Pakistan violates ceasefire in Poonch

The latest violation comes in the backdrop of the announcement that Indian and Pakistani border guarding forces would hold five-day talks from September 9.

In this file photo, an Army jawan stands guard close to the Line of Control in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistani troops violated ceasefire in the district on Sunday.

A day after an Army jawan was injured in firing from across the border, Pakistani troops once again violated ceasefire in the frontier district of Poonch on Sunday.

The firing drew retaliation from the Indian Army.

“Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violations in forward areas of Poonch’s Mandi sector along the Line of Control (LoC) today,” Jammu-based defence spokesperson Lt. Col. Manish Mehta said.

“The area witnessed ceasefire violations by Pakistan Army between 0520-0603 hours,” he said.

He said the forward posts of Pakistan fired towards the Indian side using automatics and heavy machine guns.

“Our side retaliated appropriately but no casualty or damage were reported till reports last came in,” Mr. Mehta said.

With Sunday’s ceasefire violation, the number of such violations has gone up to seven in September.

The latest ceasefire violation comes in the backdrop of the announcement that India and Pakistan would be holding a five-day, >Director General-level talks between their border guarding forces from September 9.