Pak may step up anti-India militancy post Osama: Army

The Army today said Pakistan may sneak in more militants into Jammu and Kashmir to divert attention from its "internal problems" after the killing of al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden.

"It is quite likely that Pakistan under pressure, because of so many questions being asked (about Osama), could adopt a strategy of diverting attention which they have always done," General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Army's northern command Lt General K T Parnaik told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.

He said as one of the tactic, Pakistan can send an increasing number of militants to Jammu and Kashmir.

"And one of the ways is to push in more people (militants) into J-K so that the attention gets diverted from their internal problems to external areas," Lt Gen Parnaik said.

The senior Army commander, however, said it is "not likely" there will be any "direct immediate fallout" of Bin Laden killing on India.
 
The Army commander was speaking on sidelines of the two-day "Army Mela" being held at the Regimental Centre of Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry which was presided over the the state Governor N N Vohra.
 
Lt Gen Parnaik said a large number of attempts by militants to infiltrate into this side have been made since last month.
 
"To the best of our knowledge they have not succeeded in infiltrating as yet. There are reports of few groups having infiltrated already, but they will have to be confirmed on ground by us as well as by other security and intelligence agencies," he said.
 
Lt Gen Parnaik said the rehabilitation policy formed by Omar Abdullah-led government for militants in PoK who want to renounce violence and return home was a "good policy".
 
"We feel this is a good policy. After all these are our people who have been misled and who have been staying in Pakistan and are carrying out terrorist activity for too long," the Army commander said.
 
He said "calling back" these people and rehabilitating them here will prove to be "a good measure".
 
"In fact, it will call Pakistan's bluff because they keep saying they have nothing to do (with Kashmir) except for moral and diplomatic support. It just shows that they have been involved for too long," he said.