'Pak. still occupies two Kargil peaks'

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, AUG. 25. Pakistani troops continue to occupy two strategic heights in the Kargil sector and India has failed to evict them despite launching four offensives, The Friday Times, an English weekly, has claimed.

A report in the latest issue of the magazine claimed that Points 5353 and 5240 of the Kargil heights, located on the strategically important Marpo La ridge, was still under the occupation of Pakistani troops.

Quoting sources in the military establishment, the magazine said that while holding the two points, the Pakistani troops could still direct artillery fire up to 20 km on India's National Highway 1A and cripple Indian defensive positions from Mushkoh to Bhimbet.

``Points 5353 and 5240 had been occupied by Pakistan troops at the start of Kargil war. The Indian soldiers, however, were nowhere near its summit when hostilities were pronounced to have ended, in the wake of the United States authoured pull- out,'' the weekly said quoting Pakistani military officials. It said India launched four offensives to regain the heights but the offensives had to be abandoned because of the high risks involved.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : International
Previous : Pak. deplores expulsion
Next     : Japan mending ties with N. Korea