Pakistan again violates ceasefire

Jammu, Sept 16: Pakistani troops fired at Indian positions in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, violating the bilateral ceasefire twice since Sunday, an army spokesman said Monday.

"Pakistani troops fired at our positions in Mandi and Garhi areas of the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district late yesterday (Sunday), army spokesman Col. R.K. Kalia told IANS.

The exchange of fire continued till early Monday, he said.

This was the 2nd violation of the bilateral ceasefire by Pakistan since Sunday

"Pakistan used small arms, automatics and mortars, firing at our positions at 11.30 p.m. yesterday (Sunday). Our troops retaliated with equal calibre weapons. Exchange of fire ended at 3.45 a.m. today (Monday)," he said.

This was the second violation of the bilateral ceasefire by Pakistan since Sunday in Poonch district.

The ceasefire agreement was signed by the two neighbours in November 2003. It had brought normalcy in the lives of thousands of people living close to the border.

India has been accusing Pakistan of unprovoked violation of the ceasefire agreement since the beginning of the year.

On Friday, India's External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid and Pakistani prime minister's adviser on foreign affairs and national security, Sartaj Aziz, met in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, and agreed to respect the LoC ceasefire agreement.

Just two days after the meet, Pakistan violated the ceasefire.

IANS