Colonel Avtar Singh, in charge of the operations in Batalik and Kaksar sectors, said here today the airstrikes in the area have already helped the army cut the enemy's supply lines. He said infiltrators had occupied four ridge lines, one of which the troops had already cleared.

``So far, we are satisfied with the current speed of the operations. We would like more air strikes, especially after yesterday's experience. We have reports that the strikes were highly accurate''.

He said the Army fighting the infiltrators in the Batalik sector have sought more air strikes for recapture of three other strategic areas in the sector. The officer said the army has suffered 78 casualties including six officers in Batalik, while about 200 troops were injured and six missing. Altogether 103 infiltrators have died in thesector, he said, adding their bodies were counted from the Observation Posts.

Col Singh said a majority of the 200-300 infiltrators occupying heights were Pakistani army regulars. ``In an operation a few hours ago, seven Pak regulars were killed. They belonged to the Delta Company of the 7 Northern Light Infantry. All of them were wearing track suits''. He displayed paybooks, identity cards and some letters/applications of Pakistani regulars. One application was addressed to the commander of 7 Northern Light Infantry by a sweeper in the Pak army, Shakur Ali, requesting the commander to accommodate him as a sepoy. ``Perhaps the sweeper had been sent as an infiltrator even before induction as a sepoy'', he said and added that the identity card of another Pakistani regular, Rous Ahmed, was recovered from his body. He also displayed defence sheets giving details of logistics of Pakistani troops near the Ehsan post.

Col Singh reiterated that no Indian post was captured by the infiltrators. ``These were unheldareas and there are many areas not manned by either country'', he added.

He said on basis of intercepts, the army has concluded that the Special Services Group of Pakistan army was active in the area under the garb of infiltrators.

He said 70 per cent of the job was over for the army in the Batalik sector and added it was ready to carry out the operations even during the winter. He said Batalik town was still unsafe as the enemy was using 5.5 inch guns and firing rockets.