Ceasefire violated once again

SRINAGAR: Despite repeated assurances, Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire yesterday when they fired small and medium arms on Indian posts in Sabzian area along the line of control (LoC) in Poonch sector of Jammu region.

The violation comes a month after Pakistani president Asif Ali Zardari’s commitment in New York to stabilise the five-year-old border ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir.

Gurdeep Singh, brigadier general staff of the Jammu-based 16 corps, said the Pakistani troops fired rockets and mortars followed by small arms on the Indian troops. “The firing began at 11.50 am and continued for nearly 40 minutes. They used RPG and mortar fire besides small arms fire. We also retaliated by firing around 30 rounds. The firing ended after our retaliation,” he said.

There were no casualties on either side. “We have not lodged any protest so far. We are waiting for the response and accordingly we will be lodging the protest against this violation,” said a senior security force officer.

The area where the firing occurred falls under the BSF, which mans the LoC with the army. “There was firing from a distance which caused no damage,” said JB Sangwan, the DIG of BSF’s Jammu frontier.

More than 30 ceasefire violations have been recorded this year on both the LoC and International Border. This was one of the talking points between Manmohan Singh and Asif Ali Zardari in New York. Both leaders agreed to stabilise the ceasefire. Directors-General Military Operations and Sector Commanders of the two countries were to keep in regular contact.

The ceasefire came into force on November 26, 2003.
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