A defence spokesperson in Jammu said that the Pakistani troops violated ceasefire by firing towards the Indian Army posts in Doda Battalion forward area in Poonch district beginning at 7.30 am on Saturday. “Our jawans retaliated effectively,” the spokesperson said. He said this was the fifth violation of ceasefire by Pakistani troops so far in the area in July this year.
In Islamabad, a statement issued by the Pakistan Army said one of its soldiers was killed and another seriously wounded in an “unprovoked” attack from across the LoC by Indian troops. “A soldier embraced martyrdom while another was seriously injured due to unprovoked firing by Indian troops in Rawalakot area at the Line of Control (LoC) on Saturday,” it said.
The brief statement from Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) also said the firing incident took place in Rawlakot’s Nezapir sector at about 10.30 am (local time).
Officials in Jammu said that senior area Army commanders and other officials are monitoring the situation along the de facto border and troops have been asked in other forward areas to intensify round-the-clock vigilance.
Reports said that the firing triggered panic among the people in the area, especially in Shahpur Kerni forward belt in Poonch where it stretched for five hours.
Tensions spiked between New Delhi and Islamabad early this year when a total of six soldiers were killed in exchanges along the LoC in Kashmir. Four of the soldiers killed were from Pakistan while two were from India. However, recent statements by Indian and Pakistani leaders were quite encouraging, emphasising that New Delhi and Islamabad should work closely to promote regional peace.