Pak troops pound Indian posts on Republic Day

Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire along the Line of Control in Kashmir on the morning of the 65th Republic Day by resorting to unprovoked firing for three hours, army said.

"At 6:15 am, when it was dark, there was unprovoked firing from Pakistani side. They fired about three RPG rounds and small arms on to the Kaman post (in Uri sector) on the Indian side," General Officer Commanding of 19 Infantry Division Major General Anil Chauhan told reporters.

He said the aim of the firing was apparently to disrupt the peace and tranquility along the Line of Control.

"Actually, it (the scene of firing) is adjacent to where the Pakistani posts are. So, it could be speculated that elements inimical to the interests of welfare of people, rather I would say cross-LoC trade or for maintenance of peace and tranquility along the LoC (opened the firing)," he said.

The army officer said the Indian troops did not retaliate to the three-hour firing from the Pakistani side.

"In spite of continuous firing at the LoC for three hours, we have shown great restraint and did not retaliate at all. The idea basically is to maintain peace and tranquility along the LoC," he said.

This is the first ceasefire violation in Kashmir since the director generals of military operations level talks between India and Pakistan last month.

There were no casualties reported in the firing incident.

An army spokesman in Srinagar said the issue of the ceasefire violation has been raised with Pakistani counterparts through hotline in the backdrop of recent meeting between the DGMOs of the two countries.

Image: A Pakistani flag flies on top of a check post

Photograph: Parwiz/Reuters