M A I N   N E W S

Pak says no evidence of firing on LoC

Islamabad, January 20
Pakistan today said it had found no evidence of mortar fire by its troops on one of the Indian Army’s forward post in the Poonch sector across the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir, officials said.

Senior Indian military officials had said Pakistani troops fired 15 mortars across the LoC, which landed in India’s forward Durga Post area in the Poonch sector on Tuesday night.

“Our Director General Military Operations (DGMO) talked to his Indian counterpart by hotline today and informed him about the investigation conducted by Pakistani side into the incident,” chief military spokesman Major General Shaukat Sultan told reporters in Islamabad.

He said the Indian DGMO was told that the evidence showed no mortar was fired by Pakistani troops, as alleged by Indian military officials yesterday.

Indian and Pakistani DGMOs had yesterday agreed to investigate the alleged violation of the 14-month old ceasefire on the Line of Control (LoC) by Pakistani troops. “We have completed our investigations and no evidence of any violation by our troops was found,” General Sultan said. — UNI

No tension along border, says Pranab
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 20
Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee today said India and Pakistan have agreed not to heighten tension along the border, following the firing of mortars in the Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday.

Talking to reporters after meeting children who received bravery awards, Mr Mukherjee said steps were being taken to maintain the spirit of confidence building measures (CBMs).

Mr Mukherjee said, "Both sides have agreed that nothing should be done to heighten tension. Both are taking up measures to maintain the spirit of confidence building". 

Firing from across LoC

Poonch, January 20
Ten mortar shells were fired from across the Line of Control (LoC) on the Hamirpur post in Mendhar sector of Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district late this evening, a senior district police official said.

About 10 mortar shells fell around the Hamirpur post in quick succession at around 7.55 pm, SSP, Poonch, Mukesh Singh said, adding that it was followed by light machine gun fire from across the border.

However, there were no reports of any casualty, he said. — PTI