Srinagar: A senior Border Security Force (BSF) official on Tuesday said that Pakistan cannot be trusted and, therefore, ‘Operation Sindoor’ that involved a tri-service effort by the Indian armed forces against the terrorist infrastructure sites in the neighbouring country, remains active.He also said that the BSF has not let its guard lowered along the International Border (IB) with Pakistan in Jammu region nor will do it in future. “The BSF remains on high alert. We cannot let our guard down. We are maintaining the highest possible vigil along the border,” Inspector General of BSF (Jammu Frontier), Shashank Anand, said while addressing a press conference in Jammu.The BSF is tasked to guard the 198-km stretch of the India-Pakistan border in Jammu region. Being part of the 2,912 km India-Pakistan border from Gujarat to J&K, it starts at Paharpur in Kathua district and ends at Chicken’s Neck corridor in Akhnoor sector (Jammu district) where the Line of Control (LoC) begins.In India, this 198-km stretch of the borderline is called International Border (IB) but is known as ‘Working Boundary’ in Pakistan as it passes through a “disputed region”. In public parlance it is often referred to as ‘Sialkot-Jammu border’, however. The BSF also forms the second-defence-line in select areas of the LoC.Replying to a question about the possibility of infiltration of militants from across the border under the cover of shelling by the Pakistani border guards, Anand said that the BSF is ready to foil all such nefarious designs of the adversary. He said, “A high degree of operational preparedness is being maintained along the border. There were inputs that the enemy may plan to conduct some kind of mischief, cross-border firing, or stage infiltration. We are ready and vigilant.”Asserting that Pakistan cannot be trusted, the officer said, “We believe that it cannot be trusted. Hence, Operation Sindoor is on”. He reiterated that the BSF is ready and vigilant along the IB and has put up robust surveillance systems to maintain high vigilance along the border.Speaking about the “valour” exhibited by the BSF in response to Pakistani shelling and firing immediately after ‘Operation Sindoor’ , the IGP said, “Retaliation was evident after Operation Sindoor. In areas along the LoC in Poonch and Rajouri and the IB in Jammu, we took aggressive postures. Pakistani Rangers confined themselves to posts while BSF stayed on the front foot.”He claimed that the BSF destroyed multiple terror launch pads in Akhnoor, Samba, and R S Pura sectors, including those in Loni, Mastpur, and Chabbra. “On May 9–10, Pakistan opened unprovoked fire in the Akhnoor sector, targeting BSF posts. In response, we hit the Loni launch pad linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba and caused significant damage,” he said.DIG Chitterpal Singh who was also present added that Pakistan used drones and targeted villages like Abdullian (RS Pura) using various weapons. “We responded by destroying several enemy posts, towers, and bunkers. Around 72 Pakistani posts and 47 forward posts were hit. In contrast, BSF suffered no loss of assets or infrastructure,” he said.Anand announced to name one of the BSF Border Outposts (BoPs) along the Jammu-Sialkot borderline as ‘Operation Sindoor’. He said, “We are proposing to name one post in the Samba sector after Operation Sindoor and two others after martyrs,” he said.The IGP said that the BSF foiled several infiltration bids from across the border by forty to fifty suspected terrorists before and during Operation Sindoor. These failed attempts, he said, were made during shelling with preemptive strikes. “We launched preemptive strikes and inflicted heavy losses. The adversary was forced to retreat. Their troops, (Pakistan) Rangers, and terrorists suffered casualties,” he said, adding, “The enemy is reorienting its defences to deal with such a situation. We foiled their designs”.In the past, the BSF has unearthed several underground tunnels dug along the IB either during the surveillance of the area or after receiving inputs from the villagers. The BSF and other security agencies took a serious view of such discoveries as these appeared to be a part of well-planned preparation to send in militants and terrorists for carrying out subversive activities in J&K, the officials saidAnand said that the BSF and the Indian Army are jointly dealing with this threat. “We are keeping a close watch over every inch of land,” he said.Referring to the drone threat, Anand said Pakistan had used low-flying drones to drop payloads on BSF posts, resulting in casualties of three personnel.“We are enhancing surveillance and defensive measures. CIBMS (Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System) has been in place since 2017, and we are integrating more advanced technologies in the coming months,” he said.As the Basmati sowing season in RS Pura and its neighbourhood has just begun, the IGP said that the BSF is encouraging farmers along the IB to continue agricultural activities. “We ensure their protection and undertake civic action programmes as part of confidence-building measures,” he said.Pertinently, Basmati rice produced in RS Pura belt is renowned for its exceptional quality, captivating aroma, and exquisite taste; hence celebrated globally. Unfortunately, active hostilities between India and Pakistani border guards have often had devastating humanitarian consequences, both direct and indirect. A crucial yet overlooked outcome is the disruption of agricultural production in the border areas of J&K particularly RS Pura, that causes acute desperation and hopelessness among the farmers.
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