Militants to increase infiltration bid in Kashmir Valley: GOC

Army's top commander in Kashmir today said militants in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) will increase their attempts to infiltrate into the Valley over the next two months but asserted that they will be in for a "surprise".
   
"In the coming weeks and through the month of May and June, you are going to witness large scale infiltration attempts, but at the same time, let me also reiterate that they (militants) are going to be surprised," General Officer Command (GOC) of Srinagar-based 15 Corps Lt General S A Hasnain told reporters here, 120 kms from Srinagar.
   
He said an estimated 700 militants were waiting at various launchpads to infiltrate into the state.
   
Hasnain said heavy snowfall along the Line of Control (LoC) has hampered the militants' infiltration plans.
   
"We had a very late winter, lots of snow. I have personally visited many of the passes and the areas on the LoC particularly in Gurez and Macchil sector. The levels of snow have been very high in the last week of April by and large it has been very difficult this year so far and that is why there have been no infiltration," he said.
   
The Army commander, however, said it was not impossible for "highly motivated" infiltrators to come in.