Yrys
Army.ca Veteran
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Pakistan moves troops to India border
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- Pakistani troops have been moved to the Indian border
amid fears of an Indian ground incursion, two Pakistani military officials told CNN on
Friday. The troops were deployed from Pakistan's western border with Afghanistan,
where forces have been battling Taliban and al Qaeda militants in North West Frontier
Province and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas.
Pakistan's armed forces have been on high alert in anticipation of a possible conflict
with India following last month's terrorist attacks in Mumbai, which killed 160 people.
India believes the 10 men who carried out the attacks were trained at a terrorist camp
in the Pakistani-controlled part of Kashmir.
A senior official said the troops had been moved from areas where there are no active
military operations, and emphasized that troop levels have not been depleted in areas
where soldiers are battling militants, such as the Swat Valley and near Peshawar,
capital of the North West region. In addition to the move, leave for all military personnel
has been restricted and all troops were called back to active duty, the senior official said.
Asked for a reaction to the development, Husain Haqqani. Pakistani ambassador to the
United States, said, "Pakistan does not seek war, but we need to be vigilant against threats
of war emanating from the other side of our eastern border." He said Pakistan's conduct
since the Mumbai attack "has been consistent with international expectations. There is no
justification for threats against Pakistan." "Pakistan is also a victim of terrorism and will
continue to act against terrorists," he added. "We are a country of rule of law and need
evidence to prosecute anyone for the crime of terrorism."
U.S. National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said the United States has
been "in close contact" with India and Pakistan in probing the Mumbai attack and fighting
terror. He is hoping that "both sides will avoid taking steps that will unnecessarily raise
tensions during these already tense times."
In London, England, Pakistani envoy to Britain Wajid Shamsul Hasan countered the report,
noting that winter redeployments are normal and that only police and not the army had
their vacation canceled. While he criticized India's "coercive diplomacy" and regretted
India's "war hysteria," he underscored the fact that the two countries don't want to go
to war.
Tensions increased between nuclear rivals India and Pakistan following the November 26
attacks in Mumbai, where militants launched a coordinated strike against luxury hotels,
a Jewish center and other targets.
India has criticized Islamabad for not doing enough to counter terrorism, and it has
accused elements within the Pakistan government and military of complicity in fueling
terrorism in the region.
On Thursday, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi warned India to refrain
from launching any strikes against Pakistan, according to a report in The Nation newspaper.
Another unnamed Pakistani military official told CNN that the Pakistani military has been taking
precautionary measures to safeguard borders in the face of mounting military threats from
India over the Mumbai attacks. "Naturally, you have to take certain steps to stem that
expected tide of Indian operations," he said, "You can't fight on both fronts so we have
redeployed certain military elements from the western border to the northern border
to meet Indian operations."
The official said that while Pakistan has tolerated U.S. missile strikes from Afghanistan
into Pakistan, he believes the government and public would not stand for an Indian incursion.
In the Indian capital of New Delhi on Friday, three military chiefs briefed Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh on the security situation. An Indian officer said Indian soldiers have
spotted Pakistani troop movements along the Line of Control in Kashmir. The Line of
Control divides the disputed region between the area controlled by India and the area
administered by Pakistan.
Indian defense spokesman Sitanshu Kar said India isn't carrying out a troop buildup along
its western borders but "is monitoring the situation closely." He also said he is "not aware"
of military reports about Pakistani troop mobilization along the Indian border.
"But we are keeping a vigil," Kar said.
Since the division of the subcontinent in 1947, India and Pakistan have fought three wars,
including two over the disputed territory of Kashmir -- now wracked by an 18-year, bloody
separatist campaign that authorities say has left at least 43,000 dead. There also was a
limited border conflict in 1999 between the countries in Kashmir.
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- Pakistani troops have been moved to the Indian border
amid fears of an Indian ground incursion, two Pakistani military officials told CNN on
Friday. The troops were deployed from Pakistan's western border with Afghanistan,
where forces have been battling Taliban and al Qaeda militants in North West Frontier
Province and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas.
Pakistan's armed forces have been on high alert in anticipation of a possible conflict
with India following last month's terrorist attacks in Mumbai, which killed 160 people.
India believes the 10 men who carried out the attacks were trained at a terrorist camp
in the Pakistani-controlled part of Kashmir.
A senior official said the troops had been moved from areas where there are no active
military operations, and emphasized that troop levels have not been depleted in areas
where soldiers are battling militants, such as the Swat Valley and near Peshawar,
capital of the North West region. In addition to the move, leave for all military personnel
has been restricted and all troops were called back to active duty, the senior official said.
Asked for a reaction to the development, Husain Haqqani. Pakistani ambassador to the
United States, said, "Pakistan does not seek war, but we need to be vigilant against threats
of war emanating from the other side of our eastern border." He said Pakistan's conduct
since the Mumbai attack "has been consistent with international expectations. There is no
justification for threats against Pakistan." "Pakistan is also a victim of terrorism and will
continue to act against terrorists," he added. "We are a country of rule of law and need
evidence to prosecute anyone for the crime of terrorism."
U.S. National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said the United States has
been "in close contact" with India and Pakistan in probing the Mumbai attack and fighting
terror. He is hoping that "both sides will avoid taking steps that will unnecessarily raise
tensions during these already tense times."
In London, England, Pakistani envoy to Britain Wajid Shamsul Hasan countered the report,
noting that winter redeployments are normal and that only police and not the army had
their vacation canceled. While he criticized India's "coercive diplomacy" and regretted
India's "war hysteria," he underscored the fact that the two countries don't want to go
to war.
Tensions increased between nuclear rivals India and Pakistan following the November 26
attacks in Mumbai, where militants launched a coordinated strike against luxury hotels,
a Jewish center and other targets.
India has criticized Islamabad for not doing enough to counter terrorism, and it has
accused elements within the Pakistan government and military of complicity in fueling
terrorism in the region.
On Thursday, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi warned India to refrain
from launching any strikes against Pakistan, according to a report in The Nation newspaper.
Another unnamed Pakistani military official told CNN that the Pakistani military has been taking
precautionary measures to safeguard borders in the face of mounting military threats from
India over the Mumbai attacks. "Naturally, you have to take certain steps to stem that
expected tide of Indian operations," he said, "You can't fight on both fronts so we have
redeployed certain military elements from the western border to the northern border
to meet Indian operations."
The official said that while Pakistan has tolerated U.S. missile strikes from Afghanistan
into Pakistan, he believes the government and public would not stand for an Indian incursion.
In the Indian capital of New Delhi on Friday, three military chiefs briefed Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh on the security situation. An Indian officer said Indian soldiers have
spotted Pakistani troop movements along the Line of Control in Kashmir. The Line of
Control divides the disputed region between the area controlled by India and the area
administered by Pakistan.
Indian defense spokesman Sitanshu Kar said India isn't carrying out a troop buildup along
its western borders but "is monitoring the situation closely." He also said he is "not aware"
of military reports about Pakistani troop mobilization along the Indian border.
"But we are keeping a vigil," Kar said.
Since the division of the subcontinent in 1947, India and Pakistan have fought three wars,
including two over the disputed territory of Kashmir -- now wracked by an 18-year, bloody
separatist campaign that authorities say has left at least 43,000 dead. There also was a
limited border conflict in 1999 between the countries in Kashmir.