At least 3 border posts in Pargwal area, venue of flag meeting, targeted
Temporary calm on the International Border was shattered once again by the roaring Pakistani guns barely hours after the first round of flag meeting ended ‘inconclusively’ without brokering ‘peace deal’ to end the cycle of spiraling border tension in the wee hours of Thursday.
According to ground reports, “at least three Border posts in Pargwal area of Akhnoor sector, venue of the Flag meeting, was targeted by the Pakistan rangers twice in brazen violation of the ceasefire agreement during the night”.
According to BSF sources, “Pakistan Rangers first opened ‘unprovoked’ firing in the area around 11.50 pm and the same continued for some time. After a gap of around four hours, heavy firing from across the border resumed around 4 am and it continued till 6 am”.
The BSF jawans had also noticed suspected movement of infiltrators close to the International Border and challenged them before opening fire. According to BSF sources, the infiltrators retreated towards the Pakistan territory when they were fired upon.
While targeting the Indian posts and civilian areas, Pakistan Rangers used small arms, Medium range Machine guns (MMG) and other sophisticated weapons to spread panic.
The BSF jawans, according to official sources, gave a befitting response to the latest provocation using similar calibre of weapons. So far, 35 ceasefire violations have been reported in the Jammu frontier since July 16, 2014.
Ironically, Pakistan Rangers chose to target the same area where they had attended flag meeting with their Indian counterparts on Wednesday evening. During the meeting Pakistan Rangers reportedly accused BSF of breaching the truce by resorting to indiscriminate firing on the Pakistani posts.
In Jammu IG, BSF Jammu frontier Rakesh Sharma told reporters, “Pakistan Rangers have been adopting double standards. On Wednesday, they requested flag meeting and we went there with open minds as we want to restore normalcy along the border areas but, they chose to hit back by targeting the BSF posts”.
Meanwhile, as fresh tensions mounted in the area of Indian Border, guards sent out a strong message to the Pakistan Rangers by canceling flag meeting at the commandant level in Samba sector of Jammu frontier on Thursday.
According to official sources commandant level flag meeting was scheduled to take place at Ballad border post in Samba sector but the same was canceled by the BSF after the grave provocation from the Pakistan side.
On the other hand, panic-stricken residents in the forward villages of Pargwal area demanded firm response from the Indian troops to silence the Pakistan guns. “We appeal to the Government to shift us to safer places and give a befitting reply to the Pakistan Rangers”, the villagers claimed.
Amid rising tensions, politicians too have started making a bee line in the border areas to inquire about the well being of affected population. Indian Army has pitched tents and are running medical camps in the Government school buildings to assist the State Government machinery.
After BJP chief Amit Shah’s visit, leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti visited the border areas in RS Pura sector and interacted with the local residents to understand their sufferings.
Azad accompanied by former MP Madan lal Sharma visited Abdullian, Chandu Chak and few other border villages before interacting with the affected population in the Govt school buildings in RS Pura.
PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti too visited forward villages to assess the ground situation. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh is also scheduled to visit border areas to take stock of the ground situation with senior officers of the Home Ministry on Friday.