Mission PoK? Are India and Pakistan going to war?

Indicating that something very serious is around the corner, Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat said today that situation along the LoC can escalate any time and the country has to be prepared for escalatory matrix.

His statement comes amidst complaints by Pakistan army that the Indian troops have moved ahead of fencing at some places on the LoC to target infiltrators and their launch pads as there were reports that Pakistani troops were planning to push the trained militants into Jammu and Kashmir. 

“The situation along the LoC can escalate any time. We have to be prepared for the spiralling of the escalatory matrix,” said General Rawat. The Army is maintaining a high level of operational readiness, with detailed plans chalked out to cater for different contingencies.

Pakistan army has been helpless and frustrated ever since the Indian government abrogated the special status of J&K, it’s BAT has been involved in misadventures along the LOC, it is complaining now as the Indian Army is about to take some offensive steps. “Pakistan is attempting BAT actions almost every third day. We keep on foiling them and taking retaliatory action,” said a source. The statement of the army chief comes a few days after the Army thwarted yet another BAT operation by the Pakistan Army in the Sunderbani sector along the LoC but lost a soldier while another one was injured in the heavy exchange of firing on Monday.

Notably, there are reports coming from several quarters since this morning that the Indian Army has removed fencing from 5 places across the LOC and has deployed tanks and heavy artillery along the border areas with Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK). Heavy firing has been reported at the LoC in North Kashmir at Gurez in Bandipora & Keran in Kupwara. Damage in Salkhala & Athmuqam in PoK’s Neelum Valley has been reported. There is a sense of rush and panic in the Pak Army, ISI, SSG along with the terror outfits such as Jaish and Hizbul.

 Even the Pakistanis are in a state of panic as the Indian army removes fencing from several places indicating offensive action against Pakistan.

https://twitter.com/HamzaSiddiquiPK/status/1207496520083427333?s=20

Journalist Aditya Raj Kaul has also confirmed these reports in a series of tweets, saying, “Everyone asking me about clashes between India & Pakistan should understand I am not at the border right now. Most reports coming from PoK. Especially Keran Sector & across URI. Both are in North Kashmir. No internet availability. Most likely India responding to Pak provocation.”

 The Indians have been furious since December 16, when two Indian soldiers were martyred, Indian army promptly responded killing two Pakistan army personnel and three infiltrators in retaliatory action.  

Notably, General Bipin Rawat will complete his tenure on December 31 while Army Vice Chief Lt Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane would take over as Indian army chief.

Pakistan army appears to be completely frustrated as it has failed to push trained militants into Jammu and Kashmir despite giving cover to the infiltrators for which it has also drawn flak from Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa.

 Khan and Bajwa, who have repeatedly been touring Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) including the LoC, had recently reprimanded the field commanders for their failure to push militants into Jammu and Kashmir post-August 5 to step up the militant activities in the newly created Union Territory. This time as the Indian army is ready, Pakistan will get a befitting reply in the case of any misadventure that it would remember for a while.