There are about 2,500 militants in various camps in Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and the intelligence and security agencies of the neighbouring country are actively supporting them in their infiltration bids into India.
This was stated by the government in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
“The terror infrastructure in Pakistan or PoK remains intact and infiltration attempts from across the border still continue to pose a challenge to the security forces. Reports indicate that there are 42 militants camps functioning across the borders, 25 in PoK and 17 in Pakistan with about 2,500 militants,” Minister of State for Home Affairs Mullappally Ramachandran told the House in a written reply to a question.
Pointing out that Pakistan intelligence and securities agencies were actively supporting terrorists in infiltration bids, he noted that “the India-Pakistan border, particularly the Jammu region, is highly vulnerable to infiltration from Pakistan side… Pakistan-based terrorists with the support of Pak Rangers/Pak Army, often make abortive attempts to sneak into the Indian territory.”
However, there was some decline in infiltration attempts in the last five years — 535 in 2007, 342 in 2008, 485 in 2009, 489 in 2010, 247 in 2011 and 249 till October this year.
On withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act from Jammu and Kashmir, Mr. Ramachandran said: “Following the visit of an all-party delegation to Jammu and Kashmir in September 2010 and in pursuance of the decision taken by the government, the State government has been requested to review the notification of the areas as ‘disturbed areas’ under the Armed Forces (Jammu and Kashmir) Special Powers Act, 1990.”
