D E R A B A B A

NANAK GURDASPUR: The Army sees no threat of a war with Pakistan over the JKLF plan to march across the line of control (LO) into Kashmir on Tuesday according to authoritative sources quoted by Times of India.

Any possibility of a war in Kashmir would entail the immediately mobilization and deployment of the Army in an operation role in Punjab-as this is the area where the two countries are likely to fight the strategic battles.

Driving along the international border (IB) covering nearly 550 4m of Punjab from Fazika in Ferozepur district to Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district this correspondent saw no signs of war mobilization.

Otherwise the border would be buzzing with troops being moved into their operational groupings and movement of heavy weapons like artillery and armor to strategic locations an alert for war logistics and immediate forward deployment and activation of air defence systems. But none of this was happening.

The other side of the border looked equally quiet. Pakistan has not deployed its troops into the forward defences which are being manned by the Rangers its paramilitary forces. It was only during India’s “Brasstacks” exercise in the winter of 1987 and in April 1990 when the disturbances in the Valley had peaked that the Pakistan army had moved into forward defences in Punjab.

The Indian Army which holds the second line of defence in Punjab (the forward line of defence is with the Border Security Force) has however made tangible changes in its force structure and tactics to suit its present three-fold role in Punjab.

The first role assigned to the Army is to check the infiltration of both men and arms. As this task involves the forward defense’s border the Army and the BSF share the responsibility usually under the formers instructions.

This coordination is especially in the sensitive areas where the Ravi and Sutlej rivers meander along the IB making border fencing unfeasible and infiltration probable.

The second task assigned to the Army is that of assisting the state authorities in the conduct of the Punjab elections slated for February 19by suppressing terrorism in the urban areas and militancy in the rural and border belt.

And lastly to restore the confidence of the people in the rural areas.

More than nine divisions and an equal number of independent brigades totaling (nearly 120000 troops) have been deployed in Punjab. The controlling centers are in Jalandhar Bhatinda and Patiala with the overall control with the Western Army Command at Chandimandir.

While three divisions (30000 troops) assisted by another 10000 troops are deployed in the operational and border-sealing roles at the JB the remaining forces are meant to assist during the elections according to sources.

“Militancy in Punjab is restricted to the border areas and certain sensitive areas which are the strongholds of various militant groups. These include the nearly 180-sqkm belt around Tarn Taran including Patti Sakhira Tharu

Behla Sange Naushera Panwan Zira Bhikiwind the Mand area (low-lying areas north of the Sutlej around Harike which has traditionally been a haven for smugglers) and Mehta Chowk which is the base of the Damdami Taksal

In this area of Amritsar district since 1984 the militants have carved out “fiefdoms” centered on their native villages. Till the Army moved in here in December 1990 for the “Rakahak-I” operation the militants called the shots.

Now with two Army brigades (nearly 6000 troops) and 15000 paramilitary forces operating in this area the hard-core militants who forma small percentage have mostly gone underground. However militants of the Babbar Khalsa group are known to make regular appearances: in their “fiefdoms”.

It is for this reason that as Mokhtiar Singh of Bhikiwind village said even when the “boys” are on the run they are still feared.

“The Army is here only for a limited period and the police are usually ineffective” said Malkiat Singh of Pati Tehsil.

Despite the Army’s protestations that it will be around till normalcy returns to the state there are few takers of this view among the natives of the militant infested areas.

Article extracted from this publication >> February 21, 1992