Artillery fire in Kargil, Siachen increases LoC temperature

The artillery exchange on the glacier and Kargil began early this morning and continued intermittently. The Indian Army retaliated using medium artillery too in the Siachen and Kargil-Batalik sectors. ‘‘We have effectively used the 155-mm (Bofors) howitzers in Siachen and Kargil. We have well dug-out gun positions and our response silenced them,’’ sources at the Army headquarters said.

The Army feels Pakistan is in no mood to reduce tension along the LoC. ‘‘This is proved by the fact that they tried to push infiltrators into the Uri sector only three days ago. They have also resorted to heavy mortar shelling in Poonch and Akhnoor sectors,’’ an official said.

Defence minister George Fernandes, during his three-day tour of the international border in Rajasthan and along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir, gave the Army the objective of the deployment. ‘‘He made it clear the aim of the deployment and war, if it happens, is to end cross-border terrorism. This time we will use all means under our command,’’ the official said. Fernandes made it clear to the troops that war may not end terrorism but will certainly create a situation where Pakistan will find it difficult to persist with it.

The Army has also postponed military courses like the staff college. The entire Services headquarters will continue to function on Saturdays, Sundays and all gazetted holidays. In view of the increased apprehension about a possible terrorist strike, an additional layer of security cordon has been thrown around South Block and Sena Bhavan. The security cordon is of a parachute battalion which complements the Delhi Police security around the defence headquarters.