Pak army says no additional deployment in PoK, Gilgit-Baltistan

Arun Joshi

Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 2

Pakistan army on Thursday refuted all the reports suggesting that it had inducted additional troops in PoJK and Gilgit-Baltistan to ally with China to open a two-front situation, with India already facing a tense standoff with Chinese troops in Eastern Ladakh. However, the Pakistan army’s denials are being taken with a pinch of salt by the border people who have witnessed movement of troops on the other side.

At these places LoC is mostly demarcated by rivers, which are seven to 20 feet wide. The border residents can watch each and every movement on the other side of the Neelum river, which at places is just three to four metre wide.

These reports had caused consternation on the borders, particularly in the Gurez Valley and other areas facing Neelum district of Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir and also in Ladakh where Gilgit-Baltistan lies just across the LoC.

Pakistan had used these areas as launching pads to help its troops intrude into the Himalayan heights in Ladakh ahead of the Kargil war in the summer of 1999.

#DGISPR Major General Babar Iftikhar #India Media is spreading #FakeNews

Their is No additional deployment of #PakistanArmy troops along #LOC in #Gilgit #Baltistan & No use of #Skardu Airbase by #China

We vehemently deny presence of Chinese troops in #Pakistan#ISPR pic.twitter.com/V6uroqkcgb

— Pakistan Armed Forces 🇵🇰(Patriot) (@PakistanFauj) July 2, 2020

In the first response to the reports carried mostly by the Indian news channels since Wednesday, Director General of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Babar Iftikhar termed them as “false”.

“News circulating in Indian electronic and social media claiming additional deployment of Pakistan army troops along Line of Control in Gilgit-Baltistan and alleged use of Skardu airbase by China is false, irresponsible and far from truth,” said Major General Babar Iftikhar.

Continuing with his assertion that no additional deployment is being made, the DG ISPR, the designated official spokesperson for the armed forces of Pakistan, tweeted, “No such movement or induction of additional troops has taken place”. He went on to chastise the reports by saying, “We also vehemently deny presence of Chinese troops in Pakistan.”

Notwithstanding denial by the Pakistan army, the fact is that there are PLA troops in Gilgit-Baltistan and they maintain security of the projects being set up or run by the Chinese companies. This is factual position since 2009, which was widely reported by the Western media that time.

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.