Army against easing pressure on Jamp;K ultras

He did not rule out possibility of escalation of confrontation on borders in coming summer and Pakistan bid to capture posts in Siachen and elsewhere along the Line of Control LoC but said the Army was definitely better geared up now to meet the challenge.

He said asper the assessments made by the experts, Pakistan suffered heavy casualties in exchange of fire with Indian troops guarding northern borders and Siachen last year. Sihota said 321 casualties were reported on Pakistan side as against 83 casualties suffered by Indian troops in the skirmishes that took place between the two armies in Kashmir and Ladakh regions in 1998.

In addition, 952 bunkers and field fortifications of Pakistan were destroyed when Indian troops retaliated firing and shelling in Kargil, Siachen and elsewhere along the LoC in Kashmir last year, he said. As against this, 216 bunkers and field fortifications on Indian side were damaged by Pak shelling in Kargil, Siachen and elsewhere along the LoC, he said.