Calm before the storm? Guns silent on Pakistan, India border

Jammu, Oct 13: Guns on both sides of the India, Pakistan border remained silent overnight on Monday, Oct 13, but thousands of displaced border residents were still camped in makeshift accommodations away from their homes.

"The night remained peaceful on both the LoC (Line of Control) and the international border. There was no ceasefire violation from Pakistan side during the night," said a senior police officer in winter capital Jammu.

Pakistan Rangers had resorted to unprovoked firing on Border Security Force (BSF) positions and mortar shelling of civilian habitations in R.S. Pura sector Saturday night resulting in injuries to two civilians.

More than 30,000 residents of villages close to the international border in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts are presently living in relief camps set up at places that are not vulnerable to Pakistan shelling.

Eight people have been killed and 62 injured since Oct 6 when Pakistan resorted to unprecedented peace-time targeting of civilian habitations in the Jammu region.

India has already refused the offer of a flag meeting by Pakistan, asserting that border hostilities must stop before such a meeting is held.

IANS