Pakistan violates LoC ceasefire again, fires at Indian posts in Poonch

Pakistani troops have targeted Indian forward posts with small arms and automatic weapons along the Line of Control in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, prompting Indian forces to retaliate.

“Pakistani troops opened unprovoked firing from small arms and automatic weapons at our forward posts in Bhimbher Gali sub-sector in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir around 2230 hours yesterday,” PRO Defence Lt Col Manish Mehta said.

The Indian Army troops took positions and responded with equal caliber weapons to Pakistan’s firing which resulted in intermittent exchanges of fire. “There was no loss of life or damage to property in the firing on this side of LoC,” Lt Col Mehta said.

This marks the second ceasefire violation by Pakistan this month.

The ceasefire violation and firing by Pakistan comes barely hours after the country handed over captured 30-year-old Constable Satyasheel Yadav to BSF officials at the zero line at Octroi border post along the International Border.

On August 6, Yadav, along with seven other personnel, was on a routine motorboat patrol on Chenab river when its engine suddenly failed and the boat was caught in the main current of Chenab and started drifting downstream towards Pakistan.

While six personnel managed to swim to safety and another one was saved by a rescue boat, Yadav drifted in the strong current and he subsequently landed 400 metres away in the Sialkot sector of Pakistan.

At the flag meeting between the Battalion Commandants of BSF and Pakistan Rangers at Octerio BoP in R S Pura sector of Jammu district, both sides made a commitment to uphold peace and tranquility on the border and extend all cooperation to each other in dealing with emergent incidents in a proactive and positive manner.

On 5 August, Pakistani troops had targeted Indian forward posts with small arms and automatic weapons along the LoC in Sher Shakti forward belt of Poonch district.

General Officer Commanding of Nagrota-based 16 Corps, Lt Gen K H Singh had recently said that the Indian Army has been directed to give a befitting reply to Pakistani troops over ceasefire violations, firing and infiltration attempts from across the border.

Eight ceasefire violations by Pakistan were witnessed in July. In June, it violated the ceasefire 5 times along the LoC and IB in Jammu region. There were 19 incidents of ceasefire violation along the LoC in April-May.

PTI