Terror pads exist near India-Pak border: BSF DG

New Delhi [India], Sept 28 (ANI): There are a number of terror launch pads and camps across the India-Pakistan International Boundary (IB), with some of them just 5 to 7 kilometers away from the IB, informed the Border Security Force Directorate General KK Sharma on Friday.

"There are many training camps, launching pads along the borders and hundreds of terrorists get trained. It is their (Pakistan) state policy to push terrorists. (Former military ruler of Pakistan) Zia-ul-Haq had started the policy of thousand cuts," said Sharma who is superannuating on September 30.

Asserting that India has always retaliated to terror attacks from Pakistan, causing manifold damage, he underscored that India would continue to do so in future also. "We have given tough and befitting replies, causing manifold damage. We will do it again. We will see that in near future we do something," he said.

The revelations by the BSF chief have come on the second anniversary of the surgical strike, which India carried out on terror launch pads across the Line of Control.

Responding to the recent killing of a BSF jawan near the IB, he said, "It is an International Boundary. If something happens on IB it is not necessary we give an answer on IB. We have reserved our right of retaliation and time."

Saluting the bravery of Indian soldiers, he said, "It is a must for us to stand on duty close to the IB, we have to see that infiltration from Pakistan does not take place. An Indian soldier knows that he can be sniped yet it is his bravery and also a compulsion to stand for his duty."

On September 19, the body of a jawan, identified as Head Constable Narender Singh, was found with multiple bullet injuries on his upper body including the neck. The trooper was a part of the patrolling unit, which went ahead of the fence for clearing elephant grass when Pakistani rangers started shooting at them.

Elaborating on Pakistan's brutality inflicted on Singh, he said, “They had gone to clear the grass. In this case, we made tactical retreat. When they went back they found a cap. Some signs of him (Narender Singh) being dragged and blood stains were found. Bullet wounds were found in his body, and there were slit marks on his throat. The weapon of the soldier was also taken away by Pakistan. Rest is exaggerated."

Sharma further claimed that Pakistan is always in denial mode.

“Such incidents of terror were not there on the IB earlier, however,  now we think that there will be Border Action Teams this side as well,” he added.

Following the incident, India called off the meeting between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, which was scheduled to take place on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Responding to a question on the Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS), Sharma said, “This technology is foolproof, no doubt about it. But the rolling out of it will take quite some time. This is at present 11 km whereas borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh are 6000+ km. This year the ceasefire violations compared to the last two years is less."

“Till now, my men guarded, and in future, technology and equipment will take charge. We will shift to Quick reaction teams (QRT) mode. By doing this, on one hand, we will have more secure borders. Technology and equipment will guard the borders and we will be there. This way my men will be safe from extreme weather conditions and sniping. In the days to come, it will be more refined and cheaper. This is a milestone in the history of BSF,” he added.  (ANI)