New Delhi: Pakistani troops fired at our positions in Mandi and Garhi areas of the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district late yesterday (Sunday), army spokesman Col. RK Kalia said. Pakistan troops opened fire from small and automatic weapons on Indian forward posts along LoC in Mendhar Sub-sector of Poonch district around 0625 hours today, Defence Spokesman S N Acharya said. Pakistani troops fired at Indian positions in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, violating the bilateral ceasefire twice since Sunday, an army spokesman said Monday.
Indian troops retaliated effectively, resulting in exchanges that stopped around 1000 hours today; Acharya said adding there was no report of loss of life or injury. Four Indian posts came under fire from Pakistan troops, which fired from their five posts, the reports said. On September 11, Pakistani troops had fired and launched rocket attacks on five Indian forward posts along LoC in Mendhar sub-sector of Poonch district. There have been over 90 ceasefire violations by the Pakistani troops from January 1.
“Pakistan used small arms, automatics and mortars, firing at our positions at 11.30 pm on Sunday. Our troops retaliated with equal caliber weapons. Exchange of fire ended at 3.45 am on Monday,” his said. This was the second violation of the bilateral ceasefire by Pakistan since Sunday in Poonch district. The ceasefire agreement was signed by the two neighbours in November 2003. It had brought normalcy in the lives of thousands of people living close to the border.
India has been accusing Pakistan of unprovoked violation of the ceasefire agreement since the beginning of the year. On Friday, India’s External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid and Pakistani prime minister’s adviser on foreign affairs and national security, Sartaj Aziz, met in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, and agreed to respect the LoC ceasefire agreement. Just two days after the meet, Pakistan violated the ceasefire. Six jawans were killed and 13 people injured in ceasefire violations and firing by Pakistani troops on forward posts, civilian areas and patrol parties along the border in August.
Bureau Report
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