Pak moves 20,000 troops near Indian border

Islamabad, Dec 27 (ANI): Pakistan has moved 20,000 soldiers near the Indian border due to increase in tension with New Delhi in the aftermath of the Mumbai terror attacks, according to the intelligence officials.

The Pakistan Army's 14th Division has been redeployed to the towns of Kasur and Sialkot, close to the Indian border, two Pakistani intelligence officials said on condition of anonymity.

The redeployment, which will relocate about one-fifth of Pakistani troops serving in the country's tribal areas, began on Thursday evening, CBC News reported.

Pakistan has shifted its 4 Corps, an important strike arm, to Lahore, just 25 km from Attari, highly placed sources said.

Its 10th brigade, consisting of around 5,000 personnel, has further been moved to forward areas along Punjab. Similarly its 3rd Armoured Brigade has been moved towards Jhelum.

At the same time, the Pakistan army was making war preparations with old bunkers on the borders being renovated and new ones being constructed.

Senior security officials said a limited number of soldiers had been pulled out from non-essential positions along the Afghan border.

The intelligence officials didn't say to where they'd been redeployed, but Pakistani media have reported that troops are strengthening some positions on the border with India.

A Pakistani military official said Pakistan has scaled down air strikes against Taliban militants in the northwest in order to re-deploy aircraft near the Indian border.

Another security official, however, denied that troops were being deployed to the Indian border, saying a limited number of soldiers were being moved from places "where they were not engaged in any operations on the western border or from areas which were snowbound."

Pakistan has also announced that it is cancelling all military leave. "All soldiers have been asked to report to duty," a military official said.

Analysts said the redeployment is likely to mean as a warning to India not to launch missile strikes against militant targets on its territory. (ANI)