Pak violates ceasefire, India retaliates strongly in Poonch

An Indian army soldier stands guard close to the Line of Control, a ceasefire line dividing Kashmir between India and Pakistan, in Poonch district in this August 7, 2013 file photo. Pakistan-based militants are preparing to take on India across the subcontinent once Western troops leave Afghanistan next year, several sources say, raising the risk of a dramatic spike in tensions between nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan. Reuters.

In yet another ceasefire violation, Pakistani troops fired on Indian positions along Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch sector, forcing Indian troops to retaliate strongly, a defence spokesman said today.

Pakistani troops fired on Indian forward posts along LoC in Krishna Ghati, Balakote and Hamirpur belts of Poonch district around 2345 hours last night, defence spokesman S N Acharya said.

Pakistan used heavy calibre weaponry apart from mortars and rockets to target Indian positions forcing troops guarding the borderline to retaliate effectively, he said.

There was no loss of life or injury to anyone in the firing.

There have been 13 ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops in past eight days, Army officials said.

70 ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops have taken place this year from January 1 to August 5, which is 85 per cent more than those during the same period last year, they added.