Pakistani troops target border posts in Poonch, Army retaliate

Jammu, Aug 10: Pakistani troops targeted forward Indian posts along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district overnight, drawing retaliation from the Army.

"Pakistan troops resorted to firing overnight on forward posts along the Line of Control (LoC) in Hamirpur sector of Poonch district," a senior Army officer said.

Army troops retaliated, he said, adding there was no loss of life or injury to anyone in the firing. The Hamirpur and Sabzian sectors in Poonch have been targeted by Pakistan troops for the past three days, possibly to facilitate infiltration from across the border.

With this ceasefire violation, there have been 17 such incidents in the past nine days. After a day-long lull, Pakistani troops resorted to firing from automatic weapons and mortar shells on forward post in Mandi-Sabzaiyan sector in Poonch yesterday.

Apart from mortar shells and automatic weapons, Pakistani troops fired 120 mm mortars.

On August 7, an army jawan was injured as Pakistani troops opened fire at villages and forward posts in Poonch district along the LoC for the third consecutive day today.

Pakistani troops had on August 6 resorted to intermittent firing with automatic weapons, rocket projectile grenades and mortar bombs along the LoC in Poonch district.

On August 5, Pakistani troops had violated the ceasefire twice and targeted forward posts and hamlets, in which three civilians were injured.

A youth was killed and two others, including a BSF jawan, were injured when Pakistani troops had targeted border out posts and hamlets along the International Border in 4 sectors of Kanachak, Pargwal, Tawi and RS Pura in Jammu district on August 4.

On August 2 and 3, Pakistani troops had violated the ceasefire four times by resorting to small arms firing in forward posts along LoC in Krishnagati, Mandi, Balakote and Pallanwala sectors of Poonch and Jammu districts.

There were two ceasefire violations on August 1. There have been 18 ceasefire violations along the Indo-Pak border in July in which four persons, including three jawans, were killed and 14 others injured.

PTI