Expanding the arch of its targets, Pakistani troops violated ceasefire twice and pounded civilian areas and military positions along the IB in R S Pura and Arnia sectors of Jammu district besides 3 ceasefire violations in Poonch, Balakote and Hamirpur sectors in Poonch district on intervening night of August 17-18, injuring a villager.
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Indian Security Forces also resorted to unprovoked firing at Jandrot, Nakyal and Karela Sectors, as a result of which another civilian was killed and four civilians were injured.
In twin cases of ceasefire violation, Pakistan Rangers opened unprovoked fire in Pooch and RS Pura Sector on Tuesday.
The Indian Deputy High Commissioner was called in by the Director General (South Asia & SAARC) today.
Six civilians died on the weekend in troubled Indian Kashmir after firing and shelling by Pakistani troops from across the border, according to Indian police.
“People have started vacating the area and we are trying to prevent massive exodus keeping in view the challenge of arrangements for displaced families” AJK Food Minister Javed Budhanvi told The Nation from Nakial. Budhanvi said government was trying to provide all assistance to masses trapped by Indian shelling from across LOC.
For the last one week, there has been an escalation of tension along the Line of Control- a ceasefire line dividing Kashmir between India and Pakistan.
“Our troops have been responding effectively and appropriately”, the spokesperson said, adding that exchanges were on when the reports last came in from the area. On Sunday clashes between Indian and Pakistani troops along the border intensified killing at least eight people and wounding 14.
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There have been repeated ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the over 110-km long borderline in Poonch, Sujiyan, Balakote, Hamirpur, Mandi sectors in Poonch district and Manjakote sector in Rajouri district between August 15 and 16. The fighting has left tens of thousands, mostly civilians, dead. Basit, who was summoned by Secretary-East Anil Wadhwa, later accused India of ceasefire violations and stated a simpler mechanism to find out who indulges in the “unprovoked firing”.
