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Army puts troops in J&K on alert

Josy Joseph in New Delhi

Army Headquarters has warned all its formations in Jammu and Kashmir of increased attacks in the run-up to the visit of American President Bill Clinton in March.

The warning comes at a time when the Union home ministry is assessing the security arrangements, particularly at key installations, in the troubled border state.

On Monday evening, Home Minister L K Advani reviewed the security situation in the valley with senior officials, including Home Secretary Kamal Pandey and Special Secretary (Kashmir) T R Kakkar.

According to sources, the army has told its formations, both within the state and along the Line of Control, that intelligence reports from across the border and within the country have given specific pointers about Pakistan's attempts to step up violence. The Pakistani effort is likely to peak about the time President Clinton is scheduled to be in India.

The warning is the first of its kind after the Kargil intrusions, sources said. The army has three corps -- 14, 15 and 16 -- in the state, besides several units of the specially trained Rashtriya Rifles.

The army formations have been advised to beef up security around their own establishments as well as along the LoC. Army HQ warned that the situation along the LoC could also worsen, with firing from across the border and infiltration attempts being stepped up.

Sources said the suicide squads would also step up their attacks in coming days. "Pakistan is desperate to grab world attention, and there is no better time than Clinton's visit," army sources said.

Meanwhile, a high-powered delegation led by Home Secretary Pandey reviewed the security set-up in the valley in the light of the fresh warnings. Among the key spots whose security arrangements were reviewed are the Vaishnodevi temple and the Uri power project.

The Pakistani establishment has been trying desperately to step up militancy in the valley post-Kargil, especially after General Pervez Musharaf seized power. In fact, security agencies say terrorism in the state has undergone noticeable changes since the general took control. The militants have shifted their focus completely to military camps, paramilitary establishments and government centres.

General Musharraf headed the India division of the Inter-Services Intelligence for over a year as a major-general and built an extensive network in the top echelons of the extremist groups. In fact, he has reportedly been meeting top leaders of various terrorist outfits.

Suicide squads sent from across the border have carried out several high-profile attacks ever since the October 12 military coup in Pakistan. In the most sensational of these, on November 3, a suicide squad stormed into the Badami Bagh cantonment in the heart of Srinagar and killed Major Purushottam, the public relations officer, and his colleagues. The militants have also at least twice attacked both the state secretariat and the Special Operations Group headquarters in Srinagar.

EARLIER REPORTS:
Cabinet panel reviews Pakistani build-up along LoC
Preparations for Clinton's visit gather steam

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