Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 25: After suffering heavy casualties and infrastructural damages on the International Border, Pakistan today called for Sector Commander-level flag meeting with the Border Security Force (BSF), which was held this afternoon in which the BSF conveyed stern message to the Rangers that provocative acts by them were unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
The meeting lasted half an hour in Suchetgarh sector and was attended by five officers of the BSF and 10 from the Rangers.
During past four days, the International Border has been calm with no ceasefire violations reported from any area in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts.
Official sources told the Excelsior that the BSF delegation comprised five officers and was led by DIG BSF Jammu Sector, PS Dhiman while Pakistan delegation was headed by Brig Amjad Hussain, Sector Commander, Chenab Rangers, Sialkot, Punjab and had 10 officers including Wing Commanders.
“During the meeting, the BSF strongly objected to (Pakistan’s) dastardly acts of sniping at its two soldiers on January 3 and 17 and further unprovoked firing and shelling targeting a number of Indian villages, innocent civilians and their properties.
“The BSF conveyed strong protest with message that such provocative acts are unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” sources said.
Thirteen persons-seven civilians and six security personnel-were killed and 65 others injured in Pakistani shelling along IB and LoC in Jammu region during the last 10 days. However, losses on Pakistan side were very heavy, both in terms of casualties and infrastructure. Pakistan’s ammunition and fuel dumps and firing posts were destroyed by the BSF in retaliatory action.
The meeting was the first between the two sides since “heavy shelling and firing was experienced on the IB during the last week”, sources said.
During shelling, the BSF “successfully foiled a number of infiltration attempts from the Pakistani soil, including neutralization of one intruder who tried to infiltrate on January 4 in Arnia Sector.”
The BSF had fired over 9,000 rounds of mortar shells across the Jammu IB in the last few days as part of “pinpointed” retaliatory action against this “unprovoked” firing from across the border.
Senior officials of the force and in the Union home ministry in Delhi had said that the situation along the 190-km IB here was “very tense” as Pakistan had “opened” heavy fire in the entire stretch since last evening.
The BSF Director General (DG), who recently toured the area, had said that the situation along the IB here was “very tense” and his men were on a high alert.
The last such meeting of Sector Commanders of the two sides was held on September 29 last year.
Meanwhile, Pakistan army violated ceasefire at Baba Khori in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district almost through the last night in which an Army jawan sustained injuries. He was evacuated from the site of shelling and firing and admitted in the hospital.
Pakistan army also resorted to heavy shelling and firing in Mankote sector of Poonch district at 6.45 pm today.
Indian side retaliated Pakistan shelling and firing at both the places including Nowshera and Mankote sectors.
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