No trace of Pak troop pullout
By Vijay Mohan
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov, 11 -- Even a month after Pakistan military ruler, Gen Pervez Musharraf stated that Pakistani formations deployed along the Indo-Pakistan border would be withdrawn, there are still no signs of any major de-induction of troops from across the border.

Sources say Pakistani forces continue to man their operational areas and have been reported to carry out exercises, which involve large-scale movement of troops and are aimed at testing the military potential of the formations. Though General Musharraf stated that there would be no change in troop deployments along the Line of Control, he had this week, reiterated to pursue his policy for de-escalation along the international border.

The sources say there are also intelligence reports that indicate Pakistan intentions to create some trouble along the Akhnoor-Chaamb axis, a strategically vital but vulnerable area in Indian defence.

"Despite claims by the Pakistani leadership there have been no reports of any significant change in the deployment of Pakistani formations along the border in the aftermath of the Kargil operations," a source said. "Only certain service units and auxiliary support units have returned to their peacetime locations, but infantry, armoured and artillery formations continue to remain in forward areas," he added.

During the Kargil conflict there had been heavy troop deployments by both sides along the international border in the western and south western sectors. While the process of de-induction of troops to a stipulated extent on the Indian side, even from the Kargil battle zone, is in the final stages, reports of noticeable activities by Pakistani formations, including on-going modifications to static defences and tactical movements, continue to filter in.

While elements of Pakistan army’s Rawalpindi-based 10 Corps had conducted military operations in the Kargil sector during the conflict, with support from elements of the Peshawar-based 11 Corps -- a strike outfit, other formations, both defensive as well as offensive, had been put on operational alert.

Still poised across the Western sector are Pakistan’s Lahore-based 4 Corps, Gujranwala-based 30 Corps and Bhawalpur-based 31 Corps all three of which are classified as defensive formations.

As per assessed deployment, elements of 10 Infantry Division and 11 Infantry Division as well as an independent armoured brigade, all of which are on the Order of Battle (ORBAT) of 4 Corps, are spread across the Lahore-Fazilka axis. To its north, along the Lahore-Akhnoor axis are deployed 30 Corp’s 8 and 15 Infantry divisions. On the larger stretch from Bhawalnagar to Bijnot (opposite the Sriganganagar -- Jaisalmer axis) are known to be elements of 14 and 35 infantry divisions, two independent armoured brigades and an independent mechanised brigade.

On the other hand, a number of sub-units on ORBAT of Karachi-based 5 Corps, a defensive formation whose deployment axis extends from south of Rahimyar Khan to the Arabian Sea, are reported to have returned to their peacetime locations.

What is being taken note of by the Indian side are large-scale military exercises being conducted by the Pakistani army. Elements of Pakistan’s most potent offensive formation, Mangla-based 1 Corps, which includes the elite 6 Armoured division (Kharion) and the 2 Artillery division (Gujranwala), besides two Infantry divisions and an independent armoured brigade have been reported to be conducting manoeuvres opposite the Jammu-Chaamb sector.

Another significant exercise reported is that by the Peshawar-based 7 Division (11 Corps) and the Quetta-based 33 Division (12 Corps), both of which are offensive formations. The exercise was conducted north of the river Chenab.

Earlier, 1 Corps had also conducted exercises with the Mangla-based 19 Infantry division, an elite formation directly controlled by the General headquarters and earmarked for holding as well as limited offensive operations.

The sources say these exercises are part of the Pakistani army’s winter training schedule and are aimed at testing their offensive capability. "There have been reports of unit and brigade-level exercises, with indications of conducting division level exercises later," a source said. "Though there are still no indications of conducting corps-level exercises, the manner in which their formations are deployed, they can undertake such an exercise easily and with little warning," he added.

The ability to conduct corps level exercise indicates the capability to launch an offensive.