Infiltrators suffer heavy casualties
India warns Pakistan
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, May 21 — The Army today claimed to have inflicted "heavy casualties" on infiltrators occupying strategic positions in the Kargil and Dras sectors.

However, it did not specify the extent of damage caused by its artillery fire on the positions held by the infiltrators yesterday. The operation to cut off the infiltrators was "progressing satisfactorily", a defence spokesman said here this evening.

"The Army's operation to cut off the infiltrators in the Kargil and Dras sectors is progressing satisfactorily. The positions held by the infiltrators were effectively engaged by artillery fire on May 20 causing heavy casualties. Damage assessment of the casualties inflicted on the infiltrators is being undertaken", the spokesman stated.

The statement issued by the defence wing of the PIB was issued for the first time since the Kargil operation started on May 8. On Wednesday, Lt-Gen Krishan Pal, GOC 15 Corps, briefed reporters on the situation in the region following the infiltration of about 400 militants.

The 15 Corps headquarters did not divulge any further details about the operation. There were also reports of cross-border firing in various sectors of the LoC in North Kashmir

These sectors included Keran and Tangdhar in Kupwara district and the Uri sector in Baramula district.

Police sources today confirmed that shelling was continuing in the Keran sector. However, further details were not available.

The sources also confirmed reports of firing in the Tulel area of the Gurez sector in Baramula district. One security personnel was reportedly killed as a result of the firing by the Pakistani troops from across the LoC on Thursday.

Meanwhile, senior civil and police officials are camping in Kargil which suffered a heavy damage due to the shelling by the Pakistani troops during the past two weeks.

Earlier, the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, accompanied by Lt-Gen Krishan Pal had visited Kargil on Tuesday.

The reports said that over 9000 population of Kargil had deserted the town following heavy shelling from across the border. However, General Krishan Pal had said at the press conference that 60 per cent of the about 15000 population of Kargil had returned.

NEW DELHI (UNI): India on Friday warned Pakistan that all necessary action would be taken by its armed forces to end the Pakistani intrusions in the Kargil sector since early this month and called upon Islamabad to desist from violating the international boundary and the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.

Reacting to Pakistan Foreign Ministry statement and that of Pakistan military spokesman yesterday on developments along the Line of Control, an External Affairs Ministry spokesman said in a strongly worded statement that the fact was that Pakistan had, under cover of intense shelling, pushed a large number of armed intruders.

He said "evidently, Pakistan hoped that these armed intruders would succeed in consolidating their positions so that they could pose a continuing threat to peace and security in Jammu and Kashmir".

However, the spokesman added that the Indian Army through effective and timely movement surrounded most of these infiltrating groups.

He said: "All necessary action will be taken by the armed forces to complete their task of putting an end to this intrusion. Pakistan should be aware from its own experience that such foolhardy ventures against India can never succeed.