There is an immediate need for putting up sophisticated surveillance equipment to continuously monitor movement across the borders, they say. This, however, has to be backed by an equally alert analytical team that minimises the pressure on ground forces, they emphasise.

Multi-purpose military satellites can take detailed pictures of the strategic locations across the Line of Control in Pakistan and the Line of Actual Control in China, says Gurmeet Kanwal, senior researcher, Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses.

A senior Air Force official has highlighted the need of putting up ground sensors "which are very effective" along the terrain.

Today there are very powerful sensors of various kinds that can detect specific information -- like seismic sensors for underground activity, infra-red ones fornight vision, pressure sensors to keep track of movement of tanks even man - there's one to take note of each different activity. The routine reconnaissance missions undertaken by aircraft and remotely piloted vehicles as also battle-field surveillance equipment can be supplemented with such sensors that could reduce the pressure on human deployment, notes Prof Kanti Bajpai of the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru university.

In many conflict ridden areas, such sensors have been pressed into service as a means of co-operative security and have proved to be successful confidence building measures.

In the wake of the Kargil conflict, it would be only wise for both the countries to have such equipment as it would help remove distrust, notes Bajpai.

He, however, suggests that India should either way do it unilaterally for it would go a long way in having to put up men to do the job in a climate that defies human endurance.

Sensors are a good option, agrees the official but he also stressesthat one should have the capability of collecting and processing the data for analysing the inputs.

Talking about the Kargil issue, he notes, "What appears as ideal location on the map is in fact found to be an unapproachable relief for putting up a sensor and collecting inputs from it. We need a datalink that can provide the inputs directly on a day-to-day basis at the headquarters. It's no use putting up sensors at places from where one cannot collect the inputs."

Says Kanwal, satellites could prove a great help in providing early warning and attack assessment warning of the adversary as also the two million sq kms in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea.

"More than the activity right on the LoC, it's information about the strategic reserves and what's happening across the borders that gives early warning," he says explaining satellite imagery could help get such information regarding the ground preparations.

Kanwal citing ISRO officials says it would take eight weeks for India to fabricate its ownsatellite for this purpose.

Till such time that Indian satellites are put in space, he suggests that the needed capabilities be acquired from friendly foreign countries on a commercial basis - no matter what it costs.

"Though satellite pictures are available for the asking in the world market today, only an indigenously designed satellite could provide the tamper proof security required," he says.