Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 11: Amidst built of tensions on the Line of Control (LoC) especially in Krishna Ghati sector, troops of India and Pakistan have strengthened their positions all along the LoC even as Pakistan today delivered another blow to Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) by announcing suspension of weekly cross-LoC bus service on Poonch-Rawlakote route after suspending trade yesterday for an indefinite period.
Pakistan Army today opened small arms firing in Balakote area of Mendhar sector. Pakistan Army reportedly set bushes on fire along Kanga Nullah of Balakote to clear the area for having a better view of this side. Krishna Ghati was gradually calm but tense after Tuesday’s killing of two Army jawans including beheading of one of them and taking his head across the LoC along with two service weapons and magazines by Pakistani troops.
Pakistan Army has not given any response so far to Indian Army’s offer to hold Brigade Commander level flag meeting at Balnoi forward area today. The offer was made on hotline.
In Poonch sector, there are three local hotlines between the two sides including Chakan-Da-Bagh, Uri and Balnoi.
The flag meeting is most likely to be called at Balnoi, which is closest to the site of the incident, sources said.
Sources said the last ceasefire violation incident was reported by local formations yesterday evening and the firing had ceased at 9.30 pm.
After that, no fresh incident of firing or ceasefire violation has been reported from that side, they added..
Army sources said since last year, there have been more than 120 ceasefire violations by Pakistan along Jammu and Kashmir, which include 97 along the LoC and the remaining along the International Border.
The number of successful terrorist infiltrations this year has gone up in comparison with last few years, they said.
The number of terrorists operating in Jammu and Kashmir has been estimated by the Army to be around 440 while the Multi Agency Centre (MAC) puts it to be around 300-350, sources said.
The suspension of cross-LoC bus on Poonch-Rawlakote route has left 123 civilians from two parts of divided State stranded in each other’s territory while the traders said goods worth Rs 1.22 crore had to be returned in 65 trucks after Pakistan yesterday refused to open gates at Chakan-Da-Bagh.
Official sources told the Excelsior that Aslam Qayani, Trade Facilitation Authority in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) spoke to his counterpart in Poonch, Abdul Hamid Sheikh, Custodian of Cross-LoC Trade on this side, today and told him that PoK authorities have decided to suspended cross-LoC bus and trade on Poonch-Rawlakote route indefinitely or till further order.
Qayani is reported to have said that PoK trucks and cross-LoC bus fall in the firing range of Indian Army and they feared that the vehicles could be targeted.
Cross-LoC Trade Association president, Pawan Anand said on telephone from Poonch that the Director General of Trade, PoK, has also written a letter to the Custodian of Trade in Poonch, a copy of which was delivered to him today announcing suspension of trade and bus service on Poonch-Rawlakote route.
Mr Anand said he has informed all the registered traders, operating on Poonch-Rawlakote route, to stop sending trucks to Poonch. He added that all 65 trucks, which had to cross over to Hahira in PoK yesterday and today, have returned. He said the trucks were loaded with tomatoes and garlic valued around Rs 1.22 crore.
Cross-LoC bus plies on Poonch-Rawlakote route every Monday while trade takes place for four days from Tuesday to Friday. The bus and trade were considered as biggest CBM between two parts of the divided State as it had led to virtual re-union of the people divided by partition.
Chakan-Da-Bagh route was opened for cross-LoC travel in October 2005 after a massive earthquake on both sides of divided State. Initially, it was opened for providing relief to the affected people but was later converted for travel of the divided families, relatives and friends. The fortnightly bus service was later converted into weekly.
Sources said 58 civilians from Jammu and Kashmir were presently in different areas of PoK, where they had gone to meet their divided family members and relatives. Similarly, 65 PoK citizens were held up in this part of the State after crossing from Rawlakote-Poonch route.
Sources said troops on both sides have strengthened their positions in forward areas all along the LoC especially in Krishna Ghati sector. There had been reports that Pakistan Army had even cancelled the leave of their jawans deployed along the LoC opposite Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan Army has also deployed additional forces along the LoC mainly opposite KG sector.
Indian Army has strengthened its positions along the LoC to meet with any eventuality especially after the reports that Pakistan troops and Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants were planning more misadventures on Indian side including planting the IEDs and mines in forward areas to target the troops.
Sources maintained that Indian Army has only strengthened its positions, which was a routine affair after such type of incidents. “We are already on high alert anticipating infiltration attempts by the militants”, sources said.
“Situation on the LoC remained tense though there was no major exchange of firing. Small arms firing was reported from Balakote sector in Mendhar this morning but Krishna Ghati sector was calm though tension prevailed all along the area”, sources said. Yesterday, a Pakistan Army jawan was killed in retaliatory firing by the Indian troops opposite Krishna Ghati sector.
Sources said Pakistan Army had also set some bushes on fire along Kanga Nullah in Balakote sector. Due to the firing, a series of mines exploded on the LoC but there were no casualties or damage on this side. Sources added that setting bushes on fire could be part of Pakistan Army’s plot to have a better view of the area to facilitate infiltration attempts by the militants.
Army spokesman Col RK Palta said there was no firing from either side in Krishna Ghati sector today. He added that reports carried by some national newspapers and channels that jawans of 13 Rajputana Rifles, whose two jawans Lance Naik Hem Raj and Lance Naik Sudhakar Singh were killed by the Pakistani troops on Tuesday morning, had gone on hunger strike were not true.
Indian Army today sent a message to Pakistan Army officials through hotline for a Brigade Commander level flag meeting to de-escalate tensions on the LoC. However, Pakistan hasn’t responded to the call so far.
In June-July last year, tension had flared up in Krishna Ghati sector after the killing of an Indian jawan due to heavy firing. The issue was resolved at Brigade Commander level flag meeting.
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