Indian troops recapture Batalik top

The sources said the operation to dislodge the infiltrators from main and highest post in Batalik started late last night with the help of field guns.

8220;The recapture of the Batalik top has given a severe jolt to infiltrators and Pakistani army regulars who have no alternative but to run away from the area,8221; they said.

Gunbattles were on in different areas of Kargil and Drass, they added.

A BBC correspondent meanwhile quoted a Pakistani Inter Services Public Relations Directorate spokesman as saying on Thursday that the Pakistani army had established itspositions on high points in the Kargil and Drass sectors from where it can block the Srinagar-Leh highway at will.

Brigadier Rashid Qureshi claimed the Pakistani army suffered only 27 casualties, being stationed on high and advantageous positions, PTI reported from Islamabad.

Qureshi8217;s choice of venue for making this admission is surprising 8212; he chose Peshawar in the North West Frontier Province NWFP, instead of Islamabad.

This is the first time since the Kargil crisis that Qureshi has held a press conference outside the Pakistani capital.

There are also reports that three 13-bogey trains have transported troops and weapons from Kohat in the NWFP to Sialkot in Pakistan.