Around 160 terrorists waiting across LoC to infiltrate, says Lieutenant General Paramjit Singh

Lieutenant General Paramjit Singh, who was involved in the planning of the 2016 surgical strikes, admitted that terror infrastructure in Pakistan remains intact and around 160 terrorists are waiting across the Line of Control (LoC) to infiltrate into Indian territory.

Singh, who took over as the general officer commanding of the Nagrota-based White Knight Corps -- commonly known as XVI Corps, said cross-border terrorism will stop only if Pakistan changes its policy and intentions. He, however, assured that the Indian Army was not letting up on "our preparedness and the counter-infiltration grid is strong enough to deal with infiltrators".

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"140 to 160 terrorists at different locations in Pakistan are being pushed into the state…The terror infrastructure is intact, and Pakistan's intentions have not changed. The Pakistan Army and the ISI's complicity in planning infiltration and terror attacks is evident and it continues," said Lt. Gen. Singh, who has served in all three regions of Jammu and Kashmir.

Speaking on ceasefire violations, Lt. Gen. Singh said India never initiates fire, but gives it back in adequate measure.  

"For troops on the LoC, there is no ceasefire... though periodic unprovoked firing by the Pakistan Army and attempts to cause harm to forward posts continue. We do not initiate fire, but we give it back in adequate measure. There is no let up on preparedness and our counter-infiltration grid is strong to deal with infiltrators," he said.

He added that the Indian Army anticipates that Pakistani troops will make an attempt to push infiltrators through heavy snow-bound areas and non-traditional routes.

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"We have all contingency plans ready. We have coordinated with all security agencies, and plans are being implemented smoothly," said Lt Gen Singh, who commanded a special forces' battalion that participated in the surgical strikes after the attack on an Army brigade in Uri in 2016.

(With PTI inputs)