Pakistan violates ceasefire again, fires on 13 border outposts

Jammu: Pakistani rangers violated ceasefire again by firing on 13 border outposts in Samba sector, drawing retaliation from BSF.

The violation comes after four Pakistani rangers were killed in BSF's strong retaliation after a soldier of the force lost his life in heavy firing from the other side on a patrol along the International Border in Samba district.

"Pakistani rangers resorted to firing on 12 to 13 BoPs along the IB in Samba sector overnight," IG BSF Rakesh Sharma said.

"The BSF also retaliated, resulting in exchanges which continued till 0600 hours, the IG said.

"There was no causality or injury to anyone in the firing today," Sharma said.

Today's firing by Pakistan was the third ceasefire violation along the IB in the past three days and seventh in last eight days.

One BSF jawan was killed and another injured in firing by Pakistan on Regal post in Samba.

BSF had retaliated effectively to the Pakistani firing and four Pakistani rangers were killed (opposite to Regal post) along the IB in the Samba sector, Sharma had said.

As Pakistani rangers suffered casualties, they had waved white flags asking BSF to stop the firing so that they can lift the bodies of its dead men, he had said.

Honouring their request, BSF had stopped the firing and allowed them to come to the border line and lift the bodies.

Home Minister Rajanth Singh said Pakistan should desist from such violations and officials of both the countries have been in touch over the issue.

"Pakistan should not do this. Diplomats of both the countries remain in constant touch here," Singh said.

He said normalcy will return soon. Meanwhile, IG Sharma said BSF will lodge a strong protest with Pakistan over the ceasefire violations along IB in Samba sector.

Retaliation by BSF came on a day when the government had asked the force to provide a "suitable and appropriate reply" for any unprovoked firing from across the Indo-Pak border.

Over 550 incidents of ceasefire violations by Pakistan occurred last year, the highest since the truce came into force in 2003, with the Indo-Pak border witnessing the worst such escalation during August to October which left 13 people, including 2 security personnel dead, and thousands displaced.

Jammu and Kashmir's Line of Control and International Border witnessed 562 violations in 2014, with increased shelling, firing, Border Action Team and sniper attacks on civilian areas and forward posts by the Pakistani troops.

As many as 410 ceasefire violations were reported along IB and 152 violations along LoC, in which 19 people, including 5 soldiers, were killed and over 150 injured, besides scores of cattle perishing.

"Last year has seen the highest ceasefire violations by Pakistan, targeting civilian areas and forward border posts along LoC and IB in Jammu and Kashmir during last 11 years of its existence," according to PRO of Northern Command Col S D Goswami.

Over 32,000 border residents were forced to leave their homes and take shelter in camps set up by the government in August and October, following heavy firing and shelling by Pakistan troops on civilian areas and forward posts along IB and LoC.

As per the data of the Ministry of Defence on sector-wise violations in 2014, the highest ceasefire violations (CFVs) have been reported from Jammu sector where there have been 347 CFVs, followed by 63 such violations along IB, 53 CFVs in Bhimbher Gali sector and 21 in Gurez sector along LoC.

Then Director General of BSF D K Pathak had termed the last year's ceasefire violations as the most heavy firing and shelling since 1971 Indo-Pak war.

In 2013, there were 347 ceasefire violations by Pakistan, including 199 along LoC and 148 along IB in Jammu and Kashmir, in which 12 security personnel were killed, according to the figures.

Pakistan had violated the ceasefire agreement with India on 114 occasions in 2012, including 93 CFVs along LoC and 21 along IB, in which 9 people including 5 security men and 4 civilians were killed.

The corresponding number was 62 in 2011, including 51 along LoC and 11 along IB, in which five security men were martyred, according to the data.

In 2010, Pakistan violated the ceasefire agreement with India on 44 occasions, in which two Army personnel were killed.

There were 28 violations reported in 2009, followed by 77 in 2008, 21 in 2007 and three in 2006, according to the data.