Amit Khajuria

In a change of strategy, the Pakistan Rangers have been provoking the Border Security Force (BSF) by targeting its posts with small arms almost on a daily basis at night. The BSF has been giving a befitting reply, but so far the exchange of fire has remained confined to small weapons only.

This has led to spike in the tension on the International Border (IB) for the last 15 days. On Wednesday night, Pakistan opened fire with small arms on the BSF posts in the Arnia sector in Jammu. The exchange of fire continued till 4 am. According to BSF sources, the Rangers are daily targeting different posts along the 198-km International Border.

“Tension has been rising near the IB for the last 15 days, but the men guarding the border are alert and equipped to deal with any untoward situation,” the BSF sources said.

“Pakistan is resorting to fire daily. It is trying to provoke Indian forces with small arms but the BSF is retaliating with small calibre arms only. The Indian force never fires unless they (Rangers) start it,” he added.

Pakistan continues to violate ceasefire on the International Border since start of this year. Assistant Commandant Vinay Prasad was killed in sniper fire in the Samba sector on January 15. Last year recorded 2,936 ceasefire violations by Pakistan.

These were the highest in the past 15 years with an average of eight cases daily. As many as 61 persons were killed and over 250 injured in the ceasefire violations.

Courtesy:The Tribune,15,Feb,2019