The Pakistan Army on Tuesday rained 120 mm and 82 mm mortars on several civilian pockets in Balakote sector of Poonch in a clear sign of ratcheting up tensions ahead of National Security Adviser (NSA)-level talks slated for August 23 in New Delhi.
As there has been no attempt by Pakistan to scale down hostilities, the Indian Army has now advised residents of forward villages to relocate to safer places as it fears that border skirmishes will peak in the run up to talks between NSA Ajit Doval and his Pakistani counterpart Sartaj Aziz.
On ground zero, at least seven civilians were injured in the intense shelling in the last 24 hours by the Pakistan Army and the Pakistan Rangers along the line of Control (loC) in Poonch and the International Border (IB) in RS Pura sector of Jammu.
More than 40 forward Indian posts located across Saujian, Mandi, Balakote, Manjakote and Poonch were targeted by the Pakistan Army with long-range weapons to provoke strong Indian retaliation in the last ten days. So far 45 incidents of ceasefire violations have been reported in the month of August, the highest so far in a span of less than three weeks.
In face of increasing hostilities, pressure is also mounting at the diplomatic level to call off talks between the two NSAs.
Meanwhile, unabated use of long-range mortars by Pakistan to target civilian areas has forced Indian Army to beef up its defences even as it plans a strong retaliation to silence the roaring Pakistani guns.
So far the Indian Army has been able to target certain strategic assets of Pakistan Army set up near the loC to help infiltrators. Pakistan Army is also targeting some key installations located on the Indian side to avenge its loss.
Majority of civilian areas in Balakote sector have been evacuated while more than 24 schools located in forward areas are already closed and majority of children and women have been shifted to safer places.
According to official sources, six civilians were injured in Balakote on Tuesday while one villager received injuries in the cross-border firing in Arnia sub-sector of RS Pura.
Defence PRO in Jammu said that unprovoked firing by Pakistan which started around 7 pm went on past midnight in Balakote. “Heavy shelling was reported between 12.45 am and 3.30 am in Poonch sector while firing in Hamirpur started around 1.00 pm on Tuesday and was going on till late evening,” he said.
According to a BSF spokesman, Pakistan Rangers also violated the ceasefire agreement by resorting to unprovoked firing in the RS Pura sector till the wee hours of Tuesday.
“Initially Pakistan Rangers used small arms but gradually shifted to use of long-range mortars to target civilian areas. At least five BSF posts were targeted by Pakistan Rangers between 10 pm and 6 am. The district administration in Poonch has been alerted by the State Government to prepare shelter points to accommodate displaced villagers,” the spokesman said.
Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh, Cabinet Minister Altaf Bukhari and BJP MP Jugal Kishore along with senior police and district officers visited Balakote to meet families of victims of cross-border firing.