Pakistan’s Army on Sunday opened unprovoked fire towards the Indian posts in Uri sector of north Kashmir where standoff on cross-loC trade continues following seizure of narcotics from a Pakistani lorry nine days back.
The defence authorities say that the firing with light arms was unprovoked and continued for three hours starting 6: 15 am on the Republic Day. No casualties or damage to installations have been reported in the area. “Pakistani troops fired RPGs and small arms at our positions in the Kaman Post area of Uri sector. The unprovoked firing was aimed to disrupt the peace on the control line”, General Officer Commanding of Baramulla based 19 Infantry Division, Major General Anil Chauhan told reporters.
“Our side didn’t retaliate to the Pakistani firing. We have exercised maximum restraint and the idea basically was to maintain peace and tranquility along the loC,” he said. He said Indian Army has not suffered any casualty or damage in the firing, which continued for three hours. He said the scene of firing was closer to the Pakistani posts. “It could be speculated that elements, inimical to the interests of welfare of people, rather I would say that cross-loC trade or for maintenance of peace and tranquility along loC opened the firing,” Chauhan said.
However, defence spokesman in Srinagar, lt Col NN Joshi, told The Pioneer that the firing was not in any case linked with the ongoing standoff on the cross-loC trade at the Kaman Post. “Soon after the firing, the matter was taken up with the Pakistani Army on hotline”, he said. This is the first ceasefire violation along the loC in Kashmir since the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both countries met last month to diffuse tension along the borders.
Even as a ceasefire is operational along the borders since November 2003 it has often been observed more in breach. In 2013, around 150 cease-fire violations were reported in Jammu & Kashmir. The Army maintains that Pakistan troops most often provide cover to infiltrators while they sneak into loC to reinforce separatist militants in Kashmir.
The firing took place when 75 trucks, involved in cross-loC trade, were stranded as Pakistan has unilaterally called off trading activity after narcotics were seized from a truck coming from Pakistan’s side on January 17. The truck carried 114 kilograms of contraband concealed in consignment of almonds. The authorities have arrested the driver and the consignee trader from Bandipora pocket of north Kashmir.
Pakistan demands driver’s release and claims immunity for him under the trade pact between the two countries. However, India has declined to release the driver and declared that he would be tried under relevant laws for stern punishment. The stranded trucks includes 29 from Kashmir, which were held back at Chakoti Trading Center in PoK. The weekly bus service between two divided parts of Kashmir were also stopped since January 20.