Pak troops open fire on 6 forward posts in Poonch

Violating the ceasefire, Pakistani troops on Sunday targeted six forward posts along the Line of Control in Pooch district with mortars and other heavy calibre weapons, leading to a major exchange of fire between the two sides, which left a jawan critically injured.

Pakistan troops opened indiscriminate and heavy fire on five to six Indian posts along the Line of Control in Krishnagati sub-sector, 210 kms from Jammu, Brigadier General Staff (16 Corps) Gurdeep Singh said.

This is the fifth ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir in May. They also fired four mortar bombs and rockets on Indian positions, he said, adding these mortars were fired intermittently.

"It is an unprovoked firing and ceasefire violation by the Pakistani troops," Brigadier Singh said.

Indian troops retaliated and the heavy exchange of fire continued intermittently till 1 pm, he said, adding that an army jawan was injured in the firing.

Pakistani troops from Daku and Pippal posts targeted six Indian forward defence locations of Kranti, Chajja One, Gorda, Kripan, Balnoie and Mankote in Krishnagati sub-sector. They also used medium machine guns and fired over 20 mortar shells on the Indian positions, defence sources said.

In Islamabad, the army claimed that a Pakistani soldier was killed in the firing and demanded an immediate flag meeting to discuss the issue.

On May 1, the Pakistani troops violated ceasefire in Krishnagati belt of Poonch sector when they fired on four posts.

It was followed by ceasefire violation along the international border in Ballard post in Samba sector, where Pakistani Rangers fired on a border outpost. It was followed by a ceasefire violation along IB in Jammu sector, when Pak rangers blew up a border fencing on May 12. On May 18, two jawans were killed and three injured in cross-border firing with the Pakistan army.