Heavy firing on India-Pakistan border

Soldiers patrol near the international border at Ballad post in Samba near Jammu. File photo: PTI

Indian and Pakistani border guards exchanged heavy firing at the international border between the two countries in Jammu and Kashmir Monday evening, an official said.

According to the Border Security Force (BSF), the Pakistani border guards opened fire on the Indian positions in Ramgarh sector in a bid to infiltrate terrorists, provoking the Indian side to retaliate.

“The firing from across (the border) seems to be a cover to facilitate infiltration (of militants),” a BSF official told IANS.

The firing started around 7.30 p.m. in Ramgarh, about 45 km southwest of here.

“The Pakistani firing was unprovoked,” he said. Intermittent exchange of fire is still on, the official added.

Indian Army units along the international border have been alerted, defence sources said.