Ahead of flag meeting, Pakistan again violates ceasefire

Jammu/New Delhi: Ahead of Monday’s flag meeting between the two countries, Pakistani troops start firing at Indian posts in the Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday evening.
At the flag meeting, the Indian side is expected to strongly protest the Pakistani intrusion and the beheading of a soldier and demand the return of the severed head believed to have been carried by Pakistani Army regulars as a trophy after the killing of two soldiers on January eight.

“Brigade Commanders’ flag meeting is being held tomorrow at Chakan-Da-Bagh LoC point in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir at noon,” Public Relation Officer (PRO), Defence, Col RK Palta told a news agency.

Pakistani posts opposite Nangitikri targeted the posts and the Indian troops retaliated, he said.

The exchange continued for a brief period before coming to a halt, he said, adding there was no loss of life or injury to anyone on the Indian side.

There was firing on five Indian posts –Kranti, Kripan, Gordha, Chajjaman and Dogra from Pakistan posts- Daku, Chooha, Roza and Battal. Mortars were fired intermittently from Pakistan side.

Pakistani troops had also violated the ceasefire by firing mortars shells and from small arms on Indian posts along LoC in Krishnagati sector of Poonch district from 5 PM to 9.30 PM on Thursday.

Indian troops had retaliated resulting in the exchange of fire. There was no casuality or injury to anyone in the Pak firing.

Confidence Building Measures (CMBs) of cross-LoC trade and travel are also expected to come up for discussion during the flag meeting.

Pakistan has suspended cross-LoC trade and travel at Chakan-Da-Bagh crossing point in Poonch sector since Thursday and Friday respectively.

Tomorrow’s Brigade Commander-level flag meeting is the second one in the last six months between the two sides.

The last one was held at Chakan-Da-Bagh LoC point on June 23 following the killing of two Indian soldiers and injuries to four other jawans in ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops. Cross-LoC trade and travel via Chakan-Da-Bagh was also suspended.

Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed 71 incidents of cross- border firing and ceasefire violations along the Indo-Pak border in which seven persons, including four security personnel were killed and 15 others were injured last year.
There were 51 cases of cross-border firing and ceasefire violations in 2011 as compared to 44 cases registered in 2010 and 28 in 2009.