January 11, 2002	Friday	Shawwal 26, 1422

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NEW DELHI, Jan 10: Tens of thousands of Indian troops massed along the entire border with Pakistan will hold large-scale exercises this month, an Indian defence official said on Thursday.

Codenamed Operation Parakram (Might) and Operation Sangram (Struggle), the wargames will be staged for a month in Rajasthan and East Punjab.

“These are normal brigade level exercises to keep the troops on the border active,” the official said.

India began moving its troops to the border soon after last month’s attack on New Delhi’s parliament complex.

In an interview with a private Indian television channel on Wednesday, Defence Minister George Fernandes said Indian soldiers were on high alert along the borders and prepared to tackle any eventuality.

The defence ministry official said the troops “have been massed there, they have to keep active”.

The official did not give any dates for the launch of the exercises, though he said lower level manoeuvres were already on.—AFP