|
'Unprovoked' firing by Pakistani troops Indian positions: Army |
 |
There has been "unprovoked" firing by Pakistani troops at Indian positions in Jammu and Kashmir's mountainous Poonch district, Army officials said on Sept. 19.
There was firing at the Kath Panjal post, about 250 km from Jammu, on Sept. 18. "It was unprovoked firing of small and medium arms for over two hours. Indian troops did not retaliate," an Army official said.
No loss of life was reported.
While stating that there had been unprovoked firing at temporary anti-infiltration posts in Poonch, Army officials in New Delhi said the incident had not been registered as a ceasefire violation.
In Jammu, officials said on condition of anonymity that ceasefire violations were now frequent across the Line of Control (LoC) that divides J&K between India and Pakistan.
In July, India lodged a strong protest against unprovoked firing by Pakistani troops along the LoC. Defence Minister A.K. Antony urged Islamabad to respect the ceasefire that has been in place since 2003.
In a statement issued in New Delhi, Antony said: "Pakistan must fully respect the ceasefire agreed to between the two sides and adhere to the already existing mechanism to deal with border violations."
An Indian soldier, identified as Sepoy Mahesh Kumar of the 22 Rajput Regiment, and four Pakistani troops had been killed in the firing after a group of 10-12 Pakistani soldiers intruded into Indian territory in the Nowgom area of north Kashmir.
It was the most serious truce violation in the past five years and came in the wake of 18 other violations by Pakistani troops since January.
|
