Pakistan violates ceasefire in Kathua, Samba and Jammu

JAMMAU: Pakistani rangers pounded BSF posts and civilian areas using small arms and mortars shells in overnight ceasefire violations along the International Border (IB) in Samba, Kathua and Jammu districts. Pakistan rangers violated ceasefire in Samba, Kathua and Jammu district of Jammu region last night, a senior BSF officer said. "Firing started from Pakistan side at 2115 hours in R S Pura Sector and continued intermittently till 0300 hours," Deputy Inspector General (DIG) BSF Jammu Frontier Dharmendra Pareek said today. Small arms and mortars shells were fired by the rangers but were not effective. BSF retaliated appropriately to the firing, Pareek added. He said at 0200 hours Pakistan started firing in gaps in Hiranagar and Samba sectors which continued till 0600 hours. "BSF retaliated appropriately wherever required," he said. The firing stopped at 0820 hours in all parts of the International Border. There was no loss of life or injury, the DIG added. On Friday, two civilians were killed and as many injured when Pakistan targeted civilian areas and forward India posts along the LoC and IB in Jammu, Kathua, Poonch and Rajouri districts, following which Indian troops retaliated and killed 15 Pakistani soldiers. BSF said as per the ammunition used in firing and shelling it appeared that Pakistani Army was supporting Pakistani rangers along IB. On October 25, at least 2-3 Pakistani army men were believed to have been killed in retaliatory firing by Indian troops in the Noushera sector of Rajouri district. Over 60 ceasefire violations have taken place since surgical strikes by Indian Army on terror launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.