Fresh ceasefire violation by Pak in Poonch
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Sept 2: There was no let up in tensions between India and Pakistan on the Line of Control (LoC) as both sides refused to meet and share sweets on the occasion of Eid festival today while Pakistan army resorted to firing of few rounds in Balnoi sub sector of Poonch district, violating ceasefire. However, the Border Security Force (BSF) and Rangers exchanged sweets at various places on the International Border (IB) in Jammu sector.
Sources told the Excelsior that there was no exchange of sweets and greetings between the troops of India and Pakistan anywhere on the LoC today on the occasion of Eid festival including Chakan-Da-Bagh in Poonch district, where cross-LoC travel and trade remained suspended for more than eight weeks in view of ceasefire violations by the Pakistan army.
Instead, Pakistan army again violated ceasefire on the LoC by resorting to small arms firing in Balnoi sub sector of Krishna Ghati in Poonch district, where BSF’s ASI Kamaljit Singh was martyred last evening in sniper shot from Pakistan.
Sources said in view of continued ceasefire violations by Pakistan army despite Battalion Commander level flag meeting on August 23 at Chakan-Da-Bagh, there was no meeting between Indo-Pak troops anywhere on the LoC today especially after yesterday’s incident in which the BSF ASI was martyred in sniper shot.
“There has been no let up in tensions on the LoC. The Battalion Commander level flag meeting of August 23 has not yielded any desired results. In view of continued ceasefire violations and no exchange of sweets and greeting on Eid today, the resumption of cross-LoC travel and trade from Monday has also become doubtful,” sources said.
However, the BSF and Rangers exchanged sweets and greeting at various places on the International Border in Jammu sector today including Octroi Post of Suchetgarh sector in RS Pura tehsil.
“The BSF and Rangers exchanged sweets at all identified locations on the International Border to celebrate Eid festival,” sources said.
Few days back, the BSF had gunned down three Pakistani Rangers in Akhnoor and Sunderbani sectors after one of their jawans was hit by sniper shot in Arnia sector, causing him serious injuries. However, after the elimination of three Rangers in retaliatory action by the BSF, there has been peace on the International Border, sources said, adding it was in view of the peace that both sides exchanged sweets and greetings at all designated places on the International Border.
Meanwhile, the continued tensions along Line of Control in twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri have cast shadow over resumption of cross-LoC travel and trade from Monday especially in the wake of yesterday’s sniper shot killing of the BSF ASI at Balnoi in Krishna Ghati sector and fresh ceasefire violation at the same place today by Pakistani troops.
Sources said there were no casualties or damages on the Indian side in ceasefire violation by the Pakistan army in Balnoi this afternoon. The ceasefire violation lasted only few minutes with only small arms firing, they added.
It may be mentioned here that the National Investigating Agency (NIA), which has been investigating terror funding through cross-LoC routes of Poonch-Rawlakote and Uri-Muzaffarabad, has already recommended to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs for stopping the trade on both the routes on the ground that it has been grossly misused by some of the traders for funding terrorism and unrest in the Kashmir valley.
The cross-LoC travel and trade remained suspended for eight consecutive weeks in view of heavy mortar shelling and firing by the Pakistan army at various places on the LoC in Poonch and Rajouri districts including Chakan-Da-Bagh from where cross-LoC bus and trucks cross over to Rawlakote in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) from Poonch district.
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