India Yet to Take Up With China Troop Presence PoK

New Delhi/BRISBANE: India Saturday said reports about Chinese troops conducting weapons training exercises for Pakistan Army in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir had not been raised with China yet.

Asked about the reports, external affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said here that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s attention was not drawn to any such reports by National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and Modi did not have a word on the issue with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Modi Saturday met Xi during the informal meeting of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) leaders on the sidelines of G20 Summit here.

Officials, however, said the NSA was monitoring the situation.

Reports said Border Security Force had submitted a report to the NSA saying that Chinese were conducting “weapon handling training” to Pakistan Army opposite the Rajouri sector in Jammu and Kashmir.

The reports said Pakistan Army units were also taking over charge of key posts along the international border from Pakistani Rangers.

Reports also said some Pakistan Army units had taken over paramilitary posts of Rangers opposite Sriganganagar sector.

The reports, citing BSF intelligence said Pakistan Army and Pakistan Rangers were planning to deploy snipers and sharp shooters at strategic locations to target Indian soldiers and assets.

The reports said special squads of Pakistan Army commandos have been placed at locations long the international border and Line of Control and may attempt to carry out raids.

They said a large grouping of terrorists had been detected in Pakistan’s Sialkot area and could be planning to infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir.

The report has come at a time when Jammu and Kashmir is gearing up for assembly polls.