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Pakistan moves nine army divisions towards border

Pakistan has moved nine army divisions equipped with ammunition towards the international border with India from Marala to Rann of Kutch to "conduct massive exercises", English daily The News reported Saturday.

The troops from the 'Three Corps' started rolling towards the border with India on Thursday and the movement was still on till Friday night, it said quoting sources in the armed forces.

The newspaper described the troop movement as "unusual" and said that the exercise unfolding at such a massive scale across the entire international border with India was being done without any prior information or announcement.

The paper quoted the sources as saying that the troops had been shifted to the borders for defensive purposes, and that some sort of threat of aggression was not out of the question.

According to the daily, the development assumes high significance in the light of military ruler General Pervez Musharraf's recent statements that Pakistan could use its nukes in a dire situation.

Army spokesman when contacted by the daily said it was a routine training exercise to keep the troops in operational condition.

"It has nothing to do with any development at the front," the spokesman was quoted as saying.

The army spokesman, in a statement Saturday, charged The News and Urdu daily Jung with sensationalising what "is a routine training" by the troops within their respective units and training areas.

It "is unfortunate" that two newspapers carried the news item despite "a firm denial" by the spokesman, the statement said.

"Making sensational stories on such issues may create panic and lead to serious consequences," it added.

Meanwhile, Indian security forces are keeping close watch all along the international border following media reports of heavy troop buildup by Pakistan, a defence ministry spokesman said in New Delhi.

"We are trying to verify these reports", the spokesman said when asked to comment on the reports.

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