200 militants trying to infiltrate, terrorists may attack schools during Obama visit: Army official

New Delhi: There are inputs that terrorists might try to attack schools, army camps, national highways and civilian areas on the Republic Day and during US President Barack Obama's India visit, Lt Gen KH Singh, GOC, 16 Corps, said on Thursday.

"About 200 militants in 36 launch pads across Pir Panchal range are trying to infiltrate into Indian side," Lt Gen KH Singh said.

"Like Army Chief Gen Dalbir Singh had already said, terrorist infrastructure in PoK is intact," Lt Gen KH Singh added. Singh assured that country's counter-infiltration posture is firmly in place and if any infiltration bid is made, it will be eliminated.

"The terrorist infrastructure across the border is intact. Pakistan Army's support to the proxy war in J&K continues unabated despite suffering casualties its own country," Army chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag had said on Tuesday, addressing his first press conference ahead of the Army Day on January 15.

Pakistan still has 44 terror-training camps directed against India on its soil, the majority of them being in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir. "At least 17-18 of them are active 24x7," another senior officer said.

Faced with continuing infiltration attempts by well-armed, equipped and motivated militants actively aided and abetted by Pakistan Army, the Indian Army remains unconvinced that its rival force has stopped distinguishing between the "good" anti-India terrorists and the "bad" ones posing an existential threat to the Pakistani state itself. "We have to wait and watch," said Gen Suhag.

"Our threats and challenges continue to grow in intensity and commitment with our borders increasingly becoming more active. We also have to be prepared for the possible (terror) spillover effect from Afghanistan after the drawdown (of the US-led forces)," he said.

Holding that 110 terrorists were "eliminated" in J&K in 2014, the highest number in recent years, Gen Suhag said militants were now trying to sneak across the international boundary in the Jammu sector because of the "very strong" counter-infiltration grid set in place by his force along the Line of Control.

India has often accused Pakistan of playing "a dual game", assuring the world of its active participation in the global war against terrorism while brazenly encouraging anti-India jihadi networks to thrive on its soil.