Terming the frequent incidents of ‘unprovoked’ firing and targeting of civilian areas along the line of Control as an ‘immoral and unethical act’ on the part of the Pakistan Army, senior Army officers of the Northern Command on Wednesday said despite holding recent talks Pakistan Army has not stopped violating the ceasefire agreement on the loC in Poonch.
“Unprovoked firing is continuing for quite some time and we really don’t know why they are doing it inspite of various talks recently. It doesn’t sound very logical,” lt Gen RR Nimbhorkar, GoC of Nagrota-based 16 Corps headquarters told reporters on the sideline of an event organised to mark the 50th anniversary of India’s grand victory over Pakistan in the 1965 War.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Army violated the ceasefire agreement early on Wednesday morning in the Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch.
According to official sources, “Pakistan Army started shelling in the area around 7.10 am and the heavy exchange continued for over two hours.” Pakistan Army fired long range mortars targeting the civilian areas.
According of Defence PRO, “Pakistan Army fired 120 mm, 82 mm mortars and used automatic weapons to target the forward Indian posts in the KG sector of Poonch on Wednesday morning”.
Ceasefire agreement was also violated in the Balakote sector of Poonch late Tuesday night as heavy firing was reported in the area from across the line of control.
Commenting on the Indian Army’s response to the unprovoked firing, lt-Gen Nimbhorkar said, “As and when our adversary is indulging in unprovoked firing we are forced to retaliate appropriately.”
Sharing his assessment on the possible reasons behind continuous firing in the Poonch sector the senior army officer claimed, “We have a very strong Anti Infiltration Obstacle System (AIOS) in place I don’t see there is any logic behind providing cover fire to a group of infiltrators as they won’t be able to breach the tight cordon.”
Commenting on the recent incident of SPO’s joining the ranks of militant outfit lt-Gen Nimbhorkar claimed, “as per initial investigations it was been revealed both the SPO’s who ran away from Doda police lines were very poor and monetary considerations may have been a strong motive behind joining the ranks of militant outfits”.