The Indian Army--seeing it as Pakistan's ploy to extend its territory--is also planning to put delineation marks all along the LoC in this mountainous terrain. Though there has been no exchange of fire in these places, the tension is high. A senior officer at the Drass Brigade Headquarters said the matter has been referred to the Directors General of Military Operations of both countries.

At Point 5060, Point 5323 and Pimple, retreating Pakistani intruders have put up white flags to halt the march of the Indian infantry to the LoC. Even at Marpola--also in Drass--the situation is the same.

However, Army officers say India has neither crossed the LoC nor is trying to do so. ``Wehave reached the LoC as decided under the 1971 Shimla agreement. Pakistan has started this controversy to extend the LoC to their advantage and also as a face-saving device for their defeat,'' an infantry officer at the Drass Brigade Headquarters said.

In Mushkoh Valley, the situation is even more perplexing for the Army, with the intruders having retreated from their originally held positions but now entrenching themselves at crucial peaks lying just on the LoC. ``This is a tricky one. But then Pakistan will have to respect the agreement of staying at least one kilometer clear from the LoC,'' the officer added.

Meanwhile, the operation to recover Tri-junction -- a prominent peak occupied by the infiltrators in the Mushkoh sector -- has been put on hold. Though the peak has been surrounded from three sides, there has been no action either by the infantry or the artillery yet.

``We have been getting conflicting signals from the Pakistani intruders. They appear to be retreating but we cannot be too sure.Though both, the infantry and the artillery are on red alert, we have not yet fired. It is not in the highest of military traditions to fire at the retreating enemy. Though the deadlines have passed three times over, we are still giving them a day to clear out,'' another officer said.

But the continued presence of the infiltrators does not have the army unduly worried. ``Their main supply line from Gultari Nullah -- the administration camp of Pakistan -- has been cut off by us. So even if the infiltrators refuse to budge from the isolated peaks, their supplies will soon run out. So they have no alternative, it's just a matter of time,'' the officer said.