Pak violates ceasefire again in Jammu, second in 24 hours

In the second instance of ceasefire violation within 24 hours, Pakistani troops resorted to small arms firing on a Border Out Post along the International Border in Jammu district on Friday.

The firing comes in the backdrop of the meeting between Peoples Democratic p;arty Patron Mufti Sayeed and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to announce the formation of a Bharatiya Janata Party-PDP government in the state.

Pakistani troops resorted to firing of two to three rounds at BoP Jai Kishan in R S Pura sector of Jammu district around 1950 hours, a Border Security Force officer said.

Troops of 192 battalion of BSF maintained calm, he said, adding they did not retaliate.

"There was no loss of life or damage to BoP in the firing, he said.

On the night of February 26,  Pakistan Rangers violated the ceasefire and targeted a Border-out-Post Nawapind in the RS Pura sector of Jammu.

Pakistan violated the ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir 685 times during the past eight months, resulting in death of 24 people, including eight forces' personnel, the government told the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday last.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had said 126 ceasefire violations took place along the Line of Control and International Border under operational control of the army, while 559 violations took place along the IB under operational control of the BSF.

He said five army personnel, three BSF personnel and 16 civilians were killed in these incidents.

Replying to questions, Parrikar said ‘ocal dynamics’ such as construction works are one of the reasons for ceasefire violations. "Appropriate retaliation to the ceasefire violations, as required, has been carried out by the Indian Army/BSF," he had said.

In addition, all violations of ceasefire are taken up with Pakistan military authorities at the appropriate level through established mechanism of hotlines and flag meetings as well as weekly talks between directorate generals of military operations of the two countries.

BSF, too, holds talks at various levels with its counterpart, Pakistan Rangers, Parrikar had said.