Ceasefire violations done to aid undesirable elements: BSF

NEW DELHI/SRINAGAR :  Border Security Force (BSF) today said repeated ceasefire violations across the border in Jammu and Kashmir are being done at the behest of Pakistan to facilitate infiltration of “undesirable” elements into the Indian territory.
“One of the reasons or ploy on their (Pakistan’s) part is for doing infiltration because on many occasions we have noticed movement of some undesirable elements across the borders. We feel that this is one of the reasons why they are doing the cross-border firing,” BSF Director General D K Pathak told reporters here.
The government, during the recent Parliament session, had said that Lashkar-e-Taiba founder and Mumbai terror attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed has been holding rallies which were “highly critical of India” in proximity to Line of Control and International Border in Jammu and Kashmir.
“In the recent past Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, Amir Jammat-ud-Dawa (JUD), has visited a number of places along the International Border and Line of Control,” Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju had said in a written reply in Lok Sabha.
Pathak, who has visited the border areas in the last few day, said in the last over one month period there have been about 8-9 ceasefire violations and unprovoked firings from the other side.
“No doubt that Pakistan is behind all this. They are encouraging this because infiltration is from their side only. If Pakistan is not helping then there is no possibility of infiltration from their side to our side,” the BSF chief said.
Pathak, who has taken over the reins of the country’s largest border guarding force in April, said the “first fire” always comes from the other side and once it is launched, Indian troops begin wreaking havoc on Pakistani positions.
“In the the last one month there have been repeated attempts of cross border firing and there is always a first fire from their side. Let me tell you, whenever there is fire from their side we retaliate much more than what they are doing to us. I think the damage caused on the other side is much more than what is done on our side,” the DG said.
He said these incidents, which have been happening quite often, in the last few days is not a new development.
“There is nothing new of cross border firing on the international border. Last year also, almost about a month and almost every day, this sort of incidents were taking place and this year also in last over one month about 8-9 incidents have taken place,” he said. (AGENCIES)