whatever way they can. We sent trained men in Kargill by the way ;) I accept!
@Insaan: What do you mean by "muslim suicide bomber"? Are you the authority to decide their faith when the most respected and renowned "muslim" scholars have declared their deed as "haraam". Some even dont cosider them muslims because of the philosophy of blood shed they believe in. A terrorist is a terrorist! He is not Indian, Pakistani, Muslim or Hindu...Period!
Wao... I never knew my comment will be reminder for me that India is 8 times bigger than us as almost i am replied by 8+ indians telling me the sanctity of one human life... Just asking... the guy who allegedly slaughtered 2000 muslims and got away free for no evidence to be prosecuted (like many of out talibans) is your prime minister candidate? and please dont divert the topic with the crap i have been replied with with my thinking and bla bla coz this is no joke...its a reality.. At least in our country such elements remain a minority still. They dont come in power and will never do so because they are a minority and eventually they will be crushed no matter how much CIA and RAW invest in... the reason they will be crushed is that they dont have public support. Wars, no matter proxy or real are won by winning hearts..TTP and The mighty indian army (fighting 40 insurgents with thousands of troops) both dont know this..
@Alann: The Epicenter of Terrorism of the World is unfortunately right besides India. What do you expect?
You forgot that next to the supposed epicentre is the birthplace of terrorism aka India. From the suicide bomb-inventing Tamil Tigers to Kashmir and further beyond, Indians can raise their heads high and proud in the stains they have left all over the place. Thankfully, Pakistan is cleaning up india's mess. The first step in the cleanup is the chickens who have come home to roost in Kashmir, a result of India's own doings.
@hmm: "Too many naive Indians over here who are infatuated with Pakistan, i guess you guys don’t get much of an attention elsewhere?." The Epicenter of Terrorism of the World is unfortunately right besides India. What do you expect?
hmm - "Too many naive Indians over here who are infatuated with Pakistan, i guess you guys don’t get much of an attention elsewhere?. "
As i said earlier... more than seeking attention, its the lack of security, having you next door that results us in being 'infatuated' with you. Trust me, everybody else in the world is as much 'infatuated' with you as us, if not more...
@Someone: I suppose that when Indian army was staring at Lahore, in 1965 war was in some ways a victory for Pak army ! Its obvious that you are an product of your flawed education system which really lack actual history lessons as to the events that have taken place in the region. so in order to help you, below is the link that actually state the record of that particular war ! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-PakistaniWarof_1965
Too many naive Indians over here who are infatuated with Pakistan, i guess you guys don't get much of an attention elsewhere?. Equation is pretty simple, if Pakistan goes down so does India, so stop fooling yourself that you can easily run over us, better concentrate on your 40-50% people who live below the poverty line as your economic situation is now going downwards. 500 million people (double the population of Pakistan!) living on $ 1-2 a day could explode any day, worry about those instead of living in the fantasy world of Bollywood. We will never leave Pakistan & we are optimistic about our future, so keep your wishful thinking to yourself of us abandoning our land. Pakistan Zindabad.
Further to my last comment, it so appears from the latest infiltration attempt is to provoke India into war on lines of Kargil which happened during NS time only. The military is clearly acting against NS since it has several grudges against him and such a serious violation would go against him and India would stop talks with Pakistan.
@Hedgefunder: Being fed with too much Indian propaganda makes the fictional narratives come out of Indians in a matter of seconds. May I inquire from what angle the 1965 war was a success of India? If losing an area the size of Austria (Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan) to another country counts as a victory for you and loss of Pak Army, then India is setting new records of 'victories' every day lol. Lots of records broken in rape cases too, and now against false flag operations in Kashmir. India winning on every front indeed.
Please remove this false news... it was not sponsored by Pakistan: "But they failed to announce any concrete measures to advance peace talks that have been slow to recover since 2008 when Pakistan-based militants attacked India’s financial centre Mumbai for three days and killed 166 people."
This blame game will never help to establish peace among the two countries.
@Zif: There is no work of more imporance for Pakistan than sending terrorists in India to get Kashmir. It believes that by thousand cuts India will surrender and give away Kashmir. This wishful thinking is the only cause of past India Pakistan wars and flaring up in LoC and depriving Kashmiris to live a day without terrorists and army in their life.
@Faisal: Celebrate the crimes of mullahs while it lasts. When they r done with all non muslims and kafirs whom do u think the barabaric mind will turn their guns to ?
@FAZ: Dude your army bases were attacked by merely 7 or less people. With 40 armed man it will be easy to take over Pakistan.
@muslim: India's Kashmir is being infiltrated into by Pak Army sponsored ultras while they do nothing to fight terror on western front because they are too afraid to take on the Taliban. Pak Army finds it far easier to send people across the massive porous intense jungle border.
@Shahzad - 'Kashmiri Freedom Fighters' seem the strangest of all. They have kicked out the Kashmiri Pandits leaving a selective population. Now, they are claiming that their view is the popular view. In Indian Kashmir, other Indians cannot settle. In Pakistani Kashmir, Army has been settling retired soldiers for years. Soon, non - Kashmiris would become the majority there.
ET - kindly publish this
BTW....this is same Pakistani Army who denied Bin Laden is in Pakistan. Denial about everything is motto of Pakistanis. They love to live in denial.
@Jatin: baluchis won't even require Indian assistance, as they are doing quite well on their own, as its obvious that Pak Army is simply not capable of tackling them nor those cockroaches residing in NW, who incidentally have really taken over the state, while the Generals are busy playing golf and driving around in their bullet proof BMW's at the state's expense. Let's not forget their commercial interests either ! Very profitable too. No other democratic nation on the planet has an Army, which is not answerable to its elected body as to their actions or budget and yet still control their policies too ! So much for Land of Pure, more like Land of Fools, to allow an unit like this control them in such fashion ! They really are not very good at defence nor offence, as their track record shows, never won any battles or wars, yet managed to lose half of its territory too !
