Srinagar: Pakistani troops fired mortar shells and small arms across the Line of Control at more than 50 places in Jammu and Kashmir on
Tuesday in a sharp escalation of ceasefire violations that have been underway for the last three consecutive days. The Indian Army said it
was retaliating strongly.
This comes hours after the Indian Air Force bombed a huge Jaish-e-Mohammed camp in Balakot, across the Line of Control, killing a “very
large number of terrorists” according to government officials.
The Pakistan Army used heavy weaponry, firing 120 mm mortars targeting some 55 civilian hamlets and forward posts in Jammu, Rajouri and
Poonch districts since 5:30 pm, an army officer told news agency PTI. The sectors targeted include Krishna Gati, Balakote, Khari Karmara,
Mankote, Tarkundi in Poonch district, Kalal, Baba Khori, Kalsian, Laam and Jhangar areas in Rajouri and Pallanwala and Laleali in Jammu.
There was no injury or loss of life in the ceasefire violations, the officer said, adding that Indian troops gave a “befitting reply” to
the firing.
Pakistan had shelled forward posts in the state’s Poonch, Mendhar and Nowshera sectors earlier in the day too, prompting a response from
the Indian forces. No one was hurt on the Indian side.
The Pakistan army has resorted to firing and mortar shelling on forward posts and civilian areas along the Line of Control in Rajouri and
Poonch districts on seven of the last eight days.
Last year saw the highest number of ceasefire violations – nearly 3,000 – by Pakistani troops in the last 15 years along the Indo-Pak
border.
Pakistan continues to violate the ceasefire understanding of 2003 despite repeated calls for restraint and adherence to the agreement
during flag meetings between the border-guarding forces of the two countries, the officials said.
Amid rising tension between India and Pakistan following the Pulwama terror attack and increasing ceasefire violations, the people along
the Line of Control and the international border in this region are living under constant fear, they said
