Pak troops violate ceasefire; fire at Indian posts

Violating the ceasefire again, Pakistani troops targeted forward Indian posts along the Line of Control with rockets, mortars and resorted to heavy firing in Poonch district in the wee hours on Thursday.

Pakistan troops attacked the Indian forward posts in Krishnagati sub-sector of the district around 0100 hours, Brigadier General Staff, 16 Corps, Brig S Dua told PTI.

Dozens of mortars and rockets were fired, which exploded away from the posts without causing any damage, he said, terming it as an 'unprovoked act.'

Indian troops guarding the border, took positions and fired back resulting in heavy exchanges for over two hours, he said, adding there were no casualties on both the sides.

"It is ceasefire violation and it was aimed at infiltrating militants into this side of the LoC," he said adding, "We have lodged a strong protest with our Pakistani counterparts and called for a flag meeting over the incident".

Some posts targeted by Pakistan troops included Kripan, Kranti, Chajja One, and Gorda in Balnoie forward belt of Krishnagati sub-sector in Poonch.

This is second time this year that Pakistani troops have fired mortars bombs and rockets. On May 23, they had fired rockets and mortars in Poonch's KG sector.

Pakistani troops had earlier violated the ceasefire along the LoC and targeted six Indian posts with mortar, rockets and small arms fire in Poonch sector on the intervening night of July 15 and 16.

There was also a ceasefire violation along the International Border in R S Pura sub-sector's Kharkhola and Bodla Border Out Posts on July 15. Pakistani troops had also fired at forward positions along the Line of Control in Krishna Ghati area of Poonch sector on July 5.

On July 9, Pakistani Rangers had violated the ceasefire by resorting to small arms firing along the International Border on Khawara Border Out Post in Mawa belt of Samba district.

Pakistani troops had also violated the ceasefire on July 7 when they opened fire at the Chak Pagwari BOP in Pargwal in Jammu.

On July 6, Pakistani troops had fired at Pindi, Mala  Bela and Chak Phagwari border outpost around 2230 in which a BSF jawan was killed and a villager injured.

Pakistani troops had also fired at the Chak Pagwari BOP on July 5 and killed Border Security Force trooper Sultan Ali.

Earlier, Pakistani troops had violated the ceasefire when they fired at a forward outpost along the International Border in Jammu on June 21. In the month of May, there were four ceasefire violations and border firing exchanges in Jammu and Kashmir.

On May 1, there was a ceasefire violation by Pakistani troops in Krishnagati belt of Poonch sector when they fired on four Indian posts. It was followed by ceasefire violation along the International Border in Ballard post in Samba sector, where Pak Rangers fired on the Indian BOP.

It was followed by the ceasefire violation along IB in Abdullaian BOP in Jammu sector when Pak rangers fired on the Indian BOP and blew up border fencing on May 12.

On May 18, 2 jawans were killed and 3 injured in cross-border firing of Pakistan as they violate ceasefire.