Pak Hostility To India At Its Peak

Tuesday, 06 February 2018 | PNS | New Delhi

Courtsey:The PIoneer

Against 860 ceasefire violations last year on the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) in Jammu & Kashmir, the first 35 days of this year have already seen 240 such skirmishes, underlining the growing hostility between the forces of the two countries. The Indian Army and Border Security Force (BSF) have also lost at least nine personnel during this period in relentless firing by Pakistan.

Giving this assessment a day after four Armymen, including a Captain, were killed in shelling in Rajouri district on Sunday evening, officials said Pakistan is now using mortars to inflict casualties and destroy Indian posts along the LoC. The issue is likely to come up during weekly talks on the hotline between Pakistan and Indian Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) on Tuesday.

India on Monday lodged official protest through diplomatic channels in Islamabad against shelling and targeting of Indian soldiers. Captain Kapil Kundu, 22, Havildar Roshan Lal, 42, Riflemen Ramavatar, 27, and Subham Singh, 23, of Jammu & Kashmir’s Kathua district were killed in the shelling.

When asked about the latest incident, Army Vice Chief Lt General Sarath Chand said here India will continue to give a befitting reply and its actions will speak for itself. He also said the Pakistan Army is supporting infiltration by terrorists along the border. “We will continue with our process of giving a befitting reply. Our action will speak for itself,” Chand said on the sidelines of a seminar here.

On the death of four Army personnel on Sunday, he said, “There has been cross-border shelling from their (Pakistan’s) side. And one of the shells landed near the officer and his men, leading to the casualties.”

Highlighting the seriousness of the situation, officials said 860 ceasefire violations were recorded for the entire last year. “If the current level of tension continues, soon the ceasefire violations may overtake the 2017 figures,” they said.

Admitting that the LoC is now “hot”, officials also said tension is not likely to abate any time soon and tit for tat from both the sides will continue for the next few days. Ceasefire violations in 2016 were 228 while 152 such incidents took place in 2015.

Elaborating upon the latest cycle of violence, they said it started from December 23 last year after a Junior Commissioned Officer of the Indian Army was killed in sniper fire from across the LoC.

India started retaliating and targetted particular Pakistani posts shielding terrorists before enabling them to sneak into Kashmir. In the process, six Pakistani Army personnel, including a Major rank officer, were killed.

Normally, Pakistan normally avoids acknowledging casualties but was forced to do so when an officer was killed leading to outcry in Pakistan. In an effort to placate the feelings at home, the Pakistan Army then escalated ceasefire violations both on the LoC and International Border leading to a stern response from India.

Pakistan resorted to machine gun firing and mortar shelling at villages on the Indian side in Jammu, Rajouri and Poonch forcing panic stricken inhabitants to flee and take shelter in safer places. The district administration in Rajouri has also closed schools for some days to ensure safety of children.