New Delhi: Amidst ongoing tension between India and Pakistan after abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, nearly 60 terrorists have entered into Indian territory in the last two month in attempts to carry out major attacks across the country.
Sources in the defence establishment said that the presence of 500 terrorists across the Line of Control (LoC) is the highest figure in the last three years.
In view of upcoming festive seasons, routine alerts have been put in major cities. The sources added that there is a perceived threat that Pakistan based terrorist organizations could plan a major attack in India between the United Nations General Assembly in New York this week and the Financial Action Task Force review of Pakistan on October 12 or it could happen after these two events.
While speaking to reporters at Chennai's Officers Training Academy, Indian Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat said that the number of infiltrators keeps fluctuating based on the weather pattern. "I would say yes there are at least 500 people who are waiting to infiltrate and that is the minimum number," he said.
Officials explained that these 500 terrorists are present in the overall terrorist infrastructure across the LoC, including at the training camps and launch pads. "There are about 250 to 270 terrorists at the launch pads, waiting to cross over," an official said.
Gen Rawat said that the Balakot terrorist camp has recently been reactivated by Pakistan.
On February 26, India carried out air strikes on this Jaish-e-Mohammed facility, following the Pulwama terrorist attack which killed 40 Central Reserve Police Force personnel.
He said that the Balakot camp was destroyed by the cross border strike and "that is why people have got away from there and now it has been reactivated."
"There are also very strong inputs that infiltration attempts will take place in the next three to four days, especially through the Keran and Uri sectors," an official said.(UNI)