Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Aug 21: Pakistani troops last night violated ceasefire in Kargil sector by using heavy weapons while Army retaliated leading to the killing of a Pakistani Army officer.
Sources said that Pakistani troops opened fire in Kaksar and Talnag areas of Kargil sector last night third time since August 11.
Sources said that Pakistani troops fired mortar shells in Kargil sector leading to panic in nearby villages of Kaksar. The firing started at around 9 p.m. and continued till mid night during which they fire dozens of mortar shells and fired from small weapons.
Sources said that Army fired back to respond to the heavy mortar shelling by Pakistani troops. The firing from both the sides continued till mid night. However, there was calm in the sector since then.
“Army intercepted a Pakistani troop communication which said that their troops suffered a few casualties”, sources added.
Reports said that a Pakistani military official in Islamabad has confirmed the firing in Kargil sector and said that their one officer was killed in Askardu sector which is opposite to Kargil sector. The official has said that an Army officer was killed and a soldier was seriously wounded in the “unprovoked Indian shelling”.
Pakistani troops violated ceasefire in Kaksar sector of Kargil on August 19 night by firing on Indian troop positions from small arms and mortars. The firing continued for half an hour but there was no loss of life or damage.
Army didn’t retaliate on August 19 to Pakistani firing as the troops had been asked not to retaliate in Kargil and Drass sectors till further orders. However, during the night intervening August 11 and 12 when Pakistani troops fired in Kargil and Drass, Army had retaliated.
The ceasefire violation in Kargil and Drass sectors took place for the first time in 14 years since the Kargil war of 1999 last week. Pakistani troops fired from small arms in Kill Nallah, Marpola, LC post in Drass and Bajrang post in Kaksar and Lutusid in Kargil during the intervening night of August 11 and 12. However, there was no loss of life or damage to the property.
The Kargil conflict had happened after militants and Pakistani soldiers crossed over and took positions on the Indian side of the LoC over the winter months of 1998-99. The two countries were involved in armed conflict between May and July 1999.
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