On the Pak side 428 army personnel and 184 militants and mercenaries have been killed. Pakistani artillery and mortars have been pounding areas north of Jammu and the approaches to the Srinagar Valley. Keran, Macchal, Uri, Poonch, Krishnaghati, Bhimbergalli, Naushera, Sunderbani and Palanwala have also been subjected to firing. This is a prelude to infiltration. The Pak Army has still to be evicted from about 40 per cent of the area into which it had intruded.
Operations are likely to go on till the approach of winter.
Whilst Pakistan's strategic and diplomatic motive was to internationalise the Kashmir issue and invite mediation, its military motivation is the isolation and capture of Siachen. Therefore, Pakistan may still make such an attempt now that it has more troops in Skardu. The final outcome of the Kargil conflict will eventually be influenced by the internal dynamics of Pakistan's political process,and by the contrary pulls and pressures within the military and civilian hierarchies. Do join the discussion by sending us your comments by clicking on the feedback button.