After surgical strikes, Pakistan mobilises its reserves; India readies matching response
Following surgical strikes by India in PoK, a wary Pakistan has started mobilising its troops, reserves and mechanised infantry along the border and in response, India has stepped up its preparedness to deal with any misadventure by Islamabad.
In Short
- Pakistan has begun mobilising its troops along the border with India.
- Pakistan has moved its mechanised infantry along the border after surgical strikes by India.
- India has also put in place a matching-response mechanism along the border with Pakistan.
Perturbed by Indian surgical strikes inside Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Islamabad has begun mobilising its troops, reserves and mechanised infantry along the Indian borders. According to highly placed official sources, the intelligence agencies have confirmed mobilisation of Pakistani troops.
India is also fully prepared, with matching-response mechanisms already activated to frustrate any Pakistani foolhardiness, top military sources said.
READ| Nawaz Sharif breaks silence on surgical strike, says don't want war with India
FORCES AT MAXIMUM ALERT
Satellites, radar chains and technical-intelligence facilities are monitoring western borders and airspace 24x7, the sources told India Today.
The officers in the military operations' centre are constantly reviewing inputs, most senior security sources said. Vigil, they added, has been raised to the highest level.
On Thursday night, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, national security advisor Ajit Doval and army chief General Dalbir Singh together monitored India's preparedness till 11 pm.
READ| How Indian para commandos crawled through enemy territory to kill 50 terrorists in PoK
PUNJAB ON ALERT
Punjab remained on high alert even as evacuation from villages along the international border with Pakistan continued on Friday. While social media was abuzz with unconfirmed reports of Pakistan army's heavy build up along the border, the authorities urged people not to panic.
The Indian Army, the Indian Air Force and the Border Security Force were put on high alert in Punjab and neighbouring states. Army convoys, carrying artillery guns, could be seen moving towards the border belt in preparation to thwart any retaliatory move from Pakistan for the LoC strike.
The IAF has also been put on high alert with forward air bases on the western front in full preparedness. IAF fighter jets carried out sorties over some parts of Punjab as a preventive measure.
ALSO READ:
Drones filmed operation, 2 soldiers hurt by mines: All you need to know about the surgical strike
Who strategised the Indian Army's surgical strikes across the LoC?
Claims denied: How Pakistan media is treating India's surgical strike