Citing Intelligence reports,BJP National Executive Member & J&K Chief Spokesperson Dr Jitendra Singh said here today that even though Islamabad continues to be in "denial" mode and New Delhi continues with its policy of "two steps forward,one step backward",there is ample evidence that Keran is a part of revised Pakistan strategy and that the socalled "Border Action Team" (BAT),which is behind the Keran military stand-off as well as earlier recent terror attacks in Hiranagar and elsewhere, is nothing but an incarnation of Pakistan Army sponsored by Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) and armed by Pakistan.The Pakistani strategists who muted BAT were possibly inspired by the "Mukti Vahini" of the 1970s which fought against the Pakistan forces for liberation of Bangladesh and which was said to have been raised by Indian forces,he added.
Dr Jitendra Singh went on to explain that Border Action Teams comprise a mix of Pakistan Army regulars, Pakistan Special Forces elements and high profile terrorists (Jihadis) who are trained to cross the Line of Actual Control (LoC) to execute raids on Indian pickets, ambushes, patrol parties and logistic elements.Referring to recurrent killings and beheading of Indian soldiers,he said,this has been one of the modus operandi adopted by these teams to cause scare and impose psychological pressure on their targets.
Dr Jitendra Singh cautioned about reports regarding concentration of BAT opposite a particular segment of the LoC and said,this is meant to create stronger defense, stronger patrols and better protection of logistic elements such as mule trains which carry advance winter stocking stores etc.Quite obviously, BAT actions are also motivated with the intent of creating tactical conditions for terrorist infiltration,he added.The question often asked is , how BATs can enter 400 to 500 meters into our side and conduct an operation,said Dr Jitendra Singh and went on to explain,in 2003-4 when the LoC fence was constructed, there was no ceasefire for most of the period; hence at many places,the fence was constructed away from the LoC and where it is aligned well inside the LoC,the Indian side has set up pickets/posts/detachments ahead but not necessarily on the LoC. BATs can therefore enter from there through minefields albeit at certain risk to themselves and most such BAT actions take place during handing/taking over between Indian units when command and control is supposedly loose, he said.Quoting defence experts, Dr Jitendra Singh said,what is required is 24 x 7 soldiering and vigil on and around LoC because what has often been observed is that, as a sector cools down, so does the vigil.