BJP demands Antony's statement on Kashmir infiltration bid

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Thursday demanded a statement from Defence Minister A.K. Antony on the gunfight between the army and infiltrators in Jammu and Kashmir's Keran sector.

The BJP said the operation was underway though Prime Minister Manmohan Singh held talks with Pakistani Premier Nawaz Sharif Sep 29 on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meeting.

BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said that talks cannot be held with Pakistan alongside terror strikes and infiltration.

"We can't talk peace alongside terror strikes and infiltrations. The BJP demands that defence minister must make a statement and take the nation into confidence about the exact status on our borders," Javadekar said.

He said reports about continued fighting for the past 10 days between the army and infiltrators, "supported by Pakistani regulars/special force", in the Keran sector was a matter of serious concern.

"Pakistan is indulging in all kinds of provocative activities along the border. More ceasefire violations have occurred this year as compared to past eight years. There has been a sudden spurt in infiltrations supported by Pakistani regulars and incidences of ambush on Indian troops," he said.

Javadekar said the army's engagement in preventing infiltration bid in the sector started Sep 23 and was still continuing.

"The country has been briefed about it yesterday only. It means that when Manmohan Singh met his Pakistani counterpart in New York Sep 29, the Indian Army was intensely engaged in thwarting this Pakistan-backed infiltration," he said.

The army Wednesday denied reports that militants have taken over unoccupied army posts or a village on the Indian side of the Line of Control (LoC) in the Keran sector.

Lt.General Gurmit Singh, General Officer Commanding of the Srinagar-based 15 Corps, said 30-35 militants had crossed into the Indian side of the LOC eight days back and were surrounded by troops who engaged them in gunfight. He said 15 guerrillas were killed while five soldiers sustained injuries.