India, Pak fail to cease fire, shelling resumes in valley
12 Jan 2013 7:21 AM IST
India and Pakistan failed to reach an entente to resolve the border crisis with both sides taking strong position on ceasefire violations and the eerie silence on Line of Control (LoC), giving way to intermittent firing by the evening. Pakistan opened fire at eight Indian posts in Mendhar Sector of the valley on Friday, hours after New Delhi reinforced its position with Islamabad to maintain ceasefire.
According to reports, Pakistani troops targeted several posts in Krishna Ghati and Sona Gali with the first firing coming in at around 4.30 pm. Thereafter, intermittent exchange of fire continued between both the sides though no casualties have been reported so far. Just hours before, India had asked Pakistan to maintain the sanctity of LoC.
The Indian response was given on Friday when Islamabad summoned Indian High Commissioner Sharat Sabharwal and handed him a demarche by foreign secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani over Thursday’s incident in Battal Sector of LoC, which Pakistan army claimed resulted in the death of a soldier.
According to a ministry of external affairs spokesperson, Sabharwal told Pakistan foreign office that Thursday’s incident was a ‘controlled response’ from the Indian side on the unprovoked firing from Pakistan. ‘The Indian envoy also stressed the need for holding the sanctity of LoC and adherence of Simla Agreement to sort out bilateral issues,’ the spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, tensions along the Line of Control (LoC) were discussed at a high-level meeting in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) where defence secretary Shashikant Sharma briefed others about the situation there. Indian Army has asked its Pakistan counterpart for a local-level flag meeting in Poonch Sector.
However, the stalemate continued at Ground Zero with Indian trucks still not allowed to enter Pakistan from Chakan-Da-Bagh crossing point in Poonch district. In more ominous signs of rising tension, Pakistan also suspended the Poonch-Rawalakot bus service on Friday.
According to reports, Pakistani troops targeted several posts in Krishna Ghati and Sona Gali with the first firing coming in at around 4.30 pm. Thereafter, intermittent exchange of fire continued between both the sides though no casualties have been reported so far. Just hours before, India had asked Pakistan to maintain the sanctity of LoC.
The Indian response was given on Friday when Islamabad summoned Indian High Commissioner Sharat Sabharwal and handed him a demarche by foreign secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani over Thursday’s incident in Battal Sector of LoC, which Pakistan army claimed resulted in the death of a soldier.
According to a ministry of external affairs spokesperson, Sabharwal told Pakistan foreign office that Thursday’s incident was a ‘controlled response’ from the Indian side on the unprovoked firing from Pakistan. ‘The Indian envoy also stressed the need for holding the sanctity of LoC and adherence of Simla Agreement to sort out bilateral issues,’ the spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, tensions along the Line of Control (LoC) were discussed at a high-level meeting in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) where defence secretary Shashikant Sharma briefed others about the situation there. Indian Army has asked its Pakistan counterpart for a local-level flag meeting in Poonch Sector.
However, the stalemate continued at Ground Zero with Indian trucks still not allowed to enter Pakistan from Chakan-Da-Bagh crossing point in Poonch district. In more ominous signs of rising tension, Pakistan also suspended the Poonch-Rawalakot bus service on Friday.
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