Pak militants using high altitude posts to infiltrate, says Indian Army

Aangan Pathri Post (Pir Panjal, Jammu), Aug.10 (ANI): Desperate attempts are being made by militants to enter India before the passes are rendered inaccesible by snowfall and inclement weather, army officials have claimed.

The officials said that Indian troops have intensified their vigilance at high altitudes along the Line of Control in the wake of these reports of failed infiltration bids.

According to army sources, troops of the 18 Mahar are bravely countering the adverse weather and hostile conditions to thwart any attempt by the militants to cross to this side of the border from the Cobra Post in Pakistan, which is the nearest launch pad for these ultras.

They said troops were deployed at Aangan Pathri, the highest LoC post (13,000 feet above sea level)) on Pirpanjal range in Sawjain Sector of Poonch, to thwart any such attempt.

"Because of terrorist launch pads which are closure to this area and they have a Pir Panjal access to the valley, so that is why the try to infiltrate through this route." Said Major Rahul Salathia, the company commander at the Aangan Pathri Post.

Major Salathia who is manning this high altitude post for the last one year in hostile weather conditions said: " The challenge is bad weather and inhospitable terrain and lots of nullahs (ditches) and jungle in this area, those challenges we are facing, but we are ready to combat all these challenges."

"The trends what we are seeing they are trying to infiltrate in smaller groups and they are using GPS and are not using local guides.We are are moving round the clock, we are laying ambushes in the night and we are vigilant 24 hours to combat all these things," added Major Salathia.

Naik Netarpal said: "We have been vigilant day and night, we have got the night equipements. There are more chances of infiltration because all the snow has melted and maize has grown, so there are more chances of militants sneaking in, so during this period we need to remain more vigilant." By Tahir Nadeem Khan (ANI)