Pakistan violates ceasefire in Poonch, shells forward LoC posts

In fresh ceasefire violation, Pakistan troops fired at forward Indian posts along Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir tonight, drawing retaliation from Indian soldiers on Friday night.

"There was no casualty reported as last report came in," a Defence spokesman said.

The Pakistan soldiers resorted to mortar shelling and fired through automatic weapons at the forward Indian posts, he said.

"Pakistan troops started unprovoked firing from small arms and automatic weapons and lobbed mortar shells on forward posts along LoC in Balakote sector at 2030 hours tonight," he said.

Indian troops "effectively and appropriately responded to Pakistan firing and shelling".

Pakistan Rangers had also opened fire on border outposts in Jammu last night but the Indian forces showed restraint and did not retaliate.

Throughout Diwali on Thursday, Pakistan Rangers violated ceasefire several times and resorted to firing on border outposts (BoPs) along the international border (IB) in Samba, Kathua and Jammu districts of Jammu and Kashmir.

"Pakistan Rangers resorted to small-arms firing on BoPs along IB in Jammu frontier till 2010 hours yesterday," BSF spokesman said today.