NEW DELHI, Aug 24 (UNI): Cross-border infiltration in Kashmir is once again on the increase with logistic infrastructure of terrorist training camps inside Pakistan and in Pak-occupied Kashmir remaining intact, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee informed the Rajya Sabhatoday.
Though there was a reduction in the number of infiltration attempts from across the border in the initial five months of the current year, such incidents showed an increase during June and July, and this fact has been repeatedly conveyed by the Army to the Pakistan Director General of Military Operations, the Minister said during Question Hour.
Pakistan continues to deny involvement of its troops in abetting infiltration, the Minister added.
Meanwhile, from highs of 85 and 98 intercepted infiltration attempts during 2002 and 2003, respectively, with corresponding assessed infiltration of 1395 and 1373, it had come down to 68 intercepted infiltration bids and 349 assessed infiltrations, Minister Mukherjee said.
The corresponding figures for January-July this year were 37 and 91, respectively, he added.
The Army, meanwhile, continued to be continuously engaged in counter-infiltration and counter-terrorist operations based on operational necessity.
And during the January-July period this year, the Army had killed 571 terrorists in such operations suffering a loss of 79 of its own personnel, the Minister said.
The corresponding figures for the past three years were 1522 and 222 (2002); 1397 and 228 (2003); and 1397 and 167 (2004).
Meanwhile, 333 civilians lost their lives during the first seven months of this year as compared to a high of 1008 during 2002.
The corresponding figures for 2003 and 2004 were 795 and 707, respectively, the Minister said.
