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Text of report by Seema Mustafa from Indian newspaper The Asian Age on 27 August
New Delhi, 26 August: Pakistani troops continued to occupy three vital Indian peaks in northern Dras Sector after the Kargil war, of which one, Point 5050, has just been recaptured by the Indian army after losing 16 military personnel, including seven soldiers and nine high-altitude porters.
India is still fighting for control of the other peak, Point 5303 in the Marpola area. This is proving to be extremely difficult because, like Point 5050, it is overlooked by Point 5353, which is still under Pakistani occupation. In fact Pakistani troops, who took control of Point 5353 during the Kargil conflict, have fortified their position with bunkers and a road and, to quote defence sources, "appear well settled". These three peaks overlook Highway 1A, which connects Srinagar and Leh, and is also a key route for supplies to Siachen and Leh.
Defence Minister George Fernandes is sitting over an Indian army proposal to launch an air and ground offensive to regain Point 5353, without which, defence...