Overnight firing by Pakistan in Poonch, Balakot; BSF retaliates

Overnight firing by Pakistan in Poonch, Balakot; BSF retaliates

Pakistani troops resorted to firing in the Poonch and Balakot sectors of Jammu and Kashmir late on Tuesday night,  drawing a sharp response from Indian forces.

No casualty or damage has been reported so far.

There have been 19 ceasefire violations along the Indo-Pak border in July in which four persons, including three jawans, were killed and 14 others injured.

Border on the edge

On August 9, Pakistani troops had targeted forward Indian posts along the LoC in Hamirpur-Balakote sector of Poonch district overnight, drawing retaliation from the Army. The Hamirpur, Krishnagati and Sabzian sectors in Poonch have been targeted by Pakistan troops for the past three days, possibly to facilitate infiltration from across the border.

On August 9, Pakistani troops had resorted to firing from automatic weapons and mortar shells on forward post in Mandi-Sabzaiyan sector in Poonch. Apart from mortar shells and automatic weapons, Pakistani troops fired 120 mm mortars.

On August 7, an army jawan was injured as Pakistani troops opened fire at villages and forward posts in Poonch district along the LoC. Pakistani troops had on August 6 resorted to intermittent firing with automatic weapons, rocket projectile grenades and mortar bombs along the LoC in Poonch district.

On August 5, Pakistani troops had violated the ceasefire twice and targeted forward posts and hamlets, in which three civilians were injured.