Heavy shelling, firing along LoC as Pakistan violates ceasefire

SRINAGAR: Pakistani troops fired mortar shells and small arms across the Line of Control at more than 50 places in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday in a sharp escalation of ceasefire violations that have been underway for the last three consecutive days. Five Indian soldiers were injured in the Akhnoor sector by Pakistan's shelling; the Indian Army said it was retaliating strongly.

This comes hours after the Indian Air Force bombed a huge Jaish-e-Mohammed camp in Pakistan's Balakot, across the Line of Control, killing a "very large number of terrorists" according to government officials.

The Pakistan Army used heavy weaponry, firing 120 mm mortars targeting some 55 civilian hamlets and forward posts in Jammu, Rajouri and Poonch districts since 5:30 pm, an army officer said. The sectors targeted include Krishna Gati, Balakote, Khari Karmara, Mankote, Tarkundi in Poonch district, Kalal, Baba Khori, Kalsian, Laam and Jhangar areas in Rajouri and Pallanwala and Laleali in Jammu.

Pakistan had shelled forward posts in the state's Poonch, Mendhar and Nowshera sectors earlier in the day too, prompting a response from the Indian forces.

The Pakistan army has resorted to firing and mortar shelling on forward posts and civilian areas along the Line of Control in Rajouri and Poonch districts on seven of the last eight days.

Last year saw the highest number of ceasefire violations — nearly 3,000 — by Pakistani troops in the last 15 years along the Indo-Pak border.

Pakistan continues to violate the ceasefire understanding of 2003 despite repeated calls for restraint and adherence to the agreement during flag meetings between the border guarding forces of the two countries, the officials said.