No Kargil-like intrusion in Kashmir: IAF, Army Chiefs

Both Army Chief Gen. Bikram Singh and Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne, IAF Chief, said on Friday the current encounter between the Army and Pakistan-backed militants in the Keran sector of Kashmir was definitely not a “Kargil-like” situation. The IAF Chief, now chairman of the chiefs of staff committee, said there was no need for the IAF to provide aerial support as the Keran encounter was a “small tactical operation” by the Army. “This (Keran encounter) is not a Kargil-like situation. It is a small tactical operation. The IAF gets into big situations,” Air Chief Marshal Browne said. But sources said the IAF was always ready to assist the Army when required. It may be recalled that the IAF was actively part of the Kargil operations in 1999. Army sources said two militants who attempted to infiltrate in an area near Keran sector were killed. When Gen. Bikram Singh was asked if a Kargil-like situation had developed in Keran, he said: “It is nothing like that. It was an infiltration attempt by 30 to 40 terrorists. They have been stopped, prevented, neutralised and operations are on to flush them out.” Asked if any bunkers had been occupied by the militants, Gen. Singh said: “There is nothing like that.”