Pak continues to target posts on LoC

Amit Khajuria
Tribune News Service
Jammu, March 23

The Army lost two soldiers this week in cross-border firing as Pakistan continued to violate the 2003 ceasefire agreement on the Line of Control (LoC) almost daily. The Pakistan army initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation on two Indian posts along the LoC in Poonch district on Saturday evening.

According to a defence spokesperson, small arms fire started at 5.30 pm and the Army retaliated befittingly.

Pakistan has been targeting different posts along the LoC daily. On Friday, it pounded the Mendhar sector in Poonch with mortars. On Thursday (March 21), it used artillery guns to shell the Akhnoor, Sunderbani and Nowshera sectors. The Army gave a befitting reply to Pakistan, but Rifleman Yash Paul (24) lost his life in the firing at Sunderbani on Thursday. He hailed from Udhampur.

Rifleman Karamjeet Singh of Moga, Punjab, also attained martyrdom in the Sunderbani sector in the cross-border firing on Monday.

Northern Command chief Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, accompanied by White Knight Corps chief Lt Gen Paramjit Singh, also visited forward posts in the Rajouri and Reasi sectors to interact with soldiers and review the operational preparedness on Friday.

Pertinently, Pakistan has been continuously violating the truce since the start of this year and the number of truce violations are at an all-time high. In 2018, there were 2,936 such violations by Pakistan. These were the highest in the past 15 years with an average of eight cases daily. As many as 61 persons were killed and over 250 injured in these incidents.

2 soldiers killed in week 

• On March 21, the Pakistan army used artillery guns to shell the Akhnoor, Sunderbani and Nowshera sectors. Rifleman Yash Paul (24) lost his life in the firing at Sunderbani   
• On March 19, Rifleman Karamjeet Singh of Moga, Punjab, also attained martyrdom in the Sunderbani sector during the cross-border firing