Poonch terrorists backed by Pakistan: Indian Army

After vicious gunfights left nine Indian Army personnel dead In the Poonch Sector in eight days, the Indian Army has revealed that it believes Pakistan may have trained the terrorists who are currently hiding in the forested areas of Jammu and Kashmir. The deceased include two Junior Commissioned Officers or JCOs killed in the line of duty while fighting terrorists since Monday, in what has become the deadliest encounter for India's military in Jammu and Kashmir in recent years.

The fact that the terrorists were able to evade security forces for so long, remain hidden and still conduct bushes and raids showed signs of extensive training which most probably came at the hands of Pakistani commandos, army experts said. The commandos may even be travelling with the terrorists though such speculations are yet unconfirmed.

On Thursday a group of soldiers were ambushed in the Nar-Khas area. Two died and their bodies were only retrieved days later after an extended battle with terrorists. Five soldiers, including a JCO, were killed on the night of October 10 in the Dera Wali Gali area of Poonch, which is close to the Line of Control. For now, the terrorists are believed to have been cornered in one area and with the help of the army's para commandos and helicopters, security forces are optimistic about an end to the deadly encounter sooner than later, sources said.