New Delhi: The Indian military is not seriously concerned over the noticeable movement of Pakistani troops close to the Jammu and Kashmir border.
Military officials say they have noted the troop movements but there is nothing alarming - for now.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, military sources said that they discounted the possibility of Pakistan conducting any surgical strikes in Jammu and Kashmir in view of its troubles domestically and along the Afghan border.
The troop movement has taken place in recent days along the Line of Control (LoC) that divides Jammu and Kashmir between the two countries. No induction of Pakistani military has been noticed on Kashmir's international border.
"The (intelligence) inputs have been studied. The conclusion is that nothing alarming should be read into them," an army officer said.
"We are alert to these developments but see no reason to make any additional deployments at this point of time," he added.
The inputs say there has been considerable movement of Pakistani troops in two areas: at Chakoti in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, facing Naushera town in the Indian Jammu and Kashmir.
The Pakistan Army's 19 Division has reportedly moved from its peacetime headquarters at Jhelum to Chakoti and has been reinforced with three brigades and Special Forces personnel.
Simultaneously, an additional brigade has been moved up to face Naushera.
At one level, this could be constituted as preparations for a quick and surgical operation. But, as an Indian Army officer explained, Pakistan's elite 1 Corps based at Mangala - which would be expected to carry out such a strike - had been considerably depleted due to troubles in Balochistan and on the Afghan border.
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One division of the corps has been sent to Balochistan that erupted in violent protests after the Aug 26 killing of tribal leader Nawab Akbar Bugti. The unrest continues, which means the division could be pinned down for some time.
Another division has been sent to the Pakistan-Afghanistan border where a resurgent Taliban militia is believed to be regrouping. This too could prove to be a prolonged deployment.
"This leaves 1 Corps with just one division and it would only be a foolhardy general who would commit such a depleted strike force to battle," the officer explained.
"Everything else apart, would (Pakistani President Pervez) Musharraf risk opening a third front even as he deals with Balochistan and the Taliban?" asked another officer.
"Let's also not forget that Sindh is not exactly peaceful and elements hostile to Musharraf could easily pour oil over troubled waters. Also, the Northern Areas are extremely restive and the (Pakistani) army has its hands full there," the officer added.
Geo-political realities also preclude the possibility of any Pakistani "misadventure", one officer said.
"The Americans sharply rapped (then Pakistani prime minister) Nawaz Sharif for (the 1999) Kargil (intrusion). Today India and the US are closer than ever before. Musharraf can hardly afford to earn America's displeasure by doing something foolhardy," he added.
Musharraf might however want to fuel the insurgency in Kashmir, the officer noted.
There are also no takers for the theory that Musharraf could be planning "something" to gain political mileage ahead of the 2007 general election in Pakistan.
"Nothing that Musharraf does can divert attention from the troubles he is facing nor can he hope to draw mileage as things don't work that way in Pakistan," an officer said.
"Any misadventure can only work to his disadvantage because, as happened at Kargil, he got a bloody nose. He is not likely to forget that lesson in a hurry."
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