The Indian Navy has put all its bases and warships on high alert to counter a possible terror strike after the central government revoked Article 370 and split Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories.
The possibility for terror attacks through the eastern and western fronts have escalated, officials have said. "We are on a state of heightened alert on the eastern and western seaboards," the Hindustan Times cited an unnamed official as saying.
The Pakistan government had expressed strong protest against the move and expelled the Indian envoy. Pakistan also suspended trade and halted rail transport across the border.
The high alert comes even as India is preparing to celebrate its 73rd Independence Day on August 15. The security agencies also fear a possible Pulwama-like terror attack to coincide with the Independence Day celebrations. The Indian Army has deployed many troops in J&K in case of any misadventures from Pakistan.
"Lately Pakistan has been openly threatening about certain incidents in Kashmir. Notwithstanding we'll take care of all of them; let anyone come & try & disrupt the peace in valley, we will have him eliminated!" Lt General KJS Dhillon said in a video posted by Chinar Corps on Twitter.
Earlier, Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa had warned that the Pak army will take all measures to meet its 'obligations towards the people of Kashmir.' "The military leadership fully supports the Pakistan government's rejections of Indian actions regarding Kashmir and is prepared and shall go to any extent to fulfil obligations to the Kashmiri people," Bajwa had said, according to The Statesman.
Earlier this week Home Minister Amit Shah piloted the abrogation of the cardinal Article 370 and Article 35 A of the Constitution that gave special status to Jammu & Kashmir through a Presidential Order and formed two Union Territories in its place. J&K has been made a Union Territory in the mold of Delhi with an elected legislative assembly and Ladakh a Union Territory without an elected body.
While Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan warned of 'serious repercussions' India has maintained that the matter of bifurcating the state into union territories under The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill 2019 on August 5 is an internal matter and advised other parties to stay out of its parliamentary decisions.
