The ceasefire violations from Pakistan have more than doubled as compared to last year’s figure, mirroring the tension between the two neighbours. Pakistan has regularly violated ceasefire on the 750-km long Line of Control (LoC), especially after August 5 when Article 370 was abrogated.
Till date this year, more than 3,200 violations have taken place along the LoC with Pakistan trying to dominate and push in terrorists during the firing. The violations figure for the last year is 1,610. Moreover, since August 5 more than 900 violations took place, officials said here on Friday.
On the current situation on the LoC, they said the Pakistan Army is keeping the border “hot’ by relentless firing in sectors, including Aknoor and Poonch in Jammu region, and Uri, Keran, Gurez and Tangdhar in Kashmir region.
They also admitted the firing is unlikely to come down in the coming days as Pakistan after having failed to foment trouble in the Kashmir Valley following the abrogation of Article 370 is resorting to violations in an effort to dominate.
Given the topography of the LoC, Pakistan is in advantageous position militarily in Poonch and Rajouri sectors.
The Indian Army enjoys dominance in Gurez and Tangdhar in north Kashmir region.
In fact, the Indian Army has inflicted considerable damage on the Pakistani posts in the North Kashmir region in the last few weeks and reportedly destroyed several Pakistani army positions.
Given the scenario on the LoC, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat last week said situation can escalate at any time. He, however, said, “We are prepared for a response along the retaliatory matrix.”
His observation came in the backdrop of increase in ceasefire violations in the last couple of days with the Army even foiling a Border Action Team (BAT) raid by Pakistan in Sunderbani in Jammu region some days back. An Indian soldier died after getting hit by a rocket and two Pakistani commandos also reportedly died in retaliatory fire. Another Indian soldier died a day earlier in Gurez in North Kashmir in ceasefire violation by Pakistan.
Also, as many as 84 infiltration attempts were made along the LoC and nearly 60 terrorists could have entered the Kashmir Valley since August, Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy had said in the Lok Sabha in recently concluded Parliament session. The security forces have neutralised 158 terrorists this year and the Army suffered 41 casualties.