Pakistan resorts to ceasefire violation in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district for third consecutive day

In yet another ceasefire violation, Pakistan on Thursday resorted to firing in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, for the third consecutive day. 

The year 2018 witnessed the highest number of ceasefire violations -- 2,936 -- by Pakistan troops in the last 15 years along the Indo-Pak border.

"The Pakistani army resorted to firing and shelling on forward posts along the LoC in Poonch sector Thursday morning," officials said, adding there were no casualties or injuries on the Indian side. 

Indian troops guarding the border retaliated strongly, he said. No casualty and injuries have been reported so far, news agency ANI.

On Wednesday, the Pakistan Army resorted to mortar shelling on forward posts along the Line of Control (LoC), said a defence official. Pakistani troops targeted posts in Gulpur and Khadi Karmara in Poonch district, he said.

"At about 0900 hours, Pakistani troops initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by small arms and heavy calibre weapons besides shelling in Poonch," he said, adding Indian troops retaliated strongly.

During the past week, Pakistani troops have targeted forward posts in Mankote, Khadi Karmara, Gulpur areas without any causality.

Northern Command chief Lt Gen Ranbir Singh Monday visited forward areas and reviewed the security situation in Jammu and Rajouri districts.

On Wednesday as well, Pakistani troops had fired on and shelled the Kalal forward area in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district twice, they said. The continuous shelling and firing on villages have set in a fear psychosis among the border dwellers. 

With the latest incident, Pakistani troops resorted to firing and shelling along the LoC in Poonch seven of first 10 days of the new year. The Pakistani Army fired on forward posts along the LoC Poonch district on Tuesday as well.

Pakistan has been increasingly violating the 2003 ceasefire agreement with India. It has resorted to firing and shelling along LoC five times in the past seven days, including on Tuesday.

Despite repeated calls, made during Indo-Pak flag meetings, for restraint and adherence to the ceasefire understanding of 2003 for maintaining peace and tranquillity, the Indo-Pak border areas witnessed shelling and firing.

The chief of northern commander, Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, had Monday visited forward areas along the LoC and reviewed the security situation in Jammu and Rajouri districts, officials said.

Accompanied by White Knight corps commander Lt Gen Paramjit Singh, Lt Gen Ranbir Singh visited forward posts of Rajouri and Akhnoor sectors to review the operational preparedness and the prevailing security situation, they said.