Jammu: High alert was on Thursday sounded and security stepped up in Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of inputs about possible attacks by Pakistan-based terror outfits on ‘soft targets’ ahead of US President Barack Obama's India visit later this month.

Ahead of Republic Day celebrations, security arrangements have been strengthened in the entire Jammu region to thwart the nefarious designs of the militant outfits.

"Quick reaction teams (QRT) of the police, PCR vans have been kept on high alert and new check posts have been set up at a distance of every eight to ten kilometers to ensure that the Republic Day celebrations go incident free," Deputy Inspector General of Police (Jammu Kathua Range) Shakeel Ahmed Beigh said.

He said that extra vigil is being maintained at every entry and exit points of Jammu and every vehicle entering or leaving the region is being frisked.

The army on Thursday said that 200 heavily armed militants were waiting in 36 launching pads across the Line of Control (LoC) on the other side of Pir Panchal range to sneak into the Indian Territory to launch a terrorist attack on the Indian soil ahead of Obama's India visit.

"There are general inputs that terrorists might try to attack soft targets including schools, religious places, army convoys and other civilian areas. There are 200 terrorists waiting in 36 launching pads across the border on the other side of the Pir Panjal range to sneak into Indian side, we have so far been able to foil their attempts," General Officer Commanding (GOC), 16 Corps, Lt Gen K H Singh said.

He said that the army was fully prepared to deal with any such eventuality and that security agencies have increased their vigil so as to thwart the nefarious designs of militant outfits.