Ramgarh (Jammu)/ New Delhi/ Islamabad, Oct 10
After nine days of intense shelling Pakistani guns largely fell silent on the 198-km-long International Border for the first time since October 1 that provided a ‘breather’ to distraught villagers.

“However, Pakistan Rangers last night opened small arms fire on four BSF posts in Hiranagar sub-sector of Kathua around 8 pm,” said a source. BSF’s Jammu region IG, RK Sharma described it to be a minor incident.

“In Hiranagar, they fired four bursts of small arms fire and we responded in equal measure. Since then there has been no firing by Pakistan anywhere on the border”, he said, adding, “If they fire at us, we will fire at them.”

Indian security establishment said it was too early to judge that this was some kind of de-escalation by the neighbour. Today Delhi put the onus on Pakistan for the situation at the border, cautioning that an appropriate response would follow. At the South Block the option so far is to wait and watch. The Army and the BSF have been told to be on alert. “We will respond appropriately. It is for Pakistan to escalate/de-escalate and we will respond as appropriate”, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin said.

The Army is stationed along the 749-km-long LoC while the BSF is stationed along the 198-km-long international boundary.

A statement of Pakistan PMO website on the NSC meet said: “Any attempt to challenge Pakistan’s territorial integrity and sovereignty will be responded with full force.”