Fighting terror: Israeli army team to visit Kashmir (INDIA)

NEW DELHI: A top-level Israeli military delegation will be in India next week on a hush-hush visit to discuss counter-terrorism and anti-infiltration strategies in Jammu and Kashmir.

Sources said the delegation, to be led by Israeli deputy chief of general staff, Major General Moshe Kaplinsky, will be visiting some places in J&K, including the 16 Corps headquarters in Nagrota, which is responsible for guarding the line of control south of the Pir Panjal range.

The Israeli visit comes at a time when the LoC has suddenly become hot with terrorists making concerted efforts to sneak into India from across the border. Official Army figures show a two to three-fold jump in infiltration in April and May this year compared with the same period in 2005 and 2006.

"In May alone, 11 terrorists were killed in seven infiltration bids foiled by our soldiers along LoC. But many crossings go undetected," said an officer.

Army chief General J J Singh himself said on Wednesday that there were reports to show that ‘‘some elements’’ of Pakistan Army and ISI were giving "support" to infiltrating terrorists.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Kashmir_barrier

Indian Kashmir Barrier

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The Indian Kashmir barrier which takes its inspiration from Israel is a 550 km (330 mile) separation barrier along the 740 km disputed 1972 Line of Control (or ceasefire line) between Indian and Pakistani controlled Kashmir: Jammu and Kashmir, India and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. The rest of the Line of Control is too inaccessible for construction of a barrier. The fence, constructed by India, is well inside Kashmiri territory on the Indian-side. Its stated purpose is to exclude arms smuggling and infiltration by Pakistani-based separatist militants or terrorists, who wish to bring Kashmir into Pakistan, or gain independence for Kashmir as a whole.

The barrier itself consists of double-row of fencing and concertina wire eight to twelve feet in height, and is electrified and connected to a network of motion sensors, thermal imaging devices and alarms in stretches where power supply is available. The small stretch of land between the rows of fencing is mined.

The construction of the barrier was begun in the 1990s, but slowed in the early 2000s as hostilities between India and Pakistan increased. After a November 2003 ceasefire agreement, building resumed and was completed in late 2004. According to Indian military sources, the fence has reduced by 80%, the numbers of terrorists who routinely cross into the Indian side of the disputed state to attack soldiers and civilians.

Pakistan has objected to the construction of the barrier, saying it violates both bilateral accords and relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions on the region.

In Pakistan’s view, the border between Jammu and Kashmir is undemarcated, and border fencing is not allowed. However, the ensuing peace as a result of the lower numbers of Islamic militants infiltrating into Kashmir from Pakistan has spurred the local economy due to a rise in tourism, gaining support for the fence from the local populace.

Israel has had very good relations with India for some time. Some Freepers may remember IDF teams going into northern India to help with earthquake relief. One grateful family whose baby was delivered by Israelis named the child Sharon (as in then Prime Minister Ariel Sharon) in gratitude. We’ve had military cooperation with India for years.

Sadly, for reasons known only to the Indian government, they always vote against us and with the Arabs/Muslims in the U.N.

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