Ceasefire violations by Pakistan on the line of Control (lOC) in Jammu & Kashmir have crossed the 150-mark this year with majority of incidents taking place in the last few weeks following the surgical strikes conducted by the Indian Army against terrorist launch pads in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) on September 29. The Army is retaliating and feels the situation is not going to normalise soon.
This assessment came in the backdrop of Pakistan on Monday alleging that seven of its soldiers were killed in “unprovoked” firing by the Indian Army on Sunday night in Bhimber Sector in Rajouri. Reacting to the allegation, Army sources said here heavy firing was going on from both sides at some places on the lOC including Bhimber adding it could not confirm the number of casualties on the other side.
However, the Indian Army was giving a befitting reply by targeting Pakistan Army posts on the lOC to send a firm message that it will not tolerate violations and giving covering fire to militants to infiltrate into Kashmir, they said.
The Army stepped up firing after the body of one soldier was mutilated by the militants and Pakistan soldiers in Kupwara last fortnight. The immediate Indian retaliation resulted in the destruction of more than five Pakistan Army posts in its area opposite Kupwara and unspecified number of Pakistan soldiers getting killed.
On the current situation on the lOC, officials said more than 150 violations had taken so far in this year as compared to 153 for the entire last year. The significant fact was that cross border firing by Pakistan saw a quantum jump of more than 60 per cent in the last one month as a reprisal against surgical strikes by India in September end, they said.
Moreover, at least 100 successful infiltration bids came to notice this year with this figure standing at less than half last year, they said, adding Pakistan was going all out to push in as many militants as possible in the coming weeks before snow blocks ingress routes.
Justifying tough response by way of heavy firing, officials said the objective was to make Pakistan pay the price for continuous violations and support to militants. Pakistan Army was waging a low cost war by cross-border firing but the targeting of their posts in the last couple of weeks had made things rather difficult for them, sources said.