Pakistan lodges protest with India over firing across ‘working boundary’

By Aslam Chandio, TwoCircles.net,

Islamabad: The Pakistan’s Foreign Office on Monday summoned the Indian Deputy High Commissioner and lodged a protest over what it called “unprovoked Indian firing” across the “Working Boundary” or Line of Actual Control in Sialkot sector on 10th and 11th August, which resulted in one civilian casualty and injured three others, according to the statement issued by the Spokesperson for the Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“It was emphasized that such unfortunate incidents were taking place at a time when the leadership on both sides had expressed willingness to improve bilateral relations, which had paved the way for the Foreign Secretary-level talks to resume dialogue,” said the statement.

This was the 54th incident of ceasefire violation by Indian troops since July this year, the statement added.

Four injured in Pakistan firing in Jammu

Jammu: Four people, including two troopers, were injured Monday in Pakistan firing at the international border in Jammu and Kashmir, IANS reported. The firing has now stopped but authorities are keeping a strict vigil along the border areas.

"The firing that started at four places in the R.S. Pura area because of Pakistan ceasefire violation Monday has stopped," a police officer told IANS here.

"Police and civil administration are on alert in the area," the officer added.

Two Border Security Force (BSF) troopers - Head Constable Suneel Kumar and Constable Bishnu Nandan Yadav - were injured when Pakistan Rangers resorted to unprovoked firing at BSF positions in the area at around 4.15 a.m. Monday, Indian side claimed.

The BSF retaliated and the intermittent exchange of fire lasted for nearly three hours.

Two women, Rani Devi and Rishu Kumar of Suhag colony in Arnia area, were also injured.

While Pakistan has accused India of violating ceasefire, BSF claimed that the Pakistan army violated the ceasefire on the Line of Control (LoC) in Mendhar area of Poonch district on Sunday as well.

The army guards the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir while the BSF guards the international border.

Indian Army and intelligence agencies believe the ceasefire violations by Pakistan are a part of its design to facilitate infiltration of armed terrorists into the Indian side of the border in the state.

(With Inputs from IANS)
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Aslam Chandio is an Islamabad based journalist. He tweets at @aslamchandio_