But Pak doesn8217;t give up

DRASS, JULY 26: The Pak Army launched an aggressive counter attack on Sando Top and Zulu Top -- the peaks in Drass sector recovered by In...

DRASS, JULY 26: The Pak Army launched an aggressive counter attack on Sando Top and Zulu Top 8212; the peaks in Drass sector recovered by Indian troops after a fierce fight on Sunday.

The Indian Army lost seven soldiers and 51, including a young Captain, were injured in the 13-hour-long battle. Most received bullet and splinter injuries. Pakistan too is reported to have suffered high casualties though the exact number was not known.

Here too, the heroes of the Tiger Hill victory 8212; the 16 Grenadiers 8212; repulsed the determined Pakistani attack. Led by Lt Colonel Nar Bahadur Thapa, the Grenadiers, including Major Kaizad Bhaya, Major Ajit Singh, Captain Vishal Thapa, Captain Vipul Singh Rajput and Captain Uday Burarkar, fought bravely to defend the two peaks.

8220;These are the two most strategic heights along the Line of Control LoC and whoever controls them also controls the entire Drass sector. The Indian Army, occupying it at present, can keep tabs on the movement of the enemy soldiers. Pakistan will havethe same advantage if they control these two peaks,8221; said a senior officer at Drass Brigade Headquarters.

So, barely had the Indian infantry soldiers established base at the two crucial peaks yesterday that Pakistan launched a fierce counter offensive last night. The enemy resorted to heavy artillery firing and shelling of the two peaks and also of Drass Brigade headquarters through the night.

8220;The Pakistani counter attack started around 4:30 last evening. We were prepared but their attack was extremely ferocious. It was not only to harass us or make things difficult for us, it was obviously a determined attack to regain control over the peaks,8221; another officer said.

The fact that the attack was very organised and well planned made it evident that it was launched by the Pakistan army regulars. 8220;The infantry soldiers came in waves and were well covered by the Pakistani artillery. They were definitely not Mujahedeens or any other so-called infiltrators. They were fresh troops brought in by thePakistani army to replace the soldiers of Northern Light Infantry. The sector is otherwise completely clear of intruders,8221; added the officer.

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Pakistan also resorted to heavy shelling of other areas including Peak 5353 in Drass sector and in Kargil. Peak 5353 too is under the control of Indian troops but Pakistan was trying to dislodge them with continuous shelling of the peak. An Indian Oil Corporation IOC depot, located on a plateau on the Kargil-Leh section of the highway, was also hit by Pakistani shells early this morning. As shells landed on barrels of mobile oil, coolant and gear oil, there was a huge fire in the IOC compound, which raged for nearly five hours.

Fighting also continued in Mushkoh Valley where Pakistani intruders continued to put up a stiff resistance and refused to vacate positions held by them. Sources said that the Directors General of Military Operations DGMOs of both the countries will meet again on Tuesday to talk about the prevailing situation. 8220;Some solution 8212; which isalso practical at the ground level 8212; has to be found soon,8221; said an officer.

Though both the sides had agreed that there would be no posts within one kilometer on both sides of the LoC, Pakistan was yet to implement it. Indian troops, on the other hand, today decided to stop shelling as a Confidence Building Measure.