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Fernandes warns of trouble on LoC: AFP

Defence Minister George Fernandes warned on Monday of a Pakistani military build-up along the disputed Kashmir border and said New Delhi was ready should tensions spill over into an armed conflict.

Fernandes, who toured the border region over the weekend, said there were "reports of some Pakistani build-up" in three places along the Line of Control, the de facto border separating Indian and Pakistan controlled Kashmir.

Indian troops pushed back a Pakistan-backed guerrilla incursion in the Kargil sector of the LoC following a bloody two-month conflict last summer.

"We are watching the situation and are prepared to repeat our Kargil performance," Fernandes said.

"We do expect the coming summer to be one in which the Pakistanis will increase their activities on the border and inside Kashmir."

India and Pakistan have fought two of their three wars since Independence over the Kashmir region.

"On the LoC, there are a couple of points where there has been a considerable increase in the level of cross-border firing and infiltration activities," Fernandes said.

Pakistan militant groups have publicly threatened to launch another incursion in Kashmir this year, and Fernandes made it clear that the Indian armed forces would be waiting.

"Kargil was a disaster ... for them. So when they say some more Kargils, obviously they would receive more beatings."

India announced last month a 28 per cent hike in military spending, much of which will be taken up with strengthening defence along the LoC.

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