dna at LoC: In Leepa Valley, the only communication with Pakistan is through gunfire

For the first time in the 14 years since the Kargil war, the Pakistan Army’s 26 Punjab regiment and the Indian Army’s 17 Garhwal Regiment are face-to-face again in Kupwara district’s remote Leepa Valley.

Pointing towards the Pakistani posts of Yedhin 1 & 2, Chandmastana and Pocket 1, a senior Army officer boasts of India’s advantageous positions in the Leepa Valley unlike in Poonch and Krishnaghati, where Pakistan has the advantage of heights and infrastructure. “The only communication we have with the Pakistan here is through gunfire. There are no flag meetings as in other areas,” says a Colonel.

Even so the area has witnessed 100 infiltration attempts and 15 militants have reportedly been killed. “It is like a sieve. We do detect and eliminate them. But some of them get through,” says an officer of 1-Gorkha Rifles. Over the past one year, the Army has lost 10 soldiers in this region. The fence has made the job of detecting infiltrations somewhat easier. But others in the Army believe that while the fence has checked infiltration, it has also hampered India’s offensive and surprise capabilities. “Pakistani binoculars are constantly watching the fence gates and noting our movements. In fact, it has reduced the areas for them to keep tabs on, since earlier they had to focus on a large area dotted with ravines and thick foliage,” argues another officer. 

In Delhi, however, the security grid is seeking Rs 2,500 crore in additional funds to make it an all-weather fence that can withstand snowfall and modern techniques of incursion. Sources say the proposal is awaiting a nod from the PMO.

Leading the Pakistani offence so far are its border action teams, groups of 25 men comprising militants and soldiers. The ceasefire violations so far have also been occasional and restricted to medium and small arms.

In Tootmar Khan Gali (TMG), a ravine near Leepa Valley, a porter points to the Bidrun ravines and recalls that in 1992, around 80 militants were killed there after a fierce battle that continued for many days; gunship helicopters had to be used to flush out militants. Brigadier Sanjeev Langeh, commanding the TMG brigade, is confident that any attempts to violate the Line of Control will be met with an appropriate response. “We have the wherewithal to encircle their posts.

But from our side, we maintain calm,” he said. However, at both the Paiwan Zali artillery unit manned with Bofors guns (25km from LoC) and BSF artillery’s advanced Taj camp, the big guns have been taken out of the sheds and are being oiled every day for any eventuality.