Indian troops withdrawal from occupied Kashmir, a Deception
Pakistan Times Kashmir Desk

NEW DELHI (India): Fresh deployment of Indian army troops, on one pretext or another, have rendered the much trumpeted withdrawal from sensitive areas in occupied Kashmir as a not so-concealed deception plan.

Kashmir Media Service quoting South Asian Tribune reports that after the de-induction of troops, the Indian army is fortifying its positions by deploying para-military troops and high mobility fast attack vehicles for anti- induction of troops has already taken place, it has got entangled in the numbers game.

The write up by Arun Rajnath says, the army has deployed almost four battalions in the areas of Rajouri and Poonch soon after the de-induction took place.

On November 27, 2004 three battalions of the Rashtriya Rifles were sent to these border districts of the Jammu region. The troops from the Rashtriya Rifles are being deployed in the area from where the army battalions are retreating for other destinations.

Though the Rashtriya Rifles is directly controlled by the Indian army, the Government of India may term it as a Para-military force and can claim that the numbers of the army regulars have been reduced. But this may be misleading.

It is noteworthy that in India para-military forces such as Border Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Central Industrial Security Force, etc are usually deployed in peace areas or where some disturbances is noticed.

These paramilitary forces are federally controlled forces, but when deployed in a particular state, they are directly controlled by the state government. But the Rashtriya Rifles is under direct control of the Indian army.

On the other side, senior police officials of the Indian police service have been posted on deputation in these para-military forces. In the Rashtriya Rifles, there is not a single police officer posted on deputation. All officers belong to the Indian army. Therefore, the Rashtriya Rifles cannot be termed as a para-military force. It is a unit of the regular Indian army.

The Indian army is also deploying high-mobility fast attack vehicles for anti-insurgency operations in the valley. Additional troops are also being deployed to make operate these vehicles, which are capable of moving in the desert and rugged terrain carrying surveillance equipment and armament.●