As the single lane road took us farther from the Kashmir of bandh calls and beyond the reach of those pelting stones, a new scenario emerged. Congested, built-up areas vanished, sparsely populated villages and majestic mountains appeared. Small shops were open, transacting as they usually would. Uniformed men walked purposefully - a far cry from when they'd simply park themselves in a locality through the day in order to quell violence. The road was abuzz with the hum of army and BSF trucks, taking men and material to and out of what India calls the Line of Control (LoC).\



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Ask a trooper if there is the shadow of conflict and the reply, in all likelihood, will be in the affirmative. Havildar Sanjay Singh (name changed) goes a step further, says, "We can be more lethal than these jihadi terrorists who keep hitting us". Without divulging a detail, he draws in closer and says, "We have made what preparations were to be made. But I doubt if the government is going to allow us".



Army positions fortified following the Uri terror strike. (Photo: Jugal R Purohit) Army positions fortified following the Uri terror strike. (Photo: Jugal R Purohit)

On the surface, not much has changed post Uri. Security in the hinterland remains tightly controlled. Those residing in villages close to the LoC did not report heightened troop activity. We met personnel from the army and BSF who were proceeding on leave, as scheduled.



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Yet, there is a difference, insist insiders.

The LoC runs between posts located at altitude of 5,000 feet to those located at over 15,000 feet. "At most of such posts, troop positions have been reinforced following Uri. We are carrying out a review of all Pakistani positions, held by their army, along the LoC to mark them in case we want to target them using small arms and artillery. Our own positions, which are known to them are being fortified and newer supply lines are being created to maintain the element of surprise," said a senior officer. Also being reviewed are key requirements of ground commanders. Lists are being prepared and long-pending tasks are likely to get cleared, say those involved. Soldiers were seen destroying vegetation which was likely to aid the entry of infiltrators.



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Army's 12th Brigade headquaters in Uri. (Photo: Jugal R Purohit) Army's 12th Brigade headquaters in Uri. (Photo: Jugal R Purohit)

Troops on ground were also seen preparing to thwart sabotage attacks on critical infrastructure like bridges. "Pakistan has terrorists to execute tasks their army would want done. In this situation especially we will not take a chance," explained a jawan.

Then there are multiple conferences taking place with senior commanders. A few of them require them to travel whereas most are done via secure communications network in which both army representatives as well as those from the BSF take part. Little known outside is the fact that most posts along the LoC are manned jointly by the army and the BSF.

Any travel by road is unlikely to be permitted in areas which are located closer to the LoC. We came across several such army posts from where we were asked to return.

"We are doing what we have been asked to do, that is to step up. This, by itself, is no surety that there will be a conflict. The government will take an overall view," said a source.



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Locals remain resolutely opposed to any escalation.

"Since the last three months, even rations are not reaching us because of the crisis in the valley. If hostilities break out, we will be squeezed out of our existence," says a local sarpanch in the Naugam sector. In the heart of north Kashmir's apple belt, sentiments are equally glum. Mohammed Ramzan, an orchard owner from Nachipora said, "Earlier we would earn about Rs 1000 per peti (box) but since the floods of 2014, followed by the disturbance this year, losses have piled up. We are selling raw apples, which fetch less because we are out of money". Kashmir's apple industry, according to a 2013 study supports over 1.2 million jobs and has a turnover of Rs 2000 crore. Data provided by the Jammu and Kashmir government says that there are 590 villages with a population of over half a million which is located between 0-5 km from Line of Control & International Border (IB) in the Jammu region itself. These will be the ones who'd be vulnerable to Pakistani shelling in case of an escalation.

Then there is the aspect of cross-border infiltration which needs to be tackled before India can finalise her response.



Locals going about with their routine lives in conflict-hit Kashmir. (Photo: Jugal R Purohit) Locals going about with their routine lives in conflict-hit Kashmir. (Photo: Jugal R Purohit)

In December 2014, Defence minister Manohar Parrikar had declared that of the approximately 800km-long LoC, the army had fenced about 734km. Still, the army deploys at least three layers of personnel to ensure no terrorist can sneak in. Defence ministry's data from 2012 shows that till September 2015, at least 854 terrorists had made an attempt to breach the LoC of which 300 had succeeded while 140 were killed and 414 returned to PoK. "This time around, terrorists are not simply sneaking in, many within like Burhan Wani have been inspired," said a source. Army's own appreciation places the number of terrorists currently operating at 409 (315 in Kashmir valley & 94 south in Pir Panjal range). This year, the army has killed 119 and apprehended 20 at a loss of 36 personnel.

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Estimates wary between the agencies operating on ground however there is consensus that about 100 additional terrorists may have sneaked in using the chaos following the killing of terrorist Burhan Wani. "About 200 are waiting at their launchpads in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK)", said a source. Would Pakistan use the fog of war, assuming it were to descend, to insert more is anybody's guess.

"Will war happen?" asked the taxi driver.



(WRITER IS A SENIOR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT WITH INDIA TODAY)

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