All8217;s not quiet on the Other Front

ON THE FEROZEPUR BORDER, June 13: It's the Other Border. While the nation's attention is focused on the Kargil scenario, Indian and Pakis...

ON THE FEROZEPUR BORDER, June 13: It8217;s the Other Border. While the nation8217;s attention is focused on the Kargil scenario, Indian and Pakistani security forces are getting into full preparedness here in Punjab, especially the highly sensitive Ferozepur sector. Clearly stung by the Kargil experience, no chances are being taken on this very historic border. And, buoyed by India8217;s victory against Pakistan in the cricket match, troops here are spoiling for battle.

Helicopters conducting aerial surveys skim through the scorching haze; civilian buildings are now being occupied by soldiers. Border Observation Posts BOPs monitoring activities on the other side of the menacing eight-foot-wide barbed wire fence are now manned not only by the customary BSF jawans, but their counterparts in the army as well.

Senior officials say they are prepared for any eventuality. BSF DIG, Rao Brijender Singh, says: quot;Before 1962 we were sleeping tigers in this area. Now we are well prepared, and have created so many artificialobstacles here that it will be difficult for the enemy to puncture or negotiate them.quot;

However, the reaction among civilians is not as general. Farmers near the the Zero Line fear the destruction of their precious paddy crop, which are planting right now. In Daoke village near Attari, located smack in the firing line, a mere 500 metres from the fence, panchayat member Jaswant Singh says they plan to send their children to safer places at once. Memories of the last conflict, when the village was badly destroyed, still hurt.

A pointer to the tension is the panic migration from a few villages like Hazare and Rajo Gati 10 days ago. The forces had to intervene and convince the villagers to return to their homes.

On the other hand, in Masta Gati village in the Ferozepur sector 250 metres from the border villagers express their determination to stick it out regardless, as their forefathers had done in 1971. Recalls white-haired Tair Singh, quot;The last time around, we carried food for the soldiers in theirtrenches. The village was emptied only when a shell actually fell here.quot;

His sentiments are echoed by 28-year-old Satnam Singh of village Mahmudke who declares staunchly, quot;If we are scared, we will not be able to do anything.quot;

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It8217;s a remarkable spirit, given that this village has been ravaged by war and floods in the past. In fact, the inhabitants built pucca houses here only two or three years ago.

So what makes Punjab so important. Apart from economics 8212; Punjab on both sides being agriculturally rich 8212; it8217;s a matter of pride. For both countries, the loss of even an inch of land would be a matter of shame. More important, the 134-kilometre long Ferozepur sector, through which the Sutlej meanders, contains points of great strategic military significance.

Prime amongst these is the Hussainiwala bulge, where Pakistan got the better of India in the 1971 war. Adjoining the Hussainiwala barrage, it boasts a Joint Check Post of both India and Pakistan as well as a memorial to national heroes BhagatSingh and Sukhdev. This scenic point is only 25 km from Pakistan8217;s district headquarters 8211; Kasur.

Yet probably the most vulnerable area say officials, is the sprawling D.T Mal Enclave, west of Ferozepur. Here, the endless miles of elephant grass have for years been much used by infiltrators to enter the country.

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Pakistan8217;s weakest point in this sector is the Sehajra bulge near the Sutlej river, a point of which juts into India. A large number of Pakistani troops are said to be in position here.