Pakistani social media handles claim build-up at LoC, Indian Army says nothing alarming

Indian Army is keeping a close eye on Pakistani military movement and both sides have taken the usual tactical manoeuvres so as not to be surprised by one another.

Indian Army (representational image) | PTI

New Delhi: The Indian Army is closely monitoring the Pakistani military and has picked up “nothing alarming” at the Line of Control (LoC) barring the usual movement during summer and some beefing up of positions, sources in the defence establishment told ThePrint.

This comes at a time when multiple influential social media handles from Pakistan have tried to hype up the possibility of a build-up at the LoC in wake of the Modi government’s decision to scrap Article 370 and bifurcate Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories.

“Informal Movement Orders” issued to Pakistan Army formations aligned towards Eastern Front. “Formal” orders mean, well, you move. Forward. #KashmirIssue

— Wajahat S. Khan (@WajSKhan) August 11, 2019

Received calls from highly motivated Kashmiri friends belonging to different areas of AJK they informed that Pakistan Army troops with heavy Artillery moving to LoC since last night locals welcoming troops by waving Pakistani flags and raising slogans “Kashmir baney ga Pakistan”

— Hamid Mir (@HamidMirPAK) August 11, 2019

“We are keeping very a close eye on the Pakistan military movement. Nothing alarming has been noticed,” a senior official told ThePrint. “No such input has been picked up by our intelligence also.”

He added that tactical manoeuvres have taken place on the Pakistani side, a development which the Indian military has also carried out.

“A hype is being built as if to show some large movement has taken place. No such development has taken place except for some tactical moves,” another source said. “No side wants to be surprised tomorrow if something happens and hence both will prepare to be deployed in the quickest possible time if needed.” 

India too has taken tactical manoeuvres 

The source quoted above said the Indian military too has undertaken tactical manoeuvres apart from the routine measures that are taken during the summer.

Sources refused to elaborate on the steps being taken by the Indian military, which includes the three services. Since the 2016 surgical strike, the Indian Army and the Western Air Command has maintained necessary infrastructure and reserves for any kind of eventuality.

The development also comes amid buzz that the Pakistani Army is being moved into the Gilgit Baltistan area. Sources, however, pointed out that the movement has been happening over the last year and was also reported by the Pakistani media. 

Sources said there are two basic ideas behind the social media propaganda.

“One is to show that it is doing something for the Kashmiris and the second is to draw international eyes by trying to create a scenario where one thinks that a war is going to break out,” a source said.