India evacuated more than 10,000 villagers living near the border with Pakistan, fearing of military escalation in connection with special operation against alleged militants, Reuters reported.

The evacuation began after India announced its intention to strike across the entire contact line or de facto borders in connection with suspicions about the preparing attacks by fighters of Kashmir.

As the newspaper noted, India on Thursday said it had carried out “surgical strikes”, sending special forces to kill men preparing to sneak into its territory and attack major cities.