Routine training, says Pak.

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, OCT. 21. Pakistan today denied reports of a large- scale build-up of its troops on the Indian border saying the ``troops are busy in routine training within their respective units and their training areas''.

A spokesman of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Directorate said the reports in the Urdu daily, Jang, and its English counterpart, The News, on the troop build-up were totally incorrect and concocted.

``It appears that the concerned reporter and the editorial staff lack basic knowledge about defence matters and matters pertaining to troops movement. Troops are busy in routine training within their respective units and their training areas. No unusual movement or activity has taken place. It is unfortunate that the newspapers carried the news item despite a firm denial from the ISPR spokesman earlier. Making sensational stories on such issues may create panic and lead to serious consequences,'' he said.

Later, the ISPR chief, Maj. Gen. Rashid Qureshi, described as `hog wash' the papers' claim that nine Army divisions had moved with ammunition towards the ``entire working boundary of India for conducting exercise''.

The newspaper report said that deployment had been launched from Marala to the Rann of Kutch in the south. The report said troops starting rolling on Thursday and the process of movement was still on till Friday late.

``It is important to note the troops don't carry ammunition along while going on regular exercise, but sources have disclosed the border-bound companies were equipped with proper ammunition, a signal that army might have been alerted against a possible threat from India'', the report said.

The News said it is unusual practice to conduct exercise on such a massive scale across the entire border and that too without any prior intimation or announcement. The report said the deployment is either aimed at preempting any aggression from India.

The emphatic denial of the news item by the military government is yet another indication of its bad vibes with the press. Gen. Musharraf on recent occasions has made known his irritation with the press for its `irresponsible' style of reporting. On Friday, the General presided over a Corps Commanders' conference on national security, where the performance of his government's one- year rule was reviewed.

The paper also sought to link the build-up to Friday's Corps Commanders Conference. ``The development assumes high significance in the light of the Chief Executive, Gen. Pervez Musharraf's recent statement that Pakistan could use its nukes in a dire situation. Moreover, the sudden deployment of troops along the working boundary with India is also seen in the context of the ongoing Corps Commanders meeting at the general headquarters'', it said.

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