Twin breach of truce by Pak in Poonch, Kathua

Jammu, December 13

Pakistani troops violated ceasefire by resorting to unprovoked firing and mortar shelling on forward posts and villages in two sectors along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) in Poonch and Kathua districts, officials said on Sunday.

Indian forces retaliated befittingly and there was no report of any casualty this side, they said. “Around 5.45 pm (Sunday), Pakistan initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing with small arms and shelling mortars along the LoC in the Degwar sector of Poonch,” a defence spokesman said. The Pakistan Rangers also opened fire on forward posts and villages along the IB in Kathua district of the Jammu region, the officials said.

The firing from across the border in the Pansar border outpost area in the Hiranagar sector started around 10 pm on Saturday, drawing strong and effective retaliation from the BSF. The cross-border firing between the two sides continued till 3.45 am on Sunday, forcing border residents to spend the night in underground bunkers, the officials said. — PTI