Intelligence reports have indicated that the ``morale of the intruders is very low'', especially with most supply lines cut off, resulting in insufficient stocks of rations and diminishing medical cover.

Army spokesperson Col Vikarm Singh said: ``It is difficult to say the exact number of positions they are still occupying and our gains so far. But it is clear that the intruders have been pushed back up to 3 km from the LoC.''

Initially, the Pakistan Army intruders had entrenched themselves in positions upto 7 km inside Indian territory.

Over the past 24 hours, Army troops have encircled several pockets still held by the intruders and ``evicting them is a matter of time''.

The Army has captured the vital Point 4590, after 17 soldierslaid down their lives. ``Now we are inching forward, probing the defences of the enemy and mopping up the area. The operations are progressing in a planned way to encircle the enemy. The enemy is fighting a retrograde battle and their troops are falling back,'' added Col Singh.

Yesterday, combat aircraft of the Air Force bombed targets in the Muntho Dalo area, north-east of Kargil, very close to the LoC. Similar attacks were carried out in the Muskhoh Valley. ``Though it is increasingly becoming difficult to operate so close to the LoC, we are coordinating our operations with the Army,'' said Air Force spokesperson Group Captain D N Ganesh.Combat air patrols were also carried out ``to sanitise the air space''.

Group Captain Ganesh added: ``During the exercise one of our air patrols spotted a Pakistan aircraft. We, however, did not take any action as that aircraft was on their side of the LoC. The basic aim of patrols was to ensure that there were no enemy aircraft in our area.''

There are reports thattwo children and a 56-year-old woman were killed in Kargil following fresh artillery attacks by the Pakistan Army from across the LoC, said Col Singh. Similar artillery and mortar shelling took place in the Keran, Kanzalwan, Poonch, Krishnaghati, Bhimbhargalli and Nowshera areas. Agencies have also reported an airspace violation in the Jammu area by an unmanned aircraft from the Pakistan side. The aircraft was believed to have been radio controlled and returned to Pakistan after the Army's air defence artillery opened up its guns.

ENS adds from Matayin: Bofors guns continue to attack and neutralise the enemy gun positions. After the capture of Tulolong peak, the focus of offensive has shifted to most crucial Tiger Hills and Point 5140. Confident officers of Mountain Division say that Point 5140 would be recovered soon.

The infantry officers, in a fierce bunker-to-bunker battle, have made considerable gains.

``Some of our artillery guns have been shifted to launch an effective attack to recover thepeaks,'' an official said. Sources added that elite para-commandoes made valiant efforts to completely cut off enemy supply lines to the Pakistan backed infiltrators. The army also dropped the elite soldiers on the strategic Marpola ridgeline the most important supply line that provides food, ammunition and reinforcements to the trapped infiltrators.

In a multi-pronged attack, while Marpola Top was pounded by the artillery, the infantry soldiers moved in and surrounded it, snapping the supply lines.

``We are just waiting for the signal to know for sure that the supply line has been cut off. Then we will suffocate the infiltrators,'' an officer said.