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Journalism of Courage
NEW DELHI, JULY 26: After more than 75 days of heavy fighting, the Army today announced that it has evicted the last of the Pakistani intruders from the Kargil Sector and restored the sanctity of the Line of Control LoC.
8220;The intruders who had been occupying three pockets of intrusion 8212; one each in Drass, Mushkoh Valley and Batalik sub-sectors 8212; even after the withdrawal by the rest of the Pakistani forces on July 17 have been forcibly evicted by our troops,8221; said Director General Military Operations DGMO Lt Gen N C Vij in his first interaction with the media since the Kargil conflict began.
He added: 8220;The entire Kargil area has been cleared of the intruders. Our troops are on the LoC.8221;
Lt Gen Vij, however, refused to specify whether the new turn of events signals the end of Operation Vijay other than that 8220;it has been a great success and our mission has been accomplished8221;. He added that Indian and Pakistani troops are now occupying positions very close to and along the LoC amid heavyexchange of artillery fire.
There also reports that Pakistan has inducted a force equivalent to two brigades recently in the Kargil Sector across the LoC. Besides, it has started replacing some of the Northern Light Infantry NLI battalions which suffered heavy casualties during the conflict.
8220;The shelling by both sides is a regular feature in these areas, it only intensified during the Kargil conflict. This situation is likely to persist till both sides reach some understanding. We shall continue to exercise extra vigil and remain in a full state of preparedness for any eventuality,8221; the DGMO said.
Referring to his weekly telephonic discussions with his Pakistan counterpart as well as the meeting regarding the withdrawal, Lt Gen Vij said there was an agreement that no new posts would be created nor would fresh deployment of troops be carried out within 1 km of the LoC. 8220;This is part of a confidences building measure. But the Pakistanis have not yet implemented the agreement on ground,8221; said Lt GenVij.
About manning the LoC from now on, he said troops are being deployed in such a manner 8212; especially along the 140-km stretch in the Kargil Sector where the intrusion took place 8212; that there are no big gaps. He added that the terrain and climate is not making it easy.
Efforts are also on to strengthen electronic surveillance along with the acquisition of the high-tech equipment and sensors. Besides data from satellites will also be used in this regard, he said.
He also ruled out the possibility of another Kargil type 8220;misadventure by Pakistan to alter the LoC8221;, saying: 8220;There is no chance, we are fully prepared to meet any challenge.8221;
He welcomed the setting up of the Subrahmanyam Committee to review the developments leading to the Kargil conflicit saying its findings would immensely help the armed forces to enhance their capabilities.
He said the Army is also analysing the entire Kargil operations through a review being undertaken at the command-level and headed by a lieutenant general.This, he pointed out, was part of the After Action Reports8217; prepared after any operation.
Referring to a media report about a letter from Brigadier Surinder Singh to the Army Chief, he said the news item was 8220;full of factual contradictions and inaccuracies and reflected poor knowledge of the chain of command in the Army8221;.
