Indian, Pakistani armies exchange fire in Kashmir
The armies of Indian and Pakistan Sunday
again targeted each other's positions on the line-of-control (LoC) in
Kashmir, officials said, reports Xinhua.
The ceasefire violation took place in Mendhar sector of frontier Poonch district, around 185 km southwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.
"Pakistani troops this morning again targeted our forward posts with heavy machine guns and mortar guns in Bhimber Gali of Poonch, " said Col. R K Palta, Indian army spokesman. "Our troops retaliated effectively to Pakistani firing and the exchange lasted until afternoon."
According to Palta, no loss of life or damage was reported from the Indian side because of the firing.
The exchange of fire Sunday entered into the 16th day with skirmishes between two armies going on at daily basis.
LoC is a de facto border that divides Kashmir into India and Pakistan controlled parts.
Pakistan's official broadcaster Radio Pakistan said two civilians including a woman were killed and another girl wounded due to "unprovoked" Indian firing and mortar shelling on Sunday in Nakyal Sector and Pir Kalanjar area.
On Aug. 6, five Indian troops were killed and another wounded in a deadly ambush near Sarla in Poonch. India accused Pakistani troops of entering into its territory and carrying out the attack, a charge Pakistan has denied.
Following the incident a surge in ceasefire violations on LoC was recorded.
Reports said so far three Pakistani troopers including an officer were killed in Indian firing on LoC.
Both India and Pakistan blame each other for resorting to unprovoked firing that has triggered skirmishes and resulted in civilian or troop casualties on each side.
The killings and skirmishes on LoC have come at a time when New Delhi and Islamabad were trying to normalize ties and resume the talks. The confrontation has heightened tension between New Delhi and Islamabad and overshadowed resumption of Indo-Pak dialogue process.
New Delhi and Islamabad in 2003 agreed to observe a ceasefire along the international border and LoC in Kashmir. Though some violations have been reported on both sides, the ceasefire remains in effect.
The latest incidents of firing however have put a question mark on the 2003 agreement.
In January this year, similar skirmishes between the two armies claimed the lives of five troopers, two from India and three from Pakistan.
The ceasefire violation took place in Mendhar sector of frontier Poonch district, around 185 km southwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.
"Pakistani troops this morning again targeted our forward posts with heavy machine guns and mortar guns in Bhimber Gali of Poonch, " said Col. R K Palta, Indian army spokesman. "Our troops retaliated effectively to Pakistani firing and the exchange lasted until afternoon."
According to Palta, no loss of life or damage was reported from the Indian side because of the firing.
The exchange of fire Sunday entered into the 16th day with skirmishes between two armies going on at daily basis.
LoC is a de facto border that divides Kashmir into India and Pakistan controlled parts.
Pakistan's official broadcaster Radio Pakistan said two civilians including a woman were killed and another girl wounded due to "unprovoked" Indian firing and mortar shelling on Sunday in Nakyal Sector and Pir Kalanjar area.
On Aug. 6, five Indian troops were killed and another wounded in a deadly ambush near Sarla in Poonch. India accused Pakistani troops of entering into its territory and carrying out the attack, a charge Pakistan has denied.
Following the incident a surge in ceasefire violations on LoC was recorded.
Reports said so far three Pakistani troopers including an officer were killed in Indian firing on LoC.
Both India and Pakistan blame each other for resorting to unprovoked firing that has triggered skirmishes and resulted in civilian or troop casualties on each side.
The killings and skirmishes on LoC have come at a time when New Delhi and Islamabad were trying to normalize ties and resume the talks. The confrontation has heightened tension between New Delhi and Islamabad and overshadowed resumption of Indo-Pak dialogue process.
New Delhi and Islamabad in 2003 agreed to observe a ceasefire along the international border and LoC in Kashmir. Though some violations have been reported on both sides, the ceasefire remains in effect.
The latest incidents of firing however have put a question mark on the 2003 agreement.
In January this year, similar skirmishes between the two armies claimed the lives of five troopers, two from India and three from Pakistan.
Comments
Post a Comment