NEW DELHI // New Delhi yesterday accused Islamabad of maintaining more than 40 militant camps along their border and said it has foiled attempts by Pakistani militants to cross into its territory.
There are 42 militant camps functioning in the border region, 25 in Pakistani-administered Kashmir and 17 in Pakistan containing around 2,500 militants, junior home affairs minister Mullappally Ramachandran told parliament.
"The terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan or Pakistan-occupied Kashmir remains intact and infiltration attempts from across the border still continue to pose a challenge to the security forces," he said.
Pakistan-based militants - with the support of the Pakistan Army - have made 249 infiltration attempts to sneak into Indian territory so far this year - two more than last year but far below the 489 in 2010, he said.
He said the lack of successful infiltration attempts was due to better border management, including border fencing and better intelligence.
Separatist violence in the region has dropped sharply since India and Pakistan started a peace process in 2004 but occasional gunfights erupt between militants and the security forces.
India accuses Pakistan of backing Islamist militants on its side of the divided region, a charge Islamabad denies.
