New Delhi: Pakistan has reconstructed and reactivated at least seventy two terror launchpads along the Line of Control months after suffering extensive damage during India’s Operation Sindoor, senior officials of the Border Security Force said at their annual press conference. The military action, launched on May 7 in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, targeted a wide range of terror infrastructure across Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir and remained active for four days.
BSF DIG Vikram Kunwar said many of the damaged facilities had been moved away from the border and revived in interior locations. He noted that twelve launchpads are operating from depth areas in Sialkot and Zaffarwal while sixty others are functioning from positions further inside Pakistani territory. He stated that these shifts were made after several forward bases were destroyed by the BSF during the operation.
According to Kunwar, the number of launchpads and the strength of groups using them change constantly. He said the groups are usually small and do not exceed two or three units. He confirmed that no terror camps are currently active near the International Border. He added that one hundred and eighteen Pakistani posts that had targeted Indian forward positions during the clashes were heavily damaged and their surveillance systems were also neutralised.
BSF IG Jammu Frontier Shashank Anand said the force is prepared to respond if the government chooses to revive Operation Sindoor. He stated that the BSF is capable of inflicting greater damage than before and will carry out any role assigned to it. He also said Pakistani Rangers who left their posts during the clashes returned only after the situation stabilised. According to him, Pakistan has attempted to reinforce certain positions but all such activities remain under constant observation by Indian forces.
He added that Pakistan took considerable time to recover from the losses sustained during the operation and that any further escalation will be met with a strong response if directed by the government.
