BSF lodges protest with Pakistan counterpart over truce violation

Jammu, October 28

The Border Security Force (BSF) on Saturday lodged a strong protest with the Pakistan Rangers over the recent unprovoked firing and mortar shelling on forward posts and villages along the International Border here, officials said.

The cross-border shelling by the Pakistan Rangers, the first major ceasefire violation since 2021, started around 8 pm Thursday in the Arnia area of the RS Pura sector and lasted around seven hours, leaving a BSF man and a woman injured.

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The protest was registered at an hour-long commander-level meeting at border outpost Octroi in Suchetgarh, a BSF officer said. This was the second flag meeting between the two sides in 10 days after two BSF personnel were injured when their post in Arnia came under fire from across the border on October 17.

The incident in this sector was the first violation of the February 25, 2021, renewed ceasefire along J&K borders between India and Pakistan.

The officials said the latest meeting, which was attended by seven members each of the BSF and the Pakistan Rangers, was held in a peaceful atmosphere with both sides highlighting the need to maintain peace along the border.

Besides the two ceasefire violations, a group of people escorted by the Pakistan Rangers also came close to the International Border on October 21 following which BSF troops fired a couple of warning shots to drive them away.

The back-to-back ceasefire violations by Pakistan without any provocation have caused panic among border residents who had to flee their homes.