Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 4

Amid increased attempts by Pakistan to push terrorists across the border, India’s dominance on its western border — Line of Control (LOC) and International Border (IB) — has led to an increase in the number of causalities on the other side, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley informed the Lok Sabha today.Noting that with increased “domination and impact” on the western border, the Army has been able to check infiltration, though “Pakistan has increased efforts of infiltration”, Jaitley said during question hour.The minister said 285 incidents of ceasefire violation had taken place along the LoC so far this year, compared to 228 in 2016 in which eight people had lost their lives. He said there were 221 ceasefire violations along the IB, which is guarded by both the Border Security Force and the Army.The minister said the Army had constructed an anti-infiltration obstacle system (AIOS) in areas under its operational control along the LoC and IB in Jammu and Kashmir. Radars, sensors and thermal imagers along with surveillance have been incorporated on this fence to detect and intercept infiltration by terrorists.The AIOS is further strengthened by deployment of troops and construction of defence works based on threat perception for an effective multi-tier counter-infiltration grid. Jaitley said the government regularly reviewed the threat perception to secure the borders and protect national interests.The minister said the government was taking measures to ensure modernisation of defence forces to keep them in a state of readiness to meet operational and security challenges.Replying to another question, Jaitley said the government had enhanced special allowances given to defence personnel serving in difficult areas such as Siachen, which are even more than what the 7th Pay Commission had recommended.