Pakistan resorts to unprovoked firing on Indian posts again; 286 ceasefire violations post surgical strike

New Delhi: Pakistan once again resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violation in the Pallanwala sector of Akhnoor in Jammu and Kashmir, this morning. On Monday, The Pakistan military said that seven of its soldiers were killed in firing by Indian troops along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, and termed it a "threat to peace". Following which, the Pakistan foreign ministry summons Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale.

Pakistan foreign ministry summons Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale over killing of 7 Pak soldiers

— ANI (@ANI_news) November 14, 2016

Pakistan Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry summoned Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale to "condemn the unprovoked ceasefire violation by the Indian occupation forces on the LoC," a Foreign Office statement said. The Foreign Secretary emphasized that this "belligerent attitude of Indian occupation forces was a serious threat to the regional peace and security" and may lead to a "strategic miscalculation". Chaudhry asked Bambawale to convey to the Indian government that "it must stop the provocative firing and observe the ceasefire". Sartaj Aziz, Foreign Affairs Advisor to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, condemned the "unprovoked" firing and expressed "grave" concern over the "recently increased frequency and duration of indiscriminate firing from the Indian side". Accusing the Indian troops of deliberately targeting villages and civilian, the Adviser voiced apprehension over the Indian actions, which he said "constitute a threat to the maintenance of peace and security". "Seven soldiers embraced 'shahadat' at the LoC in Bhimber sector in cross-fire LoC violation by Indian troops late last (Sunday) night," said a statement by Inter-Services Public Relations, the Pakistani army's media wing. The LoC divides the Indian and Pakistan parts of Kashmir. It said Pakistani troops responded to India's "unprovoked firing" and "targeted Indian posts effectively". While according to a Indian defence spokesperson, Pakistani troops on Monday resorted to shelling and firing on Indian posts in four sectors along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu, Rajouri and Poonch districts of Jammu and Kashmir, in which two persons including a jawan were injured. "There have been unprovoked ceasefire violations by Pakistani Army in Sunderbani and Naushera sectors of Rajouri district and Pallanwala sector of Jammu district," a defence spokesman said. Pakistani troops used 82mm mortar bombs and automatic weapons on Indian positions from 1440 hours in these sectors, he said.

J&K: Ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Sunderbani and Nowshera sectors, Indian troops respond — ANI (@ANI_news) November 14, 2016

A 67-year-old resident, Mangat Ram, was injured in Pakistani shelling in Khour area in Pallanwala sector, Jammu Deputy Commissioner Simrandeep Singh said. Pakistani troops also resorted firing along LoC in Khadi area of Poonch district, according to reports. One jawan was injured in the firing in Poonch. The defence spokesman said the Indian troops gave "befitting reply" to Pakistani firing. Pakistani authorities last week lodged protests with India and with the UN military observers group over the "targeting of civilian population" by Indian troops. Pakistan says the civilian death toll in Indian shelling has risen to at least 25 in the past few weeks. Reportedly, the 2003 India-Pakistan ceasefire agreement has virtually become redundant with a whopping 286 incidents of firing and shelling along LoC and IB in Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistani troops that resulted in death of 26 people, including 14 security personnel, since the surgical strike on terrorist launch pads in PoK. There have been 186 ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops along the over 190km International Border (IB) in Jammu frontier, while 104 violations of the agreement took place along the over 500km Line of Control (LoC). (With inputs from agencies)