Army moves missile units to border
17 May 2002: The Indian Army has mobilised seven artillery units capable of firing short-range missiles in case of an intense conflict with Pakistan while initial reports suggest that four Pakistan army bunkers were hit by Indian troops retaliating against Pakistani firing in the Jammu sector, top officials said.
Officials said that the Indian Army and Air Force will conduct aerial surveys in the Jammu sector to block Pakistani unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that are now flying within Pakistani territory for the last two days.
Indian defence ministry officials said that all seven artillery units were deployed in the Bikaner sector of Rajasthan while two more units are likely to join them from Punjab.
The artillery units are equipped with long-range 155-mm and 130-mm guns besides anti- tank missiles and short-range surface-to-surface missiles that can hit Pakistani bunkers 40-50 km inside the Line of Control (LoC).
Officials said that artillery fire was being planned to be used to target terror camps in Gultari, Mangala and Skardu.
Officials refused to say when and if short-range missiles would be used.
Senior army commanders decided at a hurriedly-called meeting at Army Headquarters that artillery units were required since Pakistan was using mortars and 155-mm howitzers to attack Indian targets.
Officials said that army commanders have submitted a special plan to neutralise Pakistani firing in the Jammu sector where the Indian Army is disadvantaged.
The Indian Army is planning to use air surveillance to ascertain Pakistani positions deep inside Pakistani territory to overcome this disadvantage.
After the Kaluchak massacre, the Indian Army is first attempting to neutralise Pakistani artillery firing by deploying more artillery units in the Jammu sector and north of Pir Panjal.
The army also plans to consolidate its position on the upper ridges from Zojila to Turtuk and engage the Pakistan army in artillery exchanges in case it attempts to block national highway 1A.
By October 1995 20 pre-production Prithvi SS-150s had been delivered to the Army to form the 333rd Artillery/Missile Group [Regiment] of the XIth Corps, based in Hyderabad.
In addition to four Tatra transport-erector-launchers, each battery is equipped with a missile resupply-loading vehicle, a propellant tanker, a survey vehicle, and a firing command post. The 333rd reportedly consists of 15 launchers and some 75 missiles. As many as 100 missiles have been ordered by the Army. Appropriate training in three phases, covering missile sub-system, handling and maintenance has been provided to operating forces.
US media reports in early June 1997 suggested that India had deployed the missile in Punjab, close to the Pakistan border, bringing Islamabad, Lahore, Faislabad and Rawalpindi within the striking range of Indian forces. Indian authorities subsequently denied the report. The 333 Regiment with between two and four dozen Prithvi missiles was originally deployed near the Pakistan border at Jullundur [Jalandhar], but as of mid-1999 was reportedly deloyed to a base in Secunderabad. The United States had urged India not to proceed with the deployment of the Prithvi missiles because deployment could increase tensions between India and Pakistan. While the Prithvi is normally equipped with conventional warheads, it is also capable of mounting a nuclear warhead.