@FAZ: 30 to 40 is a big number for Indian army Rofl and then rofl again..m choking!!
Two Muslim suicide bombers killed 85 Christians in Pakistan. Do you think 2 is a big number? Just imagine what would have happened if 30-40 Muslim suicide bombers have done the attack together.
What's new here ? Has Pak Army ever admitted anything in since its inception ? NEVER ! However the facts always mange to see the light of day, and the world learns more about this unit's complexities and deficit with facts ! Check the track record, East Pakistan mess, Kargil, and recently proxies and non state actors etc. to cause mayhem and their own self importance alive while the Country bleeds with poverty and economic collapse ! Play few wars and won none ! That's the track record of this outfit ! Yet they claim the lion's share of the national budget !
EVERY SINGLE THING happening right now is exactly what is written in this article dated 27 July 2013
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/indiahome/indianews/article-2379432/Leaked-intelligence-documents-reveal-Sharifs-faced-propaganda-campaign-designed-pressure-India-Kashmir.html
Pakistan's rulers are trying to destroy what is leftover of their own country. I would suggest all you young Pakistanis to leave Pakistan as soon as possible and seek asylum elsewhere for a better future for your family.
@FAZ: of course , for a citizen of a country full of TTPians, 30 to 40 is rofl-able. Well actually 30 - 40 is a big number. Its Kashmir, not KP or even Karachi.
@1984: Talibans use Suzukis for bomb blasts. This could be a new subject for monseiur Luqman to expose conspiracy of Japan.
@Siddiqui: Narendra Modi is IK of India. Parveen Togadia is Zaid Hamid of India. Shreef Family is Gandhi Family of India.
@hmm: Exactly, When Pakistan comes to destroy, it gives level best performance. its own cities are not spared, think about outsiders!!
@hmm: Come on who likes to invade pakistan. Ha ha
We just want to see more prosperous or brothers (muhazir).
Pls don't imagine like we want to rule pak.
We want to see u on knees.
@FAZ: For India, even a Single terrorist is one terrorist too many!! But with you guys, with 40,000 dead and still debating good & bad terrorists, I am not surprised by your comment. You would do well to see the reality....
@midhat What did you do with the evidence supplied about 1948, 1965,1971, 1989-2003, 1999, 2001, 2008, 2013......2014???
@FAZ:
"30 to 40 is a big number for Indian army Rofl and then rofl again..m choking!! "
Even 1 is a big number.
It's not a question of bravado to say that send 1000 and we will face.
We don't live under delusions like martial race that is born to fight etc.
If possible, not a single Indian should die.
So did they provide any proof to back their statements that the intruders are supported by Pak Army or as usual just a statement?
If this is done by Pakistan then its a best step to teach india that not to do any incursion in Balochistan and FATA,
Keep on dreaming India. Our hands are already full with tension on our Western border, do you think we have time to dabble in India? Either you think we are too stupid or a super nation.
Indian army is only helping the BJP so that they win upcoming election on Pakistan bashing. The 'love to hate' syndrome will play a big part in getting the hardliners votes. Narendera Modi is playing it smart. 'False Flag' will be a 'True Success' for sure.
The day India gets involved in Balochistan, it will be a new country within 14 days. Remember 2nd to 16th December 1971??? You can send more terrorist, Indian army will give them fitting reply.
very nice job done by Kashmiri freedom fighters, show you showed power to illegal occupational forces long live freedom movement of kashmir
Pakistan must support any and every effort to liberate Kashmiris, its Pakistan duty and this is what Kashmiris want. Being Kashmiri myself. We the Kashmiris hate India to the core and sooner she accepts it better it would be.
@Ovais: You can also find AK47 with the Talibans....Does that mean that Russia is involved in terrorism???
@INDIAN SHIA: dont forget we live just next door to you, if things go out of hands it'll spill over in to India & then the whole region will turn into Afghanistan. This is the problem with some of you indians, they think they can easily invade Pakistan or destroy us lol - reality is way different from what your media teaches you about invading Pakistan. So think before you post a stupid comment, & grow up!
Pakistan is really a strange country that is ready to loose both its for eyes for the sake of hurting India. What Pakistan doing now is suicidal for its existence, instead of focusing on internal problems Pakistan tries to divert its citizens with external(India) threat by that way Pakistan army can hide its internal problems for time being but for how long ???? This is really a very poor and stupid strategy by Pakistan army.
Nothing new another Pro-indian version from ET proved that this blog is powered by Indian Money just like the MQM and terrorism in most of Pakistan is backed by Indian RAW
Oh we just remember Indian arms were found in karachi ... isnt that intrusion . Killing 1000 each year. On contrary we did nothing
They have been interfering in Balochistan & FATA, so, why are they screaming over Kashmir =)
30 to 40 is a big number for Indian army Rofl and then rofl again..m choking!!
This is Nawez Sharrif's Gift to Man Mohan Singh. I am sure Man Mohan Singh will send his Eternally Grateful Thanks. . Cheers
pakis pretending as peacelovers but exporting terrorism all time.. pakistan is no wondr epicenter of terrorism.
History is repeating again. Its a sort of Kargil-2 going on already. Pak army is playing same old game while Mian Sahab is talking of peace. We will be hearing same old denials.
India's side of Kashmir or Indian occupied Kashmir? ET get a life will u....
Don't worry pakistan .Indian army will finish them off.