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Army prepares to launch a major offensive against infiltrators

Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar

The army is all set to launch a major offensive against the Pakistani intruders in the Kargil sector.

Defence authorities this evening banned the entry of journalists in the town near the Line of Control with immediate effect.

A defence source in Srinagar said, "We have withdrawn the passes issued for tomorrow to five journalists. From tomorrow no journalist will be allowed beyond Sonmarg for operational reasons."

He said the ban will be in force for an indefinite period.

Local, national and international journalists were allowed to visit Kargil, Drass, Batalik and other areas by the army till the last week of May.

Some said the journalists now in Kargil may also be asked to leave, but the defence source declined to comment on this.

Meanwhile, sources in Srinagar confirmed heavy troop movements on the Srinagar Kargil highway which has already been closed to civilian traffic.

They said troops have taken positions in the newly dug underground bunkers all along the highway and in the upper reaches also soldiers were seen moving ammunitions and arms for the final assault to evict the intruders.

The sources said the army and the air force would jointly carry out operations in the higher reaches to regain control of the ridges from where the militants have been attacking the troops.

The Pakistani artillery has also been targeting the highway. Yesterday shells rained on it, resulting in disruption of the troop movement.

The army has been responding effectively to neutralise the fire. Sources said its offensive would begin "anytime now".

Sources said scores of artillery pieces are in position along the highway to bombard the Pakistani positions across the LoC. Officials in Srinagar meanwhile said the bodies of the three Pakistani soldiers would not be shown to newsmen tomorrow. Instead, only the photographs, arms and documents recovered from the sites where they were killed would be shown to newsmen.

RELATED REPORT:
Army closing in on intruders in Drass

The Kargil Crisis

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