Pakistan violates ceasefire along LoC in Poonch

It is the sixth ceasefire violation in the past five days.

Border Security Force (BSF) soldiers patrol near the India-Pakistan international border. File photo.

In the sixth ceasefire violation in the past five days, Pakistani troops fired at forward Indian posts along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district.

“Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked small arms and automatic weapons firing on Indian posts along LoC in Hamirpur sector of Poonch district around 2100 hours last night”, PRO, Defence Lt Col Manish Mehta said on Thursday.

Army troops retaliated with equal calibre weapons and the exchanges were continuing till last reports came from the spot, he said, adding there was no loss of life or injuries to anyone in the firing.

This is the 6th ceasefire violation in the past five days.

BSF and Pakistan Rangers had on Friday last made a commitment to uphold peace and tranquillity on the border and extend all cooperation to each other in dealing with emergent incidents in a proactive and positive manner.

However, the ceasefire violations have continued.

Security officials feel the heavy firing and shelling in LoC and IB areas in Poonch and Jammu sectors is aimed to infiltrate armed militants into Jammu and Kashmir to target Independence Day programmes.

• LoC tensions in August
• 11th August:

  Two troopers and two women injured in unprovoked firing by the Pakistan Rangers at four Indian positions on the international border in Jammu district Firing at the Johra Post, Nowa Pind, Jogna Chak and Tent Post at around 4.15 am.

• 8th August:

  Pakistani troops target Indian forward posts with small arms and automatic weapons along the LoC at Bhimbher Gali sub-sector in > Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir at 10.30 pm. The Indian Army troops responded with equal calibre weapons to Pakistan’s firing which resulted in intermittent exchanges of fire.

• 5th August

  Pakistani troops targeted Indian forward posts along the LoC in Sher Shakti forward belt of Poonch district.

Published - August 14, 2014 11:40 am IST