Indian army chief confirms Pakistan troop movements
DAWN.COM | Pakistan | Indian army chief confirms Pakistan troop movements
NEW DELHI: The head of India's army on Wednesday confirmed that Pakistan has redeployed troops along the two countries' tense border but said his forces were ready for all eventualities.
The aspect of some (Pakistani) troops coming towards the east... we are aware of it. That has happened. They have come to the eastern border of Pakistan with India, General Deepak Kapoor told a news conference.
However having known this fact, let me assure you that the Indian army has factored this in its planning, he added.
That is not something which is a cause of concern for us.
Tensions between the two nuclear-armed rivals dramatically escalated after India accused official agencies in Pakistan of involvement in the November 26 Mumbai attacks in which 174 people, including nine gunmen, were killed.
Pakistan has strongly denied that accusation.
The chief of India's 1.3-million strong army conceded the tensions between the two countries, who have three wars since their 1947 independence, were high.
There has been been larger amount of tensions since 26/11 because we do feel that the perpetrators came from Pakistani soil, Kapoor said.
In view of that we in India are keeping all our options open and that must be clearly understood, the general said.
It is not to raise any kind of hysteria for war... but I am referring to the keeping of all our options open --whether diplomatic, economic or, as the last resort, a fighting option, he said