Despite the Indian Army’s repeated reminders to the Pakistan Army to uphold the ceasefire agreement and ensure peace along the Line of Control (LoC), another ceasefire violation was reported on Monday in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Pakistani Army violated a bilateral ceasefire on the LoC today in Digwar sector of Poonch district. Indian Army retaliated befittingly,” officials said.
A search operation was launched in the area to ensure that no infiltration had taken place in the area under the cover of Pakistani Army firing, he said.
This violation took place at a time when Union Home Minister Amit Shah is on a three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir.
The recent ceasefire violations have caused fear among the residents of border areas, many of whom have previously experienced similar cross-border firing incidents, before Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMO) of India and Pakistan agreed to renew the ceasefire agreement signed in 2003.
Hundreds of border residents lost their lives in ceasefire violations from 2012-2021, despite both countries signing a ceasefire agreement in 2003.
In recent weeks, several ceasefire violations from the Pakistani side have been reported along the LoC in Poonch. The exchange of fire comes at a time when infiltration attempts across the border have increased with the onset of summer. The Indian Army has stated that it has successfully prevented such attempts.
Terrorists, mainly foreigners, have been reported to be operating in the hilly areas of Poonch, Rajouri, Kathua and Kishtwar district.
On March 23, a group of five terrorists who had infiltrated into the Indian side of the International Border in the Kathua district were engaged by a team of local police in an encounter in Sanyal village, four kilometres inside the International Border.
Two terrorists were killed in that encounter, while four policemen also died.