New Delhi/Islamabad, February 17: Terrorists at launch pads along the Line of Control are reportedly being relocated to army camps by Pakistan, apparently fearing surgical strikes by Indian forces in response to a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama on February 14. The development comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the armed forces have been given a free hand to retaliate.

Security forces will be given a free hand to deal with terrorists, PM Modi said on Friday, adding that those responsible for Pulwama terror attack will pay a 'very heavy price'. The shifting of terrorists at launch pads along the LoC by Pakistan seems some pre-emptive measures. Pakistan is anticipating retaliation by the Indian Army, hence, did not vacate its winter posts along the frontiers this year, sources in intelligence agencies told TOI.

"At least 50 to 60 winter posts which would be vacated every year remain occupied as of now. With additional reinforcements from the terror launch pads, we don’t know what the strength of their posts is as of today," sources were quoted as saying. There is no artillery movement or any other deployment along the frontiers, they said. There is a growing demand that India must carry out another surgical strike on Pakistan. Pulwama Attack Fallout: India Retaliates With Higher Customs Duty on Goods Imported From Pakistan.

40 CRPF personnel were killed when their convoy was targeted on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway on Thursday. The convoy comprised 78 buses in which around 2500 personnel were travelling from Jammu to Srinagar. Soon after, Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), which is based in Pakistan and backed by the Pakistani administration, claimed responsibility for the attack. Pulwama Terror Attack: How CRPF Jawans Fell in JeM Trap.

Nearly ten days after militants attacked the Army base camp in Uri that left 18 jawans dead on September 18, 2016, armed forces conducted surgical strikes across the Line of Control (LoC) in PoK and destroyed terrorist launch pads and killed many terrorists. The then DGMO, Lt General Ranbir Singh, had said the surgical strikes inflicted “significant casualties” on terrorists.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 17, 2019 03:22 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).