Jammu, August 19
Pakistani troops continue to shell Indian forward posts with mortars and rocket propelled grenades in the Hamirpur, Mendhar, Balakote and Mankote areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district. The Indian Army has been responding in equal measure in these areas. “Heavy exchange of fire is on in Mendhar, Hamirpur, Balakote and Mankote areas since last night,” said a senior Army officer.

“There was yet another ceasefire violation by Pakistani army in the Balakote and Mendhar areas at 2.05 pm yesterday. They also opened heavy firing in Hamirpur and Balakote border belts along the LoC in Poonch last night,” said Defence spokesperson SN Acharya.

They fired mortars, RPGs and automatic weapons and were responded in equal measure, he added. No casualty or injury was reported on the Indian side, he said.

Pakistani troops also pounded civilian areas with medium mortar shells and rockets, triggering panic among border residents in Mankote, Hamirpur and Mendhar belts, said reports.

There have been 17 ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops in past the 10 days. At least 73 ceasefire violations have taken place from the Pakistani side from January 1 to August 19 — an 85 per cent jump since last year.

Five soldiers were killed on the intervening night of August 5 and 6 in the Chakan-da-Bagh area by Pakistan’s border action team, triggering tension between the two countries. The Poonch sector has witnessing heavy fire all along the Line of Control since August 8.

The Pakistani army opened small and heavy arms fire in Drass and Kaksar on August 12 after a gap of 14 years.

“As of now the skirmishes between the two sides are confined to mortar (a battalion level weapon). The artillery fire has not been used so far for the simple reason that it has more range, causes concentrated and considerable damage. And, then simply it is considered to be a war,” said an Army source.

Major General VP Singh, GOC, Ace of Spades Division (25 Infantry Division), had yesterday said Pakistan was making a “serious mistake” by carrying out ceasefire violations and attacks by the border action team along the Line of Control.