Three trained camels are crossing the International Border (IB) [Part-I]
At the outset, I want to write a few words. I started writing this story long back. In fact, I wrote the first part long back on ISC itself. But later, due to my two-year long suspension from this site and also due to my attraction towards diverse topics and issues, I discontinued this story.Only very recently, I found this story lying in an obscure corner of ISC. I started thinking how to complete this story, and after a lot of effort, completed it. It has now become a very long story, to be written in three-four parts. As I started writing it on this site, I have now decided to finish it here itself.
--------------------------------------------------------
The Post Commander had no clue. The 118 Battalion Commander of BSF in his Battalion HQ at a distance of 60 km. was totally unaware. But something unusual had been going on across the International Border (IB) for the last three days. The movement of heavy traffic could not be noticed from this side of the Border due to heavy sandstorm. The human intelligence (HUMINT) informed that heavy artillery and mortars had been moving from Jamshoro to Kot Ghulam Muhammad by N120 and then to Umerkot by a smaller road. However, there was no movement of infantry across the IB. Only Arty soldiers had been moving along with heavy vehicles. The Indus Rangers were also very active. It was also reported that local Pakistani population in the villages adjacent to the border had been moved by the Pakistani Rangers.
The Indian Post Commander had recently joined the post. He was still studying the topography of the desert. However, sensing something unusual, he did what he could do. The searchlights were on. He increased the patrolling. But nobody crossed the IB. He became more suspicious.
The Post Commander called the 2IC. The 2IC, a no-nonsense Jat who had been stationed there for more than two years, was also very anxious. Why were the Pakistanis bringing Arty guns and mortar shells at Umerkot? What was their intent? This part of IB had been quiet for quite some time. The smuggling activities also stopped. Then why such suspicious activites?
Taking the Post Commander, the 2IC reached the nearby village and knocked the doors of Karim Bux. Karim Bux came out wearing a colourful turban. He offered tea to the BSF officers, who refused. Hearing the story, the middle-aged smuggler offered to cross the IB himself to check the matter. The two officers agreed. The smuggler, the most valuable asset for the Indian intelligence, left for Umerkot in the dead of night, determined to uncover the mystery.
(Please see Part-II)