Latest reports indicate that fierce fighting is still on in the area. The Army has destroyed 43 Sangars (field fortifications) of the intruders and troops are moving northwards of the three positions -- Khalubar, Point 4,812 and Dog Hill -- captured last night.

Yesterday's success came on a day, when the Pakistan Army intruders attempted to recapture Point 4,785 in the Tiger Hill area. The Army, however, managed to thwart the attempt, said Army spokesperson Col Bikram Singh, rebutting news reports that the intruders had started to withdraw.

He also said the Army has reliable inputs to show that the Chitral Scouts, a specialised force, has been deployed with the Northern Light Infantry in Kargil Sector.

About reports regarding a fresh build-up ofPakistani troops along the LoC on the PoK side -- amid reports of a withdrawal -- he said: ``The Army is ready for all contingencies.'' Replying to another question he denied that the Army is fighting ``with one hand-tied''. He said: ``The armed forces have full freedom in these operations within the parameters that have been laid down.''

With the latest casualties in Khalubar, Point 4,812 and Dog Hill, the number of Pakistani soldiers who have been killed in Operation Vijay so far is 542. On the Indian side, the Army has lost 283 soldiers. Another 451 have been wounded, while 10 are missing. The bodies of 12 soldiers, who were reported missing in action yesterday, were recovered, today, added Col Bikram Singh.

Although the Air Force could not carry out any major operation last night because of heavy cloud cover, combat aircraft resumed air strikes this morning in the Batalik sub-sector, adding to the pressure mounted by the Army.

Khalubar was considered one of the dominating features occupied by theintruders in the Batalik area. Some time in the evening yesterday, troops from the 11 Gorkha Rifles launched an assault to captured this position. The commanding officer of the battalion Col Lalit Rai, despite being wounded on Sunday, refused to be evacuated, and personally led the operation.

At least 23 Pakistani soldiers were killed here, while three Indian soldiers laid down their lives. The assault column later recovered 11 bodies of Pakistani intruders, dumped into a shallow pit by their colleagues as they fled. The Army also recovered two heavy weapons - a 12.7mm KPVT and one 14.3mm KPVT -- along with a huge quantity of ammunition and documents belonging to 5 Northern Light Infantry Regiment of Pakistan.

In another operation, a battalion of the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry captured Point 4,812 in a fierce night-long battle. This battalion had also recaptured point 5,203 on the night of June 10-11. In their latest success at Point 4,812, where fighting is still continuing, 26 Pakistan Armyregulars have been killed. The battalion lost three men.

Complementing the efforts of the other two battalions, the Ladakh Scouts captured Dog Hill, West of point 5,000, in the same area, also last night. They killed six Pakistanis soldiers and later recovered two heavy machine guns, one sniper rifle and two G-3 rifles along with a large quantity of ammunition.

Replying to question regarding the Pakistani soldier taken prisoner of war by the Indian Army, Col Singh said Naik Inayat Ali of 5 Northern Light Infantry is being taken care of as per the Geneva Convention. He added that the POW has been brought to Delhi.