New Delhi: The Army on Monday rubbished claims by Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf that only five battalions (more than 5,000) of regular Pakistani troops were deployed in Kargil incursions in 1999, saying facts belied this.
"Documents like identity cards, pay books and other identification papers revealed that as many as seven Northern Light Infantry battalions (more than 7,000 troops) of Pakistan had been involved in Kargil operations," top Army officials said, adding that they were supported by Pakistani auxiliary troops.
"These included 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th, 11th and 12th battalions of the Northern Light infantry," they said.
Besides, Army officials said arms recovered by Indian troops during the battle included four anti-aircraft guns, a stinger missile unit, 46 heavy machine guns, 12 high caliber mortars 19 rocket launchers, 3 light howitzers and 19 rocket launchers, which was an arsenal normally deployed by division-plus (more than 15,000) strength of troops.
"The Indian Army had recovered 249 bodies of which only five were accepted by Pakistan whereas the total Pakistani casualties of 725 killed included 45 officers and 68 Special Service Group personnel," the officials said.
They said only two mountain divisions and two independent brigade strength troops had been used to dislodge Pakistani forces from the Kargil heights.
Comments
0 comment