After an initial setback, the security agencies have increased the number of listening posts in Batalik, Kargil, Kaksar and Drass. The Indian strategy is now aiming at ``locking the infiltrators' communication system''. Given the ground situation, aerial bombing is not feasible in many areas. The Indian Air Force is flying Mirage 2000 fighter jets in the Drass and Batalik sectors mainly to jam wireless systems of the infiltrators and the Pakistani Army, sources said.

``We are not in an attack operation at most places since the Indian troops are barely 100 metres from the infiltrators. The jets are being used to jam their communication system,'' disclosedan official. He said the situation was more-or-less under control in Batalik. ``We have stepped up both air and ground operations. We have also installed high-frequency wireless sets to know the infiltrators' movements. They are cut off from the Line of Control (LoC). We have intercepted a message from the Batalik heights where the Pushto-speaking infiltrators were angrily shouting at their base commanders for dumping them without food, water and medicines,'' a senior Army officer said.

Police sources said wireless listening stations had also been set up, ``not only in Batalik, but also in Drass and Kargil. The Pakistani Army regular officers speak in English but frontline fighters in different areas speak either Pushto or Persian, and in Kaksar, the Skardu dialect of Kargili. To quickly decipher information from all sectors, Pushto and Persian-speaking men are urgently required,'' they said.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of police P L Gupta confirmed that the State police were looking for men withinthe department who could understand the languages. He, however, refused to elaborate, citing security reasons. Sources in the Army said the intercepts from Drass were not so heartening.

Here, the infiltrators still hold sway over the three dominating hill features -- the Tiger Hill, Point 5140 and the Tuloling Heights.

Though the IB has no direct role to play along the LoC, sources said, the agency is believed to have been asked to suggest ways to augment the intelligence set-up. A high-level team of IB officials is now visiting Batalik, Kaksar, Kargil and Drass.