Apprehend limited confrontation with Pakistan in April, says BSF on ceasefire

The BSF also said multiple infiltration bids by Pakistan along the International Border (IB) have been foiled in recent past.

Pakistan violated the ceasefire agreement along the LoC and the International Border in Jammu & Kashmir 633 times in the first two months of this year in which 10 security personnel and 12 civilians were killed, the Lok Sabha was informed recently.

Union Minister of State for home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir had said 432 incidents of ceasefire violation have taken place along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir and 201 such incidents along the International Border this year till February.

"As I said, we anticipate that immediately after the crops are cut (harvesting) we may have a limited confrontation with Pakistan," BSF Director-General K K Sharma told reporters here on Friday.

He said every year there has been limited engagement with Pakistan in April after crops are harvested.

"We wish that this should not happen (confrontation), but we have to be prepared," he said.

Sharma said the Jammu frontier and the western command are well prepared. The frontier is doing extremely well, he added.

Replying to a question on terror launch pads across the border, the BSF DG said, "We have been getting information regularly that there are training camps and launch pads across the border."

"Keeping that in mind, the BSF is taking measures so that any infiltration bid does not succeed," the BSF chief said, adding it is open secret that Pakistani Rangers and its army are helping them.