New Delhi: With the increasing tension at the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, Union Defence Minister AK Antony on Friday said the government is closely monitoring the situation and would do anything to protect the interest of the country. "Infiltration attempts have increased over the last year," he noted.
While assuring that there were enough troops in Jammu and Kashmir to handle the situation, Antony also mentioned that "occasional firing and ceasefire violation at the LoC was a matter of concern".
Meanwhile, there seemed no let-up in tension at the India-Pakistan border. There were reports of overnight firing from the Pakistan side in the Poonch sector. Firing was reported from more than three places along the LoC. India, however, maintained that the firing was unprovoked.
Pakistan has claimed that one of their soldiers was killed during the exchange of fire at the LoC on Thursday. It said that the provocation took place from Indian side. The Pakistani troops' firing started in the Battal area in Poonch sector at 4.30 pm after which the Indian troops gave a measured response. The firing ceased at 6.10 pm, Indian Army headquarters said.
Following the firing at the LoC, Pakistan on Friday halted bus service from India. For three days, buses will not ply between Poonch and Rawalakot.
The cross-border trade also remained affected after Pakistan on Thursday shut the gates at an LoC trading post in Poonch sector, not allowing Indian trucks to unload. Twenty-five trucks carrying goods, mostly vegetables, from India were not allowed to cross the LoC and enter Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir at Chakan-Da-Bagh, officials of the Trade Facilitation Center (TFC) at Poonch said on Thursday. While, Indian government said it was not notified about Pakistan's decision to close the LoC trading point, officials from Pakistan said the post was closed due to heavy movement of trucks and the recent incidents had nothing to do with it.
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